MKS Finance S.A. & Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, Inc. Announce U.S. Mint Designation; Leading Precious Metals Distributor Urges Investors to Go For 'SOLID' Gold.

NEW YORK -- MKS Finance S.A. ("MKS") with Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, Inc., ("MTB"), the New York based precious metal distributor, said today that The United States Mint ("Mint") had approved their groups designation as an Authorized Purchaser of the Mint's American Eagle Gold, Silver and Platinum Bullion Coin Program. American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins are America's only official gold bullion coins whose weight, content and purity are guaranteed by the U.S. government.

MTB is a wholly owned subsidiary of MKS and PAMP S.A., the world's leading privately held precious metals trading, refining and fabricating group, refining over twelve million ounces of gold annually. Known primarily as major fabricators and distributors of industrial and investment gold bars and coin blanks, their clients include international gold mining companies, the jewelry industry, government Mints, Central and Commercial Banks and wholesale distributors.

Long recognized as a major player in the precious metals investment market, MTB distributes investment bullion coins and gold bars in the U.S. and internationally. In making the announcement MTB's Chief Executive Officer, Raymond Nessim, came out strongly in support of "solid" or physical gold investment as the better way to achieve portfolio diversification.

Today's investors are being offered several ways to invest in gold including a new breed of securitized products which investors are told, provide all of the security of physical gold without their having to take possession of the metal and deal with storage, insurance and the like. While it was true, some investors had concerns about storage and insurance. The fact is that taking possession of physical gold bullion coins and gold bars today could not be easier.

Mr. Nessim said that while MTB thoroughly approves of the new products introduced by the World Gold Council and the many other gold linked instruments currently on offer to investors, it was necessary to dispel the misplaced concerns some investors may have about investing in legal tender gold bullion coins and internationally recognized brands of gold bars.

"As one of America's major gold wholesalers and retailers, we have long supported the concept that investors hold about 3% of physical gold in their portfolio in order to diversify their investments. Many investment experts believe that adding gold to investment portfolios may improve its performance. That is because the forces that determine gold's price usually differ from, and in many cases counter, the forces that determine the price of many financial assets. Investment advisors often suggest that this relationship may help to reduce portfolio volatility," he said.

Mr. Nessim said investors have several choices when setting about owning gold which might involve physical delivery or storage. They might choose to take physical delivery and enjoy the security of continuing to have their investment stored in any one of the public gold depositories, or have their gold delivered to their bank's safe deposit box, or have MTB depository store the gold for their account in the firm's insured vaults for a small cost.

"It is very simple process, not nearly as complicated as some may be led to believe," said Mr. Nessim, adding that MTB also provides a retail window in New York, buying and selling investment gold products specializing in high volume bullion, low premium and low margin investment products as opposed to low volume, high premium numismatics.

Editor's Note

Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, Inc. ("MTB"), in the precious metals distribution business since 1957, has been a major distributor of physical precious metal coins and investment gold and palladium bar business in the United States. It enjoys distribution rights from major government mints in the world, for bullion coins. It is a major wholesale distributor of gold, silver, platinum and palladium investment products dealing with coin distributors and private investors.