PARTNER COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES THE
PUBLISHING OF A HEARING PROCESS REGARDING
THE POTENTIAL REDUCTION OF INTERCONNECT
TARIFFS ON THE CELLULAR NETWORK
ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, May 4, 2010 - Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or "the Company") (NASDAQ and TASE: PTNR), a leading Israeli communications operator, announces today that the Ministry of Communications ("MOC") published today a hearing process regarding the potential reduction of interconnect tariffs on the cellular network ("IC tariffs"). Effective August 1, 2010, the MOC intends to reduce the IC tariffs for completing a call and transferring SMS to NIS 0.0414 and NIS 0.0019 (not including VAT), respectively. Furthermore, the MOC intends to gradually reduce the call and SMS IC tariffs based on the following glide path:
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From 1.1.2011 call and SMS IC tariffs will be reduced to NIS 0.0354 and NIS 0.0017 (not including VAT), respectively
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From 1.1.2012 call and SMS IC tariffs will be reduced to NIS 0.0311 and NIS 0.0016 (not including VAT), respectively
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From 1.1.2013 call and SMS IC tariffs will be reduced to NIS 0.0280 and NIS 0.0014 (not including VAT), respectively
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From 1.1.2014 call and SMS IC tariffs will be reduced to NIS 0.0257 and NIS 0.0013 (not including VAT), respectively
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All prices above will be linked to the CPI.
The cellular operators are requested to submit their response within 30 days.
Should the proposed IC tariffs pricing policy be adopted, it may have a material adverse affect on the Company's revenues and profits.
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 form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 22, 2010. 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 (as of December 31, 2009). 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 (after selling "Dynamic", a chain of retail stores and booths to Cellcom on April 1, 2010) : (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.
Contacts:
Mr. Emanuel Avner
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +972-54-7814951
Fax: +972-54-7815961
E-mail: emanuel.avner@orange.co.il
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Mr. Oded Degany
V. P. Corporate Development, Regulation and IRO
Tel: +972-54-7814151
Fax: +972-54 -7814161
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.
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Partner Communications Company Ltd. |
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By:
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/s/ Emanuel Avner |
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Name: Emanuel Avner |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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Dated: May 4, 2010
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