For Immediate Release - December 5, 2003
SCOTTSDALE, AZ. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (AMEX: SWB), parent of Smith & Wesson Corp., announced today changes in management and in the composition of the Board of Directors. Effective immediately the Board of Directors has named Roy Cuny as Chairman, CEO and President of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation. Mr. Cuny will continue in his capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Smith & Wesson Corp.
Mitchell A. Saltz and Colt R. Melby stated, “Roy Cuny’s performance has been exemplary as shown by the operating results of Smith & Wesson Corp. and the culture he has instilled in our Springfield operation needs to be implemented from the top, especially since the Springfield operation represents nearly all of the parent’s revenue.”
Effective immediately, Mitchell A. Saltz has resigned as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Colt R. Melby has resigned as President and Sherry L. Noreen has resigned as Secretary and as a member of the Board of Directors. Messrs. Saltz and Melby will remain on the Board of Directors of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
Prior to being named as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Roy Cuny has served as President and CEO of Smith & Wesson Corp. since January 2003. Mr. Cuny joined the Company in October 2002 as Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining the Company, he was with Peerless Manufacturing Co., an equipment manufacturer in Dallas, Texas, where he served as President from April 2001 through June 2002 and as Chief Operating Officer from April 2000 through June 2002. Mr. Cuny was with Foster Wheeler Corporation, a large engineering and construction company, from 1980 to April 2000, where he served in positions of increasing responsibility, including Vice President from 1993 until his departure to join Peerless Manufacturing. Mr. Cuny earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in Business Administration from Rutgers University in 1975.
The Company also announced that the Board of Directors has adopted a corporate governance plan which is intended to enhance transparency between business operations and the financial accounting functions of the parent and its subsidiaries. In addition to enhancing the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, the corporate governance plan is intended to promote compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, particularly Section 404, which pertains to internal controls over financial reporting. The corporate governance plan includes a new policy in which the Board of Directors will be increased from eight to nine members, the majority of whom will be independent within the meaning of applicable regulations of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Board of Directors has agreed to provide severance packages for Messrs. Saltz and Melby and Ms. Noreen of one year’s salary and benefits, including health insurance. The corporate governance plan provides that these severance agreements will require each of Messrs. Saltz and Melby and Ms. Noreen to vote all shares beneficially owned by them for the nominees recommended by the Nominating Committee and nominated by the Board of Directors in the Company’s proxy statements until December 31, 2005. This voting requirement will not apply if Messrs. Saltz and Melby are not nominated to be Directors.
The Company expects to file on December 12, 2003 its annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2003 pursuant to its revised plan to return to reporting compliance with the Staff of AMEX. The annual report on Form 10-KSB for fiscal year 2003 is also expected to include restated financial statements for fiscal year 2002 audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, (PwC) the Company’s independent public accountants.
About Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation is the parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., one of the world’s leading producers of quality handguns, law enforcement products and firearm safety and security products. Law enforcement personnel, military personnel, target shooters, hunters, collectors and firearms enthusiasts throughout the world have used the company’s products with confidence for 150 years. Smith & Wesson Corp. also manufactures and markets Smith & Wesson branded handcuffs and other products utilizing its metal working expertise.For more information, visit www.smithandwesson.com.
CONTACT:
Media/Investor Relations:
Amy Armstrong, 480/949-9700
aarmstrong@smithandwesson.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Patty Bruner
Christensen
480-614-3009