DeCrane Aircraft Cabin Management Group Forms Seating Division

Business Wire, Oct 2, 2000

Business Editors

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000

DeCrane Aircraft Monday announced the formation of a new Seating Division within its Cabin Management Group.

This new division will greatly enhance seating design and manufacturing operations, by providing expedited delivery and service, improved quality control and turnkey aircraft interior solutions to OEMs, completion centers, and refurbishment companies.

DeCrane's Seating Division is comprised of ERDA, based in Peshtigo, Wis. and Dettmers Industries, based in Stuart, Fla. Jeff Nerland, vice president, who will also continue to lead DeCrane's acquisition efforts in his capacity as vice president, business development, will head the Seating Division.

The Seating Division will offer the marketplace a wide range of products and services including: aircraft seating, divans, upholstery, tables, galley ovens, and precision hinges. The Seating Division will play a key role in the Cabin Management Group's integrated cabin interior's product offerings and is a perfect compliment to the DeCrane Aircraft "total cabin capability" concept.

"Our new Seating Division offers a bundle of products and services that is unmatched in the aircraft interiors industry," said Jack DeCrane, CEO. "We have taken the best elements of these companies and combined them with dynamic, new leadership to better serve our customers and the marketplace on whole."

Earlier this year, a team of experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers was brought in to completely revamp ERDA's manufacturing plant. Tom Beatty has been named as vice president, operations of the Seating Division, reporting directly to Nerland. Beatty formerly served as president of Envirovac and has an extensive background in the aircraft industry. Beatty will also succeed David Brandt as CEO of ERDA.

Ben Bunting, who has served as ERDA's president, will lead the sales organization for the Seating Division. Mark Huber has been named vice president, marketing for the Seating Division.

Founded in 1989, DeCrane Aircraft has focused on strategic acquisitions of leading aircraft component manufacturers, with product lines and technologies that are complementary, and who have attained solid reputations in the industry for quality and dependability.

DeCrane Aircraft Holdings Inc. (www.decraneaircraft.com) is a subsidiary of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II, L.P. DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II, L.P. is a $3 billion fund dedicated to private equity and equity-related investments.

Note: Except for historical information contained herein, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the company's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Further, the company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the company's control. Important factors that the company believes might cause such differences are discussed in the cautionary statements accompanying the forward-looking statements in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In assessing forward-looking statements contained herein, readers are urged to read carefully all cautionary statements contained in those filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.