Locus Technologies completes due diligence of Ascometal plants in France

WALNUT CREEK, CA., 25 May 1999 — Usinor, the world’s second largest steelmaker, concluded an agreement on May 14, 1999, for the sale of Ascométal to the Italian steelmaker Lucchini S.p.A. Aster, the Usinor group’s wholly owned holding company for specialty steels businesses, will sell 100 percent of Ascométal and its Safe subsidiary to Lucchini. Locus Technologies (Locus) today announced that they acted as consultant to Lucchini S.p.A for environmental due diligence of Ascométal plants in France. Ascométal produces special long-steel products, and Safe is its forging subsidiary. Together, the two companies had 1998 net sales of 750 million euros, representing 7 percent of Usinor’s consolidated sales. Ascométal, with four electric furnace steel production units and four transformation and distribution facilities, sold 1.1 million metric tons of rolled long-steel products in 1998.

Lucchini SpA had consolidated sales of 990 million euros in 1998 and a production of approximately 2 million metric tons of rolled long-steel products. Lucchini is a European leader in the special long-products segment.

“This is obviously an important development for Locus,” said Neno Duplancic, President and CEO of Locus Technologies. “It demonstrates our competitive position and ability to provide due diligence and other environmental services in Europe. We are happy that our contribution to environmental due diligence helped close this important transaction for our client.” With this project, Locus continues its expansion into Europe.

Locus Technologies awarded remediation system installation at Union Pacific Railroad Yard in Tracy, CA.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., 5 May 1999 — Locus Technologies today announced that they were awarded a contract for groundwater remediation system installation at Union Pacific Railroad’s yard in Tracy, CA.

The remediation project will be managed in four phases: (1) construction of the infiltration trench, (2) construction of the extraction wells, (3) installation of the treatment system, and (4) system automation. As a leader in the field of groundwater treatment and automation, Locus will apply the most advanced techniques for installation of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems.

Locus Technologies is thrilled to have the opportunity to install an advanced automated groundwater treatment system at UPRR’s Tracy Yard. This is the third in a series of UPRR groundwater treatment system automation projects awarded to Locus Technologies in recent months. “It clearly demonstrates that Locus’s state-of-the-art Internet-based automation technology, when coupled with system installation, provides significant reduction of the overall cost for groundwater remediation projects. We are pleased that we can transfer those savings to UPRR,” said Mr. Neno Duplancic, President of Locus Technologies.