SOUTHAMPTON, Pa.,
Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Environmental Tectonics
Corporation (Amex: ETC) ("ETC" or the "Company") today announced that on
January 31, 2008, it had received an extension (the "Extension") on its credit
agreement waiver, originally received
November 21, 2007, from PNC Bank,
National Association ("PNC"), which extends the waiver to
May 31, 2008. This
extension agreement requires ETC to deliver to PNC its restated financial
statements for the fiscal year ended
February 23, 2007 no later than
May 31,
2008.
On July 31, 2007, ETC completed a refinancing (the "Refinancing") of its
indebtedness with PNC in the aggregate amount of up to $15,000,000. In
connection with the Refinancing, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement
(the "Credit Agreement") with PNC. The terms of the Credit Agreement and the
related documents are described in a Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 31,
2007 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2007.
As previously disclosed on November 14, 2007, the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company, in consultation with management, determined
that the Company would need to restate its previously issued consolidated
financial statements for prior periods, including the periods ended November
24, 2006 and February 23, 2007, due to errors in accounting with respect to
accounts receivable related to the carrying value of a claims receivable
booked in connection with a contract with the Department of the Navy for a
submarine decompression chamber project.
As a result of the proposed restatement, the Company was in breach of the
representation and warranty contained in Section 7(a) of the Credit Agreement
with respect to its previously delivered financial statements as set forth in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February
23, 2007. This breach constituted an Event of Default under the Credit
Agreement and related documents. In addition, the proposed restatement caused
the Company to be in breach of the Consolidated Tangible Net Worth covenant
set forth in the Credit Agreement. As the Company previously disclosed, PNC
waived the Financial Statement Default (and any comparable default in respect
of the Company's financial statements as of any prior fiscal period), provided
that the Company delivered to PNC its restated financial statements for the
fiscal year ended February 23, 2007 no later than January 31, 2008. PNC also
waived the Net Worth Covenant Default as of February 23, 2007.
The Extension does not obligate PNC to grant any future extension for the
date on which the Company must deliver its restated financial statements for
the fiscal year ended February 23, 2007.
Additionally, on January 30, 2008, the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company engaged Friedman LLP as the Company's registered
public accounting firm for the Company.
ETC designs, develops, installs and maintains aircrew training systems
(aeromedical, tactical combat and general), disaster management training
systems and services, entertainment products, sterilizers (steam and gas),
environmental testing products, hyperbaric chambers and related products for
domestic and international customers.
This press release may include forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We have based these forward-
looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future
events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company that may cause our
actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any other future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect
to ETC's vision, mission, strategies, goals, beliefs, plans, objectives,
expectations, anticipations, estimates, intentions, financial condition,
results of operations, future performance and business of ETC, including but
not limited to, (i) projections of revenue, costs of raw materials, income or
loss, earnings or loss per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects,
dividends, capital structure, other financial items and the effects of
currency fluctuations, (ii) statements of plans and objectives of ETC or its
management or Board of Directors, including the introduction of new products,
or estimates or predictions of actions of customers, suppliers, competitors or
regulatory authorities, (iii) statements of future economic performance, (iv)
statements of assumptions and other statements about ETC or its business, (v)
statements made about the possible outcomes of litigation involving ETC, and
(vi) statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "may",
"could", "should", "looking forward", "would", "believe", "expect",
"anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", or the negative of such terms or
similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties which are subject to change based on various important factors.
Some of these risks and uncertainties, in whole or in part, are beyond ETC's
control. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a material difference
include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Securities and
Exchange Commission filings and other public documents, including, without
limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February
23, 2007. Shareholders are urged to review these risks carefully prior to
making an investment in the ETC's common stock.
The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not
exclusive. ETC does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement,
whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of
ETC.
Contact: Duane D. Deaner, CFO
Tel: 215-355-9100 (ext. 1203)
Fax: 215-357-4000
ETC - Internet Home Page: http://www.etcusa.com