BOSTON, March 8, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Markland Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:MRKLE), a defense and homeland security company transforming advanced laboratory technology into real-world products, as announced in August 2005, re-iterates its previously declared stock dividend to the holders of the Company's common stock of $10 million worth of shares of Technest Holdings Inc. http://www.technestholdings.com (OTCBB:TCNH) common stock that the Company currently owns, up to a maximum of 2.5 million shares of Technest common stock. The record date for the stock dividend is May 1, 2006 and the distribution date for the stock dividend is July 5, 2006.
The actual number of shares of Technest common stock to be distributed will be calculated based on a per share price equal to the average closing price of the Technest Stock as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotations service for the ten trading days ending June 30, 2006. However in no event shall the number of shares of the Technest common stock distributed exceed 2.5 million nor will Markland deliver fractional shares of the Technest common stock. As of this date Markland presently owns 13,954,023 shares of Technest common stock. Markland management is considering alternatives available to it for future dividends to be made to its common shareholders.
The Company is continuing to work on the accounting issues described in the Current Report on Form 8-K issued on February 10, 2006 concerning non-reliance on previously issued financial statements. At this time, there is no further update on when these issues will be addressed. However, the Company intends to restate the financial statements in question as soon as practicable.
About Markland Technologies
Markland Technologies, Inc. is engaged in the identification of advanced technologies currently under development in laboratories, universities and in private industry, and in the transformation of those technologies into next-generation products. Markland's solutions support military, law enforcement and homeland security personnel to protect the nation's citizens, borders and critical infrastructure assets from the threat of terrorism and other dangers. Through strategic development, Markland focuses on the creation of dual-use technology and products with applications in both the defense market and civilian homeland security and law enforcement fields. The Company is a Board Member of the Homeland Security Industries Association. For more information about the company and its products, please visit the Markland home page at http://www.marklandtech.com.
About Technest Holdings, Inc.
Technest Holdings, Inc. http://www.technestholdings.com (OTCBB:TCNH) is a provider of: advanced remote sensor systems, chemical detectors, intelligent surveillance and advanced 3D imaging technology solutions to the defense and homeland security marketplaces. Technest is committed to setting next-generation standards in defense and security through the provision of innovative emerging technologies and expert services. Technest's solutions support military, law enforcement and homeland security personnel. Through strategic development, Technest focuses on the creation of dual-use technology and products with applications in both the defense market and civilian homeland security and law enforcement fields.
"Forward-Looking Statements"
Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this press release as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Markland Technologies officers and directors during presentations about Markland Technologies, are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Some of the factors that could significantly impact the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: a reduction in order rates from the Army's Night Vision and Electronic Surveillance Directorate, insufficient cash flow to continue to fund the development and marketing of the Company's products and technology; a rejection of the Company's products and technologies by the marketplace, and; disputes as to the Company's intellectual property rights. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about Markland Technologies, its products, economic and market factors and the industries in which Markland Technologies does business, among other things. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and Markland Technologies has no specific intention to update these statements. More detailed information about those factors is contained in Markland Technologies filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. http://www.sec.gov
More information on Homeland Security issues, including news releases, events and experts available for comment, can be found on the Homeland Security Newsline at www.primezone.com/hs