Here is the History of

Northwestern Steel & Wire Co.

as taken from http://www.nwsw.com.

1800's To 1950

1879Washington Dillon and William Robinson file for incorporation of Northwestern Steel and Wire.

1883Death of William Robinson.

1892Dillon-Griswold Wire Company established between Washington Dillon and J.W. Griswold.

1902Dillon-Griswold partnership ends after Griswold's death. Washington� Dillon returns to operation of Northwestern Barb Wire Company.

1903Paul Dillon� becomes plant superintendent at age 20

1914Northwestern buys former Dillon-Griswold plant and moves into new quarters.

1920Washington Dillon dies. Paul Dillon is elected President by Board of Directors

1928First major� fire in the Wire Mill

1930Martin Dillon� is named to head subsidiary: Parrish-Alford Fence and Machine Company of Knightstown, Indiana.

1936Northwestern begins to make steel in two small electric furnaces. Steam locomotives are� acquired for intra-mill switching. Billet Mill and Rod Mill are installed.

1938Company name is changed to Northwestern Steel and Wire Company.

1939Second major fire destroys Wire Mill. Rebuilding begins three days later.

1940Two 50-ton electric furnaces are installed to replace original 10-ton� units

1950 46 Inch Blooming Mill (``A" Mill) and 12 Inch Bar Mill are installed in newly constructed West Plant area.

1950-1970

1951Two 150-ton� Electric Furnace are installed to meet increasing demands for hot rolled bar� products. Paul Dillon is named Chairman of the Board and Martin Dillon is elected President

195720 Inch� Structural Mill is installed in Plant 3.

1960Northwestern Steel and Wire Company begins first trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

196224 Inch� Structural Mill is added alongside 20 Inch Mill in Plant 3.

1963 The Sales Department, long operated as a single unit selling all products, is split� into two Sales Divisions: Hot Rolled Products and Merchant Wire Products.

1967#6 Furnace and building installed.

1968#6 Pollution equipment installed. 250 ton Electric Furnace is installed in new� building.

The 70's

1970 #7 Furnace installed, building extended.

1971Largest� Electric Furnace in the world, the 400 ton Northwestern #7, is installed. Peter� Dillon, great-grandson of Washington Dillon is named Vice President and Director. Clarifier and Drum Filter building is installed.

1972Charging Bay is added to furnace building.

1973Work begins on installation of 46 Inch Blooming Mill (``B" Mill) and 14 Inch Merchant Bar Mill.

197414 Inch Mill Reheat Furnace is installed.

1975#8 Furnace installed. 14 Inch Mill stands, motor room, lagoon, etc. installed (Great Lakes� Steel). 12 Inch Mill double line installed and old coilers removed.

1975Baghouse Pollution system installed

1976A major� expansion begins with the installation of a second 400 ton furnace, a new 14� Inch Bar Mill and a second 46 Inch Blooming Mill.

197714 Inch Mill north cooling bed installed. The first water cooled wall panel built by� Northwestern in the Furnace Department. Computerized inventory.

1978 Wean-United wall panels installed in the Furnace Department and long barrel ingot press built by Northwestern. #6 Furnace upgraded with panel water� system.

197914 Inch� Finishing and Straightening facilities added (Birdsboro).

1979The 250 ton� Furnace is scheduled to undergo conversion into a third 400 ton Furnace. 500 ft. west building extension and south bay added to the 14 Inch Mill.

The 80's

1980 P.W. Dillon dies. Peter Dillon named President.

1981Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new Continuous Caster Facility. The 150,000 square foot building will house two new concast machines: a six-strand Bloom Caster and an eight-strand Billet Caster.

198212 Inch Bar� Mill revamped: stands, shears, pilers, etc.

1983August 1,� 1983: USWA, Local 63 Steel Division employees declare a strike at 12:40 a.m. The walkout, which affected approximately 1,800 employees, occurred when the Company� and Union failed to reach an agreement on the economic issues in order to replace the three-year contract expiring August 1, 1983. October 24, 1983: 85� day strike against the Company was ended when the Union membership voted 846 to 666 to accept the Company's proposal.

1984Opening of new Nail Mill Facility and Warehouse.

