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G. WILLI-FOOD RECEIVES PURPORTED CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS;
COMPANY BELIEVES CLAIMS ARE WITHOUT MERIT AND INTENDS
VIGOROUS DEFENSE
YAVNE, ISRAEL - JANUARY 2, 2007 - G. WILLI-FOOD INTERNATIONAL LTD. (NASDAQ:
WILC) (the "COMPANY" or "WILLI FOOD"), one of Israel's largest food importers
and a single-source supplier of one of the world's most extensive range of
quality kosher food products, today announced that two purported class action
lawsuits had been filed by different individuals against the Company. The
complaints allege that the Company misled its customers by reducing the contents
of cans of several types of preserved products, and then charging its customers
the same price as before. The complaints, if recognized as a class action,
allege damages of approximately NIS 7.7 million (approximately US$1.8 million),
in the case of one claim, and approximately NIS 6.2 million (approximately
US$1.5 million) in the case of the second claim (half of the alleged damages of
each claim for return of the overcharge and one half for additional
compensation).
The Company believes that the complaints are without merits and intends to
vigorously defend against the litigations.
ABOUT G. WILLI-FOOD INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
G. Willi-Food International Ltd. is one of Israel's largest food importers and a
single-source supplier of one of the world's most extensive ranges of quality
kosher food products. It currently imports, markets and distributes more than
400 food products manufactured by some 100 top-tier suppliers throughout the
world to more than 1,000 customers. The Company excels in identifying changing
tastes in its markets and sourcing high-quality kosher products to address them.
For more information, please visit the Company's website at
www.willi-food.co.il.
THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
RELATING TO FUTURE EVENTS OR OUR FUTURE PERFORMANCE, SUCH AS STATEMENTS
REGARDING TRENDS, DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCTS AND EXPECTED REVENUES, OPERATING
RESULTS, AND EARNINGS. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN
RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, LEVELS
OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY
FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED IN THOSE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: CHANGES AFFECTING CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES,
INCLUDING THE NIS/U.S. DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE, PAYMENT DEFAULT BY ANY OF OUR MAJOR
CLIENTS, THE LOSS OF ONE OF MORE OF OUR KEY PERSONNEL, CHANGES IN LAWS AND
REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY, AND
INABILITY TO MEET AND MAINTAIN REGULATORY QUALIFICATIONS AND APPROVALS FOR OUR
PRODUCTS, TERMINATION OF ARRANGEMENTS WITH OUR SUPPLIERS, IN PARTICULAR ARLA
FOODS AMBA, LOSS OF ONE OR MORE OF OUR PRINCIPAL CLIENTS, INCREASING LEVELS OF
COMPETITION IN ISRAEL AND OTHER MARKETS IN WHICH WE DO BUSINESS, CHANGES IN
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN ISRAEL, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN
THE COMPANY'S CORE MARKETS, OUR INABILITY TO ACCURATELY PREDICT CONSUMPTION OF
OUR PRODUCTS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS. WE CANNOT
GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS. THE
MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ALSO INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
SUMMARIZED UNDER THE HEADING "RISK FACTORS" IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 20-F FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 31, 2006. THESE FACTORS ARE UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME
THROUGH THE FILING OF REPORTS AND REGISTRATION STATEMENTS WITH THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. WE DO NOT ASSUME ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THE
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE.
CONTACT:
G. Willi Food International Ltd.
Chen Shlein, CFO
(+972) 8-932-2233
chen@willi-food.co.il
IR CONTACT:
The Global Consulting Group
Christopher Chu
(646) 284-9426
cchu@hfgcg.com