MARUBENI AMERICA CORPORATION

Marubeni America Corporation, which we also refer to as "MAC," is a general trading company, engaged as an intermediary, importer/exporter, facilitator or broker in various types of trade between and among business enterprises and countries. We are the largest overseas subsidiary of the Japanese "sogo shosha" called Marubeni Corporation, which originated in Osaka in 1858. But unlike many other businesses of our size and scope, MAC has few fixed assets, relying instead on the creativity, ingenuit... y and innovation of our talented and experienced people, our intensive information gathering skills and our extensive financial resources and acumen. MAC trades in a broad range of commodities, agricultural goods, machinery, energy products, and natural resources for our own account, and on behalf of our clients. In addition, we are more than just global traders and brokers. We also act as major financiers, investors and large-scale organizers. We play a vital role in the logistics of transactions, such as the global movement of products. We assume and manage risk involved in transactions and act as business consultants, using our vast trade experience in new business development. We provide many specialized services, including sales support, transportation, insurance, storage, financing and leasing, engineering and construction service, and traffic and logistics planning. We are also the holding company of, or significant investor in, a number of major companies within our specialty industries.