Enclosure:
|
Unofficial
translation of the appendices to the application submitted to the Israeli
District Court in connection with the dividend
distribution
|
a.
|
I
am an accountant by profession, and serve as the Chief Financial Officer
of Partner Communications Company Ltd. (hereinafter: "the
Company").
|
b.
|
I
am authorized to give this affidavit on behalf of the Company, in support
of an Application for approval of distribution in the sum of NIS 1.4
billion, that constitutes the sum of about NIS 9.07 per share, submitted
to the District Court (hereinafter: "the Application"), in
accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors of the Company
(hereinafter: "the
Requested Distribution").
|
1.
|
The
Company is the second largest cellular operator in Israel, from amongst
the four companies currently operating in the Israeli cellular
telecommunications market. As of September 30, 2009 the number of the
Company’s subscribers exceeds 3 million, which represents a market share
of around 32%1.
|
2.
|
The
Company enjoys an annual income turnover of approximately NIS 6 billion,
and generates annual profits of more than NIS 1billion. The Company
generates a free cash flow,2 of approximately
NIS 1 billion per year.
|
3.
|
Regarding
the strength, solidity, and repayment ability of the Company, even after
the Requested Distribution, I wish to refer to the economic opinion that
the Company received, for the purpose of the Requested Distribution, from
Ernest Young (Israel) Ltd., (hereinafter: "the Economic Opinion"),
attached to the Application, according to which "Taking into account both
the current and projected cash-flow and the financial strength of the
company from a balance sheet point of view, no reasonable suspicion exists
that a reduction of capital in the sum of NIS 1.4 billion would prevent
the Company from being able to meet its existing and anticipated
obligations when the time comes for them to be redeemed." According to an
examination done by the Company, it has at its disposal the monies
required for the purpose of the Requested Distribution, in light of
various raising of debts that it has recently carried
out.
|
4.
|
The
Company is one of the largest telecommunication operators in Israel, which
operates in the Israeli market under the orangeTM
brand. In accordance with various telecommunication licenses held by the
Company,3
the Company offers a range of cellular services using the GSM technology,
including local and international calls, marketing and sales of hand set
equipment, data and content services, third generation cellular
services, cellular surfing, and content access services.
As
part of the Company’s business development plans, and in order to increase
its revenue, the Company also provides land line telephone services, also
via VOB (Voice over Broadband) technology, and launched internet access
services and multimedia
services.
|
1
|
All
the figures in my affidavit are as of the Company’s financial reports of
September 30 2009, unless otherwise
noted.
|
2
|
In
this affidavit free cash flow means the cash flow after adjustment for
current activities and after investment
activities.
|
3
|
Some
of the licenses were issued to partnerships in which the Company is a
limited partner.
|
5.
|
The
Company was incorporated in Israel in 1997 as a private company in
accordance with the Companies Ordinance (new version) 5743-1983. In
October 1999 the Company carried out an initial public offer of the
Company’s American Depositary Shares which were registered for trade on
the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Since July 2001 the Company’s shares have
also been registered for trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. The
Company's registered capital totals NIS 2,350,000, divided into
235,000,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of NIS 0.01 each. As of
December 29, 2009, the Company’s issued capital incorporated 154,424,511
issued and redeemed shares4.
|
6.
|
The
controlling owner of the Company is Scailex Corporation Ltd. (“Scailex”),
a public company whose shares are registered for trade on the Tel Aviv
Stock Exchange and are listed in the Pink Quote in the United States,
which acquired approximately 51.22% of the Company's issued and redeemed
share capital5 in October 2009,
based on a total company valuation of approximately NIS 10.3 billion,
which (according to the information provided to the Company by Scailex)
was partly funded by equity and largely funded by outside
financing.
|
7.
|
The
Company has accumulated from time to time considerable sums of profits,
that, according to the legal advice given to the Company, are eligible to
be distributed, and consequently the Company has carried out over the
course of recent years a number of distributions of these profits, as
follows:6
7.1 Based
on the Company’s profits for 2006-2008 cash dividends of about NIS 2.3
billion were distributed (the Company also repurchased its shares in the
sum of some NIS 351 million).
7.2 Based
on the Company’s profits for 2009 a dividend of about NIS 766 million was
announced and distributed, up to submission of this
application.
|
8.
|
The
Company's legal advisors have informed me that the Company's organ which
is authorized to decide upon the distribution of dividends, including such
that is made in accordance with Section 303 of the Companies Law since it
does not meet the profit criterion, is the Board of Directors of the
Company. In this context see the Company's Articles of Association,
attached as Appendix
1 to my affidavit.
|
9.
|
The
consolidated financial report of the Company for the purpose of the
Application are the surveyed financial reports as of September 30, 2009
(hereinafter: "the
Financial Reports"), attached as Appendix
2 to my affidavit.
|
10.
|
In
my opinion, as well as in the opinion of the management of the Company and
its Board of Directors, there is no reasonable suspicion that the
distribution will prevent the Company from meeting its existing and
expected obligations when their time of repayment
arrives.
|
11.
|
I
would like to point out that the Company's financing banks, that have
expertise in credit risks and various financial risks, gave their consent
to the execution of the Requested Distribution, and even provided the
Company with credit in these very days, and to my understanding this gives
positive indication of their opinion regarding the repayment ability of
the credit they provided to the
Company.
|
4
|
Excluding
dormant shares held by
Partner
|
5
|
Not
on a fully diluted basis, and excluding the dormant shares held by
Partner. In accordance with the information provided to the Company by
Scailex, as of the date at which this Application was submitted and
following the sale of part of the shares to third parties, Scailex’s
current holding in the Company is 44.84%. In addition, according to
information provided to the Company by Scailex, Suny Electronics Ltd.,
Scailex’s parent company, owns about 1.41% of the Company’s issued
capital.
|
6
|
It
should be noted that, starting from 2007, the Company has a declared
dividend distribution policy of 80% of the company’s net
profit.
|
12.
|
Furthermore,
the bonds (Series B) issued on November 25, 2009, after the Company
published the possibility of executing the capital reduction, and even
included an express reference to this in the Deed of Trust, were also
rated by S&P Ma'alot in the category ilAA-/Stable, and therefore it
appears that the rating company did not consider the capital reduction to
have a real negative impact on the repayment ability of the
Company.
|
13.
|
Concurrently
with the submission of the Application, the Company is publishing a
notification to all its creditors in two Israeli newspapers regarding the
submission of the Application. A copy of the wording of the notification
to the creditors is attached as Appendix
3 to my affidavit.
|
14.
|
The
Company shall send, by registered mail, within three business days of the
date of submission of the Application, a notification to its essential and
secured creditors known to it, in the wording of the notification to its
essential and secured creditors, attached as Appendix
4 to my affidavit, or in a similar
wording.
|
15.
|
The
Company shall send a notification to the Companies Registrar, as set forth
in regulation 4 of the Distribution Regulations, in the wording of the
notification attached as Appendix
5 to my affidavit, or in a similar
wording.
|
16.
|
Copies
of the immediate reports published by the Company (as an "external
corporation" in accordance with the Securities Law, 5728-1968) regarding
the Requested Distribution and regarding the decision of the Board of
Directors to approve it (subject to the approval by the honorable Court)
are attached as Appendix
6 to my affidavit.
|
17.
|
The
consents of the banks that provided the Company with credit and/or lines
of credit for the Requested Distribution are attached as Appendixes
7-9 to my affidavit.
|
18.
|
The
bond holders (Series B) of the Company have given their consent in advance
to the Requested Distribution, including via the Trustee of the bonds
(Series B), as set forth in the Deed of Trust signed between the Company
and the Trustee of the bonds (Series B), attached as Appendix
10 to my affidavit.
|
19.
|
I
would like to point out that to the extent that this affidavit refers to
legal matters, which lie outside my field of expertise, then this
affidavit, in those subjects, has been given based on the legal advisors
of the Company.
|
Partner
Communications Company Ltd.
Economic
Opinion Regarding Examination of Solvency and Financial Strength in
Respect of Capital Reduction in the Company
December
29, 2009
|
A.
|
Name of expert –
Yaron
Har Zvi, CPA, identity number 024288086
|
B
|
Place of work
– Ernst
& Young (Israel) Ltd.
3
Aminadav Street
Tel Aviv
|
C.
|
Education and
experience
|
D.
|
The purpose of the
opinion
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
E.
|
The opinion considers the
following subjects:
|
|
1.
|
Description
of the Company
|
|
2.
|
Description
of Partner acquisition by Scailex and the background of the application
for capital reduction Company's financial statements analysis prior to the
capital reduction
|
|
3.
|
Company's
financial statements analysis prior to the capital
reduction
|
|
4.
|
Analysis
of Partner's financial strength compared to companies in the communication
sector
|
|
5.
|
Analysis
of the capital reduction impact on the expected cash flows of Partner and
its future financial strength, including detailed analysis regarding years
2010 – 2013
|
|
6.
|
Summary
and conclusions
|
F.
|
Summary
of major conclusions of the
opinion:
|
|
1.
|
Partner
is the second largest cellular communication operator among the four
companies operating in the cellular sector in Israel, with more than three
million subscribers as of September 30, 2009, constituting a market share
of 32%.
|
|
2.
|
During
the years, the Company demonstrated financial stability and growth,
wherein the Company’s revenues amounted to NIS 5.6 billion, NIS 6.1
billion and NIS 6.3 billion, in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008,
respectively; the Company’s EBITDA margin was 33% of the revenues in the
years 2006 and 2007, and increased to 36% of the revenues in 2008. The
Company’s net income amounted to NIS 0.7 billion, NIS 0.9 billion and NIS
1.1 billion, in the years 2006, 2007 and 20081. In the first nine months of 2009, the
Company maintained stable profitability rates compared to the
corresponding period of the previous
year.
|
|
3.
|
In
respect of the years 2006 – 2008, the Company distributed a dividend in a
total amount of NIS 2.3 billion (including buy-back of its shares in the
amount of NIS 0.35 billion). In 2009, until the date of this opinion, a
dividend was announced and/or distributed in the amount of NIS 0.8
billion. As from 2007, the Company has a announced dividend distribution
policy of 80% of its net income.
|
|
4.
|
On
October 28, 2009 the acquisition of 51.22% of the issued and outstanding
share capital of Partner was finalized and completed by Scailex for a
total consideration of approximately NIS 5.3 billion, implies a company
value of NIS 10.3 billion.
|
|
5.
|
On
November 7, 2009 Partner announced that it is considering a capital
reduction in the amount of NIS 1 billion – NIS 1.4 billion. In accordance
with its announcement to the stock exchange, on November
25, 2009, the Company raised, the amount of NIS 448 million through a
private placement of notes linked to the CPI (Series B), repayable as from
2013. Partner intends to use this amount for the refinancing of its debt
and/or as a substitute for bank financing for the payment of dividend
resulting from a planned capital
reduction.
|
|
6.
|
In
addition to issuance of Series B notes, Partner signed financing
agreements for provision of additional credit facilities in a total amount
of NIS 1.5 billion with Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim and First International
Bank.
|
|
7.
|
For
the purposes of this opinion and examination of financial ratios, capital
reduction in the amount of NIS 1.4 billion is assumed (unless otherwise is
stated).
|
1
|
According to US
GAAP.
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
8.
|
The
solvency criterion states that a company may make a distribution out of
its profits, on condition that there is no reasonable concern that the
distribution will prevent the company from meeting its existing and
expected obligations, when they fall due. Accordingly, a company’s
solvency should be examined taking into account present and expected cash
flows of the Company and its financial strength from balance sheet
aspect.
|
|
9.
|
As
part of our economic opinion, we examined five financial ratios, which are
based on balance sheet data, Company results and market information. The
ratios chosen reflect the Company’s financial strength from a balance
sheet aspect, as well as its future solvency, prior to and after the
capital reduction.
|
|
10.
|
From
the analysis of the Company’s financial ratios as of September 30, 2009,
prior to the capital reduction, it appears that the Company’s financial
ratios indicate a high level of financial strength and solvency compared
to comparable companies in the communication sector on both the domestic
and international markets.
|
|
11.
|
From
similar analysis of the financial strength ratios and solvency ratios of
the Company after the capital reduction, it appears that the Company is
within the range of the companies in the domestic and the international
markets. It should be emphasized that from the comparison of Partner with
Cellcom, a company with very similar characteristics (in size and in type
of activity as well as in financial results), it appears that after the
capital reduction, the financial strength and solvency ratios of Partner
will not differ materially from those of Cellcom (see chapter 4
below).
|
|
12.
|
It
should be noted that although the Company’s shareholders’ equity as of
September 30, 2009 amounted to NIS 1.9 billion, the economic value of the
shareholders’ equity, as implied from Scailex transaction is NIS 10.3
billion and the market capital value as of the date of this opinion is
approximately NIS 11 billion. The difference between the amount of the
Company’s shareholders’ equity and the said values expresses the excess
value of the balance sheet assets over their book value as well as the
value of the goodwill and the other intangible assets (customer
relationships, utilization rights of brand, etc), which are not recorded
in the Company’s balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted
accounting reporting standards, which do not allow recording the value of
assets produced internally. This excess economic value reflects market
estimates regarding both the value of the Company’s operating assets in
excess of the book value and the Company’s ability to derive future cash
flows. Both the value of the transaction and the Company’s market capital
value reflect enterprise value (EV) materially exceeding the Company’s
total net financial debt, prior to and after the proposed capital
reduction, and indicate probable high
solvency.
|
|
13.
|
In
addition, we examined the Company’s future expected cash flows, including
sensitivity analysis for some operating parameters and for Partner’s
future debt raising ability. We examined in detail the cash flows for the
years 2010 – 2013, and performed reasonability tests for the following
years (see chapter 5 below).
|
|
14.
|
From
examination of expected cash flows, assuming maintenance of a fixed debt
level (raising of debt in the amount of repayment of the current debt),
and including implementation of dividend distribution policy in the amount
of 100% of the net income, it appears that the Company’s financial
strength and ability to serve the debt therein, are not expected to be
impaired after the capital reduction (see chapter 5.1
below).
|
|
15.
|
According
to the sensitivity analysis, reflecting material deterioration of the
Company’s results (decrease in Company revenues of 4% - 12%, and sharp
decrease in net income of the Company of 11% - 33%), it appears that even
under the assumption that during the period (2010 – 2013) the Company will
not raise additional debt, the Company’s free cash flows (prior to
dividend distribution) are expected to be positive and the Company is not
expected to incur difficulties in serving its debts (see chapter 5.2
below).
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
16.
|
Moreover,
in the event of deterioration in the Company’s results, the Company has
other ways of action that may improve its results, which have not been
considered within the sensitivity analysis, e.g. (1) reduction of the
annual investment in fixed assets (2) reduction of Company expenses and
improvement of efficiency.
|
|
17.
|
In
addition to the above mentioned analyses, other external positive
indications were examined including (a) re-approval of credit rating of
Series A notes by S&P Maalot (-AA), assuming future capital structure
with materially higher leverage; (b) raising of Series B notes, with
investors acknowledgment that capital reduction in the amount
of NIS 1-1.4 billion is expected and consent to this reduction, while
S&P Maalot rated these notes with the same rating as Series A; and (c)
raising of NIS 1.5 billion from Leumi, Hapoalim and FIBI, while receiving
letter of consent from the banks for capital reduction in the
amount of up to NIS 1.4 billion (see chapter 5.3
below).
|
|
„
|
Audited
financial statements of the Company as of December 31,
2008
|
|
„
|
Interim
unaudited financial statements of the Company as of March 31, 2009, June
30, 2009 and September 30, 2009
|
|
„
|
Financial
statements of comparable companies in the communication sector in Israel,
United States and Europe
|
|
„
|
Analysts’
reports regarding Partner
|
|
„
|
Immediate
reports of Scailex as published on the TASE
website
|
|
„
|
Immediate
reports of Partner as published on the TASE
website
|
|
„
|
Report
of S&P Maalot rating company as of October 5, 2009 regarding rating of
Partner’s notes (Series A)
|
|
„
|
Credit
facilities agreements and loan agreements from Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim
and First International Bank, and letters of consent for the capital
reduction in the amount of up to NIS 1.4
billion
|
|
„
|
Discussions
with Company management
|
|
„
|
Other
public information and data
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
012
|
Smile
012 Communication Ltd.
|
Advent
agreement
|
Advent
Investments Pte Ltd. agreement
|
ARPU
|
Average
Revenue Per User
|
Bezeq
|
Bezeq
the Israel Telecommunication Corp, Limited
|
Cellcom
|
Cellcom
Israel Ltd.
|
CPI
DPO
DIH
DSO
|
Consumer
Price Index
Days
Payable Outstanding
Days
Inventory Held
Days
Sales outstanding
|
EBITDA
|
Earnings
Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization
|
EV
|
Enterprise
value
|
FFO
|
Funds
From Operations
|
Hapoalim
|
Bank
Hapoalim B.M.
|
HOT
|
HOT
Communication Systems Ltd.
|
IFRS
|
International
Financial Reporting Standards
|
FIBI
|
First
International Bank of Israel Ltd.
|
ISP
|
Internet
Service Provider
|
Leumi
|
Bank
Leumi le-Israel B.M.
|
Mirs
|
Mirs
Communication Ltd.
|
MOU
|
Minutes
Of Use (monthly)
|
MVNO
|
Mobile
Virtual Network Operator
|
Partner
or the Company
|
Partner
Communications Company Ltd.
|
Pelephone
|
Pelephone
Communication Ltd.
|
SARC
|
Subscribers
Acquisition and Retention Costs
|
Scilex
|
Scailex
Corporation Ltd.
|
TASE
|
Tel
Aviv Stock Exchange
|
Transaction
|
Acquisition
of 51.22% of issued and outstanding share capital of Partner by
Scailex
|
US
GAAP
|
Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States
|
VOB
|
Voice
Over Broadband
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
|||||||||||
Bank
|
Amount
|
Covenant
|
Period
|
||||||||
Leumi
|
700 |
Net
Financial Debt / EBITDA < 4
|
3
years
|
||||||||
Hapoalim
|
500 |
Net
Financial Debt / EBITDA < 4
|
NIS
250 million for 3 years and NIS 250 million for 5 years
|
||||||||
FIBI
|
300 | (1) Net Financial Debt / EBITDA < 4 |
4
years
|
||||||||
(2)
Will
not constitute over 20%
of the Company’s debt to banks
|
|||||||||||
Total
|
1,500 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended
December
31
|
9
months period ended
September
30
|
9
months period ended
September
30
|
Year
ended
December
31
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2008
|
2008
|
2009
|
2007
|
2008
|
2008
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
6,114
|
6,302
|
4,749
|
4,501
|
100.0
|
%
|
100.0
|
%
|
100.0
|
%
|
100.0
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
Profit
|
2,022
|
2,434
|
1,841
|
1,728
|
33.1
|
%
|
38.6
|
%
|
38.8
|
%
|
38.4
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
Profit
|
1,399
|
1,826
|
1,393
|
1,269
|
22.9
|
%
|
29.0
|
%
|
29.3
|
%
|
28.2
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Finance
costs, net
|
126
|
184
|
147
|
135
|
2.1
|
%
|
2.9
|
%
|
3.1
|
%
|
3.0
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
940
|
1,198
|
908
|
847
|
15.4
|
%
|
19.0
|
%
|
19.1
|
%
|
18.8
|
%
|
||||||||||||||||||||
EBITDA
|
2,015
|
2,298
|
1,742
|
1,696
|
33.0
|
%
|
36.5
|
%
|
36.7
|
%
|
37.7
|
%
|
|
„
|
The
Company’s revenues in the first nine months of 2009 decreased by 5%
compared to the corresponding period of the previous
year.
|
|
„
|
Services
revenues – representing 90% of total revenues, decreased by 2.7% in the
first nine months of 2009, compared to the corresponding period of the
previous year. The decrease results mainly from the
following:
|
|
-
|
Decrease
in billing interval from twelve seconds to one second in accordance with
requirements issued by the Ministry of Communication as from January 1,
2009, resulting in a decrease in effective
tariffs;
|
|
-
|
Competitive
market conditions impacting on outgoing call
tariffs;
|
|
-
|
Decrease
in income from roaming services as a result of worldwide financial
recession.
|
|
On
the other hand:
|
|
-
|
Increase
of 4.4% in number of subscribers compared to September 30,
2008;
|
|
-
|
Increase
in part of post-paid subscribers in customer
mix;
|
|
-
|
Increase
in content and data revenues and revenues from non-cellular services (new
fixed line services).
|
|
„
|
Equipment
revenues – the Company’s revenues from sale of end-user equipment
decreased by 23% compared to the first nine months of 2008. The decrease
is derived from capitalization of handset subsidies following the adoption
of IFRS.
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
Gross
profit from services – decrease in gross profit in the first nine months
of 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year is
derived from:
|
|
-
|
Additional
expenses associated with the new fixed line
services;
|
|
-
|
Additional
depreciation expenses derived from capitalization of SARC as from the
beginning of 2009;
|
|
-
|
One-time
non-recurring costs, e.g. write off of cost of network equipment and
one-time provision in respect of the past use of a frequency band on a
shared basis with another mobile
operator.
|
|
„
|
Gross
profit from non-capitalized equipment sales increased as a result of
capitalization of handset subsidies following the adoption of IFRS, with a
total cost amounted to NIS 134
million.
|
|
„
|
The
gross profit margin decreased in the first nine months of 2009 by 0.4%,
compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, and by 0.2%,
compared to 2008.
|
|
„
|
The
operating expenses rate of the Company out of total revenues increased by
0.7% in the first nine months of 2009, compared to the corresponding
period of the previous year, and by 0.6% compared to 2008. This increase
reflects (1) additional marketing and selling costs related to the ISP and
the VOB initiatives; (2) increase in provision for doubtful accounts
derived from an increase in the number of non-credit card transactions.
This increase partly offset by the capitalization of sale commissions
under IFRS.
|
|
„
|
Operating
profit in the first nine months of 2009 decreased by 8.9% compared to the
corresponding period of the previous year, a decrease of NIS 124
million.
|
|
„
|
The
EBITDA in the first nine months of 2009 amounted to NIS 1,696 million,
compared to NIS 1,742 million in the corresponding period of the previous
year. The decrease in the EBITDA is attributed mainly to establishment of
the ISP and fixed line telephony initiatives and to a decrease in service
revenues. In contrast to the decrease in the EBITDA, an increase was
recorded in the EBITDA margin between the periods from 36.7% in the first
nine months of 2008 to 37.7% in the first nine months of
2009.
|
|
„
|
Financing
costs decreased in the first nine months of 2009 by NIS 12 million,
compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. No material
change was evident in the amount of the expenses as a result of set-off
implications of decrease in CPI linkages expenses and losses/gains
resulted from currency
fluctuations.
