Breeze-Eastern Reports Revised Sales And Adjusted EBITDA TargetsUnion, New Jersey - December 12, 2007 - Breeze Eastern Corporation (AMEX:BZC)
reported today that the continuing impasse in Congress on enactment of appropriations
to fund the Global War on Terror has caused the Company to revise its fiscal
2008 Sales target from $77 million to approximately $74 million and its Adjusted
EBITDA target from $15.9 million to approximately $13.3 million, without regard
to any potential benefits related to the recently announced contract for the
sale and leaseback of the Union, NJ facility. The governmental impasse is primarily
responsible for a substantial shortfall in orders for spare parts, a situation
that was referenced in the Company's second quarter earnings release. The Company
expects that greater than projected sales of new production will partially offset
this shortfall, but not to the level necessary to achieve the previously stated
Sales and Adjusted EBITDA targets. While acknowledging that the governmental
impasse is having a short term negative effect, the Company believes its ability
to partially offset the shortfall through new production shipments and its continued
success in winning new programs that support its strategic plan objectives are
more indicative of favorable long term trends.
Robert White, President and CEO stated, "In our second quarter earnings
release issued on October 25, 2007, we stated that an extended delay in certain
appropriations associated with the Federal Government defense budget would present
an obstacle, especially in regards to achieving our gross margin, and therefore
would negatively impact Adjusted EBITDA to an extent that might prove impractical
for us to overcome in achieving our original FY 2008 targets. In addition, I
emphasized in the earnings conference call on that day the importance to us
of settling the governmental defense appropriation impasse during this quarter.
So far, that has not happened. While we remain confident that the unrealized
portion of the anticipated spare parts sales will eventually be ordered, we
do not expect to deliver them in fiscal 2008. Notwithstanding the anticipated
shortfalls in meeting our fiscal 2008 financial targets, we expect a reduction
of debt for the fiscal year of approximately $14 million, $5 million of which
is expected to come from operations and approximately $9 million of which is
anticipated upon the closing of the recently announced contract for sale and
lease-back of the Union, New Jersey facility. If the contract contingencies
are timely satisfied, it is anticipated that the sale and lease back will close
in the Company's fiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2008. The sale and lease-back
of the facility is an element of the Company's strategic plan announced in February
2007, and is one step in the ultimate relocation of the Company's facility to
a new site, yet to be selected, that will be better suited to its current and
expected needs."
The Company discloses Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization, interest and other income/expense and loss on extinguishment
of debt) in addition to disclosing operating income (gross profit less general,
administrative and selling expenses) and the Company's financial results determined
in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").
Adjusted EBITDA and operating income are presented as supplemental measures
of performance. The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA because it considers it
an important supplemental measure of performance. Measures similar to Adjusted
EBITDA are widely used by the Company and by others in the Company's industry
to evaluate performance and price potential acquisition candidates. The Company
believes Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons from
period to period and company to company by backing out potential differences
caused by variations in capital structure (affecting relative interest expense),
tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective
tax rates or net operating losses) and the age and book depreciation of facilities
and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense). The Company also presents
Adjusted EBITDA because it believes it is frequently used by investors and other
interested parties as a basis for evaluating performance to formulate investment
decisions.
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered
in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported
under GAAP. Some of the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA are that (i) it does
not reflect the Company's cash expenditures for capital assets, (ii) it does
not reflect the significant interest expense or cash requirements necessary
to service interest or principal payments on the Company's debt, and (iii) it
does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the Company's working
capital. Furthermore, other companies in the aerospace and defense industry
may calculate these measures differently than the manner presented above. Accordingly,
the Company focuses primarily on its GAAP results and uses Adjusted EBITDA only
supplementally.
Breeze Eastern Corporation (http://www.breeze-eastern.com) is the world's leading
designer and manufacturer of sophisticated lifting devices for military and
civilian aircraft, including rescue hoists, cargo hooks, and weapons-lifting
systems. The Company, formerly known as TransTechnology Corporation, employs
approximately 180 people at its facility in Union, New Jersey, and reported
net sales of $73.3 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Acts").
Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact are
deemed to be forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current
beliefs, estimates and assumptions concerning the operations, future results,
and prospects of the Company. As actual operations and results may materially
differ from those assumed in forward-looking statements, there is no assurance
that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements
are subject to the safe harbors created in the Acts.
Any number of factors could affect future operations and results, including,
without limitation, closing on the contract for the sale of the Company's Union,
New Jersey facility; competition from other companies; changes in applicable
laws, rules and regulations affecting the Company in the locations in which
it conducts its business; the availability of equity and/or debt financing in
the amounts and on the terms necessary to support the Company's future business;
interest rate trends; determination by the Company to dispose of or acquire
additional assets; general industry and economic conditions; events impacting
the U.S. and world financial markets and economies; and those specific risks
that are discussed in the Company's previously filed Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the period ended September 30, 2007.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information or future events.
Contact: Robert L.G. White
President and CEO
Phone: 908/206-3700
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