THE SCOWCROFT GROUP AND GLOBALSECNINE, INC. ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO SOURCE DEALS IN SECURITY SECTOR

February 16, 2005

Washington, DC—The Scowcroft Group, a business advisory firm headed by Brent Scowcroft, and GlobeSecNine, Inc., a private investment firm, have formed a strategic alliance to pursue private equity investment opportunities in the homeland defense and security sectors. Investments are expected to be funded by GlobeSecNine, primarily through its alliance with the $1.5 billion Bear Stearns Merchant Banking fund. GlobeSecNine and The Scowcroft Group will jointly provide the acumen and expertise to accelerate growth and profitability in business investments. Transaction structures could include traditional leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and monetization of corporate divisions/subsidiaries to provide existing owners/managers with partial liquidity, and co-investments with reputable strategic or financial buyers. “GlobeSecNine and The Scowcroft Group bring valuable insights and unique skills to this sector,” said Rick Perkal, Bear Stearns Merchant Banking Senior Managing Director and head of the security and defense team. Last September, Bear Stearns announced its alliance with GlobeSecNine to invest in homeland defense and security. “Our new relationship with GlobeSecNine allows us to expand the range of services offered to our clients,” said General Scowcroft. The Scowcroft Group provides geopolitical advice and investment opportunities to many of the Fortune 50 companies. Anthony D. Padgett, CEO of GlobeSecNine, said, “Our view is that there are good opportunities now, with a number of under capitalized companies poised for growth and, if appropriate, consolidation. Working with The Scowcroft Group on a formal basis will be a great benefit to our ability to source and execute proprietary deals.”

About GlobeSecNine a private investment firm, concentrates its investment focus on sectors in which is has built recognized expertise: security, defense and counter-terrorism. The company’s mission is to be a leading private equity firm in the security sector, leveraging the insight of GlobeSecNine’s executive team and board of advisors to generate extraordinary returns across a range of investment choices, while maintaining its focus on improving the security of the USA, its allies and their citizens and businesses. www.globesecnine.com