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Royal Group announces potential non-compliance of Royal Building
System with smoke generation elements of certain US building codes
TORONTO, July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Group Technologies Limited
(RYG-TSX; RYG-NYSE) today announced that recent testing of one of its product
lines, Royal Building Systems (RBS), suggests that RBS does not consistently
meet the smoke generation requirements of applicable US building codes for
interior unfinished surfaces in non-utility buildings. Over 550 non- utility
RBS structures, which include car washes, office buildings, factories and
houses, have been built in the US in the last 8 years. Approximately 350 of
these structures are car washes, which principally have limited human
occupancy.
RBS is a modular, component-based concrete forming system, involving hollow
panels that interconnect to create walls. Concrete is poured into these
vertically assembled panels to construct a durable, low-maintenance structure.
RBS also includes a car wash interior refinishing product line, known as the
Royal Renew Paneling System, which involves unfilled panels that are fastened
to the walls of an existing car wash. Approximately 950 car washes have been
retrofitted with Royal Renew, which are also subject to the smoke generation
requirements of applicable US building codes.
These systems are marketed by Royal Building Technologies, a subsidiary of
Royal Group Technologies Limited. During the 12 months ended December 2004,
approximately $8.5 million of RBS, including the Royal Renew Paneling System,
was sold into the US, representing less than 1% of Royal Group's consolidated
sales.
Management has decided to immediately cease production and shipment of
non-utility structures utilizing RBS components, in the US and global
locations. Furthermore, with the assistance of appropriate consultants, the
Company is presently evaluating buildings previously constructed or under
construction with the System to determine any additional appropriate steps to
address the concerns raised by the recent testing. Royal Group will then assess
the applications of the System appropriate for future production and shipment.
The Company advised that its RBS components comply with applicable Canadian
building codes and that it is presently reviewing RBS's smoke generation
performance vis-a-vis other applicable international building codes.
Since its market introduction in 1992, over 20,000 structures of various sizes
have been built globally using components of RBS, in over 65 countries. The
Company is not aware of any injuries involving smoke in these RBS structures.
Furthermore, the Company noted that RBS components will not burn in the absence
of continuous contact with an external flame source. In addition, the
self-ignition temperature of RBS is significantly higher than most wood-based
construction products.
Commenting on these recent findings, Royal Group's President and CEO, Lawrence
J. Blanford stated that management "will be guided in this situation by best
practices in product stewardship" and "is committed to meeting customers'
expectations for safe, durable, low-maintenance building products, which Royal
Group has cultivated as a core strategy".
Royal Group Technologies is a manufacturer of innovative, polymer-based home
improvement, consumer, and construction products. The company has extensive
vertical integration, with operations dedicated to provision of materials,
machinery, tooling, real estate, and transportation services to its plants
producing finished products. Royal Group's manufacturing facilities are
primarily located throughout North America, with international operations in
South America, Europe, and Asia. Additional investment information is available
on Royal Group's web site at http://www.royalgrouptech.com/ under the "Investor
Relations" section.
The information in this document contains certain forward-looking statements
with respect to Royal Group Technologies Limited, its subsidiaries and
affiliates. These statements are often, but not always made through the use of
words or phrases such as "expect", "should continue", "continue", "believe",
"anticipate", "estimate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "budget", "may",
"will", "schedule", and "intend" or similar formulations. By their nature,
these forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of
estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are
inherently subject to significant, known and unknown, business, economic,
competitive and other risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting Royal
Group specifically or its industry generally that could cause actual
performance, achievements and financial results to differ materially from those
contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
include the ongoing shareholder value maximization process and its outcome; the
outcome of the ongoing internal review and investigations by the Special
Committee of the Board of Directors; fluctuations in the level of renovation,
remodelling and construction activity; changes in product costs and pricing; an
inability to achieve or delays in achieving savings related to the cost
reductions or increases in revenues related to sales price increases; the
sufficiency of our restructuring activities, including the potential for higher
actual costs to be incurred in connection with restructuring activities compared
to the estimated costs of such actions; the ability to recruit and retain
qualified employees; the level of outstanding debt and our current debt
ratings; the ability to meet the financial covenants in our credit facilities;
changes in product mix; the growth rate of the markets into which Royal Group's
products are sold; market acceptance and demand for Royal's products; changes in
availability or prices for raw materials; pricing pressures resulting from
competition; difficulty in developing and introducing new products; failure to
penetrate new markets effectively; the effect on foreign operations of currency
fluctuations, tariffs, nationalization, exchange controls, limitations on
foreign investment in local business and other political, economic and
regulatory risks; difficulty in preserving proprietary technology; adverse
resolution of any litigation, investigations, administrative and regulatory
matters, intellectual property disputes, or similar matters; changes in
securities or environmental laws, rules and regulations; currency risk exposure
and other risks described from time to time in publicly filed disclosure
documents and securities commission reports of Royal Group Technologies Limited
and its subsidiaries and affiliates. In view of these uncertainties we caution
readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Statements made in this document are made as of July 28, 2005 and Royal
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any statements made
herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
DATASOURCE: Royal Group Technologies Limited
CONTACT: Media and Investors: Mark Badger, Vice President of Marketing
and Corporate Communications, Royal Group Technologies Limited, Phone
(905) 264-0701