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
Net
income in the first nine months of 2009 amounted to NIS 847 million, a
decrease of 7% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year,
in which the Company recorded net income in the amount of NIS 908
million.
|
Currency:
NISm
|
December
31
|
September
30
|
||||||||||
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
||||||||||
Working
Capital, net
|
683 | 560 | 739 | |||||||||
Fixed
Assets
|
1,689 | 1,935 | 2,048 | |||||||||
Financial
Debt, net
|
1,935 | 1,997 | 2,063 | |||||||||
Equity
|
1,815 | 1,732 | 1,941 |
Average
2007
|
Average
2008
|
Average
Last 12 Months ended September 30, 2009
|
||||||||||
DPO
|
56 | 64 | 71 | |||||||||
DSO
|
54 | 56 | 61 | |||||||||
DIH
|
12 | 12 | 13 |
Currency:
NISm
|
December
31
|
September
30
|
||||||||||
Fixed
Assets Investments
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|||||||||
Fixed
Assets Investments
|
527 | 522 | 429 | |||||||||
Depreciation
for period
|
510 | 316 | 263 | |||||||||
Depreciation/Investment
rate
|
97 | % | 61 | % | 61 | % |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
December
31
|
September
30
|
||||||||||
Net
Financial Debt composition
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|||||||||
Cash and
cash equivalents
|
148 | 184 | 33 | |||||||||
Current
maturities of long
term liabilities and short term loans
|
28 | 567 | 751 | |||||||||
Dividend
Payable
|
- | - | 230 | |||||||||
Non
current notes payable
|
2,055 | 1,613 | 1,115 | |||||||||
Financial
Debt, net
|
1,935 | 1,996 | 2,063 |
Currency:
NISm
|
September
30
|
|||
2009
|
||||
Share
capital
|
2 | |||
Capital
surplus
|
2,470 | |||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(180 | ) | ||
Treasury
shares
|
(351 | ) | ||
Total
equity
|
1,941 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Historical
financial ratio
|
2007
|
2008
|
Q3/2009 | |||||||||
Net
debt / (Net debt + Equity)
|
52 | % | 54 | % | 52 | % | ||||||
Net
debt / Equity
|
107 | % | 115 | % | 106 | % | ||||||
Net
debt / Balance sheet
|
38 | % | 39 | % | 39 | % | ||||||
Quick
ratio
|
116 | % | 78 | % | 62 | % | ||||||
Current
ratio
|
127 | % | 85 | % | 69 | % |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
A.
|
Net
debt to total balance sheet
|
|
B.
|
Net
debt to shareholders’ equity
|
|
C.
|
Net
debt to shareholders’ equity+net
debt
|
|
A.
|
Net
debt to EV – the EV reflects the economic value of operating assets and
activity of a company, based on market value. This economic value reflects
market estimates regarding the value of a company’s operating assets in
excess of their book value and regarding the company’s ability to derive
future cash flows.
|
|
B.
|
Net
debt to EBITDA – this ratio reflects a debt coverage ratio and a company’s
ability to repay the debt from its own sources. It should be emphasized
that this ratio is generally utilized by financial institutions in
financing debts for companies, as a financial covenant. Insofar as this
ratio is lower, the company’s solvency is
greater.
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Net
debt/
|
Net
debt/
|
Net debt/ |
Maalot
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's
name
|
Balance
Sheet
|
Net
debt/ Equity
|
Net
debt + Equity
|
Net
debt/ EV
|
EBITDA*
|
S&P
rating
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
|
0.39 | 1.06 | 52 | % | 16 | % | 0.92 |
AA
|
- | |||||||||||||||||
Partner
proforma**
|
0.65 | 6.40 | 86 | % | 27 | % | 1.55 |
AA
|
-*** | |||||||||||||||||
Cellcom
|
0.52 | 8.56 | 90 | % | 23 | % | 1.32 |
AA
|
||||||||||||||||||
Bezeq
|
0.25 | 0.60 | 37 | % | 15 | % | 0.80 |
AA
|
+ | |||||||||||||||||
Hot
|
0.53 | 2.07 | 67 | % | 50 | % | 2.66 | |||||||||||||||||||
012 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 4 | % | 3 | % | 0.12 | |||||||||||||||||||
Median****
|
0.39 | 1.33 | 52 | % | 19 | % | 1.06 | |||||||||||||||||||
Average****
|
0.33 | 2.82 | 50 | % | 23 | % | 1.23 |
Currency:
NISm
|
Net financial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's
name
|
Market
Cap
|
EV
|
Revenue
|
EBITDA
|
%
EBITDA*
|
debt
|
Equity
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
|
10,970 | 13,033 | 6,054 | 2,238 | 37 | % | 2,063 | 1,941 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
proforma**
|
9,570 | 13,033 | 6,054 | 2,238 | 37 | % | 3,463 | 541 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cellcom
|
11,087 | 14,418 | 6,416 | 2,516 | 39 | % | 3,331 | 389 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Net
debt/
|
Net
debt/
|
Net
debt/
|
Net
debt/
|
Net
debt/
|
Rating
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's
name
|
Balance
Sheet
|
Equity
|
Net
debt + Equity
|
EV
|
EBITDA*
|
Moody's
|
S&P
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
|
0.39 | 1.06 | 52 | % | 16 | % | 0.92 |
Baa3***
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
proforma**
|
0.65 | 6.40 | 86 | % | 27 | % | 1.55 | |||||||||||||||||||||
AT&T
|
0.26 | 0.69 | 41 | % | 28 | % | 1.67 | A2 | A | |||||||||||||||||||
Rogers
|
0.53 | 1.94 | 66 | % | 32 | % | 2.27 |
Baa2
|
BBB
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Qwest
|
0.60 | n/a | 109 | % | 65 | % | 2.73 |
Ba3
|
BB
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Verizon
|
0.27 | 0.72 | 42 | % | 42 | % | 1.85 | A3 | A | |||||||||||||||||||
Median****
|
0.40 | 0.72 | 54 | % | 37 | % | 2.06 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Average****
|
0.41 | 1.12 | 65 | % | 42 | % | 2.13 |
Net debt/ |
Net
debt/
|
Net debt/ |
Net debt/
|
Net debt/ |
Rating
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's name |
Balance
Sheet
|
Equity
|
Net debt+ Equity
|
EV
|
EBITDA*
|
Moody's | S&P | |||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
|
0.39 | 1.06 | 52 | % | 16 | % | 0.92 |
Baa3***
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Partner
proforma**
|
0.65 | 6.40 | 86 | % | 27 | % | 1.55 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Vodafone
Group PLC
|
0.23 | 0.41 | 29 | % | 33 | % | 2.34 |
Baa1
|
A | - | ||||||||||||||||||
Deutche
Telekom AG
|
0.37 | 1.14 | 53 | % | 54 | % | 2.50 |
Baa1
|
BB
|
+ | ||||||||||||||||||
KPN
|
0.48 | 4.01 | 80 | % | 38 | % | 2.28 |
Baa2
|
BBB
|
+ | ||||||||||||||||||
Telecom
Italia Spa
|
0.45 | 1.39 | 58 | % | 64 | % | 3.35 |
Baa2
|
BBB
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Telefonica
S.A
|
0.43 | 2.26 | 69 | % | 34 | % | 2.00 |
Baa1
|
A | - | ||||||||||||||||||
Swisscom
AG
|
0.44 | 1.52 | 60 | % | 33 | % | 2.05 |
A2
|
A | |||||||||||||||||||
Median**** |
0.44
|
1.46
|
59
|
% | 36 | % |
2.31
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Average**** |
0.40
|
1.79
|
58
|
% | 43 | % |
2.42
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
Revenues
|
|
-
|
Revenues
from air time are based on (1) the existing and expected number of the
Company’s subscribers, taking into account change in Partner’s market
share as a result of changes in the cellular market (sale of Mirs and
entry of MVNO), which impact negatively on the Company’s revenues; and (2)
ARPU resulting from MOU, tariffs and consumption of other services, such
as content services.
|
|
-
|
Other
revenues relates to revenues derived from developments in new services,
such as VOB, ISP, etc.
|
Main parameters |
2010
|
2011
|
2012 | 2013 | ||||||||||||
No.
of subscribers as of year end (thousands)
|
3,056 | 3,006 | 3,023 | 3,039 | ||||||||||||
Market
Share
|
31.9 | % | 31.0 | % | 30.2 | % | 29.7 | % | ||||||||
ARPU
|
145 | 141 | 139 | 140 | ||||||||||||
MOU
|
372 | 391 | 410 | 429 |
|
„
|
Gross
profit – the Company’s gross profit in the first nine months of 2009
represents 38.4% of total revenues, and is expected to decrease gradually
to approximately 35.3%. The expected decrease is derived, inter alia, from
the possibility that Partner will be obliged to pay royalties in 2013 in
respect of the “Orange” brand name use. According to the existing
agreement, the Company is exempt from payments for the brand name until
2013.
|
|
„
|
Operating
expenses – the Company’s operating expenses in the first nine months of
2009 represent 12.6% of total revenues. The rate of operating expenses is
expected to range between 12.2% - 12.9%, over the projected years. The
Company’s operating expenses are affected by the Company’s expenses
incurred in accordance with the ISP initiative and other new projects;
this impact will moderate in coming years through improvement of processes
in the Company as a result of efficiency measures being implemented
presently in the Company.
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
Finance
costs – finance costs are composed of interest expenses incurred in
accordance with existing terms of the Company’s notes and credit from
banks, and notes expected to be issued for purposes of refinancing of the
Company debt and/or dividend payment resulting from the planned capital
reduction.
|
|
„
|
Taxes
on income – tax rates are based on statutory tax rates with the addition
of 1%, reflecting the effective tax
rate.
|
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
Year
ended December
31
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit
and Loss
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
6,049 | 6,204 | 6,303 | 6,399 | 6,564 | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
2,311 | 2,334 | 2,379 | 2,379 | 2,319 | 38.2 | % | 37.6 | % | 37.7 | % | 37.2 | % | 35.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
profit
|
1,681 | 1,656 | 1,707 | 1,702 | 1,644 | 27.8 | % | 26.7 | % | 27.1 | % | 26.6 | % | 25.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finance
costs, net
|
164 | 289 | 275 | 227 | 253 | 2.7 | % | 4.7 | % | 4.4 | % | 3.6 | % | 3.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit
before income tax
|
1,517 | 1,367 | 1,432 | 1,475 | 1,391 | 25.1 | % | 22.0 | % | 22.7 | % | 23.0 | % | 21.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income
tax expenses
|
385 | 348 | 350 | 346 | 312 | 25.4 | % | 25.6 | % | 24.4 | % | 23.4 | % | 22.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
1,132 | 1,019 | 1,082 | 1,129 | 1,079 | 18.7 | % | 16.4 | % | 17.2 | % | 17.6 | % | 16.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
EBITDA
|
2,259 | 2,393 | 2,429 | 2,443 | 2,442 | 37.3 | % | 38.6 | % | 38.5 | % | 38.2 | % | 37.2 | % |
|
„
|
Capital
expenditures – annual investment of NIS 500 million in fixed assets is
assumed.
|
|
„
|
Debt
and financing – the following table presents the Company’s repayment and
debt raising in the projected
years:
|
Currency:
NISm
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Financing
cash flow (principle only)
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|||||||||||||||
Bank
credit:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Admission
|
- | 1,500 | - | 950 | 300 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
|
- | - | - | (950 | ) | (300 | ) | |||||||||||||
Notes
Payable:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance/expansion
|
448 | 550 | 785 | 199 | 274 | |||||||||||||||
Payment
|
(559 | ) | (766 | ) | (785 | ) | (199 | ) | (274 | ) |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
Dividend
payments – it is assumed that as from 2010 Partner will distribute a
dividend in the amount equal to 100% of the net income in the regular
course of business. Of the announced dividend, 75% is paid in the same
year and 25% in the year following the year of the dividend
announcement.
|
|
„
|
Capital
reduction – capital reduction in the amount of NIS 1.4 billion is
assumed.
|
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
Financial debt
|
2,317 | 3,712 | 3,715 | 3,713 | 3,696 | |||||||||||||||
Equity
|
1,715 | 352 | 389 | 426 | 463 | |||||||||||||||
Net
debt / (Equity+Net debt)
|
57 | % | 91 | % | 91 | % | 90 | % | 89 | % | ||||||||||
Net
debt / EBITDA
|
1.03 | 1.55 | 1.53 | 1.52 | 1.51 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
|||||||||||||||
Cash
Flows
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
1,019 | 1,082 | 1,129 | 1,079 | ||||||||||||
Adjustments
to cash flow from operating activities
|
907 | 894 | 883 | 949 | ||||||||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
(737 | ) | (736 | ) | (749 | ) | (785 | ) | ||||||||
Free
cash flow
|
1,189 | 1,240 | 1,263 | 1,243 | ||||||||||||
Intake
from employee options realization
|
22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | ||||||||||||
Interest
paid
|
(123 | ) | (120 | ) | (101 | ) | (110 | ) | ||||||||
Non
current loan receipt
|
1,500 | - | 950 | 300 | ||||||||||||
Non
current loan payment
|
- | - | (950 | ) | (300 | ) | ||||||||||
Notes
payable issuance, net
|
550 | 785 | 199 | 274 | ||||||||||||
Notes
payable fund payment
|
(766 | ) | (785 | ) | (199 | ) | (274 | ) | ||||||||
Capital
reduction
|
(1,400 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
Free cash
and cash equivalent after financing activities, before dividend
payment
|
972 | 1,142 | 1,184 | 1,155 | ||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalent at end
of period before dividend payment
|
1,022 | 1,172 | 1,290 | 1,328 | ||||||||||||
Dividend
payment
|
(992 | ) | (1,066 | ) | (1,117 | ) | (1,092 | ) | ||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalent at end of period
|
30 | 106 | 173 | 236 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Main
parameters
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||
No.
of subscribers as of year end (thousands)
|
3,008 | 2,908 | 2,872 | 2,833 | ||||||||||||
Market
Share
|
31.4 | % | 30.2 | % | 28.9 | % | 27.9 | % | ||||||||
ARPU
|
144 | 138 | 136 | 134 | ||||||||||||
MOU
|
369 | 381 | 395 | 402 |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
Year
ended December
31
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit
and loss
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
6,049 | 5,955 | 5,850 | 5,776 | 5,745 | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
1,132 | 910 | 887 | 848 | 721 | 18.7 | % | 15.3 | % | 15.2 | % | 14.7 | % | 12.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
EBITDA
|
2,259 | 2,195 | 2,045 | 1,928 | 1,781 | 37.3 | % | 36.9 | % | 35.0 | % | 33.4 | % | 31.0 | % |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Profit
and loss
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Projection
|
6,049 | 6,204 | 6,303 | 6,399 | 6,564 | |||||||||||||||
Sensitivity
analysis
|
6,049 | 5,955 | 5,850 | 5,776 | 5,745 | |||||||||||||||
%
Difference
|
- | % | (4 | )% | (7 | )% | (10 | )% | (12 | )% | ||||||||||
Net
Income
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Projection
|
1,132 | 1,019 | 1,082 | 1,129 | 1,079 | |||||||||||||||
Sensitivity
analysis
|
1,132 | 910 | 887 | 848 | 721 | |||||||||||||||
%
Difference
|
- | % | (11 | )% | (18 | )% | (25 | )% | (33 | )% |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
|||||||||||||||
Cash
Flows
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||
Net
income
|
910 | 887 | 848 | 721 | ||||||||||||
Adjustments
to cash flow from operating activities
|
902 | 835 | 807 | 840 | ||||||||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
(737 | ) | (736 | ) | (749 | ) | (785 | ) | ||||||||
Free
cash flow
|
1,075 | 986 | 906 | 776 | ||||||||||||
Other
financing activity
|
(82 | ) | (51 | ) | (24 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
Non
current loan receipt
|
1,500 | - | (950 | ) | (300 | ) | ||||||||||
Non
current loan payment
|
(766 | ) | (785 | ) | (199 | ) | (123 | ) | ||||||||
Capital
reduction
|
(1,400 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
Free
cash and cash equivalent
after financing activities and before dividend payment
|
327 | 150 | (267 | ) | 347 | |||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalent
at end of period before dividend payment
|
375 | 297 | 30 | 377 | ||||||||||||
Dividend
payment
|
(228 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalent at end of period
|
147 | 297 | 30 | 377 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
S&P
Maalot rating
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
|
„
|
Analyst
estimates
|
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Profit
and Loss
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
flow projection
|
6,049 | 6,204 | 6,303 | 6,399 | 6,564 | |||||||||||||||
Analyst
estimates average
|
6,222 | 6,417 | 6,525 | 6,224 | 6,147 | |||||||||||||||
%
Difference
|
(3 | )% | (3 | )% | (3 | )% | 3 | % | 7 | % | ||||||||||
Sensitivity
analysis outcome
|
6,049 | 5,955 | 5,850 | 5,776 | 5,745 | |||||||||||||||
Analyst
estimates average
|
6,222 | 6,417 | 6,525 | 6,224 | 6,147 | |||||||||||||||
%
Difference
|
(3 | )% | (7 | )% | (10 | )% | (7 | )% | (7 | )% | ||||||||||
EBITDA
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
flow projection
|
2,259 | 2,393 | 2,429 | 2,443 | 2,442 | |||||||||||||||
Analyst
estimates average
|
2,221 | 2,254 | 2,334 | 2,222 | 2,259 | |||||||||||||||
%
Difference
|
2 | % | 6 | % | 4 | % | 10 | % | 8 | % | ||||||||||
Sensitivity
analysis outcome
|
2,259 | 2,195 | 2,045 | 1,928 | 1,781 | |||||||||||||||
Analyst
estimates average
|
2,221 | 2,254 | 2,334 | 2,222 | 2,259 | |||||||||||||||
%
Difference
|
2 | % | (3 | )% | (12 | )% | (13 | )% | (21 | )% |
|
„
|
Loans
from banks
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's
name
|
Ticker
|
Currency
|
Market
Cap
|
EBITDA*
|
%
EBITDA*
|
Net
financial debt
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||||
Partner
|
PTNR
|
NIS
|
10,970 | 2,238 | 37 | % | 2,063 | 1,941 | |||||||||||||||||
Partner
proforma**
|
NIS
|
9,570 | 2,238 | 37 | % | 3,463 | 541 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cellcom
|
tase:cel
|
NIS
|
11,087 | 2,516 | 39 | % | 3,331 | 389 | |||||||||||||||||
Bezeq
|
tase:bezq
|
NIS
|
21,495 | 4,618 | 37 | % | 3,695 | 6,188 | |||||||||||||||||
Hot
|
tase:hot
|
NIS
|
2,776 | 1,054 | 34 | % | 2,807 | 1,355 | |||||||||||||||||
012 |
smlc
|
NIS
|
1,003 | 267 | 23 | % | 32 | 831 | |||||||||||||||||
Median***
|
6,932 | 1,785 | 35 | % | 3,069 | 1,093 | |||||||||||||||||||
Average***
|
9,090 | 2,114 | 33 | % | 2,466 | 2,191 |
Currency: $m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's
name
|
Ticker
|
Currency
|
Market
Cap
|
EBITDA*
|
%
EBITDA*
|
Net
financial debt
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||||
AT&T
|
t |
USD
|
175,430 | 41,272 | 33 | % | 68,916 | 100,001 | |||||||||||||||||
Rogers
|
rci.b
|
USD
|
18,311 | 3,875 | 33 | % | 8,807 | 4,530 | |||||||||||||||||
Qwest
|
q |
USD
|
6,577 | 4,417 | 35 | % | 12,061 | (1,031 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Verizon
|
vz
|
USD
|
85,986 | 32,968 | 31 | % | 61,127 | 84,582 | |||||||||||||||||
Median**
|
52,149 | 18,693 | 33 | % | 36,594 | 44,556 | |||||||||||||||||||
Average**
|
71,576 | 20,633 | 33 | % | 37,728 | 47,021 |
Currency:
ˆm
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Company's
name
|
Ticker
|
Currency
|
Market
Cap
|
EBITDA*
|
%
EBITDA*
|
Net
financial debt
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||
Vodafone
Group PLC
|
vod
|
EUR
|
73,738 | 15,255 | 36 | % | 35,715 | 87,762 | |||||||||||||||
Deutche
Telekom AG
|
db:dte
|
EUR
|
40,800 | 18,963 | 29 | % | 47,387 | 41,589 | |||||||||||||||
KPN
|
Euronext:kpn
kon
|
EUR
|
18,940 | 5,166 | 37 | % | 11,793 | 2,943 | |||||||||||||||
Telecom
Italia Spa
|
cm:tit
|
EUR
|
21,106 | 11,199 | 40 | % | 37,479 | 26,989 | |||||||||||||||
Telefonica
S.A
|
tef
|
EUR
|
88,713 | 22,538 | 40 | % | 45,099 | 19,920 | |||||||||||||||
Swisscom
AG
|
swx:scmm
|
EUR
|
19,813 | 4,754 | 39 | % | 9,760 | 6,414 | |||||||||||||||
Median**
|
30,953 | 13,227 | 38 | % | 36,597 | 23,455 | |||||||||||||||||
Average**
|
43,852 | 12,979 | 37 | % | 31,206 | 30,936 |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |
December 29, 2009 | Unofficial Translation |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
Year
ended December
31
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
sheet
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
50 | 30 | 106 | 173 | 236 | 1.0 | % | 0.6 | % | 1.9 | % | 3.1 | % | 4.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
current assets
|
1,349 | 1,383 | 1,404 | 1,425 | 1,460 | 25.5 | % | 25.9 | % | 25.6 | % | 25.5 | % | 25.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
non current assets
|
3,899 | 3,928 | 3,965 | 3,993 | 4,008 | 73.6 | % | 73.5 | % | 72.4 | % | 71.4 | % | 70.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current maturities
of long term liabilities and short term loans
|
754 | 773 | 198 | 268 | 274 | 14.2 | % | 14.5 | % | 3.6 | % | 4.8 | % | 4.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
1,364 | 1,419 | 1,452 | 1,481 | 1,498 | 25.7 | % | 26.6 | % | 26.5 | % | 26.5 | % | 26.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
payable and non current credit
|
1,385 | 2,715 | 3,353 | 3,335 | 3,388 | 26.1 | % | 50.8 | % | 61.2 | % | 59.7 | % | 59.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
non current liabilities
|
80 | 82 | 83 | 81 | 81 | 1.5 | % | 1.5 | % | 1.5 | % | 1.4 | % | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
equity
|
1,715 | 352 | 389 | 426 | 463 | 32.4 | % | 6.6 | % | 7.1 | % | 7.6 | % | 8.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
total
balance sheet
|
5,298 | 5,341 | 5,475 | 5,591 | 5,704 | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
Currency:
NISm
|
Year
ended December
31
|
Year
ended December
31
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
sheet
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
48 | 147 | 297 | 30 | 377 | 0.9 | % | 2.7 | % | 5.4 | % | 0.6 | % | 6.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
current assets
|
1,353 | 1,333 | 1,311 | 1,294 | 1,287 | 25.5 | % | 24.7 | % | 23.7 | % | 24.5 | % | 22.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
non current assets
|
3,900 | 3,911 | 3,933 | 3,950 | 3,951 | 73.6 | % | 72.5 | % | 71.0 | % | 74.9 | % | 70.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current maturities
of long term liabilities and short term loans
|
754 | 773 | 198 | 120 | 123 | 14.2 | % | 14.3 | % | 3.6 | % | 2.3 | % | 2.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
1,367 | 1,123 | 1,103 | 1,091 | 1,085 | 25.8 | % | 20.8 | % | 19.9 | % | 20.7 | % | 19.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
payable and non current credit
|
1,385 | 2,151 | 1,971 | 912 | 498 | 26.1 | % | 39.9 | % | 35.6 | % | 17.3 | % | 8.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
non current liabilities
|
80 | 82 | 83 | 80 | 81 | 1.5 | % | 1.5 | % | 1.5 | % | 1.5 | % | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
equity
|
1,715 | 1,262 | 2,186 | 3,071 | 3,828 | 32.4 | % | 23.4 | % | 39.4 | % | 58.2 | % | 68.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
total
balance sheet
|
5,301 | 5,391 | 5,541 | 5,274 | 5,615 | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
Chapter One - General | 3 | |
1. | Definitions and Interpretation | 3 |
2. | Public Company | 5 |
3. | The Purpose of the Company | 5 |
4. | The Objectives of the Company | 5 |
5. | Limited Liability | 5 |
Chapter Two - The Share Capital of the Company | 6 | |
6. | Share Capital | 6 |
7. | The Issuance of Shares and Other Equity Securities | 6 |
8. | Calls for Payment | 7 |
9. | The Shareholder Registers of the Company and the Issuance of Share Certificates | 8 |
10. | Transfer of Shares of the Company | 9 |
10A. | Limitations on Transfer of Shares | 11 |
10B. | Required Minimum Holdings | 13 |
11. | Bearer Share Certificate | 13 |
12. | Pledge of Shares | 13 |
13. | Changes in the Share Capital | 14 |
Chapter Three - General Meetings | 16 | |
14. | The Authority of the General Meeting | 16 |
15. | Kinds of General Meetings | 17 |
16. | The Holding of General Meetings | 18 |
17. | The Agenda of General Meetings | 19 |
18. | Discussions in General Meetings | 20 |
19. | Voting of the Shareholders | 21 |
20. | The Appointment of a Proxy | 24 |
21. | Deed of Vote, Voting Via the Internet | 25 |
Chapter Four - The Board of Directors | 25 | |
22. | The Authority of the Board of Directors | 25 |
23. | The Appointment of Directors and the Termination of Their Office | 27 |
24. | Actions of Directors | 31 |
25. | Committees of the Board of Directors | 35 |
25A. | Committee for Security Matters | 35 |
25B. | Approval of Certain Related Party Transactions | 37 |
26. | Chairman of the Board of Directors | 37 |
Chapter Five - Officers who are not Directors and the Auditor | 38 | |
27. | The General Manager | 38 |
28. | The Corporate Secretary, Internal Controller and Other Officers of the Company | 40 |
29. | The Auditor | 41 |
Chapter Six - The Share Capital of the Company and its Distribution | 41 | |
30. | Permitted Distributions | 41 |
31. | Dividends and Bonus Shares | 42 |
32. | The Acquisition of Shares | 46 |
Chapter Seven - Insurance, Indemnification and Release of Officers | 46 | |
33. | Insurance of Officers | 46 |
34. | Indemnification of Officers | 47 |
35. | Release of Officers | 48 |
Chapter Eight - Liquidation and Reorganization of the Company | 49 | |
36. | Liquidation | 49 |
37. | Reorganization | 49 |
Chapter Nine - Miscellaneous | 50 | |
38. | Notices | 50 |
Chapter 10 - Intentionally Deleted | 51 | |
39. | Intentionally Deleted | 51 |
40. | Intentionally Deleted | 51 |
41. | Intentionally Deleted | 51 |
42. | Intentionally Deleted | 51 |
Chapter 11 - Compliance with the License/ Limitations on Ownership and Control | 51 | |
43. | Compliance | 51 |
44. | Limitations on Ownership and Control | 51 |
1. | Definitions and Interpretation |
1.1. | The following terms in these Articles of Association bear the meaning appearing alongside them below: |
Articles of Association | The Articles of Association of the Company, as set forth herein or as amended, whether explicitly or pursuant to any Law. |
Business Day | Sunday to Thursday, inclusive, with the exception of holidays and official days of rest in the State of Israel. |
Companies Law | The Companies Law, 1999. |
Companies Ordinance | The Companies Ordinance [New Version], 1983. |
Companies Regulations | Regulations issued pursuant to the Companies Ordinance or Companies Law. |
Director | A Director of the Company in accordance with the definition in Section 1 of the Companies Law, including an Alternate Director or an empowered representative. |
Document | A printout and any other form of written or printed words, including documents transmitted in writing, via facsimile, telegram, telex, e–mail, on a computer or through any other electronic instrumentation, producing or allowing the production of a copy and/or an output of a document. |
Founding Shareholder | A “founding shareholder or its substitute” as defined in Section 21.8 of the License. |
Founding Israeli
Shareholder |
A Founding Shareholder who also qualifies as an “Israeli Entity” as defined for purposes of Section 22A of the License. |
Financial Statements | The balance sheet, profit and loss statement, statement of changes in the share capital and cash flow statements, including the notes attached to them. |
Law | The provisions of any law (“din”) as defined in the Interpretation Law, 1981. |
License | The Company’s General License for the Provision of Mobile Radio Telephone Services using the Cellular Method in Israel dated April 7, 1998, and the permit issued by the Ministry of Communications dated April 7, 1998. |
Linkage | Payments with respect to changes in the Israeli consumer price index or the representative exchange rate of NIS vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar, as published by the Bank of Israel, or any other rate which replaces such rate. |
Minimum Founding
Shareholders Holding |
The minimum shareholding in the Company required to be held by Founding Shareholders pursuant to Section 22A.1 of the License. |
Minimum Israeli
Holding |
The minimum shareholding in the Company required to be held by Founding Israeli Shareholders pursuant to Section 22A.2 of the License. |
NIS | New Israeli Shekel |
Office | The registered office of the Company. |
Ordinary Majority | A simple majority of the shareholders who are entitled to vote and who voted in a General Meeting in person, by means of a proxy or by means of a deed of voting. |
Periodic Statement | According to its definition in Chapter B of the Securities Regulations (Periodic and Immediate Reports), 1970, or such Securities Regulations replacing them. |
Qualified Israeli
Director |
A director who at all times (i) is a citizen of Israel and resident in Israel, (ii) qualifies to serve as a director under applicable law, (iii) qualifies as a Director with Clearance as defined in section 25A, and (iv) is appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to section 23.2.6 of these Articles. |
Record Date | The date on which a shareholder must be registered as a Shareholder in order to receive the right to participate in and vote at an upcoming general meeting of Shareholders. |
Securities | Shares, bonds, capital notes or securities negotiable into shares and certificates, conferring a right in such securities, or other securities issued by the Company. |
Securities Law | The Securities Law, 1968. |
Securities Regulations | Regulations issued pursuant to the Securities Law. |
Shares | shares in the share capital of the Company. |
Shareholder | Anyone registered as a shareholder in the Shareholder Register of the Company. |
Special Majority | A majority of at least three quarters of the votes of shareholders who are entitled to vote and who voted in a general meeting, in person, by means of a proxy or by means of a deed of voting. |
1.2. | The provisions of Sections 3 through 10 of the Interpretation Law, 1981, shall also apply to the interpretation of these Articles of Association, mutatis mutandis, unless the context otherwise requires. |
1.3. | Except as otherwise provided in this Article, each word and expression in these Articles of Association shall have the meaning given to it in accordance with the Companies Law, and to the extent that no meaning is attached to it in the Companies Law, the meaning given to it in the Companies Regulations, and if they lack reference thereto, as stated, the meaning given to it in the Securities Law or Securities Regulations, and in the absence of any meaning, as stated, the meaning given to it in another Law, unless it contradicts the relevant provision or its contents. |
2. | Public Company |
The Company is a public company. |
3. | The Purpose of the Company |
The purpose of the Company is to operate in accordance with business considerations to generate profits; provided, however, the Board of Directors is entitled to donate reasonable amounts to worthy causes, even if such a donation is not within the framework of business considerations, as stated. |
4. | The Objectives of the Company |
The Company shall engage in any legal business. |
5. | Limited Liability |
The liability of the Shareholders of the Company is limited, each one up to the full amount he undertook to pay for the Shares allotted to him, at the time of the allotment. |
6. | Share Capital |
6.1. | The authorized share capital of the Company is NIS 2,350,000, divided into 235,000,000 ordinary shares at a par value of NIS 0.01 each (hereinafter: the “Ordinary Shares”). |
6.2. | Each Ordinary Share shall confer upon its holder the right to receive notices of, and to attend and vote in, general meetings, and to one vote for each Ordinary Share held by him. |
6.3. | Each class of Shares shall also confer equal rights to each holder in the class with respect to the amounts of equity which were paid or credited as paid with respect to their par value, in all matters pertaining to dividends, the distribution of bonus shares and any other distribution, return of capital and participation in the distribution of the balance of the assets of the Company upon liquidation. |
6.4. | The provisions of these Articles of Association with respect to Shares, shall also apply to other Securities issued by the Company, mutatis mutandis. |
7. | The Issuance of Shares and Other Securities |
7.1. | The Board of Directors of the Company may issue Shares and other equity Securities of the Company, up to the limit of the registered share capital of the Company. In the event that the share capital of the Company includes several classes of Shares and other equity Securities, no shares and other equity Securities shall be issued above the limit of the registered share capital for its class. |
7.2. | The Board of Directors of the Company may issue redeemable Securities, having such rights and subject to such conditions as will be determined by the Board of Directors. |
7.3. | Subject to the provisions of these Articles of Association, the Board of Directors may allot Shares and other Securities according to such stipulations and conditions, at par value or by way of a premium, as it deems fit. |
7.4. | The Board of Directors may decide on the issuance of a series of bonds or other debt securities within the framework of its authority or to take a loan on behalf of the Company and within the limits of the same authority. |
7.5. | The Shareholders of the Company at any given time shall not have any preemption right or priority or any other right whatsoever with respect to the acquisition of Securities of the Company. The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may decide to offer Securities of the Company first to existing Shareholders or to any one or more of them. |
7.6. | The Company is entitled to pay a commission (including underwriting fees) to any person, in consideration for underwriting services, or the marketing or distribution of Securities of the Company, whether reserved or unreserved, as determined by the Board of Directors. Payments, as stated in this Article, may be paid in cash or in Securities of the Company, or partly in one manner and partly in another manner. |
8. | Calls of Payment |
8.1. | In the event that according to the terms of a Share allotment, there is no fixed date for the payment of any part of the price that is to be paid for the Shares, the Board of Directors may issue from time to time calls of payment to the Shareholders with respect to the moneys which were not yet paid by them in relation to the Shares (hereinafter: “Calls of Payment” or “a Call of Payment”, as the case may be). |
8.2. | A Call of Payment shall set a date, which will not be earlier than thirty days from the date of the notice, by which the amount indicated in the Call of Payment must be paid, together with interest, Linkage and expenses incurred in consequence of the non–payment, according to the rates and amounts set by the Board of Directors. The notice shall further specify that in the event of a failure to pay within the date fixed, the Shares in respect of which payment or the rate is required may be forfeited. In the event that a Shareholder fails to meet any of its obligations, under a Call of Payment, the Share in respect of which said notice was issued pursuant to the resolution of the Board of Directors may be forfeited at any time thereafter. The forfeiture of Shares shall include the forfeiture of all the dividends on same Shares which were not paid prior to the forfeiture, even if such dividends were declared. |
8.3. | Any amount, which according to the terms of a Share allotment, must be paid at the time of issuance or at a fixed date, whether at the par value of the Share or at a premium, shall be deemed for the purposes of these Articles of Association to be combined in a duly issued Call of Payment. In the event of non-payment of any such amount, all the provisions of these Articles of Association shall apply with respect to such an amount, as if a proper Call of Payment has been made and an appropriate notice thereof was given. |
8.4. | The Board of Directors, acting reasonably and in good faith, may differentiate among Shareholders with respect to amounts of Calls of Payment and/or their payment time. |
8.5. | The joint holders of Shares shall be liable, jointly and severally, for the payment of Calls of Payment in respect of such Shares. |
8.6. | Any payment for Shares shall be credited, pro rata, according to the par value of and according to the premium on such Shares. |
8.7. | A Call of Payment may be cancelled or deferred to another date, as may be decided by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may waive any interest, Linkage and expenses or any part of them. |
8.8. | The Board of Directors may receive from a Shareholder any payments for his Shares, in addition to the amount of any Call of Payment, and the Board of Directors may pay to the same Shareholder interest on amounts which were paid in advance, as stated above, or on same part of them, in excess of the amount of the Call of Payment, or to make any other arrangement with him which may compensate him for the advancement of the payment. |
8.9. | A Shareholder shall not be entitled to a dividend or to his other rights as a Shareholder, unless he has fully paid the amounts specified in the Calls of Payment issued to him, together with interest, Linkage and expenses, if any, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. |
8.10. | The Board of Directors is entitled to sell, re-allot or transfer in any other manner any Share which was forfeited, in the manner it decides, with or without any amount paid on the Share or deemed as paid on it. |
8.11. | The Board of Directors is entitled at all times prior to the sale, reallotment or transfer of the forfeited Share to cancel the forfeiture on the conditions it may decide. |
8.12. | A person whose Shares have been forfeited shall, notwithstanding the forfeiture, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which, up until the date of forfeiture, were due and payable by him to the Company in respect of the Shares, including interest, Linkage and expenses up until the actual payment date in the same manner as if the Shares were not forfeited, and shall be compelled to fulfill all the requirements and claims which the Company was entitled to enforce with respect to the Shares up until the forfeiture date, without any decrease or discount for the value of the Shares at the time of forfeiture. His liability shall cease only if and when the Company receives the full payment set at the time of allotment of the Shares. |
8.13. | The Board of Directors may collect any Calls of Payment which were not paid on the forfeited Shares or any part of them, as it deems fit, but it is not obligated to do so. |
8.14. | The forfeiture of a Share shall cause, as of the time of forfeiture, the cancellation of all rights in the Company and of any claim or demand against the Company with respect to that Share, and of other rights and obligations of the Shareholder in respect of the Company, save as otherwise provided by Law. |
9. | The Shareholder Registers of the Company and the Issuance of Share Certificates |
9.1. | The Company shall maintain a Shareholder Register and a Register of Significant Shareholders, together with a notation of any Exceptional Holdings in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 10A below, to be administered by the corporate secretary of the Company, subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors. |
9.2. | A Shareholder is entitled to receive from the Company, free of charge, within two months after an allotment or the registration of a transfer (unless the conditions of the allotment fix a different period) one or several certificates with respect to all the Shares of a certain class registered in his favor, which certificate must specify the number of the Shares, the class of the Shares and the amount paid for them and also any other detail deemed important by the Board of Directors. In the event a Share is held jointly, the Company shall not be obligated to issue more than one certificate for all the joint holders, and the delivery of such a certificate to any of the joint holders shall be viewed as if it was delivered to all of them. |
9.3. | Each and every Share certificate shall be stamped with the seal or the stamp of the Company or bear the Company’s printed name, and shall also bear the signature of one Director and of the corporate secretary of the Company, or of two Directors or of any other person appointed by the Board of Directors for this purpose. |
9.4. | The Company is entitled to issue a new Share certificate in place of an issued Share certificate which was lost or spoiled or corrupted, following evidence thereto and guarantees and indemnities, as may be required by the Company and the payment of an amount determined by the Board of Directors. |
9.5. | Where two people or more are registered as joint holders of Shares, each of them is entitled to acknowledge the receipt of a dividend or other payments in connection with such jointly held Shares, and such acknowledgement of any one of them shall be good discharge of the Company’s obligation to pay such dividend or other payments. |
10. | Transfer of Shares |
10.1. | The Shares are transferable. The transfer of Shares shall not be registered unless the Company receives a deed of transfer (hereinafter: “Deed of Transfer”) or other proper Document or instrument of transfer. A Deed of Transfer shall be drawn up in the following manner or in any substantially similar manner or in any other manner approved by the Board of Directors. |
Deed of Transfer |
I, _________________, (hereinafter: “The Transferor”) of ____________, do hereby transfer to ___________ (hereinafter: “The Transferee”) of __________, for valuable consideration paid to me, _________ Share(s) having a par value of NIS 0.01 each, numbered ________ to ________ (inclusive), of Partner Communications Company Ltd. (hereinafter: the “Company”) to hold unto the Transferee, his executors, administrators and assigns, subject to the same terms and conditions on which I held the same at the time of the execution hereof; and I, the said Transferee, do hereby agree to take the said Share(s) subject to the aforesaid terms and conditions. |
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this _____ day of _________, _____. |
The Transferor | The Transferee | |
Name: _______________ | Name: _______________ | |
Signature: ____________ | Signature: ____________ | |
Witness to the Signature of: | ||
The Transferor | The Transferee | |
Name: _______________ | Name: _______________ | |
Signature: ____________ | Signature: ____________ |
10.2. | The transfer of Shares which are not fully paid, or Shares on which the Company has a lien or pledge, shall have no validity unless approved by the Board of Directors, which may, in its absolute discretion and without giving any reasoning thereto, decline the registration of such a transfer. The Board of Directors may deny a transfer of Shares as aforesaid and may also impose a condition of the transfer of Shares as aforesaid an undertaking by the transferee to meet the obligations of the transferor with respect to the Shares or the obligations for which the Company has a lien or pledge on the Shares, signed by the transferee together with the signature of a witness, authenticating the signature of the transferee. |
10.3. | The transfer of a fraction of a Share shall lack validity. |
10.4. | A transferor of Shares shall continue to be regarded as the holder of the transferred Shares, until the name of the transferee of the Shares is registered in the Shareholder Register of the Company. |
10.5. | A Deed of Transfer shall be filed with the Company’s office for registration, together with the Share Certificates for the Shares which are to be transferred (if such are issued) and also any other evidence which the Company may require with respect to the proprietary right of the transferor or with respect to his right to transfer the Shares. Deeds of Transfer which are registered shall remain with the Company. The Company is not obligated to retain the Deeds of Transfer and the Share Certificates, which may be cancelled, after the completion of a seven-year period from the registration of the transfer. |
10.6. | A joint Shareholder may transfer his right in a Share. In the event the transferring Shareholder does not hold the relevant Share Certificate, the transferor shall not be obligated to attach the Share Certificate to the Deed of Transfer, so long as the Deed of Transfer shall indicate that the transferor does not hold the Share Certificate, that the right he has in the Shares therein is being transferred, and that the transferred Share is held jointly with others, together with their details. |
10.7. | The Company may require payment of a fee for the registration of the transfer, at an amount or a rate determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. |
10.8. | The Board of Directors may close the Shareholder Register for a period of up to thirty days in each year. |
10.9. | Subject to Article 10.10, upon the death of a Shareholder, the Company shall recognize the custodians or administrators of the estate or executors of the will, and in the absence of such, the lawful heirs of the Shareholder, as the only holders of the right for the Shares of the deceased Shareholder, after receipt of evidence to the entitlement thereto, as determined by the Board of Directors. |
10.10. | In the event that a deceased Shareholder held Shares jointly with others, the Company shall acknowledge each survivor as a joint Shareholder with respect to said Shares, unless all the joint holders in the Share notify the Company in writing, prior to the death of any of them, of their will that the provisions of this Article shall not apply to them. The foregoing shall not release the estate of a joint Shareholder of any obligation in relation to a Share which is held jointly. |
10.11. | A person acquiring a right in Shares in consequence of being a custodian, administrator of the estate, the heir of a Shareholder, a receiver, liquidator or a trustee in a bankruptcy of a Shareholder or according to another provision of the Law, is entitled, after providing evidence to his right, to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors, to be registered as the Shareholder or to transfer such Shares to another person, subject to the provisions of these Articles of Association with respect to transfers. |
10.12. | A person becoming entitled to a Share because of the death of a Shareholder shall be entitled to receive, and to give receipts for, dividends or other payments paid or distributions made, with respect to the Share, but shall not be entitled to receive notices with respect to General Meetings of the Company or to participate or vote therein with respect to that Share, or to exercise any other right of a Shareholder, until he has been registered in the Shareholder Register as the holder of that Share. |
10.13. | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Articles 10.5 and 10.7, the transfer of Shares as a result of a realization of a share pledge entered into by a Shareholder of the Company in connection with the Company’s $650 million credit facility dated August 13, 1998, as amended from time to time, will not require additional evidence with respect to the proprietary right of the transferor or with respect to his right to transfer the shares other than a properly completed deed of transfer and valid Share Certificate (if issued), nor will the Company require a fee for the registration of said transfer. |
10A. | Limitations on Transfer of Shares |
10A.1. | Exceptional Holdings shall be registered in the Register of Members (Shareholder Register) together with a notation that such holdings have been classified as “Exceptional Holdings”, immediately upon the Company’s learning of such matter. Notice of such registration shall be sent by the Company to the registered holder of the Exceptional Holding and to the Minister of Communications. |
10A.2. | Exceptional Holdings, registered in the manner set forth in Article 10A.1, shall not entitle the holder to any rights in respect to his holdings, and such holdings shall be considered “Dormant Shares” within the meaning of Section 308 of the Companies Law, except, however, that the holder of such shares shall be entitled to receive dividends and other distributions to shareholders (including the right to participate in a rights offering calculated on the basis of Means of Control of the Company (as defined in the License), provided, however, that such additional holdings shall be considered Exceptional Holdings). Therefore, any action taken or claim made on the basis of a right deriving from an Exceptional Holdings shall have no effect, except for the receipt of dividends or other distribution as stated above. |
Without derogating from the above: |
10A2.1 | A Shareholder participating in a vote of the General Meeting will certify to the Company prior to the vote or, if the vote is by Deed of Vote, on the Deed of Vote, as to whether or not his holdings in the Company or his vote require consent pursuant to Sections 21 and 23 to the License; in the event the shareholder does not provide notification as aforesaid, he shall not vote and his vote shall not be counted. |
10A.2.2 | No Director shall be appointed, elected or removed on the basis of Exceptional Holdings. In the event a Director is appointed, elected or removed from his position as a Director as set forth above, such appointment, election or removal shall have no effect. |
10A.2.3 | Exceptional Holdings shall have no voting rights at a General Meeting of the Company. |
For the purposes of this Article 10A, “Exceptional Holdings” means the holdings of Traded Means of Control held without the consent of the Minister of Communications pursuant to Section 21 to the License or as a result of a breach of the provisions of Section 23 to the License, and all holdings of a holder of Traded Means of Control who acted contrary to the provisions of Section 24 to the License; and as long as the consent of the Minister of Communications is required but has not been obtained pursuant to Section 21 to the License, or the circumstances exist which constitute a violation of the provisions of Sections 23 or 24 to the License. |
For the purposes of this Article 10A, “Traded Means of Control” means Means of Control (as defined in the License) including Global or American Depositary Shares (GDRs or ADRs) or similar certificates, registered for trade on a securities exchange in Israel or abroad or which have been offered to the public in connection with a prospectus, and are held by the public in Israel or abroad. |
10A.3. | The provisions of Article 10A shall not apply to those who were Shareholders of the Company on the eve of the first registration of the Company’s Shares for trade. |
10B. | Required Minimum Holdings |
10B.1. | Our License requires that Founding Shareholders hold Shares constituting at least the Minimum Founding Shareholders Holding and that Founding Israeli Shareholders hold Shares constituting at least the Minimum Israeli Holding. |
10B.2. | Shares held by Founding Shareholders, to the extent such Shares constitute all or a portion of the Minimum Founding Shareholders Holding, shall be registered directly in the name of the Founding Shareholder in the shareholder register of the Company, with a note indicating that such Shares are “Minimum Founding Shareholders Shares.” Minimum Founding Shareholders Shares that are held by Founding Israeli Shareholders, to the extent such Shares constitute all or a portion of the Minimum Israeli Holding, shall also be recorded in the shareholder register with a note indicating that such Shares are “Minimum Israeli Holding Shares. |
10B.3. | No transfer by a Founding Shareholder of Minimum Founding Shareholder Shares or by a Founding Israeli Shareholder of Minimum Israeli Holding Shares shall be recorded in the Company’s shareholder register, or have any effect, unless the Company’s Secretary shall have received written confirmation from the Ministry of Communications that the transfer complies with section 21.8 of the License. The Company Secretary may, in his or her discretion, refer any question in connection with the recording of Minimum Founding Shareholders Shares or Minimum Israeli Holding Shares, or their transfer, to the Company’s audit committee whose decision shall be binding on the Company. As a condition to any transfer of Minimum Founding Shareholders Shares or Minimum Israeli Holding Shares, the transferee shall be required to deliver to the Company’s Secretary (a) a share transfer deed that includes an undertaking by the transferee to comply with all requirements of section 22A of the License and (b) all information requested with respect to the transferee’s qualification as a Founding Shareholder and/or a Founding Israeli Shareholder. |
11. | Bearer Share Certificate |
The Company shall not issue bearer Share Certificates which grant the bearer rights in the Shares specified therein. |
12. | Pledge of Shares |
12.1. | The Company shall have a first degree pledge on, and a right to create a lien on, all Shares which are not fully paid and registered in the name of any Shareholder, and the proceeds of their sale, with respect to moneys (which payment time is due or not) whose payment was already called or are to be paid up within a fixed time. Furthermore, the Company shall have a first degree pledge right on all the Shares (other than Shares which were fully paid) registered in the name of any Shareholder to secure the payment of moneys which are due from him or from his property, whether with respect to his own debts or debts jointly with others. The said pledge shall also apply to dividends, declared from time to time, with respect to these Shares. |
12.2. | For purposes of the realization of any such pledge and or lien, the Board of Directors is entitled to sell the Shares which are the subject of the pledge or lien, or any part of them, as it deems fit. No sale, as aforesaid, shall be carried out, until the date fixed for the payment has passed and a notice in writing was transferred to same Shareholder with respect to the intention of the Company to sell them, on condition that the amounts were not paid within fourteen days after the notice. |
12.3. | The proceeds of any such sale, after deduction for the payment of the sale expenses, shall serve for the covering of the debts or obligations of said Shareholder, and the balance (if any) shall be paid to him. |
12.4. | In the event that a sale of Shares was carried out pursuant to the realization of a pledge or a lien, pursuant to the presumptive authority conferred above, the Board of Directors is entitled to register such Shares in the Shareholder Register in favor of the buyer, and the buyer shall not be under the obligation to examine the fitness of such actions or the manner in which the purchase price paid for such Shares was used. After the said Shares are registered in the Shareholder Register in favor of the buyer, no person shall have the right to object to the validity of the sale. |
13. | Changes in the Share Capital |
The General Meeting is entitled to take any of the following actions at all times, so long as the resolution of the General Meeting is adopted by a Special Majority. |
13.1. | Increasing the Share Capital |
To increase the share capital of the Company, regardless of whether all the Shares registered at such a time were issued or not. The increased share capital shall be divided into Shares having ordinary rights or preference rights or deferred rights or other special rights (subject to the special rights of an existing class of Shares) or subject to conditions and restrictions with respect to entitlement to dividend, return of capital, voting or other conditions, as may be instructed by the General Meeting in a resolution with respect to the increase of the share capital, and in the absence of a special provision, according to the terms determined by the Board of Directors. |
13.2. | Classes of Shares |
To divide the share capital of the Company into various classes of Shares, and to set and change the rights attaching to each class of Shares, according to the conditions specified below: |
13.2.1. | So long as it was not otherwise set in the Share allotment conditions, the rights of any class may be changed pursuant to a resolution of the General Meeting of the Shareholders of each class of Shares, separately, or upon the written consent of all the Shareholders of all classes. |
13.2.2. | The rights conferred on the holders of Shares of a certain class shall not be deemed to have been changed as a result of the creation or allotment of other Shares having identical rights, unless it was otherwise stipulated in the allotment conditions of said Shares. |
13.3. | Amalgamation and Redivision of the Share Capital |
To amalgamate and redivide the share capital of the Company, entirely or partially, into Shares having a higher or lesser par value than that stated in these Articles of Association. In the event that in consequence of such amalgamation, there are Shareholders left with fractions of Shares, the Board of Directors if approved by the Shareholders at a General Meeting in adopting the resolution for amalgamation of the capital, may agree as follows: |
13.3.1. | To sell the total of all the fractional shares and to appoint a trustee for this purpose, in whose name Share Certificates representing the fractions shall be issued, who will sell them, with the proceeds received after the deduction of commissions and expenses to be distributed to those entitled. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to decide that Shareholders who are entitled to proceeds which are below an amount determined by it, shall not receive the proceeds of the sale of the fractional shares, and their share in the proceeds shall be distributed among the Shareholders who are entitled to proceeds, in an amount greater than the amount that was determined, relative to the proceeds to which they are entitled; |
13.3.2. | To allot to any Shareholder, who is left with a fractional Share following the amalgamation, Shares of the class of Shares prior to the amalgamation, which are fully paid, in such a number, the amalgamation of which together with the fractional Share shall complete a whole Share, and an allotment as stated shall be viewed as valid shortly before the amalgamation; |
13.3.3. | To determine that Shareholders shall not be entitled to receive a Share in exchange for a fractional Share resulting from the amalgamation of a half or smaller fraction of the number of Shares, whose amalgamation creates a single Share, and they shall be entitled to receive a whole Share in exchange for a fractional Share, resulting from the amalgamation of more than a half of the number of Shares, whose amalgamation creates a whole Share. |
In the event that an action pursuant to Articles 13.3.2 or 13.3.3 above requires the allotment of additional Shares, their payment shall be effected in a manner similar to that applicable the payment of Bonus Shares. An amalgamation and redivision, as aforesaid, shall not be regarded as a change in the rights attaching to the Shares which are the subject of the amalgamation and redivision. |
13.4. | Cancellation of Unissued Share Capital |
To cancel registered share capital which has not yet been allotted, so long as the Company is not under an obligation to allot these Shares. |
13.5. | The Division of the Share Capital |
To divide the share capital of the Company, entirely or partially, into Shares having a lower par value than those stated in these Articles of Association, by way of dividing the Shares of the Company at such a time, entirely or partially. |
13.6. | The provisions specified in this Article 13 shall also apply to other equity Securities of the Company, mutatis mutandis. |
14. | The Authority of the General Meeting |
14.1. | Subjects within the authority of the General Meeting |
The following matters shall require the approval of the General Meeting: |
14.1.1. | Changes in the Articles of Association, if adopted by a Special Majority. |
14.1.2. | The exercise of the authority of the Board of Directors, if resolved by a Special Majority that the Board of Directors is incapable of exercising its authority, and that the exercise of any of its authority is essential to the orderly management of the Company. |
14.1.3. | The appointment or reappointment of the Company’s auditor, the termination or non-renewal of his service, and to the extent required by Law and not delegated to the Board of Directors, the determination of his fee. |
