NS Group Introduces "Koppel MTX" - First Seamless Martensitic Stainless Production Tubing Made in U.S.A.

Business Editors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2002

Patented steel offers best-in-class properties for deep wells

and hostile environments at reduced costs

NS Group, Inc. introduced a new seamless production tubing product, Koppel MTX, made of martensitic stainless steel. The company announced the new product today at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). NS Group has a license agreement with Advanced Steel Technology, LLC to exclusively manufacture and sell the product. Dr. Robert F. Buck, president of Advanced Steel Technology, is the inventor of the new martensitic stainless steel used in Koppel MTX.

MTX tubing is a unique martensitic stainless steel because it was designed to produce the desired microstructure during the seamless tubemaking process, resulting in high strength and toughness with outstanding corrosion resistance. Koppel MTX tubing is ideally suited for sweet and slightly sour oil and gas applications and certain hostile environments including offshore, cold climate and deep (hot) wells.

Rene J. Robichaud, NS Group president and chief executive officer said, "This announcement has been four years in the making. In the past, exploration and production companies needed to source their 13-chrome (13Cr) type tubing from Japan or Europe. Now we will have a dependable source in the U.S.A. that can compete with the world's best 13Cr and super 13Cr products at a reasonable cost."

Laboratory testing in a variety of environments is nearing completion. To date, Koppel MTX production tubing has demonstrated outstanding results when compared to Japanese-made 13Cr and super 13Cr products. Test results indicate that Koppel MTX tubing is more corrosion resistant than 13Cr steel, more embrittlement resistant than super 13Cr steel, and stronger and tougher than any 13Cr or super 13Cr steel.

NS Group, through its subsidiary Koppel Steel, anticipates a commercial launch for this outstanding new product during the second half of 2002. This new domestic source of martensitic stainless steel production tubing will be available in a variety of yield strengths.

NS Group, Inc. is a leading producer of seamless and welded tubular products serving the energy industry. The company's tubular products are used in the drilling and exploration as well as the transmission of oil and natural gas. These tubular products are marketed primarily in the United States and certain foreign markets. NS Group is traded on the NYSE under the symbol NSS. To learn more about NS Group, log on to www.nsgrouponline.com

This report contains forward-looking information with respect to the company's operations and beliefs. Actual results may differ from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NS Group does not undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements.