REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15a-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated December 20, 2007
Partner
Communications Company Ltd.
(Translation of Registrants Name Into English)
8 Amal Street
Afeq Industrial Park
Rosh Ha'ayin 48103
Israel
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F x Form 40-F o
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)
Yes o No x
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- __________)
This Form 6-K is incorporated by reference into the Companys Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 26, 2001 (Registration No. 333-14222).
Enclosure: Partner Communications announces it received a lawsuit requesting certification as a class action.
PARTNER
COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES IT
RECEIVED A LAWSUIT REQUESTING CERTIFICATION
AS A CLASS ACTION
ROSH HAAYIN, Israel, December 20, 2007 Partner Communications Company Ltd. (Partner) (NASDAQ and TASE: PTNR; LSE: PCCD), a leading Israeli mobile communications operator, announced that it was served on Monday, December 17, 2007, with a lawsuit for which certification as a class action is sought, filed against Partner and two other mobile communications operators, in the Tel-Aviv District Court. The plaintiffs allege that cell sites were erected near their properties illegally, causing environmental damage. They seek various remedies, including the removal of all allegedly illegal communications devices, including the Companys and the other operators 3G communication devices (for which relevant building permits have been obtained under National Zoning Plan 36), wireless access devices (which were deployed pursuant to a waiver from obtaining building permits under the Communication Law) and communication devices which have been concealed in another structure.
The plaintiffs estimate the class damages against all 3 cellular operators together at NIS 1 billion, which amount, if awarded, is to be given to a fund managed by environment and communications specialists.
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Some of the plaintiffs claims have been similarly raised lately by several local planning and building authorities while the validity of the waiver for wireless access devices is pending in an appeals court decision.
The Company believes it has strong legal arguments against those claims and intends to contest this lawsuit vigorously. At this preliminary stage, the Company is unable to assess the lawsuits chances of success.
Partner Communications Company Ltd. (Partner) is a leading Israeli mobile communications operator providing GSM / GPRS / UMTS / HSDPA services and wire free applications under the orange brand. The Company provides quality service and a range of features to 2.796 million subscribers in Israel (as of September 30, 2007). Partners ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the London Stock Exchange. Its shares are also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NASDAQ and TASE: PTNR; LSE: PCCD).
Partner is a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited (Hutchison Telecom), a leading global provider of telecommunications services. Hutchison Telecom currently offers mobile and fixed line telecommunications services in Hong Kong, and operates mobile telecommunications services in Israel, Macau, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Vietnam and Indonesia. It was the first provider of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong and Israel and operates brands including Hutch, 3" and orange. Hutchison Telecom, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited, is a listed company with American Depositary Shares quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HTX and shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong under the stock code 2332". For more information about Hutchison Telecom, see www.htil.com.
For more information about Partner, see www.orange.co.il/investor_site/.
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Contacts:
Mr. Emanuel Avner | Mr. Oded Degany | ||
Chief Financial Officer | Carrier, Investor and International Relations | ||
Tel: | +972-54-7814951 | Tel: | +972-54-7814151 |
Fax: | +972-54-7815961 | Fax: | +972-54 -7814161 |
E-mail: | emanuel.avner@orange.co.il | E-mail: | oded.degany@orange.co.il |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Partner Communications Company Ltd. By: /s/ Emanuel Avner Emanuel Avner Chief Financial Officer |
Dated: December 20, 2007
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