14.1.4. | The appointment of Directors, including external Directors. |
14.1.5. | To the extent required by the provisions of Section 255 of the Companies Law, the approval of actions and transactions with interested parties and also the approval of an action or a transaction of an officer which might constitute a breach of the duty of loyalty. |
14.1.6. | Changes in the share capital of the Company, if adopted by a Special Majority as set forth in Article 13 above. |
14.1.7. | A merger of the Company, as defined in the Companies Law. |
14.1.8. | Changes in the objectives of the Company as set forth in Article 4 above, if adopted by a Special Majority. |
14.1.9. | Changes in the name of the Company, if adopted by a Special Majority. |
14.1.10. | Liquidation, if adopted by a Special Majority. |
14.1.11. | Settlements or Arrangements pursuant to Section 233 of the Companies Ordinance. |
14.1.12. | Any other matters which applicable Law requires to be dealt with at General Meetings of the Company. |
14.2. | The authority of the General Meeting to transfer authorities between corporate organs. |
The General Meeting, by a Special Majority, may assume the authority which is given to another corporate organ, and may transfer the authority which is given to the General Manager to the Board of Directors. |
The taking or transferring of authorities, as aforesaid, shall be with regard to a specific issue or for a specific period of time, all as stated in the resolution of the General Meeting. |
15. | Kinds of General Meetings |
15.1. | Annual Meetings |
A General Meeting shall be convened at least once a year, within fifteen months of the last general meeting. The meeting shall be held at the registered offices of the Company, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. These General Meetings shall be referred to as “Annual Meetings”. |
15.1.1. | An Annual Meeting shall be convened to discuss the following: |
(One) | The Financial Statements and the Report of the Board of Directors, as of December 31st of the calendar year preceding the year of the annual meeting. |
(Two) | The Report of the Board of Directors with respect to the fee paid to the Company’s auditor. |
15.1.2. | The Annual Meeting shall be convened to adopt resolutions on the following matters: |
(One) | The appointment of Directors and the termination of their office in accordance with Article 23 below. |
(Two) | The appointment of an auditor or the renewal of his office, subject to the provisions of Article 29 below. |
15.1.3. | The Annual Meeting may discuss, and decide upon, any matter on the agenda of such meeting. |
15.2. | Extraordinary Meetings |
General Meetings of the Shareholders of the Company which are not convened in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.1 above, shall be referred to as “Extraordinary Meetings”. An Extraordinary Meeting shall discuss, and decide upon, any matter (other than those referred to in Article 15.1.1 or 15.1.2), for which the Extraordinary Meeting was convened. |
15.3. | Class Meetings |
The provisions of these Articles of Association with respect to General Meetings shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to meetings of a class of Shareholders of the Company. |
16. | The Holding of General Meetings |
16.1. | The Convening of the Annual Meeting |
The Board of Directors shall convene Annual Meetings in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.1 above. |
16.2. | The Convening of an Extraordinary Meeting |
The Board of Directors may convene an Extraordinary Meeting, as it decides, provided, however, that it shall be obligated to convene an Extraordinary Meeting upon the demand of one of the following: |
16.2.1. | Any two Directors or a quarter of the Directors, whichever is lower; or |
16.2.2. | any one or more Shareholders, holding alone or together at least 4.99% of the issued share capital of the Company. |
16.3. | Date of Convening an Extraordinary Meeting Upon Demand |
The Board of Directors, which is required to convene a general meeting in accordance with Article 16.2 above shall announce the convening of the General Meeting within twenty-one (21) days from the receipt of a demand in that respect, and the date fixed for the meeting shall not be more than thirty-five (35) days from the publication date of the announcement of the General Meeting. |
In the event that the Board of Directors shall not have convened an Extraordinary Meeting, as required in this Article, those demanding its convening or half of the Shareholders which demand it subject to Article 16.2.2, are entitled to convene the meeting themselves, so long as it is convened within three months from the date on which the demand was filed, and it shall be convened, inasmuch as possible, in the same manner by which meetings are convened by the Board of Directors. In the event that a General Meeting is convened as aforesaid, the Company shall bear the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by those demanding it. |
16.4. | Notice of Convening a General Meeting |
Notice of a General Meeting shall be sent to each registered Shareholder of the Company as of the Record Date set by the Board of Directors for that meeting, within five (5) days after that Record Date, unless a different notice time is required by Law and cannot be altered or waived in the Company’s Articles of Association. |
A General Meeting may be convened following a shorter notice period, if the written consent of all the Shareholders who are entitled at such time to receive notices has been obtained. A waiver by a Shareholder can also be made in writing after the fact and even after the convening of the General Meeting. |
16.5. | Contents of the Notice |
Subject to the provisions of any Law, a notice with respect to a general meeting shall specify the agenda of the meeting, the location, the proposed resolutions and also the arrangements for voting by means of a deed of voting or a deed of authorization, and the requirements of Article 10A.2.1. |
Any notice to be sent to the Shareholders shall also include a draft of the proposed resolutions or a concise description of their particulars. |
17. | The Agenda of General Meetings |
17.1. | The agenda of the General Meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall also include issues for which an Extraordinary Meeting is being convened in accordance with Article 15.2 above, or demanded in accordance with Article 17.2 below. |
17.2. | One or more Shareholders holding alone or in the aggregate, 4.99% or more of the share capital of the Company may request that the Board of Directors include an issue on the agenda of a general meeting to be convened in the future. The Board of Directors shall incorporate such issue on the agenda of such a future general meeting, provided that the Board of Directors determines, in its discretion, such issue is suitable to be discussed in the General Meeting of the Company. |
17.3. | The General Meeting shall only adopt resolutions on issues which are on its agenda. |
17.4. | So long as it is not otherwise prescribed by Law, the General Meeting is entitled to accept or reject a proposed resolution which is on the agenda of the General Meeting, the draft or concise description of the particulars of which were published by the Company, including slight alterations, however, it is not entitled to take a resolution, which is materially different than the proposed resolution. |
18. | Discussions in General Meetings |
18.1. | Quorum |
No discussion shall be held in the General Meeting unless a lawful quorum is present. Subject to the requirements of the applicable Law in force at the time these Articles of Association come into force, the rules of the Nasdaq National Market, the London Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which the Company’s securities are or may become quoted or listed, and the provisions of these Articles, any two Shareholders, present by themselves or by means of a proxy, or who have delivered to the Company a Deed of Voting indicating their manner of voting, and who hold or represent at least one-third of the voting rights in the Company shall constitute a lawful quorum. A Shareholder or his proxy, who may also serve as a proxy for other Shareholders, shall be regarded as two Shareholders or more, in accordance with the number of Shareholders he is representing. |
18.2. | Deferral of the General Meeting in the Absence of Lawful Quorum |
In the event that a legal quorum is not present after the lapsing of 30 minutes from the time specified in the convening notice for the commencement of the meeting, the meeting may be adjourned to the same day of the following week (or the first business day thereafter) at the same time and venue, or to another time and venue, as determined by the Board of Directors in a notice to the Shareholders, and the adjourned meeting shall discuss the same issues for which the original meeting was convened. If at the adjourned meeting, a legal quorum is not present at the time specified for the commencement of the meeting, then and in such event one or more Shareholders holding or representing in the aggregate at least 10% of the voting rights in the Company shall be deemed to form a proper quorum, subject to the provisions of Section 79 of the Companies Law. |
18.3. | The Chairman of the General Meeting |
The chairman of the Board of Directors (if appointed) shall preside at each General Meeting. In the absence of the chairman, or if he fails to appear at the meeting within 15 minutes after the time fixed for the meeting, the Shareholders present at the meeting shall choose any one of the Directors of the Company as the chairman, and if there is no Director present at the meeting, one of the Shareholders shall be chosen to preside over the meeting. The chairman shall not have an additional vote or casting vote. |
18.4. | Adjourned Meeting |
Upon adoption of a resolution at a General Meeting at which a lawful quorum is present, the chairman may and upon demand of the General Meeting shall adjourn the General Meeting from time to time and from venue to venue, as the meeting may decide (for the purpose of this Article: an “Adjourned Meeting”). In the event that a meeting is adjourned for fourteen days or more, a notice of the Adjourned Meeting shall be given in the same manner as the notice of the original meeting. With the exception of the aforesaid, a Shareholder shall not be entitled to receive notice of an Adjourned Meeting or of the issues which are to be discussed in the Adjourned Meeting. The Adjourned Meeting shall only discuss issues that could have been discussed at the General Meeting which was adjourned. The provisions of Articles 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3 of the Articles of Association shall apply to an Adjourned Meeting. |
19. | Voting of the Shareholders |
19.1. | Resolutions |
In any General Meeting, a proposed resolution shall be adopted if it receives an Ordinary Majority, or any other majority of votes set by Law or in accordance with these Articles of Association. For the avoidance of doubt, any proposed resolution requiring a Special Majority under the Companies Ordinance shall continue to require the same Special Majority even after the effective date of the Companies Law. |
In the event of a tie vote, the resolution shall be deemed rejected. |
19.2. | Checking Majority |
19.2.1. | The checking of the majority shall be carried out by means of a count of votes, at which each Shareholder shall be entitled to vote in each case in accordance with rights fixed for such Shares, subject to Articles 10A above and Article 44 below. A Shareholder shall be entitled to a single vote for each share he holds which is fully paid or that Calls of Payment in respect of which was fully paid. |
19.2.2. | The announcement of the chairman that a resolution in the General Meeting was adopted or rejected, whether unanimously or with a specific majority, shall be regarded as prima facie evidence thereof. |
19.3. | Written Resolutions |
Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, a written resolution signed by all of the Shareholders of the Company holding Shares which entitle their holders to participate in General Meetings of the Company and vote therein, or of the same class of Shares to which the resolution refers, as the case may be, shall be regarded as a valid resolution for all purposes, and as a resolution adopted at a General Meeting of the Company or at a class meeting of the relevant class of Shares, as the case may be, which was properly summoned and convened, for the purpose of adopting such a resolution. |
Such a resolution could be stated in several copies of the same document, each of them signed by one Shareholder or by several Shareholders. |
19.4. | Record Date For Participation and Voting |
The Record Date shall be set by the Board of Directors, or by a person or persons authorized by the Board of Directors, in accordance with applicable Law. |
19.5. | A Right to Participate and Vote |
A Shareholder shall not be entitled to participate and vote in any General Meeting or to be counted among those present, so long as (i) he owes the Company a payment which was called for the Shares held by him, unless the allotment conditions of the Shares provide otherwise, and/or (ii) his holdings are registered in the Shareholder Register together with a notation that such holdings have been classified as Exceptional Holdings, as defined in Article 10A or Affected Shares, as defined in Article 44. |
19.6. | Personal Interest in Resolutions |
A Shareholder seeking to vote with respect to a resolution which requires that the majority for its adoption include at least a third of the votes of all those not having a personal interest (as defined in the Companies Law) in the resolution shall notify the registered office of the Company at least two business days prior to the date of the General Meeting, whether he has a personal interest in the resolution or not, as a condition for his right to vote and be counted with respect to such resolution. |
A Shareholder voting on a resolution, as aforesaid, by means of a Deed of Vote, may include his notice with regard to his personal interest on the Deed of Vote. |
19.7. | The Disqualification of Deeds of Vote |
Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, the corporate secretary of the Company may, in his discretion, disqualify Deeds of Vote and Deeds of Authorization and so notify the Shareholder who submitted a Deed of Vote or Deeds of Authorization in the following cases: |
19.7.1. | If there is a reasonable suspicion that they are forged; |
19.7.2. | If there is a reasonable suspicion that they are falsified, or given with respect to Shares for which one or more Deeds of Vote or deeds of authorization have been given and not withdrawn; or |
19.7.3. | If there is no note on the Deed of Vote or Deed of Authorization as to whether or not his holding in the Company or his vote require the consent of the Minister of Communications pursuant to Sections 21 and 23 to the License. |
19.7.4. | With respect to Deeds of Vote: |
(One) | If more than one choice is marked for the same resolution; or |
(Two) | With respect to resolutions which require that the majority for their adoption includes a third of the votes of those not having a personal interest in the approval of the resolution, where it was not marked whether the relevant Shareholder has a personal interest or not, as aforesaid. |
Any Shareholder shall be entitled to appeal on any such disqualification to the Board of Directors at least one business day prior to the relevant General Meeting. |
19.8. | The Voting of a Person without Legal Capacity |
A person without legal capacity is entitled to vote only by means of a trustee or a legal custodian. |
19.9. | The Voting of Joint Holders of a Share |
Where two or more Shareholders are registered joint holders of a Share, only the first named joint holder shall vote, without taking into account the other registered joint holders of the Share. For this purpose, the first named joint holder shall be the person whose name is registered first in the Shareholder Register. |
19.10. | Minutes of the General Meeting |
The chairman of the General Meeting shall cause that the minutes of each General Meeting shall be properly maintained and shall include the following: |
19.10.1. | The name of each Shareholder present in person, by Deed of Vote or by proxy and the number of Shares held or represented by him; |
19.10.2. | The principal issues of the discussion, all the resolutions which were adopted or rejected at the General Meeting, and if adopted – according to what majority. |
20. | The Appointment of a Proxy |
20.1. | Voting by Means of a Proxy |
A Shareholder registered in the Shareholder Register is entitled to appoint by deed of authorization a proxy to participate and vote in his stead, whether at a certain General Meeting or generally at General Meetings of the Company, whether personally or by means of a Deed of Vote, so long as the deed of authorization with respect to the appointment of the proxy was delivered to the Company at least two Business Days prior to the date of the General Meeting. |
In the event that the deed of authorization is not limited to a certain General Meeting, then the deed of authorization, which was deposited prior to a certain General Meeting, shall also be good for other General Meetings thereafter. This Article 20 shall also apply to a Shareholder which is a corporation, appointing a person to participate and vote in a General Meeting in its stead. A proxy is not required to be a Shareholder of the Company. |
20.2. | The Draft of the Deed of Authorization |
The deed of authorization shall be signed by the Shareholder and shall be in or substantially in the form specified below or any such other form acceptable to the Board of Directors of the Company. The corporate secretary, in his discretion, may accept a deed of authorization differing from that set forth below provided the changes are immaterial. |
The corporate secretary shall only accept either an original deed of authorization, or a copy of the deed of authorization which is certified by a lawyer having an Israeli license or a notary. |
Date: ________ |
To: | Partner Communications Company Ltd. |
Attn.: | Corporate Secretary |
—————————————— Signature |
|
(*) | A Shareholder is entitled to give several deeds of authorization, each of which refers to a different quantity of Shares of the Company held by him, so long as he shall not give deeds of authorization with respect to an aggregate number of Shares exceeding the total number he holds. |
(**) | In the event that the proxy does not hold an Israeli Identification number, indicate a passport number, if any, and the name of the country which issued the passport. |
|
20.3. | A vote in accordance with a deed of authorization shall be lawful even if prior to it, the appointer died or became incapacitated or bankrupt, or if it is a corporation – was liquidated, or if he cancelled the deed of authorization or transferred the Share in respect of which it was given, unless a notice in writing was received at the Office of the Company prior to the meeting with respect to the occurrence of such an event. |
21. | Deed of Vote, Voting Via the Internet |
21.1. | A Shareholder may vote in a General Meeting by means of a Deed of Vote (ktav hatba’ah) on any issue for which voting by Deed of Vote is required to be offered under applicable Law and on any other issue for which the Board of Directors has approved voting by Deed of Vote, either generally or specifically. The form of the Deed of Vote shall be set by the corporate secretary or any one so authorized by the Board of Directors. |
21.2. | The Board of Directors may authorize Shareholder voting in a General Meeting via the Internet, subject to any applicable Law. |
22. | The Authority of the Board of Directors |
22.1. | The authority of the Board of Directors is as specified both in the Law and in the provisions of these Articles of Association. |
22.2. | Signature Authority and Powers of Attorney |
22.2.1. | The Board of Directors shall determine the person(s) with authority to sign for and on behalf of the Company with respect to various issues. The signature of such person(s), appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors, whether generally or for a specific issue, whether alone or together with others, or together with the seal or the stamp of the Company or its printed name, shall bind the Company, subject to the terms and conditions set by the Board of Directors. |
22.2.2. | The Board of Directors may set separate signature authorities with respect to different issues and different amounts. |
22.2.3. | The Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize any person to be the representative of the Company with respect to those objectives and subject to those conditions and for that time period, as the Board of Directors deems fit. The Board of Directors may also grant any representative the authority to delegate any or all of the authorities, powers and discretion given to the Board of Directors. |
22.3. | The Registered Office of the Company |
The Board of Directors shall fix the location of the Office of the Company. |
23. | The Appointment of Directors and the Termination of Their Office |
23.1. | The Number of Directors |
The number of Directors in the Company shall not be less than seven (7) or more than seventeen (17). |
23.2. | The Identity of a Director |
23.2.1. | A member of the Board of Directors may hold another position with the Company. |
23.2.2. | A corporation may serve as a Director in the Company, subject to the provisions of Article 23.6 below. |
23.2.3. | For as long as any individual or an entity which is an Interested Party in the Company is also an Interested Party in Cellcom (Israel) Ltd. (hereinafter “Cellcom”), such Interested Party or an Office Holder of an Interested Party in Cellcom or an Office Holder of any entity controlled by an Interested Party in Cellcom (other than Elron Electronic Industries Ltd (“Elron”) or an entity controlled by Elron) will not serve as an Office Holder of the Company, and no Interested Party in Cellcom or any entity controlled by such Interested Party, may appoint more than two Directors to the Board of Directors of the Company. For the purposes of this Article, the terms “control”, “Interested Party” and “Office Holder” shall bear the same meaning as in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, the License. |
23.2.4. | The Board of Directors shall include independent and/or external Directors required to comply with the applicable requirements of any Law, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the London Stock Exchange and any other investment exchange on which the securities of the Company are or may become quoted or listed. The requirements of the Companies Law applicable to an external Director (Dahatz) shall prevail over the provisions of these Articles of Association to the extent these Articles of Associations are inconsistent with the Companies Law, and shall apply to the extent these Articles of Associations are silent. |
23.2.5. | At least 10% of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be comprised of Qualified Israeli Directors. Notwithstanding the above, if the board is comprised of up to 14 members, one Qualified Israeli Director shall be sufficient, and if the board is comprised of between 15 and 24 members, two Qualified Israeli Directors shall be sufficient. |
23.2.6. | Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, a Qualified Israeli Director shall be appointed as a member of the Board of Directors, and may be removed from such office, only upon written notice to the Company Secretary of his or her appointment or removal by the Founding Israeli Shareholders holding Minimum Israeli Holding Shares. For purposes of this section, a notice signed by at least two of the Founding Israeli Shareholders who are the record holders of at least 50% of Minimum Israeli Holding Shares shall be deemed to be sufficient notice on behalf of all holders of Minimum Israeli Holding Shares. |
23.3. | The Election of Directors and their Terms of Office |
23.3.1. | The Directors shall be elected at each Annual Meeting and shall serve in office until the close of the next Annual Meeting, unless their office becomes vacant earlier in accordance with the provisions of these Articles of Association. Each Director of the Company shall be elected by an Ordinary Majority at the Annual Meeting; provided, however, that external Directors shall be elected in accordance with applicable law and/or any relevant stock exchange rule applicable to the Company. The elected Directors shall commence their terms from the close of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected, unless a later date is stated in the resolution with respect to their appointment. Election of Directors shall be not conducted by separate vote on each candidate, unless so determined by the Board of Directors. |
23.3.2. | In each Annual Meeting, the Directors that were elected in the previous Annual Meeting, and thereafter, in any Extraordinary Meeting shall be deemed to have resigned from their office. A resigning Director may be reelected. |
23.3.3. | Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles of Association and without derogating from Article 23.4, an Extraordinary Meeting of the Company may elect any person as a Director, to fill an office which became vacant, or to serve as an additional member to the then existing Board of Directors, or to serve as an external Director (Dahatz) or an independent Director and also in any event in which the number of the members of the Board of Directors is less than the minimum set in the Articles of Association provided that the maximum number of Directors permitted under Article 23.1 is not exceeded. Any Director elected in such manner (excluding an external Director (Dahatz) shall serve in office until the coming Annual Meeting, unless his office becomes vacant earlier in accordance with the provisions of these Articles of Association and may be reelected. |
23.3.4. | An elected external Director (Dahatz) shall commence his term from the close of the General Meeting at which he is elected, unless a later date is stated in, the resolution with respect to his appointment, and shall serve for the period in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law, notwithstanding Article 23.3 above, unless his office becomes vacant earlier in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law. A General Meeting may reelect an external Director (Dahatz) for additional term(s) as permitted by the Companies Law. |
23.4. | The election of Directors by the Board of Directors |
The Board of Directors shall have the right, at all times, upon approval of at least a simple majority of the Directors of the Company, to elect any person as a Director, to fill an office which became vacant, or to serve as an additional member to the then existing Board of Directors provided that the maximum number of Directors permitted under Article 23.1 is not exceeded. Any Director elected in such manner shall serve in office until the coming Annual Meeting and may be reelected. |
23.5. | Alternate Director |
Any Director may, from time to time, appoint for himself an alternate Director (hereinafter: the “Alternate Director”), dismiss such Alternate Director and also appoint another Alternate Director instead of any Alternate Director, whose office becomes vacant, due to whatever cause, whether for a certain meeting or generally. Anyone who is not qualified to be appointed as a Director and also anyone serving as a Director or as an existing Alternate Director shall not serve as an Alternate Director. |
23.6. | Representatives of a Director that is a Corporation |
A Director that is a corporation shall appoint an individual, qualified to be appointed as a Director in the Company, in order to serve on its behalf, either generally or for a certain meeting, or for a certain period of time and the said corporation may also dismiss that individual and appoint another in his stead (hereinafter: “Representatives of a Director”). |
23.7. | Manner of Appointment or Dismissal of an Alternate Director or a Representative of a Director that is a Corporation |
Any appointment or dismissal of Representatives of Directors, when such Directors are corporations, or of Alternate Directors, shall be made by means of a notice in writing to the corporate secretary, signed by the appointing or dismissing body and shall become valid upon the date indicated in the appointment or dismissal notice or upon the date of its delivery to the corporate secretary, whichever is the later. |
23.8. | Miscellaneous Provisions with Respect to Alternate Directors and Representatives of Directors that are Corporations. |
23.8.1. | Any person, whether he is a Director or not, may serve as the representative of a Director, and any one person may serve as the representative of several Directors. |
23.8.2. | The Representative of a Director – in addition to his own vote, if he is serving as a Director – shall have a number of votes corresponding to the number of Directors represented by him. |
23.8.3. | An Alternate Director and the Representative of a Director shall have all the authority of the Director for whom he is serving as an Alternate Director or as a representative, with the exception of the authority to vote in meetings at which the Director is present in person. |
23.8.4. | The office of an Alternate Director or a representative of a Director shall automatically become vacant, if the office of the Director for whom he is serving as an Alternate Director or as a representative becomes vacant. |
23.9. | Termination of the Term of a Director |
The term of a Director shall be terminated in any of the following cases: |
23.9.1. | If he resigns from his office by way of a signed letter, filed with the corporate secretary at the Company’s Office; |
23.9.2. | If he is declared bankrupt or if he reaches a settlement with his creditors within the framework of bankruptcy procedures; |
23.9.3. | If he is declared by an appropriate court to be incapacitated; |
23.9.4. | Upon his death and, in the event of a corporation, if a resolution has been adopted for its voluntary liquidation or a liquidation order has been issued to it; |
23.9.5. | If he is removed from his office by way of a resolution, adopted by the General Meeting of the Company, even prior to the completion of his term of office; |
23.9.6. | If he is convicted of a crime, as stated in Section 232 of the Companies Law; |
23.9.7. | If his term is terminated by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of Section 231 of the Companies Law; or |
23.9.8 | If his term is terminated by the Board of Directors in case the Board of Directors concludes that the office of such dDirector is in violation to the provisions of the License or any other telecommunications license granted to the Company or to any of its subsidaries or to any other entity it controls.” |
23.10. | The Implications on the Board of Directors of the Termination of the Term of a Director. |
In the event that an office of a Director becomes vacant, the remaining Directors are entitled to continue operating, so long as their number has not decreased below the minimum number of Directors set forth in Article 23.1. |
In the event that the number of Directors decreased below that minimum number, the remaining Directors shall be entitled to act solely for the convening of a General Meeting of the Company for the purpose of electing additional Directors to the Board of Directors. |
23.11. | Compensation of Members of the Board of Directors |
Members of the Board of Directors who do not hold other positions in the Company and who are not external Directors shall not receive any compensation from the Company, unless such compensation is approved by the General Meeting and according to the amount determined by the General Meeting, subject to the provisions of the Law. |
The compensation of the Directors may be fixed, as an all-inclusive payment or as payment for participation in meetings or in any combination thereof. |
The Company may reimburse expenses incurred by a Director in connection with the performance of his office, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors. |
24. | Actions of Directors |
24.1. | Convening Meetings of the Board of Directors |
24.1.1. | The chairman of the Board of Directors may convene a meeting of the Board of Directors at any time. |
24.1.2. | The chairman of the Board of Directors shall convene a meeting of the Board of Directors at least four times a year, in a manner allowing the Company to fulfil the provisions of the Law with respect to the publication of Financial Statements and reporting to the public. |
24.1.3. | The chairman of the Board of Directors shall convene a meeting of the Board of Directors on a specific issue if requested by at least two Directors or one Director, if he is an external Director, within no more than 14 days from the date of the request. |
24.1.4. | The chairman of the Board of Directors shall act forthwith for the convening of a meeting of the Board of Directors, within 14 days from the time that a Director in the Company has informed him of a matter related to the Company in which there is an apparent violation of the Law or a breach of proper management of the business, or from the time that the auditor of the Company has reported to him that he had become aware of material flaws in the accounting oversight of the Company. |
24.1.5. | In the event that a notice or a report of the General Manager requires an action of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors shall forthwith convene a meeting of the Board of Directors, which should be held within 14 days from the date of the notice or the report. |
24.2. | Convening of a Meeting of the Board of Directors |
24.2.1. | Any notice with respect to a meeting of the Board of Directors may be given in writing, so long as the notice is given at least 14 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, unless all the members of the Board of Directors or their Alternate Directors or their representatives agree on a shorter time period. A notice, as stated, shall be delivered in writing or transmitted via facsimile or E-mail or through another means of communication, to the address or facsimile number or to the E-mail address or to an address where messages can be delivered through other means of communication, as the case may be, as the Director informed the corporate secretary, upon his appointment, or by means of a written notice to the corporate secretary thereafter. |
A notice, which was delivered or transmitted, as provided in this Article, shall be deemed to be personally delivered to the Director on its delivery date. |
24.2.2. | In the event that a Director appointed an Alternate Director or a representative, the notice shall be delivered to the Alternate Director or the representative, unless the Director instructed that the notice should be delivered to him as well. |
24.2.3. | The notice shall include the venue, date and time of the meeting of the Board of Directors, arrangements with respect to the manner of management of the meeting (in cases where telecommunications are used), the details of the issues on its agenda and any other material that the chairman of the Board of Directors requests be attached to the summoning notice with respect to the meeting. |
24.3. | The Agenda of Meetings of Board of Directors |
The agenda of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the chairman of the Board of Directors and shall include the following issues: |
24.3.1. | Issues determined by the chairman of the Board of Directors. |
24.3.2. | Issues for which the meeting is convened in accordance with Article 24.1 above. |
24.3.3. | Any issue requested by a Director or by the General Manager within a reasonable time prior to the date of the meeting of the Board of Directors (taking into account the nature of the issue). |
24.4. | Quorum |
The quorum for meetings of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the Directors, which must include one external Director. |
24.5. | Conducting a Meeting Through Means of Communication |
The Board of Directors may conduct a meeting of the Board of Directors through the use of any means of communications, provided all of the participating Directors can hear each other simultaneously. |
24.6. | Voting in the Board of Directors |
Subject to Article 23.4 and Article 44, Issues presented at meetings of the Board of Directors shall be decided upon by a majority of the votes of the Directors present (or participating, in the case of a vote through a permitted means of communications) and voting, subject to the provisions of Article 23.8 above, with respect to Alternate Directors and representatives of Directors that are corporations. |
Each Director shall have a single vote. |
24.7. | Written Resolutions |
A written resolution signed by all the Directors shall be deemed as a resolution lawfully adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Such a resolution may be made in several copies of the same Document, each of them signed by one Director or by several Directors. Such a resolution may be adopted by signature of only a portion of the Directors, if all of the Directors who have not signed the resolution were not entitled to participate in the discussion and to vote on such resolution in accordance with any Law whatsoever, so long as they confirm in writing that they are aware of the intention to adopt such a resolution. |
24.8. | Resolutions Approved by Means of Communications |
A resolution approved by use of a means of communications by the Directors shall be deemed to be a resolution lawfully adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors, and the provisions of Article 24.6 above shall apply to the said resolution. |
24.9. | The Validity of Actions of the Directors |
All actions taken in good faith in a meeting of the Board of Directors or by a committee of the Board of Directors or by any person acting as a Director shall be valid, even if it subsequently transpires that there was a flaw in the appointment of such a Director or person acting as such, or if any of them were disqualified, as if any such person was lawfully appointed and was qualified to serve as a Director. |
24.10. | Minutes of Meetings of the Board of Directors |
The chairman of the Board of Directors shall cause that the minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be properly maintained and shall include the following: |
24.10.1. | Names of those present and participating at each meeting. |
24.10.2. | All the resolutions and particulars of the discussion of said meetings. |
Any such minutes signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors presiding over that meeting or by the chairman of the Board of Directors at the following meeting, shall be viewed as prima facie evidence of the issues recorded in the minutes. |
25. | Committees of the Board of Directors |
25.1. | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Board of Directors may delegate its authorities or any part of them to committees, as they deem fit, and they may from time to time cancel the delegation of such an authority. Any such committee, while utilizing an authority as stated, is obligated to fulfil all of the instructions given to it from time to time by the Board of Directors. |
25.2. | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, each committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of at least two Directors, and it may include members who are not Directors, with the exception of the audit committee which shall consist of at least three (3) Directors, and all of the external Directors of the Company shall be members of it. |
25.3. | The provisions with respect to meetings of the Board of Directors shall apply to the meetings and discussions of each committee of the Board of Directors, with the appropriate changes, provided that no other terms are set by the Board of Directors in this matter, and provided that the lawful quorum for the meetings of the committee, as stated, shall be at least a majority of the members of the committee, unless otherwise required by Law. |
25A. | Committee for Security Matters |
25A.1. | Notwithstanding any other provision in these Articles, the Board of Directors shall appoint from among its members who have security clearance and security compatibility to be determined by the General Security Service (“Directors with Clearance”) a committee to be designated the “Committee for Security Matters”. The members of the Committee for Security Matters shall include at least four (4) Directors with Clearance including at least one external director. Subject to section 25A.2 below, security matters shall be considered only in the context of the Committee for Security Matters. Any decision of, or action by the Committee for Security Matters shall have the same effect as if it had been made or taken by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consider a security matter only if required pursuant to section 25A.2 below, and subject to the terms of that section. For purposes of this section 25A, “security matters” shall be defined in the same manner as defined in the Bezeq Order (Determination of Essential Service Provided by Bezeq-The Israeli Telecommunications Company Ltd.), 1997, as of March 9, 2005. |
25A.2. | Security matters which the audit committee or board of directors shall be required to consider in accordance with the mandatory rules of the Companies Law or other Law applicable to the Company, shall be considered to the extent necessary only by Directors with Clearance. Other Directors shall not be entitled to participate in meetings of the audit committee or board of directors dealing with security matters, or to receive information or documents related to these matters. A quorum for these meetings shall include only Directors with Clearance. |
25A.3. | Any director or officer of the Company who would otherwise be required to receive information or participate in meetings by virtue of his or her position or these Articles or any Law, but who is prevented from doing so by the provisions of this Article 25A, will be released from any liability for any claim of breach of duty of care to the Company which results from her or his inability to receive information or participate in meetings, and the Company shall indemnify any such director or officer and hold her or him harmless to the maximum extent permitted by law for any injury or damage she or he incurs as a result of the inability to receive such information or participate in such meetings. |
25A.4. | The shareholders at a general meeting shall not be entitled to assume, delegate, transfer or exercise any of the authorities granted to any other corporate body in the Company with respect to security matters. |
25A.5. | (1) The Minister of Communications shall be entitled to appoint an observer (the “Security Observer”) to all meetings of the board of directors and its committees. The Security Observer shall have the security clearance and security compatibility to be determined by the General Security Service. |
(2) The Security Observer shall be an employee of the State of Israel qualified to serve as a director pursuant to Chapter C of the Government Companies Law, 1975. |
(3) In addition to any other obligations under Law, the Security Observer shall be bound to preserve the confidentiality of [information relating to] the Company, except as required to fulfill his responsibilities as an observer. The Security Observer will not act as an observer or in any other position at a competitor of the Company, and will avoid a conflict between his position as an observer and the interests of the Company. The Security Observer shall undertake not to serve as an observer or officer or director, and not serve in any other capacity or be employed, directly or indirectly, by any entity competing with the Company or in a position of conflict of interest with the Company during the period of his service as the Security Observer and for two years after termination of such period. |
(4) Notices of meetings of the board of directors and its committees, including of the Committee for Security Matters, shall be delivered to the Security Observer, and he shall be entitled to participate in each such meeting. |
(5) The Security Observer shall have the same right to obtain information from the Company as that of a Director. If the Company believes that specific information requested is commercially sensitive and not required by the Security Observer for fulfillment of his duties, the Company may delay delivery of the information upon notice to the Security Observer. If the Security Observer still believes the information is needed for his duties, the matter shall be brought for decision to the head of the General Security Service. |
(6) If the Security Observer believes that the Company has made a decision, or is about to make a decision, in a security matter, which conflicts with a provision of the License or section 13 of the Communications Law (Telecommunications and Broadcasting), 1982 or section 11 of the General Security Service Law, 2002, he shall promptly notify the Company in writing. Said notice shall be delivered to the chairman of the board of directors and chairman of the Committee for Security Matters and shall provide an appropriate defined period of time, in light of the circumstances, in which the Company shall be required to correct the violation or change the decision, to the extent possible.” |
25B. | Approval of Certain Related Party Transactions |
A transaction of the type described in Section 270(1) of the Companies Law i.e. a transaction with directors or officers or a transaction in which an officer or a director has a personal interest, provided that such transactions are in the Company’s ordinary course of business, are on market terms and are not likely to substantially influence the profitability of the Company, its assets or its liabilities, may be approved by the Audit Committee, without the need for Board of Director’s approval, or by the Board of Directors, subject to any applicable Law and any relevant stock exchange rule applicable to the Company. |
26. | Chairman of the Board of Directors |
26.1. | Appointment |
26.1.1. | The Board of Directors shall choose one of its members to serve as the chairman of the Board of Directors, and shall set in the appointing resolution the term for his service. |
26.1.2. | Unless otherwise provided in the appointing resolution, the chairman of the Board of Directors shall be chosen each and every calendar year at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after the General Meeting in which Directors were appointed to the Company. |
26.1.3. | In the event that the chairman of the Board of Directors ceases to serve as a Director in the Company, the Board of Directors in its first meeting held thereafter shall choose one of its members to serve as a new chairman who will serve in his position for the term set in the appointing resolution, and if no period is set, until the appointment of a chairman, as provided in this Article. |
26.1.4. | In the event that the chairman of the Board of Directors is absent from a meeting, the Board of Directors shall choose one of the Directors present to preside at the meeting. |
26.2. | Authority |
26.2.1. | The chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors. |
26.2.2. | In the event of a deadlock vote, the chairman of the Board of Directors shall not have an additional or casting vote. |
26.2.3. | The chairman of the Board of Directors is entitled, at all times, at his initiative or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, to require reports from the General Manager in matters pertaining to the business affairs of the Company. |
26.3. | Reservations with Regard to Actions of the Chairman of the Board of Directors |
26.3.1. | The chairman of the Board of Directors shall not serve as the General Manager of the Company, unless he is appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article 27.2 below. |
26.3.2. | The chairman of the Board of Directors shall not serve as a member of the Audit Committee. |
27. | The General Manager |
27.1. | The Appointment and Dismissal of the General Manager |
27.1.1. | The Board of Directors shall appoint a General Manager for a fixed period of time or for an indefinite period of time. The Board of Directors may appoint more than one General Manager. |
27.1.2. | The compensation and employment conditions of the General Manager shall be determined by the Board of Directors in any manner it deems fit. Where the compensation of the General Manager is regarded by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Company Law as an “exceptional transaction” and also in cases of the granting of a release, insurance, liability for indemnification or indemnification given by a permit, said compensation requires the prior approval of the audit committee. |
27.1.3. | The Board of Directors may from time to time remove the General Manager from his office or dismiss the General Manager and appoint another or others in his stead. |
27.2. | The Chairman of the Board of Directors as the General Manager |
27.2.1. | The General Meeting of the Company is entitled to authorize the chairman of the Board of Directors to fulfil the position of the General Manager and to exercise his authority, so long as the majority of the votes in the General Meeting adopting such a resolution include at least two thirds of the votes of Shareholders present and entitled to vote at the meeting who are not controlling Shareholders of the Company as defined in the Companies Law or representatives of any of them. “Abstain” votes shall not be taken into account in the counting of the votes of the Shareholders. |
27.2.2. | The validity of a resolution provided in Article 27.2.1 above is restricted to a maximum period of three years from the date of the adoption of the resolution by the General Meeting. In the event that no period was set in the resolution, the period shall be deemed to be for three years. Prior to the completion of the three year period, as aforesaid, and even after the end of this period, the General Meeting is entitled to extend the validity of such resolution. |
27.2.3. | A resolution, as stated, may relate to the authority of the chairman of the Board of Directors, generally, or to a specific person who is serving as the chairman of the Board of Directors. |
27.3. | The Authority of the General Manager and Subordination to the Board of Directors |
27.3.1. | The General Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Company within the framework of the policy set by the Board of Directors and subject to its instructions. |
The General Manager shall have all administrative and operational authority which were not conferred by Law or pursuant to these Articles of Association to any other corporate organ of the Company, and he shall be under the supervision of the Board of Directors and subject to its instructions. |
The General Manager shall appoint and dismiss officers of the Company, with the exception of Directors, and he shall also determine the terms of their employment, unless otherwise resolved by the Board of Directors and provided, however, that the appointment and dismissal of senior managers of the Company shall require consultation with and approval by the Board of Directors. |
27.3.2. | The Board of Directors may instruct the General Manager on how to act with respect to a certain issue. If the General Manager fails to fulfil the instruction, the Board of Directors may exercise the required authority in order to act in the place of the General Manager. |
The Board of Directors may assume the authority granted to the General Manager, either with respect to a certain issue or for a certain period of time. |
27.3.3. | In the event that the General Manager is unable to exercise his authority, the Board of Directors may exercise such authority in his stead, or authorize another to exercise such authority. |
27.4. | Reporting Duties of the General Manager |
The General Manager is obligated to notify the chairman of the Board of Directors of any exceptional matter which is material to the Company, or of any material deviation by the Company from the policy set by the Board of Directors. In the event that the Company shall be without a chairman of the Board of Directors for whatever reason the General Manager shall notify all the members of the Board of Directors, as aforesaid. The General Manager shall deliver to the Board of Directors reports on issues, at such time and in such scope, as is determined by the Board of Directors. |
27.5. | Delegating Authority of the General Manager |
The General Manager, upon approval of the Board of Directors, may delegate to his subordinates any of his authority. However, such delegation of authority shall not release the General Manager from his liability. |
28. | The Corporate Secretary, Internal Controller and Other Officers of the Company |
28.1. | The corporate secretary |
28.1.1. | The Board of Directors is entitled to appoint a corporate secretary on terms it deems fit, joint secretaries, sub–secretaries and to determine the areas of their functions and authorities. |
28.1.2. | In the event that no corporate secretary has been appointed, the General Manager or anyone authorized by him shall fulfil the functions assigned to the corporate secretary, in accordance with any Law, to these Articles of Association and the resolutions of the Board of Directors. |
28.1.3. | The corporate secretary shall be responsible for all documents which are kept at the Office, as stated in Section 124 of the Companies Law, and he shall manage all the registries maintained by the Company in accordance with the Law or Companies Law. |
28.2. | Internal Controller |
28.2.1. | The internal controller of the Company shall report to the chairman of the Board of Directors. |
28.2.2. | The internal controller shall file with the Board of Directors a proposal for an annual or other periodic work plan, which shall be approved by the Board of Directors, subject to any changes it deems fit. |
28.3. | Other Officers of the Company |
The Board of Directors may decide that in addition to the General Manager and the corporate secretary, other officers may be appointed, whether generally or for a specific issue. In such event, the Board of Directors shall appoint the officer, define his position and authority, and set his compensation and terms of employment. |
The Board of Directors is entitled to authorize the General Manager to fulfil any or all of its authorities, as stated. |
29. | The Auditor |
29.1. | The Shareholders at the Annual Meeting shall appoint an auditor for a period until the close of the following Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting may appoint an auditor for a period not to extend beyond the close of the third Annual Meeting following the Annual Meeting in which he was appointed. In the event that the auditor was appointed for said period, the Annual Meeting shall not address the appointment of the auditor during said period, unless a resolution is adopted with respect to the termination of his service. |
29.2. | The General Meeting is entitled at all times to terminate the service of the auditor or to decide not to renew it. |
29.3. | The Board of Directors shall determine the compensation of the auditor of the Company and it shall report in that respect to the Annual Meeting of the Company. |
29.4. | The Board of Directors shall set the compensation of the auditor for additional services which are not regarded as oversight activities, and it shall report in this respect at the Annual Meeting of the Company. |
30. | Permitted Distributions |
30.1. | Definitions |
In this Chapter, the following terms shall be construed, in accordance with their definition in Sections 301 and 302 of the Companies Law: “distribution”, “acquisition”, “profits”, “profit test”, “adjusted financial statements” and “balances”. |
30.2. | Distribution of Profits |
The Company shall not make any distribution except from its profits, provided that the Company shall not make any distribution if there is a reasonable fear that such distribution shall preclude the Company from having the ability to meet its present and anticipated liabilities, as they become due. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Company, with the approval of the Court, is entitled to make a distribution which fails to meet the profit test. |
30.3. | Allotment for a Consideration Below the Par Value |
In the event the Board of Directors decides to allot Shares having a par value, for consideration which is less than their par value, including Bonus Shares, the Company shall convert into share capital from its profits, premium on its Shares, or any other source, included in its shareholders equity, as stated in its most recent Financial Statements, an amount equal to the difference between the par value and the consideration. |
Even if the aforesaid is not done, with the approval of the Court, the Company shall be entitled to make an allotment of Shares, for consideration which is less than their par value. |
31. | Dividends and Bonus Shares |
31.1. | Right to Dividends or Bonus Shares |
31.1.1. | A Shareholder of the Company shall have the right to receive dividends or Bonus Shares, if the Company so decides in accordance with Article 31.2 below, consistent with the rights attaching to such Shares. |
31.1.2. | Dividends or Bonus Shares shall be distributed or allotted to those who are registered in the Shareholder Register on the date of the resolution approving the distribution or allotment or upon a latter date, if another date is determined for this purpose in same resolution (hereinafter: the “Determining Date”). |
31.1.3. | In the event that the share capital of the Company consists of Shares having various par values, dividends or Bonus Shares shall be distributed in proportion to the par value of each Share. |
31.1.4. | Subject to special rights conferred upon Shares in accordance with the conditions of their allotment, profits of the Company which the Company decides to distribute as a dividend or as Bonus Shares shall be paid in proportion to the amount which was paid or credited on the account of the par value of the Shares, held by the Shareholder. |
31.1.5. | In the event that it was not otherwise determined in the conditions applicable to the allotment of the Shares or in a resolution of the General Meeting, all the dividends or Bonus Shares with respect to Shares, which were not fully paid within the period in which the dividends or Bonus Shares are paid, shall be paid in proportion to the amounts which were actually paid or credited as paid on the par value of the Shares during any part of said period (pro rata temporis). |
31.2. | Resolution of the Company with Respect to a Dividend or Bonus Shares |
31.2.1. | The Authority to Distribute Dividends or Bonus Shares |
The resolution of the Company on the distribution of a dividend or Bonus Shares to be distributed to the Shareholders according to their respective rights and benefits, and on their time of payment, shall be made by the Board of Directors. |
31.2.2. | Funds |
The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, allocate to special funds any amount whatsoever from the profits of the Company or from the revaluation of its assets or its relative share in the revaluation of assets of “branch companies,” and also to determine the designation of these funds. |
31.3. | The Payment of Dividends |
31.3.1. | Manner of Payment |
Unless otherwise provided in the resolution with respect to the distribution of the dividend, the Company may pay any dividend with the withholding of any tax required by Law, by way of a cheque to the order of the beneficiary alone, which should be sent by means of registered mail to the registered address of the Shareholder entitled thereto, or by way of a bank transfer. Any cheque, as stated, shall be drawn up to the order of the person to whom it is intended. |
In the event of registered joint holders, the cheque shall be passed to the same Shareholder whose name is registered first in the Shareholder Register with respect to the joint holding. |
The sending of a cheque to a person whose name is registered in the Shareholder Register as the holder of the Share upon the Determining Date or, in the case of joint holders, to any of the joint holders, shall serve as evidence with respect to all the payments made in connection with same Shares. |
The Company may decide that a cheque under a certain amount shall not be sent and the amount of the dividend which was supposed to be paid shall be deemed to be an unclaimed dividend. |
31.3.2. | An Unclaimed Dividend |
The Board of Directors is entitled to invest the amount of any unclaimed dividend for one year after it was declared or to utilize it in any other manner to the benefit of the Company until it is claimed. The Company shall not be obligated to pay interest or Linkage on an unclaimed dividend. |
31.3.3. | Specific Dividend |
In the event the Company declares a dividend, as provided in Article 31.2.1 above, it may decide that same dividend shall be paid, entirely or partially, by way of the distribution of certain assets, including fully paid Shares or bonds of any other company or in any combination of these assets. |
31.4. | Manner of Capitalization of Profits and the Distribution of Bonus Shares |
31.4.1. | Subject to the provisions of Article 30 above in the event of a capitalization of profits and distribution of Bonus Shares, the undistributed profits of the Company, or premium on Shares, or funds derived from the revaluation of the assets of the Company, or funds derived on the basis of equity from the profits of “branch companies,” or from the revaluation of assets of “branch companies” and capital redemption funds shall be capitalized and distributed among the Shareholders entitled thereto, as per the provisions of Article 31.1 above, to be held by the shareholders as capital, and that this capital, entirely or partially, shall be used on behalf of same Shareholders as full payment, whether according to the par value of the Shares or together with premium decided upon, for Shares to be distributed accordingly, and that this distribution or payment shall be received by same Shareholders as full consideration for their portion of the benefit in the capitalized amount, as determined by the Board of Directors. |
The provisions of this chapter six shall also apply to the distribution of bonds. |
31.4.2. | The Company, in the resolution with respect to the distribution of Bonus Shares, is entitled in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors, to decide that the Company shall transfer to a special fund, designated for the future distribution of Bonus Shares, an amount the capitalization of which shall be sufficient in order to allot to anyone having at such time a right to acquire Shares of the Company (including a right which can be exercised only upon a later date), Bonus Shares at the par value which would have been due to him had he exercised the right to acquire the Shares shortly before the Determining Date, at the price of the right in effect at such time. In the event that after the Determining Date, the holder of said right shall exercise his right to acquire the Shares or any part of them, the Board of Directors shall allot to him fully paid Bonus Shares at such par value and of such class, which would have been due to him had he exercised shortly before the Determining Date the right to acquire those Shares he actually acquired, by way of an appropriate capitalization made by the Board of Directors out of the special fund, as aforesaid. For the purpose of the determination of the par value of the Bonus Shares which are to be distributed, any amount transferred to the special fund, with respect to a previous distribution of previous Bonus Shares shall be viewed as if it had already been capitalized and that Shares entitling the holders to the right to acquire Shares of the Company were already allotted as Bonus Shares. |
31.4.3. | Upon the distribution of Bonus Shares, each Shareholder of the Company shall receive Shares of a uniform class or of the class which confers on its holder the right to receive the Bonus Shares, as determined by the Board of Directors. |
31.4.4. | For purposes of carrying out any resolution pursuant to the provisions of Article 30, the Board of Directors may settle, as it deems fit, any difficulty arising with regard to the distribution of Bonus Shares, and, in particular, to issue certificates for fractions of Shares and sell such fractions of Shares, in order to pay their consideration to those entitled thereto, and also to set the value for the distribution of certain assets and to decide that cash payments shall be paid to the Shareholders on the basis of the value determined in such a way, or that fractions whose value is less than NIS 0.01 shall not be taken into account, pursuant to the adjustment of the rights of all parties. The Board of Directors may pay cash or convey these certain assets to trustees in trust in favor of those people who are entitled to a dividend or to a capitalized fund, as the Board of Directors shall deem beneficial. |
32. | Acquisition of Shares |
32.1. | The Company is entitled to acquire or to finance an acquisition, directly or indirectly, of Shares of the Company or securities convertible into Shares of the Company or which could be exercised into Shares of the Company, including incurring an obligation to take any of these actions, subject to the fulfillment of the conditions of a permissible distribution, as stated in Article 30 above. |
32.2. | In the event that the Company acquired any of its Shares, such a Share shall become a dormant Share, and shall not confer any rights, so long as it is in the holding of the Company. |
32.3. | A subsidiary or another corporation in the control of the Company is entitled to acquire Shares of the Company or securities convertible into Shares of the Company or which can be exercised into Shares of the Company, including an obligation to take any of these actions, to the same extent the Company may make a distribution, so long as the board of directors of the subsidiary or the managers of the acquiring corporation have determined that had the acquisition of the Shares been carried out by the Company it would have been regarded as a permissible distribution, as specified in Article 30 above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an acquisition by a subsidiary or by another corporation in the control of the Company, which is not fully-owned by the Company, will be considered a distribution of an amount equal to the product of the amount acquired multiplied by the percentage of the rights in the capital of the subsidiary or in the capital of said corporation which is held by the Company. |
32.4. | In the event that a Share of the Company is acquired by a subsidiary or by a corporation in the control of the Company, the Share shall not confer any voting rights, for so long as said Share is held by the subsidiary or by said controlled corporation. |
33. | Insurance of Officers |
33.1. | The Company may insure the liability of an officer in the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Law. |
33.2. | Without derogating from the aforesaid, the Company may enter into an insurance contract and/or arrange and pay all premiums in respect of an insurance contract, for the insurance of the liability of an officer in the Company, resulting directly or indirectly from an action or inaction by him (or together with other officers of the Company) in his capacity as an officer in the Company, for any of the following: |
33.2.1. | The breach of the duty of care toward the Company or toward any other person; |
33.2.2. | The breach of the duty of loyalty toward the Company provided the officer has acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to assume that the action would not harm the Company; and |
33.2.3. | A financial liability imposed on him in favor of another person. |
33.2.4. | Any other matter in respect of which it is permitted or will be permitted under Law to insure the liability of an officer in the Company. |
34. | Indemnification of Officers |
34.1. | The Company may indemnify an officer in the Company.to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Without derogating from the aforesaid, the Company may indemnify an officer in the Company as specified in Articles 34.2 through 34.4 below. |
34.2. | Indemnification in Advance |
The Company may indemnify an officer in the Company for liability or expense he incurs or that is imposed on him in consequence with an action or inaction by him (or together with other officers of the Company) in his capacity as an officer in the Company, as follows: |
34.2.1. | Any financial liability he incurs or is imposed on him in favor of another person in accordance with a judgment, including a judgment given in a settlement or a judgment of an arbitrator, approved by the Court. |
34.2.2. | Reasonable litigation expenses, including legal fees, incurred by the officer or which he was ordered to pay by the Court, in the context of proceedings filed against him by the Company or on its behalf or by a third party, or in a criminal proceeding in which he was acquitted, or in a criminal proceeding in which he was convicted of an offense which does not require criminal intent. |
34.2.3. | Reasonable litigation expenses, including legal fees, incurred by the officer due to such investigation or proceeding conducted against him by an authority authorized to conduct an investigation or proceeding, and which was ended without filing an indictment against him and without the imposition of a financial liability as a substitute for a criminal proceeding, or that was ended without filing an indictment against him but for which he was subject to a financial liability as a substitute for a criminal proceeding relating to an offense which does not require criminal intent, within the meaning of the relevant terms in the Law. |
34.2.4. | Any other liability or expense in respect of which it is permitted or will be permitted under Law to indemnify an officer in the Company. |
34.3. | Indemnification in Advance |
The Company may undertake in advance to indemnify an officer of the Company in respect of the following matters:. |
34.3.1. | Matters as detailed in Article 34.2.1 provided however, that the undertaking to indemnify is restricted to events which in the opinion of the Board of Directors are anticipated in light of the Company’s activities at the time of granting the obligation to indemnify, and is limited to a sum or measurement determined by the Board of Directors to be reasonable in the circumstances. The undertaking to indemnify shall specify the events that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors are expected in light of the Company’s actual activity at the time of grant of the indemnification and the sum or measurement which the Board of Directors determined to be reasonable in the circumstances. |
34.3.2. | Matters as detailed in Article 34.2.2 and 34.2.3. |
34.3.3. | Any other matter permited by Law. |
34.4. | Indemnification after the Fact |
The Company may indemnify an officer in the Company for all kinds of events, retrospectively, subject to any applicable Law |
35. | Release of Officers |
35.1. | The Company shall not release an officer from his liability for a breach of the duty of care toward the Company, other than in accordance with the provisions of this Article. |
35.2. | The Company may release an officer in the Company, in advance, from his liability, entirely or partially, for damage in consequence of the breach of the duty of care toward the Company. |
35.3. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not release an officer from his liability, resulting from any of the following events: |
35.3.1. | The breach of the duty of loyalty toward the Company. |
35.3.2. | The breach of the duty of care made intentionally or recklessly (“pezizut”); |
35.3.3. | An intentional act intended to unlawfully yield a personal profit; |
35.3.4. | A criminal fine or a penalty imposed on him. |
36. | Liquidation |
36.1. | In the event that the Company is liquidated, whether voluntarily or otherwise, the liquidator, upon the approval of an Extraordinary Meeting, may make a distribution in kind to the Shareholders of all or part of the property of the Company, and he may with a similar approval of the General Meeting, deposit any part of the property of the Company with trustees in favor of the Shareholders, as the liquidator with the aforementioned approval, deems fit. |
36.2. | The Shares of the Company shall confer equal rights among them with respect to capital amounts which were paid or which were credited as paid on the par value of the Shares, in all matters pertaining to the refund of the capital and to the participation in the distribution of the balance of the assets of the Company in liquidation. |
37. | Reorganization |
37.1. | Upon the sale of the property of the Company, the Board of Directors or the liquidators (in case of a liquidation), if they are so authorized by a resolution of the General Meeting of the Company adopted with a Special Majority, may receive fully or partially paid up Shares, bonds or securities of another company, either Israeli or foreign, whether incorporated or which is about to incorporated for the purpose of acquiring property of the Company, or any part thereof, and the Directors (if the profits of the Company allow for it) or the liquidators (in case of a liquidation) may distribute among the Shareholders the Shares or the securities mentioned above or any other property of the Company without selling them or depositing them with trustees on behalf of the Shareholders. |
37.2. | The General Meeting may, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a Special Majority, decide on the valuation of the securities or of the aforementioned property at a price and in the same manner as it deems appropriate and all the Shareholders shall be obligated to accept any valuation or distribution, authorized in accordance with the foregoing and to waive their rights in this matter, unless the Company is about to liquidate or is in a liquidation process, of same lawful rights (if any) which according to the provisions of the Law should not be altered or denied. |
38. | Notices |
38.1. | A notice or other document may be sent by the Company to any Shareholder appearing in the Shareholder Register of the Company either personally or by way of sending by registered mail, at the registered address of the Shareholder in the Shareholder Register, or at such address as the Shareholder shall have provided in writing to the Company as the address for the delivery of notices. |
38.2. | All the notices to be given to Shareholders, shall, in respect of Shares held jointly, be given to the person whose name is mentioned first in the Shareholder Register, and any notice given in such a manner shall be viewed as a sufficient notice to all the joint Shareholders. |
38.3. | Any Shareholder registered in the Shareholder Register, with an address, whether in Israel or overseas, is entitled to receive, at such address, any notice he is entitled to receive in accordance with the Articles of Association or according to the provisions of the Law. Unless otherwise stated above, no person who is not registered in the Shareholder Register shall be entitled to receive any notices from the Company. |
38.4. | Any notice or other document which is sent to a Shareholder in accordance with these Articles of Association shall be considered lawfully sent with respect to all the Shares held by him (whether with respect to Shares held by him alone or held by him jointly with others) even if same Shareholder had died by that time or had become bankrupt or had received an order for its liquidation or if a trustee or a liquidator or a receiver was appointed with respect to his Shares (whether the Company was aware of it or not) until another person is registered in the Shareholder Register in his stead, as the holder thereof. The sending of a notice or other document, as aforesaid, shall be viewed as a sufficient sending to any person having a right in these Shares. |
38.5. | Any notice or other document which was sent by the Company via registered mail, to an address in Israel, shall be considered sent within 72 hours from its posting at the post office. In order to prove sufficient sending, it is enough to show that the letter containing the notice or the document was addressed to the correct address and was posted at the post office. |
38.6. | Any accidental omission with respect to the giving of a notice of a General Meeting to any Shareholder or the non-receipt of a notice with respect to a meeting or any other notice on the part of whatever Shareholder shall not cause the cancellation of a resolution taken at that meeting, or the cancellation of processes based on such notice. |
38.7. | Any Shareholder and any member of the Board of Directors may waive his right to receive notices or waive his right to receive notices during a specific time period and he may consent that a General Meeting of the Company or a meeting of the Board of Directors, as the case may be, shall be convened and held notwithstanding the fact that he did not receive a notice with respect to it, or notwithstanding the fact that the notice was not received by him within the required time, in each case subject to the provisions of any Law prohibiting any such waiver or consent. |
39. | Intentionally Deleted |
40. | Intentionally Deleted |
41. | Intentionally Deleted |
42. | Intentionally Deleted |
43. | Compliance |
The Shareholders and the Company shall at all times comply with the terms of the License and of any other telecommunications license held by the Company. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring or permitting the performance of any acts which are inconsistent with the terms of the License and of any other telecommunications license held by the Company. If any article of these Articles shall be found to be inconsistent with the terms of the License and of any other telecommunications license held by the Company, the provisions of such Article shall be null and void, but the validity, legality or enforceability of provisions of the other Articles shall not be affected thereby. |
44. | Limitations on Ownership and Control |
44.1. | This Article is to ensure that so long as and to the extent that any Operating Right is conditional on or subject to any conditions or restrictions relating to ownership or control over the Company imposed by the Ministry, the Company is so owned and controlled. This Article shall not affect or influence in any way the interpretation or application of Article 10A. |
44.2. | In this Article: |
“Affected Share” means any Share determined to be dealt with as such pursuant to Article 44.4; |
“Affected Share Notice” means a notice in writing served in accordance with Article 44.5; |
“Depositary” means a custodian or other person appointed under contractual arrangements with the Company (or a nominee for such custodian or other person) whereby such custodian or other person holds or is interested in Shares and which issues securities evidencing the right to receive such Shares; |
“Depositary Receipts” means receipts or similar documents of title issued by or on behalf of a Depositary; |
“Depositary Shares” means the Shares held by a Depositary or in which a Depositary is interested in its capacity as a Depositary; |
“Intervening Act” means the refusal, withholding, suspension or revocation of any Operating Right applied for, granted to or enjoyed by the Company, or the imposition of any conditions or limitations upon any such Operating Right which materially inhibit the exercise thereof, in either case by any state, authority or person (including the Ministry) by reason of the activities of persons holding Shares in and/or controlling the Company; |
“Ministry” means the Ministry of Communications and/or Minister of Communications; |
“Operating Right” means all or any part of any authority, permission, licence or privilege applied for, granted to or enjoyed by the Company, including the Licence, for the establishment, subsistence, maintenance and operation of a mobile radio telephone system using the cellular method and the provision of mobile radio telephone services to the public in Israel; |
“Permitted Maximum” means the maximum aggregate permitted number of Relevant Shares specified by the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of the Licence, any other requirements of the Ministry and any relevant requirements of Law; |
“Relevant Person” means: |
(a) | any person who, without the approval of the Ministry, acquires, directly or indirectly, any Means of Control (as defined in the Licence) in breach of Section 21 of the Licence other than a person who falls within Article 10A; or |
(b) | any Interested Party (as defined in the Licence) who, or who has an Officer Holder (as defined in the Licence) who, is in breach of Sections 23 or 24 of the Licence other than a person who falls within Article 10A; |
“Relevant Share” means any Share (other than a Share removed from the Relevant Shares Register (defined in Article 44.3.2) pursuant to Article 44.3.5), in which a Relevant Person has an interest or which is declared to be a Relevant Share pursuant to Article 44.3.4; |
44.3. |
44.3.1. | The Board of Directors shall not register a person as a holder of a Share unless the person has given to the Board of Directors a declaration (in a form prescribed by the Board of Directors) signed by him or on his behalf, stating his name, nationality, that he is not a Relevant Person falling within paragraphs (c) or (d) of the definition of that term and other information required by the Board of Directors. |
44.3.2. | The Board of Directors shall maintain a register (the “Relevant Shares Register”), in which shall be entered particulars of any Share which has been: |
(a) | acknowledged by the holder (or by a joint holder) to be a Relevant Share; |
(b) | declared to be a Relevant Share pursuant to Article 44.3.4; or |
(c) | determined to be an Affected Share pursuant to Article 44.4.2.; |
and which has not ceased to be a Relevant Share. The particulars in the Relevant Shares Register in respect of any Share shall include the identity of the holder or joint holders and information requested by and supplied to the Board of Directors. |
44.3.3. | Each registered holder of a Share which has not been acknowledged to be a Relevant Share who becomes aware that such Share is or has become a Relevant Share shall forthwith notify the Company accordingly. |
44.3.4. | The Board of Directors may notify in writing the registered holder of a Share which is not in the Relevant Shares Register and appears to be a Relevant Share, requiring him to show that the Share is not a Relevant Share. Any person to whom such notice has been issued may within 21 clear days after the issue of the notice (or such longer period as the Board of Directors may decide) represent to the Board of Directors why such Share should not be treated as a Relevant Share but if, after considering such representations and other relevant information, the Board of Directors is not so satisfied, it shall declare such Share to be a Relevant Share and treat it as such. |
44.3.5. | The Board of Directors shall remove a Relevant Share from the Relevant Shares Register if the holder of the Relevant Share gives to the Board of Directors a declaration (in a form prescribed by the Board of Directors), together with such other evidence as the Board of Directors may require, which satisfies it that such Share is no longer, or should not be treated, as a Relevant Share. |
44.4. |
44.4.1. | Article 44.4.2 shall apply for so long as the Company holds or enjoys any Operating Right where the Board of Directors determines that it is necessary to take steps to protect any Operating Right because an Intervening Act is contemplated, threatened or intended, may take place or has taken place; |
44.4.2. | Where a determination has been made under Article 44.4.1, the Board of Directors shall take such of the following steps as they consider necessary or desirable to overcome, prevent or avoid an Intervening Act: |
44.4.2.1. | the Board of Directors may remove any Director from office, by a resolution passed by a majority of 75 per cent or more of the other Directors present and voting at the relevant meeting; |
44.4.2.2. | the Board of Directors may seek to identify those Relevant Shares which gave rise to the determination under Article 44.4.1 and by a resolution passed by a majority of 75 per cent or more of the Directors present and voting at the relevant meeting deal with such Shares as Affected Shares; and |
44.4.2.3. | when the aggregate number of Relevant Shares in the Relevant Shares Register exceeds the Permitted Maximum, the Board of Directors may deal with the Relevant Shares which it decides, by a resolution passed by a majority of 75 per cent or more of the Directors present and voting at the relevant meeting, are in excess of the Permitted Maximum as Affected Shares. |
44.5. | The Board of Directors shall give an Affected Share Notice to the registered holder of any Affected Share and state that Article 44.6 is to be applied forthwith in respect of such Affected Share. The registered holder of the Affected Share may within 21clear days after the issue of the notice (or such longer period as the Board of Directors may decide) represent to the Board of Directors why such Share should not be treated as an Affected Share and if, after considering such representations and other relevant information, the Board of Directors considers that the Share should not be treated as an Affected Share it shall forthwith withdraw the Affected Share Notice and Article 44.6 shall no longer apply to the Share. |
44.6. | An Affected Share in respect of which an Affected Share Notice has been served shall be treated as a dormant share (as defined in section 308 of the Companies Law) except that the registered holder of the Affected Share shall continue to have the right to receive dividends and other distributions of the Company and participate in bonus or rights issues of the Company in respect of such Share. |
44.7. | In deciding which Shares are to be treated as Affected Shares, the Board of Directors shall have regard to the Relevant Shares which in its opinion have directly or indirectly caused the determination under Article 44.4 and the chronological order in which Relevant Shares have been entered in the Relevant Shares Register (and accordingly treat as Affected Shares those Relevant Shares entered in the Relevant Shares Register most recently) except where such criterion would in their opinion be inequitable, in which event the Board of Directors shall apply such other criterion or criteria as they may consider appropriate. |
44.8. | Subject to the other provisions of this Article 44, the Board of Directors shall be entitled to assume without enquiry that: |
44.8.1. | all Shares not in the Relevant Shares Register and not falling within clause 44.8.2 are neither Relevant Shares nor Shares which would be or be capable of being treated as Affected Shares; and |
44.8.2. | all or some specified number of the Shares are Relevant Shares falling within paragraphs (a)-(b) in the definition of that term if they (or interests in them) are held by a Depositary, trustee, registration or nominee company or other agent unless and for so long as, in respect of any such Shares, it is established to their satisfaction that such Shares are not Relevant Shares. |
44.9. | Any resolution or determination of, or any decision or the exercise of any discretion or power by, the Board of Directors or any one of the Directors under this Article 44 shall be final and conclusive. |
44.10. |
44.10.1. | On withdrawal of the determination under Article 44.4.1, the Board of Directors shall cease to act pursuant to such determination and inform every person on whom an Affected Share Notice has been served that Article 44.6 no longer applies in respect of such Share. The withdrawal of such a determination shall not affect the validity of any action taken by the Board of Directors under this Article whilst that determination remained in effect and such actions shall not be open to challenge on any ground whatsoever. |
44.10.2. | The Board of Directors shall, so long as it acts reasonably and in good faith, be under no liability to the Company or to any other person for failing to treat any Share as an Affected Share or any person as a Relevant Person in accordance with this Article and it shall not be liable to the Company or any other person if, having acted reasonably and in good faith it determines erroneously that any Share is an Affected Share, or any person is a Relevant Person or on the basis of such determination or any other determination or resolution, they perform or exercise their duties, powers, rights or discretions under this Article in relation to such Share. |
44.11. | A person who has an interest in Shares by virtue of having an interest in Depositary Receipts shall be deemed to have an interest in the number of Shares represented by such Depositary Receipts and not (in the absence of any other reason why he should be so treated) in the remainder of the Depositary Shares held by the relevant Depositary. |
Page
|
|
INTERIM
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
3-4
|
|
5-6
|
|
7
|
|
8
|
|
9-10
|
|
11-12
|
|
13-51
|
Kesselman
& Kesselman
|
||
Certified
Public Accountants (Isr)
Trade
Tower, 25 Hamered Street
|
||
Tel
Aviv 68125 Israel
P.O.
Box 452 Tel Aviv 61003 Israel
Telephone
+972-3-7954555
Facsimile
+972-3-7954556
|
Tel-Aviv,
Israel
|
Kesselman
& Kesselman
|
November
9, 2009
|
Certified
Public Accountants (Isr.)
|
A
member of PricewaterhouseCoopers
|
|
International
Limited
|
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into U.S. dollars
(note
2a)
|
|||||||||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||
Note
|
In
millions
|
|||||||||||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
33 | 184 | 9 | |||||||||||||
Trade
receivables
|
1,234 | 1,103 | 329 | |||||||||||||
Other
receivables
|
43 | 32 | 11 | |||||||||||||
Inventories
|
5 | 147 | 125 | 39 | ||||||||||||
Income
tax receivable
|
9 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
32 | 27 | 9 | |||||||||||||
1,498 | 1,471 | 399 | ||||||||||||||
NON
CURRENT ASSETS
|
||||||||||||||||
Trade
Receivables
|
452 | 417 | 120 | |||||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
2,048 | 1,935 | 545 | |||||||||||||
Licenses
and other intangible assets
|
1,270 | 1,261 | 338 | |||||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
37 | 81 | 10 | |||||||||||||
3,807 | 3,694 | 1,013 | ||||||||||||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
5,305 | 5,165 | 1,412 |
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into U.S. dollars
(note
2a)
|
|||||||||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||
Note
|
In
millions
|
|||||||||||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
maturities of long term liabilities and short term loans
|
751 | 568 | 200 | |||||||||||||
Trade payables
|
868 | 819 | 231 | |||||||||||||
Parent group - trade
|
3 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||
Other liabilities
|
266 | 294 | 70 | |||||||||||||
Provisions
|
29 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
21 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||
Dividend payable
|
230 | 61 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax payable
|
42 | |||||||||||||||
2,168 | 1,734 | 577 | ||||||||||||||
NON
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
||||||||||||||||
Notes
payable
|
1,115 | 1,613 | 297 | |||||||||||||
Liability
for employee rights upon retirement, net
|
46 | 53 | 12 | |||||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
26 | 23 | 7 | |||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
9 | 10 | 2 | |||||||||||||
1,196 | 1,699 | 318 | ||||||||||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
3,364 | 3,433 | 895 | |||||||||||||
EQUITY
|
7 | |||||||||||||||
Share
capital - ordinary shares of NIS 0.01
par value: authorized - December 31, 2008,
and September 30, 2009 - 235,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding -
|
||||||||||||||||
December
31, 2008 – 153,419,394
shares
|
||||||||||||||||
September
30, 2009 -
154,070,722 shares
|
2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||
Capital
surplus
|
2,470 | 2,446 | 657 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(180 | ) | (365 | ) | (48 | ) | ||||||||||
Treasury
shares, at cost -
December
31, 2008 and September 30, 2009 - 4,467,990
shares
|
(351 | ) | (351 | ) | (93 | ) | ||||||||||
TOTAL
EQUITY
|
1,941 | 1,732 | 517 | |||||||||||||
TOTAL
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
5,305 | 5,165 | 1,412 |
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into U.S. dollars
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9
month
period
ended
September
30
|
3
month
period
ended
September
30
|
9
month
period
ended
September
30,
|
3
month
period
ended
September
30,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Note
|
In
millions (except per share data)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
6 | 4,501 | 4,749 | 1,575 | 1,629 | 1,198 | 419 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost
of revenues
|
6 | 2,773 | 2,908 | 1,003 | 958 | 738 | 267 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
1,728 | 1,841 | 572 | 671 | 460 | 152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Selling
and marketing expenses
|
292 | 298 | 107 | 94 | 78 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
222 | 201 | 80 | 69 | 59 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
income
|
55 | 51 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
profit
|
1,269 | 1,393 | 401 | 522 | 338 | 106 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Finance
income
|
22 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Finance
expenses
|
157 | 189 | 68 | 74 | 42 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Finance
costs, net
|
135 | 147 | 61 | 71 | 36 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit
before income tax
|
1,134 | 1,246 | 340 | 451 | 302 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Income
tax expenses
|
287 | 338 | 77 | 121 | 77 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit
for the period
|
847 | 908 | 263 | 330 | 225 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings
per share
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
5.51 | 5.82 | 1.71 | 2.14 | 1.47 | 0.46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted
|
5.48 | 5.77 | 1.70 | 2.12 | 1.46 | 0.45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
153,671 | 156,011 | 153,902 | 154,383 | 153,671 | 153,902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted
|
154,525 | 157,275 | 154,827 | 155,532 | 154,525 | 154,827 |
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into U.S. dollars
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
9
month
period
ended
September
30
|
3
month
period
ended
September
30
|
9
month
period
ended
September
30,
|
3
month
period
ended
September
30,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
In
millions
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Profit
for the period
|
847 | 908 | 263 | 330 | 225 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income (losses)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actuarial
gains (losses) from defined benefit plan
|
8 | (2 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tax
|
(2 | ) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income
for the
period, net of tax
|
6 | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE
PERIOD, NET OF TAX
|
853 | 907 | 262 | 330 | 227 | 70 |
Share
capital
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of
shares
|
Capital
|
Accumulated
|
Treasury
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Amount
|
surplus
|
deficit
|
shares
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||
(
I n m i l l i o n s )
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
New
Israeli Shekels:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1,
2009
(Unaudited)
|
157,887,384 | 2 | 2,446 | (365 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,732 | ||||||||||||||||
CHANGES DURING THE 9
MONTHS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
(unaudited):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income for the period
|
853 | 853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of options granted to employees
|
651,328 | * | 24 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Employee
share-based compensation expenses, net
|
15 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend
|
(683 | ) | (683 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30,
2009
(unaudited)
|
158,538,712 | 2 | 2,470 | (180 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,941 | ||||||||||||||||
Convenience translation into
u.s. dollars (note 2a):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1,
2009 (Unaudited)
|
157,887,384 | 1 | 651 | (97 | ) | (93 | ) | 462 | ||||||||||||||||
CHANGES DURING THE 9 MONTHS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
2009
(unaudited):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income for the period
|
227 | 227 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of options granted to employees
|
651,328 | * | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Employee
share-based compensation
expenses,
net
|
4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend
|
(182 | ) | (182 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30,
2009
(unaudited)
|
158,538,712 | 1 | 657 | (48 | ) | (93 | ) | 517 | ||||||||||||||||
Share
capital
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Number
of
shares
|
Capital
|
Accumulated
|
Treasury
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Amount
|
surplus
|
deficit
|
shares
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||
(
I n m i l l i o n s )
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
New
Israeli Shekels:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1,
2008 (Unaudited)
|
157,320,770 | 2 | 2,429 | (616 | ) | 1,815 | ||||||||||||||||||
CHANGES DURING THE 9 MONTHS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008
(unaudited):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income for the period
|
907 | 907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of options granted to employees
|
486,232 | * | 14 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Employee
share-based compensation expenses, net
|
7 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend
|
(706 | ) | (706 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase
of company's shares by the company
|
(351 | ) | (351 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2008
(unaudited)
|
157,807,002 | 2 | 2,443 | (408 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,686 |
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into
U.S.
dollars
(note
2a)
|
|||||||||||
9
month period ended
September
30,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||
In
millions
|
||||||||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|||||||||||
Cash
generated from operations (Appendix)
|
1,615 | 1,766 | 430 | |||||||||
Income
tax paid
|
(290 | ) | (299 | ) | (77 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
1,325 | 1,467 | 353 | |||||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||||||
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
(429 | ) | (329 | ) | (114 | ) | ||||||
Acquisition
of intangible assets
|
(167 | ) | (24 | ) | (44 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds
from (payments for) derivative financial instruments, net
|
31 | (26 | ) | 8 | ||||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(565 | ) | (379 | ) | (150 | ) | ||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock
options granted to employees
|
24 | 14 | 6 | |||||||||
Dividend paid
|
(471 | ) | (694 | ) | (125 | ) | ||||||
Repayment of capital lease
|
(6 | ) | (5 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||
Purchase of company's shares by the company
|
(351 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest paid
|
(68 | ) | (68 | ) | (18 | ) | ||||||
Short term loans
|
(20 | ) | 20 | (5 | ) | |||||||
Repayment
of long term bank loans
|
(21 | ) | ||||||||||
Repayment
of notes payable
|
(370 | ) | (99 | ) | ||||||||
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
(911 | ) | (1,105 | ) | (243 | ) | ||||||
DECREASE
IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(151 | ) | (17 | ) | (40 | ) | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
AT BEGINNING OF
PERIOD
|
184 | 148 | 49 | |||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
33 | 131 | 9 |
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into
U.S.
dollars
(note
2a)
|
|||||||||||
9
month period ended
September
30,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||
In
millions
|
||||||||||||
Cash
generated from operations:
|
||||||||||||
Profit
for the period
|
847 | 908 | 225 | |||||||||
Adjustments
for net income for the period:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
414 | 350 | 110 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred
compensation related to employee
stock
option grants, net
|
15 | 7 | 4 | |||||||||
Liability
for employee rights upon retirement, net
|
1 | 4 | ||||||||||
Finance
costs, net
|
74 | 103 | 20 | |||||||||
Gain
from change in fair value of derivative
financial
instruments
|
(22 | ) | (16 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||
Interest
paid
|
68 | 68 | 18 | |||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
42 | 26 | 11 | |||||||||
Income
tax paid
|
290 | 299 | 77 | |||||||||
Capital
loss on sale of fixed assets
|
2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||
Decrease
(increase) in accounts receivable:
|
||||||||||||
Trade
|
(166 | ) | 83 | (44 | ) | |||||||
Other
|
(11 | ) | 8 | (3 | ) | |||||||
Increase
(decrease) in accounts payable and accruals:
|
||||||||||||
Parent group-
trade
|
(1 | ) | 2 | |||||||||
Trade
|
104 | (62 | ) | 28 | ||||||||
Other
|
31 | (33 | ) | 8 | ||||||||
Income
tax payable
|
(51 | ) | 12 | (14 | ) | |||||||
Increase
in inventories
|
(22 | ) | 6 | (5 | ) | |||||||
Cash
generated from operations:
|
1,615 | 1,766 | 430 |
a.
|
Basis
of preparation of the financial
information
|
|
(a)
|
International
Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRSs);
|
|
(b)
|
International
Accounting Standards (IASs), and;
|
|
(c)
|
Interpretations
by the International Financial Reporting Interpretation Committee (IFRICs)
or its predecessor, the Standing Interpretations Committee
(SICs).
|
a.
|
Basis of preparation of the
financial information
(continued)
|
|
(a)
|
Derivative
financial instruments are measured and presented at their fair
values.
|
|
(b)
|
Property
and equipment were revalued to the fair value on the transition date, see
note e below.
|
|
(c)
|
The
value of non monetary assets and equity items that were measured on the
basis of historical cost, have been adjusted for changes in the general
purchasing power of the Israeli currency -NIS, based upon changes in the
Israeli Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) until December 31, 2003, as until
that date the Israeli economy was considered hyperinflational according to
IFRS, See note 10.
|
b.
|
Translation
of foreign currency transactions and
balances
|
c.
|
Principles
of consolidation
|
|
1)
|
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and
its wholly-owned subsidiary and
Partnership.
|
|
2)
|
Intercompany
balances and transactions between the Group’s entities have been
eliminated.
|
d.
|
Inventories
|
e.
|
Property
and equipment
|
years
|
|
Communications
network:
|
|
Physical
layer and infrastructure
|
10
- 25 (mainly 15, 10)
|
Other
Communication network
|
3 -
15 (mainly 7, 10, 15)
|
Computers,
hardware and software for information
systems
|
3-10 (mainly 3-5) |
Office
furniture and equipment
|
7-10
|
Optic
fibers and related assets
|
7-25
(mainly 20, 25)
|
|
f.
|
Asset
retirement obligation
|
|
g.
|
Licenses
and other intangible assets
|
|
1)
|
Licenses:
|
|
2)
|
Customer
relationships with carriers are amortized over the estimated useful life
which is 7 years using the straight-line method. Customer relationships
with business customers are amortized over the estimated useful life which
is 5 years using the straight-line
method.
|
|
3)
|
Computer
software:
|
|
4)
|
Subscriber
Acquisition and Retention Costs
(SARC):
|
|
Costs
to acquire or retain postpaid mobile telecommunication customers, pursuant
to a contract with early termination penalties are in some cases
capitalised if (1) such costs are identifiable and controlled; (2) it is
probable that future economic benefits will flow from the customers to the
Company; and (3) such costs can be measured reliably. Subsidies on
handsets sales, which are calculated by deducting the customer's payment
toward the handset from the cost of the handset, and sales commissions,
are included in the customer acquisition and retention costs. Capitalized
customer acquisition and retention costs are amortized over their expected
useful life which is not longer than their minimum enforceable period,
which is generally a period of 18 months, using the straight-line method.
In the event that a customer churns off the network within the period, any
unamortized customer acquisition or retention costs are written off in the
period in which the customer
churns.
|
h.
|
Impairment
of non-financial assets
|
i.
|
Financial
assets
|
1.
|
Financial
assets at fair value through profit and
loss:
|
2.
|
Loans
and receivables:
|
j.
|
Cash
and Cash equivalents
|
k.
|
Trade
Receivables
|
l.
|
Borrowings
|
m.
|
Borrowing
costs
|
n.
|
Employee
benefits
|
1.
|
Defined
benefit plan
|
n.
|
Employee benefits
(continued)
|
|
2.
|
Vacation
and recreation benefits
|
|
3.
|
Share
based payment
|
|
4.
|
Profit-sharing
and bonus plans
|
o.
|
Provisions
|
p.
|
Revenues
|
(1)
|
Revenues
from services:
|
p.
|
Revenues
(continued)
|
(2)
|
Revenues
from sales of handsets and related
accessories:
|
(3)
|
Revenues
from long-term credit arrangements:
|
(4)
|
Revenues
from Pre-paid calling cards:
|
q.
|
Leases
|
r.
|
Advertising
expenses
|
|
Advertising
expenses are charged to the statement of income as
incurred.
|
s.
|
Income
taxes
|
t.
|
Treasury
shares
|
u.
|
Earning
Per Share (EPS)
|
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into U.S. dollars
(note
2a)
|
|||||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||
In
millions
|
||||||||||||
Handsets
|
99 | 82 | 26 | |||||||||
Accessories
and other
|
20 | 16 | 5 | |||||||||
Spare
parts
|
22 | 22 | 6 | |||||||||
Smart
boxes, ISP modems and related equipment
|
6 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||
147 | 125 | 39 |
New
Israeli shekels
|
Convenience
translation into U.S. dollars
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
9
month
period
ended
September
30
|
3
month
period
ended
September
30
|
9
month
period
ended
September
30,
|
3
month
period
ended
September
30,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
In
millions
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service
revenues
|
4,047 | 4,158 | 1,389 | 1,452 | 1,077 | 370 | ||||||||||||||||||
Equipment
revenues
|
454 | 591 | 186 | 177 | 121 | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
4,501 | 4,749 | 1,575 | 1,629 | 1,198 | 419 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost
of sales - Services
|
2,373 | 2,245 | 846 | 767 | 631 | 225 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost
of sales - Equipment
|
400 | 663 | 157 | 191 | 107 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
Cost of sales
|
2,773 | 2,908 | 1,003 | 958 | 738 | 267 |
a.
|
Dividends
|
b.
|
Share
options of the Company
|
1)
|
On
April 13, 2003, a claim was filed against the Company and other cellular
telecommunication companies, together with a request to recognize this
claim as a class action, for alleged violation of antitrust law, alleging
that no fee should have been collected for incoming SMS messages or
alternatively, that the fee collected is excessive and that it is a result
of illegal co-operation between the defendants. The amount of the claim
against all the defendants is estimated at approximately NIS 120 million
(if the court rules that no fee should have been collected) or
alternatively NIS 90 million (if the court rules that the fees are
excessive).
|
2)
|
On
August 8, 2006, a claim was filed against the Company and other cellular
telecommunication companies together with a request to recognize this
claim as a class action for collecting undue payment from its customers on
calls to land line companies when the receiver of the call hangs up first.
The amount of the claims against all the defendants is estimated at
approximately NIS 100 million for the seven year period leading up to
the filing of the claim.
|
3)
|
On
February 27, 2007, a claim was filed against the Company and two other
cellular telecommunication companies together with a request to recognize
this claim as a class action. The claim is for sums that were allegedly
overcharged in breach of the Company’s licenses, based on intervals larger
than the intervals the defendants were allegedly authorized to charge
under their licenses, for calls initiated or received by the subscribers
while abroad. If the claim is recognized as a class action, the total
amount claimed from the defendants is estimated by the plaintiffs to be
approximately NIS 449 million, of which, approximately NIS 88 million is
attributed to the
Company.
|
4)
|
On
August 9, 2007, a claim was filed against the Company, together with a
request to recognize this claim as a class action. The claim is that the
Company discontinues providing services to prepaid subscribers that have
not used their number for a period of thirteen months and transferred the
number to other subscribers. The claimants allege that this violates the
terms of the Company's license as well as the requirements against
deception and the disclosure requirements in the Consumer Protection
Law.
|
5)
|
On
December 16, 2007 a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action was filed against the Company and two other cellular communications
companies.
|
|
The
plaintiffs allege that cell sites were erected near their properties
illegally, causing environmental damage. They seek various remedies,
including removal of all alleged illegal devices, and a sum of NIS 1
billion (1,000 NIS per person times 1 million people allegedly effected)
that would be given to a fund managed by environment and cellular
specialists.
|
6)
|
On
November 29, 2007 a petition was filed in the Supreme Court against the
Minister of Communications, the Attorney General in the Ministry of
Communications and the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of
Communications, and also against the Company (as well as two other
cellular communications companies) as formal
respondents.
|
|
The
petition deals with the decision of the Minister of Communications
according to which cellular companies are not allowed to market programs
that include limitation to 1 minute minimum (programs that charge the
subscriber for the whole first minute even if he used only a part of
it).
|
|
The
petitioner's motion is to implement the above mentioned decision
retroactively and alternatively to instruct the cellular companies to
forfeit the fines they collect from customers who wish to leave these
programs.
|
|
|
At
this stage the court has yet to order the cellular companies to respond to
the petition.
|
7)
|
On
March 23, 2008, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action were filed against the Company. The claim is that the Company
overcharges subscribers for calls and that the subscribers' bill includes
incorrect and unclear
information.
|
|
The
total amount to be claimed under the class action is not estimated by the
plaintiff.
|
8)
|
On
June 26, 2008, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class action
were filed against the Company. The claim is that the Company is charging
consumers for providing special numbers, allegedly in breach of the
Company’s license. If the claim is recognized as a class action, the total
amount claimed from the defendants is estimated by the plaintiffs to be
approximately NIS 90 million. During a preliminary hearing that took place
on June 22, 2009, the court asked the plaintiff to consider the
continuation of his legal procedure. On September 6, 2009, the court set
up dates for the filing of summations by the
parties.
|
9)
|
On
January 19, 2009, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action were filed against the Company. The claim alleges thatt he Company
misled its customers who purchased a particular model of handset by not
highlighting the fact that there were faults with certain of that model's
functions and not offering replacement models free of additional
obligation. If the claim is recognized as a class action, the total amount
claimed from the Company is estimated by the plaintiffs to be
approximately NIS 70 million.
|
10)
|
On
March 18, 2009, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action were filed against the Company. The claim alleges that the Company
should not have charged its subscribers for various different services
under certain circumstances. If the claim is recognized as a class action,
the total amount claimed from the Company is estimated by the plaintiffs
to be approximately NIS 1,250
million.
|
11)
|
On
April 22, 2009, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action were filed against the Company. The claim alleges that the Company
charges certain subscribers for certain calls not according to their rate
plan. If the claim is recognized as a class action, the total amount
claimed from the Company is estimated by the plaintiffs to be
approximately NIS 187
million.
|
12)
|
On
August 17, 2009, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action were filed against the Company, another cellular operator and two
content providers and integrators. The claim alleges that Partner charged
subscribers for certain content services, without their consent. If the
claim is recognized as a class action, the total amount claimed from the
Company is estimated by the plaintiff to be approximately NIS 228
million.
|
13)
|
On
August 24, 2009, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class
action were filed against the Company. The claim alleges that Partner
misled its subscribers by wrongfully not disclosing material terms of sale
in a certain marketing campaign that it carried out.. If the claim is
recognized as a class action, the total amount claimed from the Company is
estimated by the plaintiffs to be approximately NIS 982
million.
|
14)
|
Additional
claims were filed against the Company, together with a request to
recognize these claims as class actions. The total amount of the claims
against the Company is estimated at approximately
NIS 247 million.One of the claims was recognized as a class
action and the Company recognized a provision in the amount estimated to
be sufficient to cover the
liability.
|
15)
|
On
May 20, 2008, the Ministry of Communications (MOC) informed the Company
that following an audit of the MOC by the State Comptroller they are
reconsidering the Company's continued use of one of the frequency bands
which the Company is using on a shared basis with another operator and
claiming payment for its past use (which according to the MOC's claim is
approximately NIS 42.5
million).
|
16)
|
Section
197 of the Building and Planning Law states that a property owner has the
right to be compensated by a local planning committee for reductions in
property value as a result of a new building
plan.
|
|
Accordingly,
on January 3, 2006, the National Council for Planning and Building
published an interim decision conditioning the issuance of building
permits for cell site permits by local planning and building councils upon
provision of a 100% indemnification undertaking by the cellular operators.
This decision shall remain in effect until it is replaced with an
amendment to the National Zoning Plan
36.
|
17)
|
Between
January 3, 2006 and September 30, 2009 the Company provided the local
authorities with 328 indemnification letters as a pre-condition for
obtaining building permits.
|
|
Due
to the fact that an enactment of law regarding this matter is not yet in
place, at this stage the extent of the Company's exposure from granting
such indemnification letters cannot be
evaluated.
|
|
However,
if the Company shall be required to make substantial payments under the
indemnity letters, it could have an adverse effect on the Company's
financial results.
|
|
The
Company assumes that the requirement to provide indemnification letters
might require it to change locations of sites to different, less suitable
locations and to dismantle some of their sites. These changes in the
deployment of the sites might have an adverse effect on the extent,
quality and capacity of our network
coverage.
|
18)
|
The
Company is a party to various claims arising in the ordinary course of its
operations. Management, based upon the opinion of its legal counsel, is of
the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these claims will not have a
material effect on the financial position of the Company, its result of
operations and cash flows. The accounts do not include a provision in
respect thereof.
|
1.
|
Fair value as deemed cost
exemption
|
2.
|
Business combinations
exemption
|
|
a.
|
Adjustments
to the consolidated statements of financial position as of January 1, 2008
("the opening balance sheet"), and December 31,
2008.
|
|
b.
|
Adjustments
to the consolidated statements of income for the periods of nine and three
months ended September 30, 2008 and the year ended December 31,
2008.
|
|
c.
|
Adjustments
to certain equity items as of January 1, 2008, September 30, 2008, and
December 31, 2008.
|
|
d.
|
The
provision of explanations with respect to the above adjustments, together
with a description of the exemptions adopted by the Company under IFRS 1
during the course of the transition to the IFRS
regime.
|
As
of January 1, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Audited)*
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||
Note
|
New
Israeli shekels in millions
|
|||||||||||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
148 | 148 | ||||||||||||||
Trade
receivables
|
1,121 | 1,121 | ||||||||||||||
Other
receivables
|
F | 73 | (29 | ) | 44 | |||||||||||
Inventories
|
133 | 133 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
F | 27 | 27 | |||||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
G | 46 | (46 | ) | ||||||||||||
1,521 | (48 | ) | 1,473 | |||||||||||||
NON
CURRENT ASSETS
|
||||||||||||||||
Trade
Receivables
|
446 | 446 | ||||||||||||||
Funds
in respect of employee rights
|
||||||||||||||||
upon
retirement
|
C | 89 | (89 | ) | ||||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
A, I | 1,728 | (38 | ) | 1,690 | |||||||||||
Licenses
and other intangible assets
|
B, D, I, J | 1,154 | 233 | 1,387 | ||||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
G | 94 | (9 | ) | 85 | |||||||||||
3,511 | 97 | 3,608 | ||||||||||||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
5,032 | 49 | 5,081 |
As
of January 1, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Audited)*
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||
Note
|
New
Israeli shekels in millions
|
|||||||||||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
maturities of long term liabilities and short term loans
|
28 | 28 | ||||||||||||||
Trade
payables
|
750 | 750 | ||||||||||||||
Parent
group - trade
|
3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
F, H | 376 | (67 | ) | 309 | |||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
F | 19 | 19 | |||||||||||||
Income
tax payable
|
H | 48 | 48 | |||||||||||||
1,157 | 1,157 | |||||||||||||||
NON
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
||||||||||||||||
Notes
payable
|
J | 2,073 | (17 | ) | 2,056 | |||||||||||
Liability
for employee rights upon retirement
|
C | 132 | (101 | ) | 31 | |||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
E | 19 | 19 | |||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
E | 14 | (11 | ) | 3 | |||||||||||
2,219 | (110 | ) | 2,109 | |||||||||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
3,376 | (110 | ) | 3,266 | ||||||||||||
EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||
Share
capital
|
2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Capital
surplus
|
B, K | 2,545 | (116 | ) | 2,429 | |||||||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(891 | ) | 275 | (616 | ) | |||||||||||
Total
Equity
|
1,656 | 159 | 1,815 | |||||||||||||
TOTAL
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
5,032 | 49 | 5,081 |
As
of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Audited)*
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||
Note
|
New
Israeli shekels in millions
|
|||||||||||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
184 | 184 | ||||||||||||||
Trade
receivables
|
1,103 | 1,103 | ||||||||||||||
Other
receivables
|
F | 60 | (28 | ) | 32 | |||||||||||
Inventories
|
125 | 125 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
F | 27 | 27 | |||||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
G | 70 | (70 | ) | ||||||||||||
1,542 | (71 | ) | 1,471 | |||||||||||||
NON
CURRENT ASSETS
|
||||||||||||||||
Trade
Receivables
|
417 | 417 | ||||||||||||||
Funds
in respect of employee rights
upon
retirement
|
C | 82 | (82 | ) | ||||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
A, E, I | 1,756 | 179 | 1,935 | ||||||||||||
Licenses
and other intangible assets
|
B, D, I, J | 1,061 | 200 | 1,261 | ||||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
G | 110 | (29 | ) | 81 | |||||||||||
3,426 | 268 | 3,694 | ||||||||||||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
4,968 | 197 | 5,165 |
As
of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Audited)*
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||
Note
|
New
Israeli shekels in millions
|
|||||||||||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
maturities of long term liabilities and short term loans
|
567 | 567 | ||||||||||||||
Trade
payables
|
820 | 820 | ||||||||||||||
Parent
group - trade
|
4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
F, H | 343 | (49 | ) | 294 | |||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
F | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||
Income
tax payable
|
H | 42 | 42 | |||||||||||||
1,734 | 1,734 | |||||||||||||||
NON
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
||||||||||||||||
Notes
payable
|
J | 1,625 | (12 | ) | 1,613 | |||||||||||
Liability
for employee rights upon retirement
|
C | 148 | (94 | ) | 54 | |||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
E | 23 | 23 | |||||||||||||
Other
liabilities
|
E | 22 | (12 | ) | 10 | |||||||||||
1,795 | (95 | ) | 1,700 | |||||||||||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
3,529 | (95 | ) | 3,434 | ||||||||||||
EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||
Share
capital
|
2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Capital
surplus
|
B, K | 2,570 | (124 | ) | 2,446 | |||||||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(782 | ) | 416 | (366 | ) | |||||||||||
Treasury
shares
|
(351 | ) | (351 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total
Equity
|
1,439 | 292 | 1,731 | |||||||||||||
TOTAL
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
4,968 | 197 | 5,165 |
Year
ended December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Audited)*
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||||
New
Israeli shekels
|
||||||||||||||||
Note
|
In
millions, except per share data
|
|||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
6,302 | 6,302 | ||||||||||||||
Cost
of revenues
|
A, B, C | 4,052 | (184 | ) | 3,868 | |||||||||||
Gross
Profit
|
2,250 | 184 | 2,434 | |||||||||||||
Selling
and marketing expenses
|
C | 389 | (1 | ) | 388 | |||||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
L, C | 256 | 28 | 284 | ||||||||||||
Other
income
|
L | 64 | 64 | |||||||||||||
Operating
profit
|
1,605 | 221 | 1,826 | |||||||||||||
Finance
income
|
37 | 37 | ||||||||||||||
Finance
expenses
|
221 | 221 | ||||||||||||||
Financing
costs, net
|
C, E, F, L | 158 | (158 | ) | ||||||||||||
Profit
before income tax
|
1,447 | 195 | 1,642 | |||||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
A,
B, C, E, F
|
396 | 48 | 444 | ||||||||||||
Profit
for the period
|
1,051 | 147 | 1,198 | |||||||||||||
Earnings
per share
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
6.77 | 0.94 | 7.71 | |||||||||||||
Diluted
|
6.73 | 0.92 | 7.65 | |||||||||||||
Weighted
average number
of shares
outstanding
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
155,350 | 155,350 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted
|
156,348 | 172 | 156,520 |
Nine
months ended September 30, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
New
Israeli shekels
|
||||||||||||||||
Note
|
In
millions, except per share data
|
|||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
4,749 | 4,749 | ||||||||||||||
Cost
of revenues
|
A, B, C | 3,071 | (163 | ) | 2,908 | |||||||||||
Gross
Profit
|
1,678 | 163 | 1,841 | |||||||||||||
Selling
and marketing expenses
|
301 | (3 | ) | 298 | ||||||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
L | 181 | 20 | 201 | ||||||||||||
Other
income
|
L | 51 | 51 | |||||||||||||
Operating
profit
|
1,196 | 197 | 1,393 | |||||||||||||
Finance
income
|
43 | 43 | ||||||||||||||
Finance
expenses
|
190 | 190 | ||||||||||||||
Finance
costs, net
|
C, F, L | 112 | (112 | ) | ||||||||||||
Profit
before income tax
|
1,084 | 162 | 1,246 | |||||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
A, C | 297 | 41 | 338 | ||||||||||||
Profit
for the period
|
787 | 121 | 908 | |||||||||||||
Earnings
per share
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
5.04 | 0.78 | 5.82 | |||||||||||||
Diluted
|
5.01 | 0.76 | 5.77 | |||||||||||||
Weighted
average number
of shares outstanding (in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
156,011 | 156,011 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted
|
157,096 | 179 | 157,275 |
Three
months ended September 30, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Reported
under
US
GAAP
|
Effect
of transition to IFRS
|
IFRS
|
||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
New
Israeli shekels
|
||||||||||||||||
Note
|
In
millions, except per share data
|
|||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
1,629 | 1,629 | ||||||||||||||
Cost
of revenues
|
A, B, C | 1,001 | (43 | ) | 958 | |||||||||||
Gross
Profit
|
628 | 43 | 671 | |||||||||||||
Selling
and marketing expenses
|
97 | (3 | ) | 94 | ||||||||||||
General
and administrative expenses
|
L | 62 | 7 | 69 | ||||||||||||
Other
income
|
L | 14 | 14 | |||||||||||||
Operating
profit
|
469 | 53 | 522 | |||||||||||||
Finance
income
|
4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
Finance
expenses
|
75 | 75 | ||||||||||||||
Finance
costs, net
|
C, L | 64 | (64 | ) | ||||||||||||
Profit
before income tax
|
405 | 46 | 451 | |||||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
A, C | 109 | 12 | 121 | ||||||||||||
Profit
for the period
|
296 | 34 | 330 | |||||||||||||
Earnings
per share
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
1.92 | 0.22 | 2.14 | |||||||||||||
Diluted
|
1.91 | 0.21 | 2.12 | |||||||||||||
Weighted
average number
of shares outstanding (in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
154,383 | 154,383 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted
|
155,356 | 176 | 155,532 |
NIS
in millions
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note
|
Share
capital
|
Capital
surplus
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Treasury
shares
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||
As
of January 1, 2008
Reported under US GAAP
(Audited)
|
2 | 2,545 | (891 | ) | 1,656 | |||||||||||||||||||
Effect
of adjustments, net of tax for:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
to employees
|
K | (251 | ) | 251 | ||||||||||||||||||||
CPI
adjustment - equity
|
B | 135 | (135 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
A | 84 | 84 | |||||||||||||||||||||
CPI
adjustment- licenses
|
B | 41 | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Software
adjustment
|
B | 32 | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Liability
for employee rights
upon
retirement
|
C | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
F | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
E | (6 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
As of January 1, 2008 under
IFRS (Unaudited)
|
2 | 2,429 | (616 | ) | 1,815 | |||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2008
Reported under US GAAP (Audited)
|
2 | 2,570 | (782 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,439 | |||||||||||||||||
Effect
of adjustments, net of tax for:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
to employees
|
K | (259 | ) | 259 | ||||||||||||||||||||
CPI
adjustment - equity
|
B | 135 | (135 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
A | 222 | 222 | |||||||||||||||||||||
CPI
adjustment- licenses
|
B | 38 | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Software
adjustment
|
B | 30 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Liability
for employee rights
upon
retirement
|
C | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives
|
F | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
E | (6 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2008 under
IFRS (Unaudited)
|
2 | 2,446 | (366 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,731 | |||||||||||||||||
As
of September 30, 2008 Reported
under US
GAAP(Unaudited)
|
2 | 2,566 | (810 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,407 | |||||||||||||||||
Effect
of adjustments, net for:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
to employees
|
K | (257 | ) | 257 | ||||||||||||||||||||
CPI
adjustment - equity
|
B | 135 | (135 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
A | 200 | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||
CPI
adjustment- licenses
|
B | 39 | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Software
adjustment
|
B | 31 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Liability
for employee rights
upon
retirement
|
C | 16 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives
|
F | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
E | (6 | ) | (6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
As of September 30, 2008
under IFRS (Unaudited)
|
2 | 2,444 | (409 | ) | (351 | ) | 1,686 |
|
A.
|
Property and
equipment
|
Before
evaluation
|
After
evaluation
|
|
years
|
||
Communications
network:
|
||
Physical
layer and infrastructure
|
5-10
|
10-25
|
Other
Communication network
|
5-10
|
3-15
|
Computers,
hardware and software for
information
systems
|
3-7
|
3-10
|
Office
furniture and equipment
|
7-15
|
7-10
|
Optic
fibers and related assets
|
10-15
|
7-25
|
|
B.
|
Inflation
Adjustment
|
C.
|
Liability for employee rights
upon retirement,
net
|
|
Under
US GAAP, the Liability for severance pays for employees' rights upon
retirement was measured by multiplying the years of tenure by the last
monthly salary of the employee (i.e. one monthly salary for each year of
tenure) at each balance sheet date, and the amount funded for severance
pay that has been accumulated for this liability is measured based on
redemption values at each balance sheet date. In addition, under US GAAP,
amounts funded with severance pay funds were presented as long term
investments. Under IFRS, the liability for employee rights upon retirement
is computed under the provisions of IAS 19 Employee benefits
(hereafter – IAS 19). Under the provisions of IAS 19, the severance pay
plan of the Company considered ”defined benefit plan" as detailed in IAS
19. Hence, the liability for employee rights upon retirement that arise
from the plan is measured on an actuarial basis, and takes into account,
among other things, future salary rises and
turnover.
|
|
The
actuarial calculations were performed by an external
expert.
|
|
In
addition, the amount funded is measured at its fair value. The
said amounts funded comprise “plan assets” as defined in IAS 19, and
hence, were set off from the liability for employee rights upon retirement
for the purpose of statement of financial position
presentation.
|
|
As
a result, the liability for employee rights upon retirement, before
deduction the fair value of plan assets, decreased as of January 1, 2008,
September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008 by NIS 13 million, NIS 21 million
and NIS 12 million, respectively, while the deferred tax balances
decreased by approximately NIS 3 million, NIS 5 million and NIS 3 million
at January 1, 2008, September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008
respectively.
|
|
As
a result Funds in respect of employee rights upon retirement in amounts of
NIS 89 million and NIS 82 million were setoff against the liability for
employee's rights upon retirement as of January 1, 2008, and December 31,
2008 respectively.
|
|
The
Company elected as its accounting policy to recognize actuarial gains
(loss) arising from the valuation of the plan, according to IAS 19,
on a current basis to other comprehensive
income.
|
|
Actuarial
losses in the amounts of NIS 2 million, and NIS 13 million, net of tax,
for the periods of nine months ending September 30, 2008, and for the year
ended December 31, 2008, respectively were charged to other comprehensive
income.
|
|
Finance
income (expenses) in the amounts of NIS (3) million, NIS (1) million, and
NIS 11 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 and
the year ended December 31, 2008, respectively, were charged to statements
of income. Cost of sales decreased for the year ended December 31, 2008
and the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008 by NIS 4 million,
NIS 9 million, and NIS 6 million respectively. The income tax expense for
the year ended December 31, 2008 and the nine and three months ended
September 30, 2008 increased by NIS 4 million, NIS 3 million, and NIS 2
million, respectively.
|
D.
|
Licenses and other intangible
assets
|
|
1.
|
The
values of the Licenses and other intangible assets have been adjusted for
changes in the general purchasing power of the Israeli currency, see B
above.
|
|
2.
|
Under
US GAAP costs to acquire and to retain telecommunication customers are
expensed in the period incurred.
|
E.
|
Asset Retirement
Obligation
|
|
The
Company recognizes a liability in respect of asset retirement obligation
(ARO) associated with the retirement of a tangible long lived asset in the
period in which it is incurred and becomes determinable, with an
offsetting increase in the carrying amount of the associated asset. The
cost of the tangible asset, including the initially recognized ARO, is
depreciated such that the cost of the ARO is recognized over the useful
life of the asset. Under US GAAP, the interest rate used for measuring
changes in the liability would be the credit-adjusted, risk-free rate that
existed when the liability, or portion thereof, was initially measured.
Under IFRS, the Company uses a pretax discount rate that reflects current
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to
the liability in accordance with IAS 37. The application of the exemption
of deemed-cost for property and equipment described in note A above
resulted that property and equipment were revalued to their fair values at
the transition date.
|
|
As
a result, the provision for asset retirement obligation increased by NIS 8
million, NIS 8 million and NIS 10 million as of January 1, 2008, September
30, 2008 and December 31, 2008, respectively; while the deferred tax
balances increased by NIS 2 million, as of January 1, 2008, September 30,
2008 and December 31, 2008.
|
|
Property
and equipment increased during the year ended December 31, 2008 by NIS 3
million. Finance costs for the year ended December 31, 2008 and during the
nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased by NIS 1
million.
|
|
Under
US GAAP the provisions were presented as part of other liabilities. Under
IFRS the provisions are presented separately on the statement of financial
position. As a result, amounts in respect of asset retirement obligation
of NIS 19 million and NIS 23 million as of January 1, 2008 and December
31, 2008 respectively, were presented
separately.
|
F.
|
Derivative financial
instruments
|
|
Under
US GAAP derivative financial instruments were presented in the statement
of financial position within other receivables and other liabilities.
Under IFRS, the derivatives are financial instruments that are measured at
fair value through profit and loss and therefore are presented separately
on the statement of financial position. As a result, derivative financial
assets in the amounts of NIS 27 million as at January 1, 2008, and
December 31, 2008, were presented separately; and derivative financial
liabilities in the amounts of NIS 19 million, and NIS 7 million as at
January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008, respectively were presented
separately.
|
G.
|
Deferred
Taxes
|
|
In
accordance with US GAAP, deferred taxes were classified as current assets
or current liabilities and noncurrent assets or non-current liabilities
according to the classification of the assets or liabilities for which
they were related. In accordance with IFRS, deferred tax assets are
classified as non-current assets or non-current liabilities even if it is
anticipated that they will be realized in the short term. As a result,
short-term deferred tax assets as at January 1, 2008, and December 31,
2008 in the amount of NIS 46 million, and NIS 70 million, respectively,
were reclassified from current assets to non-current
assets.
|
|
The
deferred tax asset as presented hereunder has changed based on the
aforementioned changes. The changes in the deferred taxes were calculated
on the basis of tax rates that are expected to be in effect when the
temporary differences reverse:
|
January
1,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||||
Note
|
2008
|
2008
|
|||||||||||
NIS
in millions
|
|||||||||||||
Deferred
Taxes according to US GAAP (Audited)
|
140 | 180 | |||||||||||
Property
and equipment
|
A | (30 | ) | (76 | ) | ||||||||
CPI
adjustment- licenses
|
B | (14 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||||
Software
adjustment
|
B | (11 | ) | (10 | ) | ||||||||
Liability
for employee rights upon retirement
|
C | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
Derivative
financial instruments
|
F | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
E | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
Deferred
taxes according to IFRS (Unaudited)
|
85 | 81 |
|
Hereafter
additional differences between US GAAP and IFRS which relate to
presentation:
|
H.
|
Income tax
payable
|
|
Under
US GAAP the income taxes payable has been presented under “other accounts
payable”. Pursuant to the provisions of IAS 1R - Presentation of Financial
Statements, income taxes payable are presented separately on the
statement of financial position. As a result, income tax payable in the
amounts of NIS 48 million, and NIS 42 million as at January 1, 2008, and
December 31, 2008 were presented
separately.
|
I.
|
Classification of Computer
Software
|
J.
|
Classification of Issuance
costs relating to Notes
payable
|
K.
|
Share based compensation
expenses
|
L.
|
Classification of Finance
income and expenses
|
M.
|
Explanation of material
adjustments to the statements of cash
flow
|
|
1.
Interest paid in the amounts of NIS 68 million during the nine months
ended September 30, 2008, that were included in operating cash flows under
US GAAP, were classified as financing cash flows under
IFRS.
|
|
2.
Under US GAAP deposits in funds in respect of employee rights upon
retirement were recognized as investing cash flows. Under IFRS, these
deposits are recognized as operating cash flows. As a result, amount of
NIS 2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was
reclassified from investing activity to operating activity in the
statements of cash flows.
|
|
3.
Under US GAAP funds paid or received from settlement of derivative
financial instruments are classified as operating activity. Under IFRS,
these amounts are classified under investing activities. As a result,
amount of NIS 26 million, net, paid for derivative financial instruments
in the nine months ended September 30, 2008, were classified to investing
activity.
|
N.
|
Other comprehensive
income
|
|
Under
US GAAP the Company had no comprehensive income components other than net
income. Therefore, no reconciliation has been
presented.
|
O.
|
Reclassifications
|
|
Certain
comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current
period presentation. The change is
immaterial.
|
1.
|
We
hereby inform you that on December 31, 2009 an application has been
submitted to the District Court in Tel Aviv - Jaffa for the approval of a
distribution in the sum of NIS 1.4 billion (hereinafter: "the Requested Distribution
Sum"), that constitutes the sum of approximately NIS 9.07 per share
(hereinafter: "the
Application"). The Requested Distribution Sum is in excess of the
profits of the Company, within the meaning of Section 302 of the Companies
Law, 5759-1999. The Company's equity capital in accordance with its
financial statements as of September 30, 2009 is approximately NIS 1,941
million, and other details with respect to it and to the economic and cash
flow strength and repayment ability of the Company are specified in the
Application.
|
2.
|
Any
creditor of the Company is entitled to apply to the Court and object to
the Application within 30 days of the date of submission of the
Application or within a later date as ruled by the honorable
Court.
|
3.
|
For
your convenience we have attached a copy of the Application, without its
attachments. You may examine the full version of the Application and make
a photocopy of it, at your expense, in the registered office of the
Company, at 8, Amal St., Afeq Industrial Park, Rosh Ha'ayin, on Sundays
through Thursdays, during the regular working hours of the Company,
subject to advance coordination by Tel:
054-7814191.
|
4.
|
Information
in connection with the proceedings and the rulings made by the Court may
be received from advocate Pinhas Rubin and/or Lior Porat and/or Adi
Osovski from Gornitzky & Co. law firm of 45 Rothschild Blvd., Tel
Aviv, Tel: 03-7109191.
|
1.
|
In
accordance with regulation 4 of the Companies Regulations (Distribution
Approval), 5761-2001 (hereinafter: "the Regulations"), we
hereby inform you that today (December 31, 2009) an application has been
submitted to the District Court in Tel Aviv - Jaffa for the approval of a
distribution in the sum of NIS 1.4 billion (hereinafter: "the Requested Distribution
Sum"), that constitutes the sum of approximately NIS 9.07 per share
(hereinafter: "the
Application"). The Requested Distribution Sum is in excess of the
profits of the Company, within the meaning of Section 302 of the Companies
Law, 5759-1999. The Company's equity capital in accordance with its
financial statements as of September 30, 2009 is approximately NIS 1,941
million, and other details with respect to it and to the economic and cash
flow strength and the repayment ability of the Company are specified in
the Application.
|
2.
|
Any
creditor of the Company is entitled to apply to the Court and object to
the Application within 30 days of the date of submission of the
Application or within a later date as ruled by the honorable
Court.
|
3.
|
Attached
please find a copy of the Application, without its attachments. You may
examine the full version of the Application and make a photocopy of it, at
the registered office of the Company, at 8, Amal St., Afeq Industrial
Park, Rosh Ha'ayin, on Sundays through Thursdays, during the regular
working hours of the Company, subject to advance coordination by Tel:
054-7814191.
|
4.
|
Furthermore,
information in connection with the proceedings and the rulings made by the
honorable Court may be received from the
undersigned.
|
Zion Building | Aba Even Blvd. 1 |
45
Rothschild Blvd., Tel-Aviv
|
Herzlia
Pituach 46120
|
Israel 65784 I P.O.B 29141 | Israel |
Phone: 972-3-7109191 | Phone:972-9-9589594 |
Fax: 972-9-9589596 | |
www.gornitzky.com
|
Mr.
Emanuel Avner
Chief
Financial Officer
Tel: +972-54-7814951
Fax: +972-54-7815961
E-mail:
emanuel.avner@orange.co.il
|
Mr.
Oded Degany
V.
P. Corporate Development, Strategy and IR
Tel: +972-54-7814151
Fax: +972-54
-7814161
E-mail:
oded.degany@orange.co.il
|
1.
|
Following
your request dated December 22, 2009 regarding a planned capital reduction
in the sum of up to NIS 1.4 billion (hereinafter: "the Capital Reduction"),
and being creditors of your company, we hereby confirm that we consent to
the execution of the Capital Reduction based on your immediate report
dated November 9, 2009, provided that approval is given by the District
Court in accordance with the provisions of Section 303 of the Companies
Law, 5759-1999.
|
2.
|
You
are entitled to attach this letter to the application for approval of the
Capital Reduction to be submitted to the District Court and to any other
proceeding related to the Capital
Reduction.
|
|
Unofficial
Translation
|
|
Section
28 of the Trust Deed dated November 26,
2009
|
28.
|
Consent
to distribution that does not meet the profit
criterion
|
|
28.1
|
The
Company is examining the option of execution a distribution that does not
meet the profit criterion in accordance with the provisions of section 302
of the Companies Law, 5759-1999, in the sum of NIS 1- 1.4 billion, subject
to obtaining the approvals from the relevant organs of the Company and the
Court (hereinafter: "the
Capital Reduction").
|
|
28.2
|
The
trustee and anyone who submits an offer for the purchase of the bonds, as
well as anyone who will purchase and/or hold the bonds, hereby gives its
irrevocable consent to the execution of the Capital Reduction, provided
that on the date of the Capital Reduction and immediately thereafter (i.e.
on the date of the execution of the Capital Reduction itself and not later
than the following day) the bonds shall be rated at the (A) rating group
by Ma'alot or an equivalent rating of another rating company, and anyone
who will submit an offer for purchase of the bonds and/or will purchase
and/or will hold the bonds hereby authorizes the Trustee and the Company
to declare to the authorized Court in its name that it has no objection to
the Capital Reduction and that it shall have no claim and/or demand
regarding the Capital Reduction, provided that it shall be approved by the
Court by December 31, 2010.
|
|
28.3
|
It
is agreed by the bond holders that the Capital Reduction shall not be
deemed to be an event of default or similar condition resulting in the
bonds becoming immediately due and payable in
accordance with Section 7 above.
|
|
28.4
|
Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Deed of Trust, upon receiving a notice from the
Company of the execution of the Capital Reduction, the Trustee will not be
required to obtain the consent of the holders of the bonds for taking
and/or not taking any actions whatsoever in accordance with this Deed of
Trust due to the Capital Reduction, and the Trustee shall unconditionally
approve the aforesaid Capital Reduction on behalf of the bond
holders.
|
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Emanuel Avner | |
Name: Emanuel Avner | |||
Title: Chief Financial Officer | |||