EX-99 2 l09915aexv99.htm EXHIBIT 99 PRESS RELEASE ISSUED OCTOBER 13, 2004 Exhibit 99
 

Exhibit 99

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

     
Contact:
  Robert L.G. White
President and CEO
Phone: 908/206-3700


TRANSTECHNOLOGY REPORTS FISCAL 2005 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

Union, New Jersey – October 13, 2004 — TransTechnology Corporation (NYSE:TT) today reported a net loss of $499,000 or $.07 per diluted share for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005 compared with net income of $508,000 or $.08 per diluted share in the year earlier period. Net sales for the fiscal 2005 second quarter decreased 6.6% to $15.2 million from $16.3 million for the corresponding period of last year.

For the six months ended September 26, 2004 the company reported net sales of $29.8 million, an 8.2% decrease from the prior year’s first half sales of $32.5 million. The net loss for the six months of the current fiscal year was $1.1 million or $.17 per diluted share. For last fiscal year’s first half the company reported net income of $1.2 million or $.18 per diluted share.

Robert L. G. White, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, said, “In contrast to the first quarter, sales in the overhaul and repair portion of our business reported a 14.7% increase from the same period last year and increased $1.1 million from the first quarter. Sales of new equipment were down $0.8 million from last year’s second quarter, primarily due to the completion of shipments of the HLU-196 Bomb Hoist for the U.S. Navy. As we said last quarter, the changes we have made to our overhaul and repair operation are beginning to show progress with the gross margin in that part of our business increasing in the second quarter from that of the first quarter. We expect to see continued improvements in the level of both shipments and gross margin in the overhaul and repair portion of our business as the year moves forward. Overall, our gross margin improved to 40.7% in the second quarter from 40.1% in the first quarter, although it remains below the 41.4% in the second quarter of last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $670,000 or 19.0% higher than in last year’s second quarter, primarily due to the recognition of $326,000 of legal and other costs associated with the United States Attorney’s investigation, increased product support and marketing costs of $239,000, and an increase in information technology costs of $143,000 associated with the installation of the new enterprise resource planning system. As a result of the lower sales and gross margin and higher selling, general, and administrative expenses, operating income decreased 38.0% to $2.0 million

700 Liberty Avenue • P.O. Box 3300 • Union • New Jersey 07083
Tel. 908.688.2440 • Fax 908.686.7485 • www.transtechnology.com


 

     
TransTechnology Corporation - October 13, 2004
Fiscal 2005 Second Quarter Earnings Release
  Page 2 of 2

from $3.2 million in last year’s second quarter and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased 37.4% to $2.4 million from $3.8 million.”

Mr. White continued, “Our primary focus, as always, is to continue to produce exceptional products for our customers and to provide them with exemplary customer service. We are pleased that, in this effort, we have recently entered into a new five-year labor agreement with our collective bargaining unit of the United Auto Workers, replacing the contract that expired on September 30th. We appreciate the dedication and continuing efforts of each of our employees as we strive to fulfill our mission. Operationally, we believe that our business is on the right track to achieve our corporate goals for the fiscal year of $64 million in revenues and $14 million of EBITDA. Our bookings of new orders were up substantially in the second quarter from the first, almost doubling to $17.3 million from $9.2 million, raising our backlog to $37.7 million at the end of the second quarter compared to $35.6 million at the end of the first quarter. As we announced last week, we are making progress on our refinancing and have received commitments for a new $71.5 million credit facility that will reduce our interest rate to approximately 11.25% from the current 19.75%, saving us over $5 million in interest expense annually. We are in the process of documenting this new facility, and we expect to complete this refinancing on or about the end of this month and, accordingly, have reflected the existing subordinated debt as long-term in the accompanying balance sheet information.”

Mr. White said, “We have held initial discussions with the United States Attorney’s office relative to the resolution of the issues associated with the investigation of our repair and overhaul business which commenced over one year ago. While it is premature to draw any conclusions from these talks, we are encouraged and believe that we are making progress toward a timely resolution of the matter. In a similar vein, while we were disappointed by the New York Stock Exchange’s decision to delist our stock, we believe that the extenuating circumstances that restricted our ability to make the necessary progress on our plan to comply with the listing standards as to net worth and market capitalization should have been considered by the exchange. As a result, we expect to file an appeal of the exchange’s decision within the next few days. As an alternative in the event the appeal process is not successful, we are exploring other listing and quotation venues, including the OTC Bulletin Board, for the Company’s common stock.”

