PWC issued the following statement Monday upon learning that the U.S. Attorney’s office in Atlanta has extended an indictment against PWC to two PWC affiliates.

The decision by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Atlanta is regrettable. The indictment contains no new allegations, and simply adds two PWC affiliates as defendants. This move serves only to taint PWC subsidiaries that have a strong record of on-the-job performance and compliance with U.S. law and federal acquisition regulations.

The case, United States of America v. The Public Warehousing Company K.S.C., is before a federal court in Atlanta. PWC has asked the court to determine if the Company was properly served with summons on the indictment.

PWC believes that the Justice Department, in attempting to serve the summons, failed to follow U.S. law. Rather than serve PWC through proper diplomatic channels in Kuwait, the U.S. government attempted to serve a U.S. subsidiary of the Company. Under the U.S. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, a company cannot be served with process on an indictment through service to a subsidiary.

PWC’s work on the food contract has been timely, reliable and cost effective. Its performance, under the most dangerous and demanding conditions, has been unparalleled. The prices it charges have been negotiated with, agreed to, and continually approved by the U.S. government, which has found PWC’s prices to be fair and reasonable.

PWC has a strong, compelling legal case. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously if this matter properly goes to court. PWC and the Department of Justice continue to hold discussions aimed at a resolution.