EFG Eurobank Selects Hypercom Payment & Networking Devices to Support Regional Network; Names Hypercom Provider of Choice
WOKING, UK & PHOENIX, AZ, December 18, 2006–Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) today announced that Athens-based EFG Eurobank has selected Hypercom as one of its short listed vendors for card payment and networking devices. The banking group has purchased more than 5,000 Optimum T2100 dial and IP-enabled card payment terminals plus multiple networking devices over the last nine months as part of a major expansion of its regional payment network throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
The number of Hypercom terminals in Eurobank’s transaction payment network in Greece has reached 30,000 units, which represents more than 50% of Eurobank’s total terminal installed base. Eurobank’s electronic payment network also uses Hypercom’s networking devices to route transactions to their central host in Greece and the other countries in which they operate. As a result Eurobank has been able to extend its electronic payment service to merchants throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
The purchase agreement was secured by Altius-IT Solution, the distributor of Hypercom products in Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. System integration and implementation support, including software development, network design, support and field services, are being provided by Hypercom’s authorized service partners strategically located in Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Cyprus and Greece.
“This contract is a major step forward for Hypercom in this region and another solid win for the Optimum T2100, which delivers a first-class product in terms of both transaction speed and security,” said Kazem Aminaee, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Hypercom EMEA.
The Optimum T2100 is a high-speed countertop terminal based on a 32-bit RISC processor with 12 megabytes of memory, with dial, Ethernet and GPRS communications options to speed installation and ease migration. It also features EMV 4.0 and Visa PED certification with Triple DES, SSL and RSA cryptographic support and a secure casing to deliver the tightest security and durability.
Hypercom’s IEN networking devices feature a chassis fitted with ISDN and IP cards for transaction concentration and routing from terminals from any manufacturer to a central host.
“Hypercom is now one of our short listed vendors for electronic payment and transaction networking solutions that give the Bank competitive advantages to penetrate and win in the local market. Our cooperation with Altius has further enhanced our presence in Greece and abroad with the development of new services,” said George Kotsolakis, General Manager of Eurobank Cards.
“By working together with Hypercom, we have been able to migrate to the new multi-functional POS terminals supporting the payment, loyalty, Alphyra top-up and service applications for Eurobank in Greece and other Eurobank markets. Hypercom’s IEN solution for point-of-sale networking is the key element in our service strategy for Eurobank in the future,” said Petros Petrou, Managing Director of Altius-IT Solution.
About Eurobank (http://www.eurobank.gr)
Eurobank EFG group was established in 1990 as “Euromerchant Bank” aiming at providing mainly investment services. Today, Eurobank EFG group is the leader in Greece in consumer lending, mutual fund management, investment banking, equity brokerage and life insurance. It is also the largest lender to small businesses in Greece and among the largest lenders to large Greek corporates of the private sector. In the wider area of Southeastern and Central Europe, Eurobank EFG group ranks among the top banks in all countries where it is present, namely Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia-Montenegro. In 2006, Eurobank EFG group entered the banking markets of Poland and Turkey. Eurobank EFG group employs over 17,000 people and offers its services in Greece and abroad both through its network of more than 900 branches and points-of-sale, and through alternative distribution channels.
About ALTIUS (http://www.altius-it.gr)
ALTIUS is a dynamic Group of companies offering products and services as a Multi-service solutions provider to the client focusing on quality, reliability and support. The Group’s main activities consist of offering solutions in the field of electronic payment systems, as the authorized distributor of Hypercom in Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. The Group services a major part of the electronic payment systems market in these countries as well as in the Balkans (Bulgaria, Fyrom, Serbia) and the Middle East (United Arab Emirates). In Greece, ALTIUS has succeeded in servicing more than 40,000 card payment terminals in Greece (including more than 30 islands), routing through Hypercom’s IEN networking devices almost one in every two transactions conducted in Greece.
About Hypercom Corporation (http://www.hypercom.com)
Global payment technology leader Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) delivers a full suite of high security, end-to-end electronic payment products and services. The company’s solutions address the high security electronic transaction needs of banks and other financial institutions, large scale retailers, smaller merchants, quick service restaurants, and users in the transportation, healthcare, prepaid, unattended and many other markets. Hypercom solutions enable businesses in more than 100 countries to securely expand their revenues and profits.
Hypercom and Optimum & Design are registered trademarks of Hypercom Corporation. All other products or services mentioned in this document are trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks or registered service marks of their respective owners. This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding market acceptance of new products, product performance, product sales, revenues and profits. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In particular, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, industry, competitive and technological changes; the loss of, and failure to replace any significant customers; the composition, timing and size of orders from and shipments to major customers; inventory obsolescence; market acceptance of new products and services; the performance of suppliers and subcontractors; risks associated with international operations and foreign currency fluctuations; the state of the U.S. and global economies in general and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent 10-K and subsequent 10-Qs. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.