Arotech Acquires Epsilor Electronic Industries Ltd - a Leading Military Lithium Battery Manufacturer; Transaction to Acquire FAAC Inc was Closed Yesterday.Business Editors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2004 Arotech Corporation (NasdaqNM:ARTX) announced today that it has acquired Epsilor Electronic Industries Ltd., a privately owned Israeli corporation. For more than 10 years, Epsilor has developed and sold rechargeable and primary lithium batteries and smart chargers to the military, and to private industry in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. This acquisition will significantly expand Arotech's array of energy solutions for a variety of military applications. With Epsilor, Arotech's battery-related business is projected to increase profitability in 2004. Epsilor's revenues in 2002 totaled $4.8 million, with a pre-tax profit of $1.7 million, with 2003 revenue projected at over $5 million, and a pre-tax profit of $1.85 million. The purchase price for Epsilor is $7 million in cash, with an additional $3 million paid over the next three years. Epsilor management will continue to manage the company as a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Arotech. Recent developments and improvements in lithium rechargeable batteries have caused the US military, as well as armies worldwide, to shift many battery-operated devices to cost-effective rechargeable batteries. Non-rechargeable batteries continue to be the leading source of energy in war and during limited conflicts. With this acquisition, Arotech will be positioned to become an important supplier in three important military battery markets: non-rechargeable zinc-air, non-rechargeable lithium, and rechargeable lithium, along with associated smart chargers. Arotech plans to introduce the acquired lithium-based battery technology to its Auburn, Alabama Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2006 population of 51,906 (according to the U.S. Census estimates).[1] battery plant, as a base for broadening its US military battery market. In parallel, the acquired company has already developed European and Asian military markets for its batteries, which Arotech will utilize to expand the reach of its BA-8180/U zinc-air battery Zinc-air batteries, also called “zinc-air fuel cells,“ are non-rechargeable electro-chemical batteries powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air. These batteries have very high energy densities and are relatively inexpensive to produce. . "With this acquisition we will be able to become a significant player in the worldwide emerging market of rechargeable power products for military applications, making us a larger, more diversified company diversified company A company engaged in varied business operations not directly related to one another. A diversified company is less likely to suffer either a collapse or a spectacular gain in earnings compared with a firm concentrating its operations in a that is better able to compete for military orders," said Robert S. Ehrlich, Arotech's Chairman, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "As we said before, the synergy between the two companies will allow us to have a strong presence in the market, with greater efficiency and profitability for the entire group." The Company also announced today that it has closed the transaction to acquire FAAC FAAC Freeware Advanced Audio Coder FAAC Ford Amateur Astronomy Club FAAC Family Allergy and Asthma Care FAAC Functional Area Agreement Coordinator (USAF) FAAC Fatal Accident Assessment Committee Incorporated, a privately owned corporation with corporate headquarters located in Ann Arbor, Michigan “Ann Arbor” redirects here. For other uses, see Ann Arbor (disambiguation). Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. . FAAC is a provider of simulators, systems engineering and software products to the United States military, government and private industry. About Arotech Corporation 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 MDT abbr. Mountain Daylight Time MDT (in the US and Canada) Mountain Daylight Time MDT n abbr (US) (= mountain daylight time) → 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 New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of 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 The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and 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 Capital requirements Financing required for the operation of a business, composed of long-term and working capital plus fixed assets. ; and other risk factors detailed in Arotech's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 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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