ERNST
& YOUNG |
n |
Kost
Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
3 Aminadav St.
Tel-Aviv 67067, Israel |
n |
Phone:
972-3-6232525
Fax: 972-3-5622555 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the shareholders of
MATAV CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD.
We have audited the accompanying
balance sheets of Matav - Cable Systems Media Ltd. (the Company) as of December
31, 2003 and 2002 and the consolidated balance sheets as such dates and the related statements of
operations, changes in shareholders equity and cash flows - Company and consolidated - for each of
the two years in the period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits. The financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2001 were
audited by other auditors whose report dated March 13, 2002, expressed an unqualified opinion on
those statements.
We did not audit the
financial statements of a jointly controlled Company whose assets included in the consolidation constitute
approximately 5.7% of total consolidated assets as of December 31, 2003. Also, we did not audit the
financial statements of certain affiliates, the investment in which, at equity, amounted to adjusted
NIS 65,373 thousand and adjusted NIS 20,113 thousand as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively,
and the Companys equity in their earnings amounted to adjusted NIS 42,105 thousand and
adjusted NIS 11,119 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The financial
statements of those companies were audited by other auditors, whose reports have been furnished to
us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to amounts included for those companies, is based on the
reports of the other auditors.
We conducted our audits
in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Israel, including those prescribed by
the Auditors Regulations (Auditors Mode of Performance), 1973. Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the reports of other auditors provide a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, based
on our audits and the reports of other auditors, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position - of the Company and consolidated - as of
December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the consolidated results of operations, changes in shareholders equity
and cash flows of the Company and consolidated - for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Israel. Furthermore,
in our opinion, the financial statements referred to above are prepared in accordance with the Securities
Regulations (Preparation of Annual Financial Statements) - 1993.
As explained in Note
2b, the financial statements referred to above are presented in values adjusted for the changes in
the general purchasing power of the Israeli currency, in accordance with pronouncements of the Institute
of Certified Public Accountants in Israel.
Without
qualifying our opinion, we draw attention to the matters described in Note 15
regarding claims filed against the Company and its subsidiaries.
Tel-Aviv,
Israel |
KOST
FORER GABBAY & KASIERER |
March 30, 2004 |
A Member
of Ernst & Young Global |
-2-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Adjusted to
the NIS of December 2003
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Note
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In
thousands) |
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS: |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
7,604 |
|
|
37,948 |
|
Trade
receivables |
|
4a |
|
|
68,697 |
|
|
83,151 |
|
Other
accounts receivable |
|
4b |
|
|
17,837 |
|
|
19,765 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94,138 |
|
|
140,864 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INVESTMENTS
AND LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES: |
Investments
in affiliates |
|
5b |
|
|
22,400 |
|
|
66,807 |
|
Investment
in other company |
|
5c |
|
|
16,241 |
|
|
16,241 |
|
Long-term
loans granted to employees |
|
|
|
|
611 |
|
|
- |
|
Severance
pay fund, net |
|
12 |
|
|
316 |
|
|
- |
|
Investment
in limited partnerships |
|
6 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,057 |
|
Rights
to broadcast movies and programs |
|
7 |
|
|
- |
|
|
34,927 |
|
Other
receivables |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,568 |
|
|
120,917 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIXED ASSETS: |
|
8 |
|
Cost |
|
|
|
|
1,987,219 |
|
|
2,028,447 |
|
Less
- accumulated depreciation |
|
|
|
|
995,221 |
|
|
1,151,622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
991,998 |
|
|
876,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER ASSETS
AND DEFERRED CHARGES, NET |
|
9 |
|
|
6,922 |
|
|
3,946 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,132,626 |
|
|
1,142,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-3-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Adjusted to
the NIS of December 2003
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Note
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In
thousands) |
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
Bank
credit |
|
10 |
|
|
514,123 |
|
|
435,403 |
|
Current
maturities of debentures |
|
14 |
|
|
33,730 |
|
|
33,701 |
|
Trade
payables |
|
11a |
|
|
84,056 |
|
|
94,699 |
|
Jointly
controlled entity - current account |
|
|
|
|
2,682 |
|
|
17,690 |
|
Other
accounts payable |
|
11b |
|
|
84,607 |
|
|
158,982 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
719,198 |
|
|
740,475 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONG-TERM
LIABILITIES: |
Loans
and debentures (net of current maturities): |
Loans
from bank and others |
|
13 |
|
|
142,085 |
|
|
127,403 |
|
Debentures |
|
14 |
|
|
99,462 |
