Force Protection, Inc. Announces Worldwide Service and Support Capabilities
Tuesday September 7, 1:26 pm ET
Agreement Gives Firm New Access Throughout Europe, Mideast and Africa
LADSON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2004--Force Protection, Inc. (OTCBB:FRCP - News), the leading manufacturer of mine-protected vehicles for military and security users, announced today it has signed a multi-year agreement with a humanitarian landmine-clearing organization to provide professional training and military advisory services internationally.
The agreement with Landmine Clearance International LLC (LCI), a nonprofit group that conducts landmine clearing operations and related support activities, will facilitate operations among Force Protection, LCI and the United States Marine Corps, which will soon take delivery of Force Protection's Cougar Hardened Engineer Vehicles. The Cougar will be delivered as an EOD team transport vehicle and additionally as a larger, 6x6 combat engineer transport.
"We're excited to join together LCI's resources and our American-made mine-protected vehicles," said Force Protection CEO Michael Watts. "We have seen significant interest in our vehicles recently from civilian contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. This agreement gives us worldwide reach to provide operator and maintenance training, as well as direct maintenance services and warranty work wherever our customers are. Even our military customers may benefit from our new ability to provide direct support for our vehicles."
Michael Stock, Managing Director of Landmine Clearance, earlier stated, "The Cougar HEV line of vehicles represent a critically-needed capability in the Middle East today. Our prior work with Coalition Forces and commercial contractors in this area of operations indicate an immediate market for countermine and clearance equipment and services."
To facilitate its training programs, LCI maintains extensive contacts in industry, civic aid groups, international development organizations and the public sector internationally. This permits LCI to organize leading experts, facilities, transportation, technical and demolitions materiel, training areas, and qualified local employees on a contingency basis.
LCI's business relationships will provide Force Protection with access to local companies, charities, and private experts throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. These experts, when integrated with permanent staff and active duty US forces, constitute a potent economic development, reconstruction, and public safety capability in any operational environment.
About Force Protection, Inc.
Force Protection, Inc. manufactures ballistic and mine protected vehicles through its wholly owned subsidiary, Technical Solutions Group (TSG). These specialty, protected vehicles are protected against landmines, hostile fire, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Force Protection's mine and ballistic protection technology is among the most advanced in the world. The vehicles are manufactured outside Charleston, S.C.
For more information, visit forceprotectioninc.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the strategic plan outlined above. The company cautions that these forward looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Form 10-KSB filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at sec.gov). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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Contact:
Policy Impact Strategic Communications
Jeff Child, 202-661-6372 (Media Contact)
jchild@policyimpact.com
or
Force Protection, Inc.
Investor Relations, 843-740-7015, Ext. 233
investorrelations@forceprotectioninc.com
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