RE: 3Ds president demoted

From: Gagnon, Johnny (GagnonJ@3DSystems.com)
Date: Wed May 14 2003 - 23:03:16 EEST


Thanks for the info.
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  3D's president demoted

  Flaharty to step down in misreporting wake

  By Nicholas Grudin
  Staff Writer

  Tuesday, May 06, 2003 -

  VALENCIA -- 3D Systems Corp. announced Tuesday that its president and
chief operating officer, Grant Flaharty, would step down after an internal
investigation into misreported earnings.

  The $72 million Valencia-based company -- which in April fired its
financial officer, James Selzer -- sells systems that create solid models
out of computer images.

  Flaharty will stay with the company as head of American sales, company
officials said.

  Others among the company's 400 employees received informal censure, and
one member of the sales staff was fired.

  "We are coming to the end of a long and difficult process," said Brian K.
Service, chief executive officer for 3D Systems.

  Shares of 3D Systems closed down 69 cents at $5.30 on Tuesday.

  In the past year, 3D shares have plummeted from a 52-week high of $15, but
Service is optimistic that changes in management and accounting practices
will help to avoid future problems.

  "We believe that the systems and controls being instituted as a result of
the audit committee investigation and the reconfiguration of our management
structure ... will enable us to keep much tighter control of transaction
reporting," Service said.

  The company's accounting irregularities came under scrutiny in February,
when questions surfaced over whether $3 million in revenue counted for 2002,
as it had been reported to investors, or for 2003.

  An investigation conducted by a board of directors audit committee
determined that the earnings should not have been counted for 2002, thus
dropping the company's 2002 revenue below profitability and in default of
bank loans.

  A final determination of the accounting issues has not yet been disclosed
by 3D Systems, which replaced auditor Deloitte & Touche in favor of BDO
Seidman in April.

  Due to the audit, 3D is facing potential delisting by the Nasdaq stock
exchange, according to company spokeswoman Elizabeth Goode. An analyst,
however, said that isn't likely.

  Also on Tuesday, 3D officials announced that the company would offer up to
$16 million in convertible preferred stock; $11.9 million of that stock
offering has already been acquired, Goode said Tuesday afternoon.

  3D Systems has also paid off a $9.6 million term-loan portion of its $20
million debt facility with U.S. Bancorp.

  Wire services contributed to this report.



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