Optima Specialty Steel, Inc., a portfolio company of Optima Acquisitions, LLC, announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc., to acquire 100% of KES Acquisition Company dba Kentucky Electric Steel (KES).

KES is a value-added manufacturer of special bar quality (SBQ) and merchant bar quality (MBQ) flat steel products. KES has been a supplier to Optima Specialty Steel and contributes to Optima Specialty Steel’s long-term strategy alongside its current wholly owned subsidiaries Niagara LaSalle Corporation (Niagara LaSalle) and Michigan Seamless Tube, LLC (MST). Niagara LaSalle is a specialty steel processor and is North America’s largest independent manufacturer of high quality engineered cold finished steel bars. MST is a specialty steel processor and a leading independent manufacturer of value-added precision-tolerance, cold drawn seamless tubes.

Kevin Stevick, CEO and President of Optima Specialty Steel stated, "I am pleased that KES will become a part of the Optima Specialty Steel family. KES fits perfectly into Optima Specialty Steel’s long-term strategy of building a leading specialty steel producer that delivers the best steel products to our customers. Optima Specialty Steel, its management team and employees are delighted by this opportunity to continue to solidify its position in the specialty steel industry and to strengthen relationships with its customers and suppliers."

The transaction is subject, among other conditions, to an ALJ shareholder vote, obtaining necessary regulatory approvals and arrangement of financing by Optima. The transaction is expected to close in December 2012.

Jefferies & Company, Inc. acted as the financial advisor and Baker & McKenzie acted as legal counsel to Optima. Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. and Roth Capital Partners, LLC acted as the financial advisors and Morrison & Foerster LLP acted as legal counsel to ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc. and KES Acquisition Company.

Optima Acquisitions, LLC is a U.S.-based investment firm with affiliated holdings in steel, ferroalloys, mining, real-estate and other industries. Current affiliated companies in the steel and metals industry include Optima Specialty Steel, Inc., Warren Steel Holdings, LLC, Steel Rolling Holdings, Inc., CC Metals & Alloys, LLC, Felman Production, Inc. and Felman Trading, Inc.

Optima Specialty Steel, Inc., headquartered in Miami, Fla., is one of North America’s leading independent manufacturers of high quality cold drawn seamless tubes and cold finished steel bars. As a steel processing specialist, the company leverages its technical expertise, skilled workforce and sophisticated equipment to produce highly engineered products including pressure-carbon, pressure-alloy, mechanical-carbon and mechanical-alloy tubing and specialty bars that meet its clients’ exact order specifications. Optima Specialty Steel is operated by its two wholly-owned subsidiaries: South Lyon, Mich.-based Michigan Seamless Tube, LLC and Hammond, Ind.-based Niagara LaSalle Corporation.