Ituran Location and Control Ltd. Announces the Receipt of a Purported Class Action Lawsuit

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Jul 20, 2015, 06:00 ET

AZOUR, Israel, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Ituran Location and Control Ltd. (NASDAQ: ITRN, TASE: ITRN), today announced that on July 19, 2015, Ituran Location and Control Ltd. (the "Company") received a purported class action lawsuit which was filed against the Company in the District Court of Central Region in Tel-Aviv on July 13, 2015, by one plaintiff who is a subscriber of the Company, alleging that the Company, which was declared a monopoly under the Israeli Restrictive Trade Practices Law, 1988, unlawfully abused its power as a monopoly and discriminated between its customers.

The plaintiff claims that the alleged discrimination resulted from the Company charging higher monthly subscription fees from customers who are obliged by insurance company requirements to install location and recovery systems in their vehicles than the monthly subscription fees that are charged from customers who are not required by insurance companies to install location and recovery systems in their vehicles. In addition the plaintiff claims that the Company offers to customers who are not required by insurance companies to install location and recovery systems in their vehicles, a discounted warrantee service to their location and recovery systems. The plaintiff claims in addition to the above, that such actions raise additional claims against the Company such as negotiations without good faith, executing contract without good faith, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of consumer protection laws, tort laws, and breach of statutory duty.

The lawsuit is yet to be approved as a class action. The total amount claimed if the lawsuit is approved as a class action was estimated by the plaintiff to be approximately NIS 300 million (approximately USD 79 million).

Based on an opinion of its legal counsels, the Company believes that the lawsuit lacks substantiation, and that the Company has good defense arguments in respect of claims made by the plaintiff.

A class action lawsuit based on similar claims, against the Company, which was filed on form 6-K on March 22, 2011, was dismissed by the court on the request of both parties, on March 5, 2012 for a small compensation to the plaintiff and his attorneys, in a total amount of NIS 30,000 (approximately USD 7,900). Such dismissal of a similar class action lawsuit may have a positive effect on the Company ability in its defense against the current lawsuit.

Notwithstanding the aforesaid, at this preliminary stage, the Company is unable to assess the lawsuit's chances of success.

International Investor Relations

Ehud Helft
[email protected]
GK Investor Relations
(US) +1-646-201-9246

SOURCE Ituran Location and Control Ltd