ATLANTA, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Premier Exhibitions Inc. today posted the following statement on its web site in response to an expected 20/20 broadcast that is purported to inaccurately comment on the company's operations with respect to its controversial and highly successful bodies exhibitions.
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (Premier) has learned that ABC TV's 20/20 has chosen to air a segment that sensationalizes "BODIES...The Exhibition", which provides a unique educational look at human anatomy. While we believe a competitor contributed to manufacturing these baseless claims to suit his own agenda, as a corporate policy we always take any unfavorable allegations very seriously.
Based on the documentary proof compiled by Premier, these sensational allegations are without any factual merit. Premier has repeatedly asked 20/20 to provide them with all documents in their possession related to this story, and at this time the program has refused to do so.
Throughout the day, Premier has viewed inaccurate reports and interviews from 20/20's lead investigative reporter, Brian Ross, that are potentially damaging to Premier. 20/20 claims in one report that our supplier Dr. Sui and the Dalian Medical University Plastination Co. Ltd. have no connection to Dalian Medical University and that the specimens they acquired and leased to Premier did not come from Dalian Medical University. We want to set the record straight, Dr. Sui, earned his doctorate degree in neuroscience from Dalian Medical University and has been on staff there since 1990 where he currently is the Head of the anatomy department. The specimens at issue were initially leased from Dalian Medical University Plastination Co. Ltd. At that time Dalian Medical University owned a seventy percent interest in the Dalian Medical University Plastination Co. Ltd. and indeed the University has provided specimens to the plastination company and then onto Premier.
Another report suggests that not all of the specimens died of natural causes. Premier Exhibitions, Inc. retains and utilizes a team of medical experts, comprised of an anatomist, a biological anthropologist, and a forensic pathologist, who as a matter of course, examine the specimens to ensure that they do not bear any evidence consistent with trauma, serious bodily injury, execution or torture. All of these specimens died of natural causes and despite extensive investigation, Premier has found no credible evidence to suggest otherwise. Independent medical evidence supports the sworn statements given to Premier by the supplier of the specimens, that all of the specimens died of natural causes. Sworn affidavits can be found on our website at http://www.prxi.com/.
As the world's leading educational exhibitor of the human anatomy, we have a strict ethical policy that guides our decisions, as well as a deep respect for the handling, care and treatment of all specimens used in our exhibitions. Every element of "BODIES...The Exhibition" is organized with full and complete legal compliance. Premier Exhibitions, Inc. is a well respected publicly traded company that holds itself to the highest standards and diligently abides by all domestic and international laws.
We are absolutely committed to ensuring that the content of "BODIES... The Exhibition" is educational, ethical, and legally correct.
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. is a major provider of museum quality touring exhibitions throughout the world.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements contained in this press release contain forward- looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Premier Exhibitions, Inc. has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and projections about future events, based on the information currently available to it. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may also include statements relating to Premier Exhibitions' anticipated financial performance, business prospects, new developments, strategies and similar matters. Certain of the factors described in Premier Exhibitions' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2007 entitled "Risk Factors," may affect Premier Exhibitions' future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Premier Exhibitions disclaims any obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
For additional Information:
Investor Relations
North Coast Advisors, Inc.:
Craig T. Stewart (585) 218-7371
