Knox & Co. Announces Metal One Holdings America Transaction

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knox & Co. completes acquisition for Metal One Holdings America, Inc. and Coilplus Holdings America

Westport, CT, May 27, 2005 – Knox & Co., and its affiliate, Knox Securities Corp. (jointly herein after “Knox & Co.”), a leading investment banking firm on middle-market and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and Mitsubishi Securities (USA), Inc. today announced that they jointly acted as exclusive financial advisor to Metal One Holdings America, Inc. (“MOHA”) in connection with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Rafferty-Brown Steel Co. Inc. of Conn. (“RBC”) and Rafferty-Brown Steel Co., Inc. of NC (“RBN”) by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Coilplus Holdings America (“CP”). RBC and RBN are value-added processors, with locations in Waterbury, CT and Greensboro, NC respectively. They specialize in supplying superior flat rolled sheet and strip steel products including cold rolled, hot rolled pickled & oiled as well as coated products. Processing capabilities include slitting, cold rolling and traverse winding. CP management believes this acquisition represents an ideal geographic expansion that will permit Coilplus to both expand its customer base and better serve its existing and newly acquired customers. Jeffrey Gaynor, Managing Director with Knox, was lead banker on this transaction. He was assisted by Tomohiko Watanabe, Vice President with Knox and MS. Transaction value was not disclosed.

Knox & Co. is an investment banking, consultancy and advisory firm specializing in two complementary advisory disciplines: Investment Banking and Corporate Reorganization. With its office in Westport, Connecticut, the firm undertakes assignments throughout North America and, when necessary, abroad. Knox & Co. conducts its securities-related business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knox Securities Corp., member NASD. Knox & Co. conducts its securities-related business through its wholly-owned subsidiary Knox Securities Corp., member NASD. In addition, the firm enjoys a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Securities Co., Ltd. (“MSC”), the core securities company in Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (“MTFG”). Together, Knox and MSC have more than 80 M&A professionals capable of handling transactions around the globe and, together are the leading investment bank for middle-market, cross-border assignments involving a Japanese principal.

Knox & Co. (www.knoxandco.com) has advised on more than 100 middle-market merger and acquisition and advisory assignments since its inception, with in excess of $2 billion in transaction value. The firm’s principals have worked on cumulative transactions in excess of $15 billion.