TransTechnology Corporation (http://www.transtechnology.com) operating as Breeze-Eastern (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, which employs approximately 180 people at its facility in Union, New Jersey, reported sales from continuing operations of $64.6 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the company also discloses operating income (income before interest and taxes and other income and expenses) and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) which are non-GAAP measures. Management believes that providing this additional information is useful to investors, as it provides more direct information regarding the company’s ability to meet debt service requirements and so that investors may better assess and understand the company’s


 

     
TransTechnology Corporation - October 13, 2004
Fiscal 2005 Second Quarter Earnings Release
  Page 3 of 3

underlying operating performance. The company does not intend for the additional information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP measures. A reconciliation of (i) EBITDA to reported net income (loss) and (ii) operating income to gross profit are set forth following the balance sheet information contained in this press release.

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, the results of audits and inquiries into the Company’s business practices; the Company’s ability to complete the refinancing of its senior and subordinated credit facilities on terms and conditions acceptable to the Company; the Company’s ability to be profitable with a smaller and less diverse base of operations that will generate less revenue; the Company’s ability to satisfy the listing requirements of the NYSE or any other national exchange on which its shares are or will be listed or otherwise provide a trading venue for its shares; the value of replacement operations, if any; determination by the Company to dispose of additional existing assets; general industry and economic conditions; events impacting the U.S. and world financial markets and economies; interest rate trends; capital requirements; 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; 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, 2004.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events.


 

     
TransTechnology Corporation - October 13, 2004
Fiscal 2005 Second Quarter Earnings Release
  Page 4 of 4

TransTechnology Corporation
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
(In Thousands of Dollars Except Share Data)

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    9/26/04   9/28/03   9/26/04   9/28/03
Net sales
  $ 15,249     $ 16,333     $ 29,797     $ 32,452  
Cost of sales
    9,050       9,575       17,761       18,347  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross profit
    6,199       6,758       12,036       14,105  
General, administrative and selling expenses
    4,201       3,531       8,224       7,302  
Interest expense
    2,885       2,568       5,681       5,071  
Interest and other income-net
    (82 )     (159 )     (69 )     (206 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
(Loss) income before income taxes
    (805 )     818       (1,800 )     1,938  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
    (306 )     310       (684 )     736  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net (loss) income
  $ (499 )   $ 508     $ (1,116 )   $ 1,202  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Basic earnings per share:
                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (0.07 )   $ 0.08     $ (0.17 )   $ 0.18  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Net (loss) income
  $ (0.07 )   $ 0.08     $ (0.17 )   $ 0.18  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Weighted average basic shares
    6,682,000       6,647,000       6,676,000       6,647,000  
Weighted average diluted shares
    6,682,000       6,676,000       6,676,000       6,662,000  

 

BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

                 
    9/26/04   3/31/04
Current assets
  $ 34,655     $ 36,132  
Property, plant and equipment – net
    3,364       2,428  
Other assets
    38,387       38,649  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 76,406     $ 77,209  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt and short term borrowings
  $ 2,183     $ 79  
Other current liabilities
    10,238       13,880  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current liabilities
    12,421       13,959  
Long-term debt
    58,283       56,472  
Other liabilities
    10,492       10,565  
Stockholders’ deficit
    (4,790 )     (3,787 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
  $ 76,406     $ 77,209  
 
   
 
     
 
 


 

     
TransTechnology Corporation - October 13, 2004
Fiscal 2005 Second Quarter Earnings Release
  Page 5 of 5

Reconciliation of Reported (Loss) Income to EBITDA

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    9/26/04   9/28/03   9/26/04   9/28/03
Net sales
  $ 15,249     $ 16,333     $ 29,797     $ 32,452  
Cost of sales
    9,050       9,575       17,761       18,347  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross Profit
    6,199       6,758       12,036       14,105  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
SG&A — operations
    3,016       2,157       5,976       4,451  
Corporate office expenses
    1,185       1,374       2,248       2,851  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total SG&A
    4,201       3,531       8,224       7,302  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating income
    1,998       3,227       3,812       6,803  
Add back: depreciation and amortization
    396       597       806       1,009  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
EBITDA
  $ 2,394     $ 3,824     $ 4,618     $ 7,812  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net (loss) income
    (499 )     508       (1,116 )     1,202  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
    (306 )     310       (684 )     736  
Depreciation and amortization
    396       597       806       1,009  
Interest expense
    2,885       2,568       5,681       5,071  
Interest and other income-net
    (82 )     (159 )     (69 )     (206 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
EBITDA
  $ 2,394     $ 3,824     $ 4,618     $ 7,812  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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