RA'ANANA, Israel, July 16, 2003 - Retalix Ltd., (Nasdaq: RTLX), today announced that the Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers P.L.C. (PSE: PLAZA), a national publicly traded developer and retailer, has selected the Retalix StoreLine solution to be installed in its 1st supermarket, located in the Palestinian city of Al-Bireh, on the West Bank. PLAZA is aiming to establish five modern shopping centers, each with a full scale supermarket with planned locations in major Palestinian cities, creating the first Palestinian supermarket chain.
PLAZA is committed to establishing and operating modern shopping centers with the aim of upgrading the Palestinian shopping experience and making a contribution to building out the economy. PLAZA’s first center in Al-Bireh is a $10.2 million project. PLAZA is a subsidiary of the Arab Palestinian Investment Company, which operates 13 subsidiaries in various Palestinian market sectors.
The Retalix StoreLine system is an advanced, hardware-independent, grocery and fuel point-of-sale system, offering the ability to integrate and process critical data in real time across multiple sales channels and formats. PLAZA decided to implement the POS solution after an extensive evaluation of several international software packages. The company was determined to introduce a world-class solution onto the Palestinian retail market and the Retalix StoreLine system met all of PLAZA’s business requirements. In addition, Retalix has committed to deliver comprehensive after-sales support, a service that very few other suppliers were willing to guarantee.
Mr. Sam Bahour, General Manager of PLAZA said, "We view our business relationship with Retalix as a strategic partnership that will bring best practices in POS solutions to our market, thus allowing us to leapfrog older technologies and provide our customers with the world-class service they deserve. Furthermore, we also realize the inherent value added for us in building equitable Palestinian-Israeli business partnerships with those who sincerely wish for our success."
According to Mr. Barry Shaked, CEO of Retalix Ltd., “We are delighted to have been chosen by PLAZA as their preferred retail software partner. Entering a new territory is always of high interest to Retalix; however, this particular partnership has a special resonance for us. We are hopeful that expanding Palestinian-Israeli business cooperation will contribute to the stability and economic growth within this region”.
About APSC:
Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers P.L.C. (APSC), with its headquarters in the Palestinian city of Al-Bireh, owns and operates The PLAZA Shopping Center, a subsidiary of the Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC). APSC is a national, publicly traded, Palestinian developer and retailer committed to establishing and operating modern shopping plazas, full-scale supermarkets, food courts and modern children play areas. All services are aimed at upgrading the shopping experience for the Palestinian public through world-class customer service, convenience, quality products, and value pricing – all within a clean, spacious, and dynamic facility. APSC’s goal is to provide a comprehensive shopping experience ‘under one roof’ while contributing to the building of the Palestinian economy. The first PLAZA Shopping Center in Al-Bireh is a $10.2M investment.
About Retalix Ltd.
Retalix Ltd., with headquarters in Israel, provides integrated enterprise-wide software solutions for the retail food industry worldwide, including supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants. The Company offers a full suite of software applications that support a food retailer’s essential retailing operations and enable retailers to increase their operating efficiencies while improving customer acquisition, retention and profitability. Recently, the Company expanded its product line by offering its head and back-office applications via the Internet to small chains and single store food retailers. With installations in more than 20,000 stores and quick service restaurants across 41 countries, the Company markets its software solutions through direct sales, distributors, local dealers and through its U.S. subsidiary, Retalix USA, Inc., and its various other subsidiaries. The Company was founded in 1982 as Point of Sale Limited and changed its name in November of 2000 to Retalix Ltd. The Company’s Ordinary Shares have been publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since November 1994 and on the NASDAQ National Market System since July 1998. For further information, please visit the Company’s web sites at www.retalix.com or www.storenext.com.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements: Except for statements of historical fact, the information presented herein constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, including revenues, income and expenses, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the customer’s use of the software, the integration of its systems, and other factors over which Retalix may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. Readers are referred to the reports and documents filed by Retalix with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2000, for a discussion of these and other important risk factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
