Republic Financial Receives Nomination for Al-jon Deal

Republic Financial Corp., an Aurora, Colo.- based privately held company with investment interests in a diverse group of companies, industries and assets, has announced that it has been nominated by The M&A Advisor in the category of outstanding achievements in the middle market financing industry.

Republic's Private Equity Group’s acquisition of Ottumwa, Iowa-based Al-jon Inc., a maker of car crushing and portable baling equipment, is a finalist in the category of Financing Deal of the Year, Manufacturing.

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner at the close of The M&A Advisor's Conference Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at The Drake Hotel in Chicago.

"We are proud that our work on this transaction is receiving acknowledgement in the industry," Bill Haan, president of Republic's Private Equity Group, says. "What makes the deal unique is a mutual dedication of both the buyer and the seller to the strategic growth initiatives of the company. Our team worked with Al-jon's management team in due diligence to identify the key initiatives that would create the maximum value for all stakeholders and established a program to achieve our growth objectives.” Haan adds, “The Al-jon partnership is an excellent example of how we differentiate ourselves in an increasingly competitive private equity marketplace as a buyer that can deliver more than just capital."