1985February 18, 1985: Peter Dillon, formerly President, is promoted to Vice Chairman, and will become Chief Executive Officer on March 19, 1985. Robert Wilthew is elected� President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors.� Wilthew was formerly with Copperweld Steel Company, Warren, Ohio. March 19,� 1985: Martin Dillon (age 75), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer retires� as Chief Executive Officer after serving over fifty-five years as an employee of� the Company. He continues as Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors. March 19, 1985: Peter Dillon becomes Chief Executive Officer

1986March 19,� 1986: Robert M. Wilthew, President, is designated Chief Executive Officer. Peter W. Dillon, formerly Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is elected� Chairman of the Board and Chairman of a reconstituted Executive Committee of the Board. W. Martin Dillon, who continues as a Director, is named Chairman� Emeritus.

1988February 5,� 1988: Northwestern Steel and Wire enters into an agreement with NW Acquisition� Corporation pursuant to which NW Acquisition Corporation will merge into the� Company, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. February 27, 1988: USWA (Locals 63 and 3720) vote in favor of ESOP proposal. August 16, 1988 : Merger with NW Acquisition became effective. September 28,� 1988: NWSW approves the plan to complete the acquisition, modernization and production of wide flange beams at the former Armco site in Houston, TX.

1989June 22, 1989: Northwestern Steel and Wire completes the acquisition of the former Armco Steel� Mill in Houston, Texas. October 16, 1989 : Groundbreaking for $25 million� 3-strand Jumbo Beam Blank Caster project. December 25, 1989: W. Martin� Dillon dies.

The 90's

1990 A new� ladle metallurgy furnace (the largest in the world) is installed. 3 Strand Jumbo� Beam Blank Caster installation started. February 20, 1990: Robert M.� Wilthew retires as President and CEO. He will remain with the Company for a� transitional period until the selection of his successor.

1991Jumbo Caster started up. January 1, 1991: Robert N. Gurnitz joins the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as a member of the Board of Directors.

1992Kohlberg & Company, an investment banking firm, purchased 51% of the Company.

1993June 11, 1993: Northwestern announces pricing of initial public offering. All of the common stock and senior notes were offered by the Company. No securities sold by� security holders, including KNSW Acquisition Company, L.P., an affiliate of� Kohlberg & Co., L.P. June 17, 1993: Northwestern announces completion� of initial public offering.

1994January 21,� 1994: Robert Gurnitz appointed to additional post of Chairman of the Board. June 8, 1994: Announcement that NWSW will sponsor a Family Health Center to provide medicalcare for eligible NWSW employees, retirees, and dependents. The Family Health Center is scheduled to open in early January, 1995.

1995January 11,� 1995: NWSW Family Health Center opens. May 1, 1995: NWSW confirms its decision to locate a new concrete reinforcing mesh production facility in� Hickman, KY. The Company will construct a 195,000 foot facility on 60 acres of land.

1996January, 1996: Construction of Hickman Facility completed. September 9, 1996: Richard D. Way is elected President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Robert N. Gurnitz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

1997March 28,� 1997: Robert N. Gurnitz resigns as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Thomas A. Gildehaus named as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. July 16, 1997: NWSW announces that it will proceed with plans to close permanently� its rolling mill in Houston, Texas.

1998Febuary 13,� 1998: Northwestern signs letter of intent to merge with Bayou Steel Corporation. April 27th, 1998: Northwestern Terminates Merger Discussions with Bayou Steel Corporation

1998Company� announces Exit From Most Wire Products.

1998Appointment of Frederick Rocchio as President and Chief Executive Officer with William Andrews� Being appointed as Chairmen of the Board. Richard Way announces his retirement as of January 1, 1999.

1998Thomas Gildehaus, Chief Executive Officer Retires.

1999 April: Company announces the sale of the Hickman Kentucky Facilities.

1999 August: Company announces furnace revamp. A new AC Energy Optimized Bottom Tap (EOBT) will be modified for the #8 furnace at Northwestern. It will still remain the largest EAF in the world.

2000 December: Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.p>

2001 May: Announces closing of all Plants and will cease operations. Pays 1.4 million in bonus money to top management.

2002 May: Leggett & Platt, AKA Sterling Steel LLC, purchases parts of NWSW for four million dollars.

2002 July: Files Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.