Ameritrans Announces Special Meeting of Shareholders

Ameritrans Capital Corporation (NASDAQ:AMTC, AMTCP)
today announced it has scheduled a Special Meeting of Shareholders to
be held Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 10:00 a.m., at the law offices of
Stursberg & Veith in New York City, to vote on a proposal to make a
private offering of the Company's common stock, $.0001 par value, at a
fixed purchase price of no less than book value as of July 18, 2005 to
a limited number of "accredited investors," as that term is defined in
Rule 506 of Regulation D, promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. For every four (4) shares of common stock purchased,
the Company will issue to the investor one (1) warrant, exercisable
for five (5) years from the date of issuance, to purchase one (1)
share of common stock at an exercise price to be fixed at a specified
dollar amount that is no less than book value and no more than 110% of
book value. The securities sold in this offering will not be and have
not been registered with the Securities Exchange Commission and may
not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements. Definitive proxy
materials were mailed to shareholders on or about June 27, 2005.
   Commenting on the proposal, Gary C. Granoff, the Company's
President said, "The Board of Directors and Management believe that
raising additional capital at this time will allow the Company to
expand its investment portfolio and diversify the Company's
investments beyond the SBA-regulated loans and investments of our
subsidiary, Elk Associates Funding Corporation. This diversification
will benefit both the Company and its Shareholders by providing the
Company with the flexibility to participate in a wide range of
investment opportunities."
   The Company filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC on
June 27, 2005. Investors and security holders are urged to read these
materials and any other relevant materials filed by Ameritrans with
the SEC because they contain important information about Ameritrans
and the proposal to be presented at the Special Meeting of
Shareholders. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of
these materials when they become available, as well as other materials
filed with the SEC concerning the Company at the SEC's website,
http://www.sec.gov.
   Ameritrans Capital Corporation, its respective board members and
executive officers, other members of management, and employees may be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the
Shareholders of the Company in connection with this proposal.
Information about the board members and executive officers of the
Company, their ownership of the Company's shares and interests of such
participants is set forth in the definitive proxy statement and other
statements filed with the SEC concerning the Company.
   Ameritrans Capital Corporation is a specialty finance company
engaged in making loans to and investments in small businesses.
Ameritrans' wholly owned subsidiary, Elk Associates Funding
Corporation, was licensed by the United States Small Business
Administration as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) in 1980.
The Company maintains its offices at 747 Third Avenue, 4th Floor; New
York, NY 10017.

   This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those presently
anticipated or projected. Ameritrans Capital Corporation cautions
investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which speak only as to management's expectations on this date.