Reliance Steel Buys Encore Group

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS) has completed its acquisition of Encore Group, an Edmonton, Alberta-based operator of metals service center companies (Encore Metals, Encore Metals USA Inc., Encore Coils, and Team Tube in Canada). No financial terms were disclosed. Encore was formed in 2004 via a management buyout sponsored by HSBC Canada. Its annual net sales for 2006 were approximately Cdn$259 million. www.rsac.com< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />