VeriFone Further Expands into West Africa

PRLog (Press Release) – May 13, 2008 – LONDON, UK – VeriFone Holdings Inc. (NYSE: PAY) today announced that it has signed contractual agreements with leading transaction switching and electronic payment companies, Ferlo and Byte Tech, headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, for distribution of VeriFone payment solutions throughout the Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) countries as well as Cameroon.

VeriFone’s GPRS-enabled Vx 510, Vx 610 and Vx 670 payment systems will be rolled out regionwide to members of the CTMI, the regional inter-banking switch centre of the Western Africa Economic and Monetary Community, and their merchant customers. The UEMOA countries of Senegal, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau, have had a common currency in place since before the introduction of the Euro in Europe and more than 70 banks now fall under the umbrella of CTMI.

“We have a high regard for VeriFone and its excellent product offerings,” said Tidiane Sarr, CEO of Ferlo Senegal. VeriFone’s NURIT ATM is already deployed in Senegal by the microfinance payment system run by Ferlo.

Byte Tech, having previously worked exclusively with Ingenico, will now offer more choice to the market with VeriFone solutions. CEO Baba Wone said, “VeriFone has earned a strong reputation in West Africa through its commitment to helping develop the growing payments sector, and with access to such advanced payment systems it will create the opportunity for us to enhance our strong market presence.”

Emerging electronic payment markets in Africa have become increasingly important to VeriFone’s business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. VeriFone has built a leadership position as the supplier of choice for acquiring banks in South Africa, East Africa and Nigeria.

“VeriFone’s advanced GPRS technology payment systems are especially suited to West Africa’s developing payments markets, where a constant online communication channel between the merchant and financial institution is the key to fast and secure transactions,” said Mark O’Flynn, sales director for VeriFone Middle East & Africa. “Ferlo and Byte Tech have deployed competitor payment systems in the past and have now come to the conclusion that VeriFone is the partner of choice for their long term strategic interests.”

VeriFone’s PCI-PED compliant range of GPRS-enabled Vx Solutions payment systems delivers reliable, high-speed performance, advanced functionality and ease of use. Powered by the latest in processor technology, they swiftly handle even the most complex transactions.


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About Ferlo (www.ferlo-sn.com) and Byte Tech (www.bytetech.sn)
Ferlo is owned by the Africap fund, an organisation with expertise in microfinance investing, and by Byte Tech, leading provider of electronic payment solutions to financial institutions in the region.



About VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (www.verifone.com)
VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (“VeriFone”) (NYSE: PAY) is the global leader in secure electronic payment solutions. VeriFone provides expertise, solutions and services that add value to the point of sale with merchant-operated, consumer-facing and self-service payment systems for the financial, retail, hospitality, petroleum, government and healthcare vertical markets. VeriFone solutions are designed to meet the needs of merchants, processors and acquirers in developed and emerging economies worldwide.

Regional Contact:
Laurel Wolfe
VeriFone EMEA
Tel: +44 1895 275275
Email: laurel_wolfe[at]verifone.com

Editorial Contact:
Nicky Davis
EvokedSet PR for VeriFone EMEA
Tel: +44 870 285 1650
Email: verifone[at]evokedset.com


THIS NEWS RELEASE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED BY NEONDRUM (www.neondrum.com)
Nicky Davis
Tel: +44 7747 017654
nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com