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Arotech To Acquire FAAC Incorporated
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A Leading Military Simulation Company
FAAC 2002 revenues over $15 million, with
$1.8 million in pre-tax profit;
2003 pre-tax profit forecast at $1.6 million
January
8, 2004 - Arotech Corporation (NasdaqNM: ARTX) announced today that
it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire FAAC Incorporated,
a privately-owned corporation with corporate headquarters located in
Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more than 30 years, FAAC has provided simulators,
systems engineering and software products to the United States military,
government and private industry. This acquisition will significantly
expand Arotech's simulation business into the military arena. The closing
of this transaction is expected to take place next week.
FAAC's 2002 revenues totaled over $15 million,
with a pre-tax profit of $1.8 million; pre-tax profit for 2003 is anticipated
to be $1.6 million. The purchase price is $14,000,000 ($12,000,000 in cash and
$2,000,000 in Arotech stock), plus an earn-out based on 2004 net pretax profit,
with an additional earn-out on the 2005 net profit from certain specific and
limited programs. FAAC management will stay with the company and will continue
to manage FAAC as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arotech.
The financing for the acquisition will come
from funds raised from the sale of the 8% convertible debentures in September
and December 2003. McColl Partners, LLC served as FAAC's exclusive financial
advisor on the transaction.
FAAC
is a leading provider of driving simulators. FAAC's fully interactive
driver-training systems feature state-of-the-art vehicle simulator technology
enabling training in situation awareness, risk analysis and decision
making, emergency reaction and avoidance procedures, and conscientious
equipment operation. FAAC has an installed base of 169 simulators that
have successfully trained over 78,000 drivers. FAAC's customer base
includes all branches of the Department of Defense, state and local
governments, and commercial entities.
FAAC is the premier developer of validated,
high fidelity analytical models and simulations of tactical air and land warfare
for all branches of the Department of Defense and its related industrial contractors.
Simulations developed by FAAC are found in systems ranging from instrumented
air combat and maneuver ranges (such as Top Gun) to full task training devices
such as the F-18 Weapon Tactics Trainer.
FAAC supplies on-board software to support weapon
launch decisions for the F-15, F-18, and Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
fighter aircraft. Pilots benefit by having highly accurate presentations
of their weapon's capabilities, including susceptibility to target defensive
reactions.
FAAC designed and developed an Instructor Operator
Station (IOS), Mission Operator Station (MOS) and real-time, database
driven Electronic Combat Environment (ECE) for the Special Operational
Forces Aircrew Training System (SOF ATS). The SOF ATS provides a full
range of aircrew training, including initial qualification, mission
qualification, continuation, and upgrade training, as well as combat
mission rehearsal.
"This acquisition will significantly increase
our revenues and lead us to consistent EBITDA profitability in 2004,"
said Robert S. Ehrlich, Arotech's Chairman, President and CEO. "Furthermore,
combining the strengths of FAAC, a leader in the military markets, and
IES Interactive, a leader in simulators for the law enforcement market,
clearly presents significant synergy advantages for Arotech."
Arotech also reported that it has not yet reached
a satisfactory agreement with the lithium battery company with which
it signed a letter of intent a few months ago. Arotech is continuing
negotiations, which it hopes will result in a definitive agreement early
in 2004.
About Arotech Corporation
Arotech's corporate mission is to provide
quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement and
homeland security markets, including advanced zinc-air batteries, multimedia
interactive simulators/trainers and lightweight armoring.
Arotech Corporation (www.arotech.com) operates
two business divisions: Electric Fuel Batteries - developing and manufacturing
zinc-air batteries for military and homeland security applications and developing
electric vehicle batteries for zero emission public transportation; and Arotech
Defense - consisting of IES Interactive, which provides advanced high-tech multimedia
training systems for law enforcement and paramilitary organizations, MDT Protective
Industries, which provides vehicle armoring for the military, industrial and
private sectors, and Arocon Security, which provides homeland security consulting
and other services.
Arotech is incorporated in Delaware and has
corporate and sales offices in New York and Denver with research, development
and production subsidiaries in Alabama, Colorado and Israel.
Except for the historical information herein,
the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements,
as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to vary significantly. These risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, risks relating to: product and technology development; the uncertainty
of the market for Arotech's products; changing economic conditions; delay, cancellation
or non-renewal, in whole or in part, of contracts or of purchase orders; significant
future capital requirements; and other risk factors detailed in Arotech's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Arotech assumes
no obligation to update the information in this release. Reference to the Company's
website above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information thereon
into this press release.
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