ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. announces appointments
Nelson Sims to ATS Board of Directors Robert Franklin first Executive
Chairman of Photowatt Technologies
TSX: ATA
CAMBRIDGE, ON, Aug. 4 /CNW/ - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. today
announced two senior governance appointments. Nelson M. Sims has been
appointed to ATS's Board of Directors, and Robert Franklin has been appointed
the first Executive Chairman of Photowatt Technologies, the Company's solar
operations.
"These appointments will help ATS advance its objectives in two critical
areas - further developing our presence in the pharmaceutical and healthcare
sector and overseeing the evolution of Photowatt Technologies into a strong,
standalone business," said Larry Tapp, Chairman of the Board of ATS.
Nelson Sims, Director, ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
Mr. Sims has extensive pharmaceutical and healthcare experience earned
over the past 35 years in both Canada and the United States. During this time,
he served as Executive Director, Alliance Management, Eli Lilly and Company
(responsible for the company's technology, commercial and manufacturing
alliances worldwide); President of Eli Lilly Canada, Inc.; Director of Sales
for Lilly Pharmaceuticals - US Eastern Region; President and CEO of Novavax,
Inc.; and, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Hybritech, Inc. Mr. Sims is
also a member of the Board of Directors of MDS, Inc. and Aastrom Biosciences,
Inc. and is a past Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of
Canada. Mr. Sims has a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) from Southwest Oklahoma
State University and is a graduate of the Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth
College.
"ATS is rapidly becoming one of the world's leading providers of
innovative automated manufacturing solutions to the pharmaceutical and
healthcare industries," said Mr. Tapp. "With the overall healthcare sector
becoming a much bigger focus for our Company, it's vital for us to attract a
recognized industry leader to our Board. In Nelson, we have recruited a
professional with outstanding qualifications, deep industry knowledge and
contacts that will be invaluable to ATS as we continue to expand in this
exciting sector."
Mr. Sims joins an experienced Board that includes Mr. Tapp, former Dean
of the Richard Ivey School of Business; William Biggar, Managing Director of
Richardson Capital Limited; Richard Campbell, President of Seacoast Consulting
and a former senior executive of Black & Decker; Robert Ferchat, retired
Chairman and CEO of Bell Mobility; Gerald Hooper, Chairman of the Board of The
Economical Insurance Group; Peter Janson, former Chairman and CEO of the North
American Operations of AMEC Inc.; Robert Luba, President of Luba Financial
Inc. and previously, President and CEO of Royal Bank Investment Management;
and, Ron Jutras, President and CEO of ATS.
Robert Franklin, Executive Chairman of Photowatt Technologies
Over the past 30 years, Mr. Franklin has played a leadership role in a
number of successful public companies. Among the many highlights of his
distinguished career, he served as Chairman of Placer Dome from 1993 until it
was acquired by Barrick Gold Corporation earlier this year. He now serves as a
Director of Barrick. He is also a Director of Toromont Industries, Great Lakes
Carbon Income Fund, Resolve Business Outsourcing Income Fund, and is the
founder of Signalta Capital Corporation, a private investment firm. As
President of Signalta, Mr. Franklin was involved in the creation of ClubLink
Corporation, a public company. Mr. Franklin holds a Bachelor of Arts in
Business Administration from Hillsdale College, Michigan.
"In this newly-created position, Robert will assist Photowatt
Technologies in developing its governance policies and participate actively in
the ongoing implementation of its strategies and funding plan," said Mr. Tapp.
"Robert is very well qualified to assume the role of Executive Chairman of
Photowatt Technologies. His depth and breadth of public company experience
will be invaluable to Photowatt Technologies as we execute our plans to
develop it into a strong, standalone business."
About ATS
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (www.atsautomation.com) is the
industry's leading designer and producer of turn-key automated manufacturing
and test systems, which are used primarily by multinational corporations
operating in a variety of industries including: healthcare,
computer/electronics, automotive, and consumer products. ATS is also an
emerging leader in the rapidly growing market for solar energy cells and
modules. The Company also makes precision components and subassemblies using
its own custom-built manufacturing systems, process knowledge and automation
technology. ATS employs approximately 3,900 people at 26 manufacturing
facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The
Company's shares are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
ATA.
Note to Readers
This press release contains certain statements that constitute
forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws
("forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of ATS, or developments in ATS's business
or in its industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results,
performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure
regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based
on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action.
Forward-looking statements may also include, without limitation, any statement
relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. ATS cautions you not
to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements relate to, among
other things, ATS developing and expanding its presence in the pharmaceutical
and healthcare sector, Photowatt Technologies becoming a standalone business,
ATS becoming a leading provider of automated manufacturing solutions to the
pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, and the ongoing implementation of a
funding plan for the solar business. The risks and uncertainties that may
affect forward-looking statements include, among others, general market
performance; performance of the Canadian dollar; performance of the
pharmaceutical and healthcare markets, performance of the solar market,
performance of ATS products in pharmaceutical and healthcare applications,
acceptance of ATS products in those markets, introduction of new competitors
or growth of existing competitors, the cost and availability of silicon and
other raw materials and certain specialized manufacturing tools and fixtures
used in the production of Photowatt Technologies' products, delays in or
abandonment of pursuit of initial public offering for Photowatt Technologies
due to market or other conditions, unavailability of IPO alternative due to
market or other conditions, and other risks detailed from time to time in
ATS's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators, including ATS's
annual MD&A and consolidated financial statements and Annual Information Form
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. Forward-looking statements are based
on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions,
and ATS does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements
should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and
opinions change.
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For further information: Carl Galloway, VP Treasurer, Gerry Beard, VP, CFO, (519) 653-6500