Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner" or "the Company") (Nasdaq:PTNR) (TASE:PTNR), a leading Israeli mobile communications operator, announced today that its Board of Directors approved the distribution of a cash dividend for the second quarter of 2008 in the amount of NIS 1.26 (US$ 0.38) per share, totaling approximately NIS 200 million (US$ 60 million) payable on September 18, 2008 to shareholders and ADS holders of record on September 1, 2008.
In February 2008, the Board approved a share buy-back plan for 2008 in an amount of up to NIS 600 million, subject to appropriate market conditions. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had repurchased approximately 2.5 million of its shares at an average price per share of NIS 79.02, for a total consideration of approximately NIS 198 million.
About Partner Communications
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 2.856 million subscribers in Israel (as of June 30, 2008). 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 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, 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 http://www.orange.co.il/investor_site/
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 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" and "Item 8A. - Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information - Legal and Administrative Proceedings" in the form 20-F filed with the SEC on May 6, 2008. 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.
Contacts:
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +972-54-7814951
Fax:
+972-54-7815961
E-mail:emanuel.avner@orange.co.il
or
Mr.
Oded Degany
V.P. Corporate Development, Strategy and IR
Tel:
+972-54-7814151
Fax: +972-54 -7814161
E-mail:oded.degany@orange.co.il
