The Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 for Steel Technologies’ pending merger agreement with Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co.

Steel Technologies had previously signed a definitive merger agreement with Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), pursuant to which Steel Technologies and a subsidiary of Mitsui will merge. Steel Technologies’ shareholders will receive $30 per share in this all-cash transaction.

The transaction remains subject to shareholder approval as well as the satisfaction of other previously disclosed closing conditions, including clearance by governmental authorities under the antitrust laws of Mexico.

Steel Technologies will hold a special meeting of shareholders on Wednesday, May 30, 2007, to consider and vote on a proposal to ratify, adopt and approve the merger agreement.

Steel Technologies, a leading North American steel processor and converter of flat-rolled steel, processes flat-rolled steel to specific thickness, width, temper, finish and shape requirements for automotive, appliance, lawn and garden, office furniture, agriculture, construction, hardware, and consumer goods. Headquartered in Louisville, Steel Technologies operates 25 steel processing facilities, including its joint venture operations, throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Mitsui & Co. (USA), Inc., a New York corporation, is the largest wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., a diversified global trading, investment and service enterprise. Mitsui USA has operations in iron and steel products and raw materials, infrastructure projects, machinery, information technology, chemicals, plastics, energy and consumer products, among others.