The Alpine Group, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires, "Alpine" or the "Company") is a holding company which over the past several years has owned controlling equity interests in industrial businesses that have been operated as subsidiaries, including PolyVision Corporation ("PolyVision"), Premier Refractories International Inc. ("Premier"), Superior TeleCom Inc. ("Superior") and DNE Systems, Inc. (“DNE Systems”). At December 31, 2005, Alpine owned approximately 84% of Essex Electric Inc. ("Essex Electric"), which was engaged in...