Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, Inc. is Designated a Licensed Depository by NYMEX and COMEX; Agreement Further Enhances the Firm's Presence in the Physical Precious Metals Market.

NEW YORK -- Manfra, Tordella & Brookes, Inc., ("MTB"), a leading distributor of gold, silver, platinum and palladium bars and legal tender bullion coins for industrial and investment purposes, said today they have been designated by the New York Mercantile Exchange, ("NYMEX"), to be a Licensed Depository authorized to act as a Delivery Point for its gold, platinum and palladium Futures Contracts.

Established in 1957, MTB has achieved a major position in the United States, selling, buying, and storing Good Delivery brands, of gold silver, platinum and palladium bars including the popular PAMP S.A. ("PAMP") FORTUNA investment bars, featured on the cover of the March 2006 issue of Forbes Magazine. Additionally, the firm offers a full range of international legal tender bullion coins issued by major Government Mints, including the U.S. Mint.

Today's appointment enhances MTB's leadership in these specialized fields enabling it to better service its industrial and investment customers.

MTB is a wholly owned subsidiary of MKS Finance S.A. ("MKS"), a major privately held privately held precious metals trading, refining and fabricating group. Based in Switzerland, MKS is a non-clearing member of NYMEX, COMEX, The International Monetary market ("IMM") Division of Chicago Mercantile Exchange ("CME"), associate member of the London Bullion Market Association ("LBMA") and of the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). The PAMP Hallmark is accredited with Good Delivery status on NYMEX, COMEX, Chicago Board of Trade ("CBOT"), LBMA and the TOCOM.

The NYMEX is the largest physical commodity exchange in the world, offering futures and options trading in energy and metals contracts, and clearing services for off-exchange energy transactions. Through a combination of open outcry floor trading and the NYMEX ACCESS and NYMEX ClearPort-trading electronic platforms, a wide range of products - including crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, coal, electricity, gold, silver, copper, aluminum and platinum group metals markets - are available virtually 24 hours each day.

MTB's designation will provide both NYMEX and COMEX members with an additional precious metals Depository in New York City while considerably expanding the firm's range of activities in the physical precious metals business.