Partner Communications Company Ltd.
(Nasdaq:PTNR)(TASE:PTNR)("Partner" or "the Company") (NASDAQ and TASE:
PTNR), a leading Israeli communications operator, announces today
that its fully owned subsidiary, 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. ("012
Smile"), was served with a lawsuit and a motion for the recognition
of this lawsuit as a class action, filed against 012 Smile and other
telecommunication operators (the "defendants")
on
January 11, 2012 in the Nazareth District Court.
The claim alleges that the defendants operate
certain information
and premium services through international dialing codes and apply
tariffs, not in accordance with their licenses and the regulation
requirements applicable to such services.
The total amount claimed against 012 Smile, if the lawsuit is recognized
as a class action is not estimated by the plaintiff.
012 Smile is reviewing and assessing the lawsuit and 012 Smile and
Partner are unable, at this preliminary stage, to evaluate, with any
degree of certainty, the probability of success of the lawsuit or the
range of potential exposure, if any.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect",
"intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "project", "goal",
"target" and similar expressions often identify forward-looking
statements but are not the only way we identify these statements. All
statements other than statements of historical fact included in this
press release regarding our future performance, plans to increase
revenues or margins or preserve or expand market share in existing or
new markets, reduce expenses and any statements regarding other future
events or our future prospects, are forward-looking statements.
We have based these forward-looking statements on our current knowledge
and our present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future
events. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions about Partner, consumer habits and
preferences in cellular telephone usage, trends in the Israeli
telecommunications industry in general, the impact of current global
economic conditions and possible regulatory and legal developments. For
a description of some of the risks we face, see "Item 3D. Key
Information - Risk Factors", "Item 4. - Information on the Company",
"Item 5. - Operating and Financial Review and Prospects", "Item 8A. -
Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information -
Legal and Administrative Proceedings" and "Item 11. - Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in the Company's 2010
Annual Report (20-F) filed with the SEC on March 21, 2011. In light of
these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events
discussed in this press release might not occur, and actual results may
differ materially from the results anticipated. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Partner Communications
Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner") is a leading Israeli
provider of telecommunications services (cellular, fixed-line telephony
and internet services) under the orange™ brand. The Company provides
mobile communications services to over 3 million subscribers in Israel.
Partner’s ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™ and its
shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ and TASE: PTNR).
Partner is an approximately 45%-owned subsidiary of Scailex Corporation
Ltd. ("Scailex"). Scailex's shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock
Exchange under the symbol SCIX and are quoted on "Pink Quote" under the
symbol SCIXF.PK. Scailex currently operates in two major domains of
activity in addition to its holding in Partner: (1) the sole import,
distribution and maintenance of Samsung mobile handset and accessories
products primarily to the major cellular operators in Israel (2)
management of its financial assets.
For more information about Scailex, see http://www.scailex.com.
For more information about Partner, see http://www.orange.co.il/investor_site
About 012 Smile Telecom Ltd.
012 Smile is a wholly owned subsidiary of Partner Communications which
provides international long distance services, internet services and
local telecommunication fixed-line services (including telephony
services using VOB) under the 012 Smile brand. The completion of the
purchase of 012 Smile by Partner Communications took place on March 3,
2011. For further details see the press release dated March 3, 2011.
