Germany's Praktiker Is First DIY Chain In Europe With Self-Checkout

Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermaerkte AG has introduced NCR FastLane at its store in Saarbruecken, Germany, becoming Europe's first do-it-yourself (DIY) chain to offer self-checkout to its customers.

NCR FastLane - from self-service leader NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) - will also be installed at Praktiker stores in Trier and Hildesheim, Germany, this spring, with stores in Greece, Luxembourg and Hungary to follow later in the year.

One of the leading home improvement chains in Europe, Praktiker is a division of the METRO Group. METRO has already installed more than 150 NCR FastLane units in Germany at its Real hypermarkets and Extra supermarkets.

More than 50 retailers in twelve countries in Europe, North America and Asia have installed NCR FastLane.

"Retailers, as well as consumers, have quickly become aware that self-checkout improves customer service, as confirmed by a recent study conducted for NCR by IDC," said Alberto Camuri, vice president of NCR's Retail Solutions Division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We are pleased that customers in DIY stores can now take advantage of this option."

About Praktiker
Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermaerkte AG is among the leading hardware/DIY store chains in Europe. The company currently operates 339 stores - 257 under the Praktiker brand and 22 under the TopBau brand in Germany - plus 60 additional stores in eight other European countries. In 2003, the company recorded approximately 2.8 billion euros in net sales. Praktiker currently employs about 15,000 people, 4,400 of them outside of Germany.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationships with their customers. NCR's ATMs, retail systems, Teradata data warehouses and IT services provide Relationship Technology solutions that maximize the value of customer interactions and help organizations create a stronger competitive position. Based in Dayton, Ohio, NCR (www.ncr.com) employs approximately 28,500 people worldwide.