|
|
66,145 |
|
Customers
deposits for converters, net of accumulated amortization |
|
2l |
|
|
24,809 |
|
|
25,675 |
|
Severance
pay liability, net |
|
12 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
266,356 |
|
|
221,329 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS |
|
15 |
|
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY: |
Share
capital: |
|
16 |
|
Ordinary
shares of NIS 1.00 par value - authorized: 100,000,000 |
shares;
issued and outstanding: 30,203,918 shares |
|
|
|
|
48,882 |
|
|
48,882 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
401,329 |
|
|
375,538 |
|
Accumulated
deficit |
|
|
|
|
(238,222 |
) |
|
(243,672 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
211,989 |
|
|
180,748 |
|
Less
- cost of Company shares held by subsidiary (December 31, |
2002
- 1,343,497 shares) |
|
|
|
|
(64,917 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
147,072 |
|
|
180,748 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,132,626 |
|
|
1,142,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
March
30, 2004
|
|
Shmuel
Dankner
|
|
Amit Lavin
|
|
Shalom
Bronstein
|
Date of approval of
the
financial statements |
|
Chairman
of the Board |
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
-4-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
BALANCE SHEETS - THE COMPANY
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Note
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In
thousands) |
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS: |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
7,444 |
|
|
35,879 |
|
Trade
receivables |
|
4a |
|
|
47,635 |
|
|
45,400 |
|
Other
accounts receivable |
|
4b |
|
|
12,677 |
|
|
19,431 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67,756 |
|
|
100,710 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INVESTMENTS
AND LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES: |
Investments
in subsidiaries and long-term accounts |
|
5a |
|
|
265,908 |
|
|
247,348 |
|
Investments
in affiliates |
|
5b |
|
|
29,170 |
|
|
75,992 |
|
Investment
in other company |
|
5c |
|
|
16,227 |
|
|
16,227 |
|
Long-term
loans granted to employees |
|
|
|
|
464 |
|
|
- |
|
Severance
pay fund, net |
|
12 |
|
|
405 |
|
|
- |
|
Other
receivables |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
312,174 |
|
|
340,452 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIXED ASSETS: |
|
8 |
|
Cost |
|
|
|
|
1,430,108 |
|
|
1,429,183 |
|
Less
- accumulated depreciation |
|
|
|
|
704,438 |
|
|
816,948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
725,670 |
|
|
612,235 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER ASSETS
AND DEFERRED CHARGES, NET |
|
9 |
|
|
2,497 |
|
|
1,330 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,108,097 |
|
|
1,054,727 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-5-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
BALANCE SHEETS - THE COMPANY
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Note
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In
thousands) |
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
Bank
credit |
|
10 |
|
|
514,104 |
|
|
394,896 |
|
Current
maturities of debentures |
|
14 |
|
|
33,730 |
|
|
33,701 |
|
Trade
payables |
|
11a |
|
|
67,421 |
|
|
63,617 |
|
Subsidiaries
- current account |
|
|
|
|
3,077 |
|
|
15,988 |
|
Other
accounts payable |
|
11b |
|
|
73,185 |
|
|
140,608 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
691,517 |
|
|
648,810 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONG-TERM
LIABILITIES: |
Loans
and debentures (net of current maturities): |
Loans
from bank and others |
|
13 |
|
|
142,085 |
|
|
127,403 |
|
Debentures |
|
14 |
|
|
101,190 |
|
|
67,402 |
|
Losses
over investment in subsidiaries |
|
5a |
|
|
7,886 |
|
|
10,778 |
|
Customers
deposits for converters, net of accumulated amortization |
|
2l |
|
|
18,347 |
|
|
18,882 |
|
Severance
pay liability, net |
|
12 |
|
|
- |
|
|
704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
269,508 |
|
|
225,169 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS |
|
15 |
|
|
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY: |
Share
capital: |
|
16 |
|
Ordinary
shares of NIS 1.00 par value - authorized: 100,000,000 |
shares;
issued and outstanding: 30,203,918 shares |
|
|
|
|
48,882 |
|
|
48,882 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital |
|
|
|
|
401,329 |
|
|
375,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
deficit |
|
|
|
|
(238,222 |
) |
|
(243,672 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
211,989 |
|
|
180,748 |
|
Less
- cost of Company shares held by subsidiary (December 31, 2002 |
1,343,497 shares) |
|
|
|
|
(64,917 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
147,072 |
|
|
180,748 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,108,097 |
|
|
1,054,727 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-6-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Note
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In thousands,
except earning (loss)
per ordinary share and ADS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
2j |
|
|
469,389 |
|
|
495,536 |
|
|
545,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses: |
Depreciation |
|
|
|
|
142,287 |
|
|
161,996 |
|
|
160,521 |
|
Other
operating expenses |
|
19a |
|
|
341,927 |
|
|
345,441 |
|
|
306,165 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
484,214 |
|
|
507,437 |
|
|
466,686 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
(loss) |
|
|
|
|
(14,825 |
) |
|
(11,901 |
) |
|
78,794 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling,
marketing, general and administrative |
expenses: |
|
19b |
|
Selling
and marketing |
|
|
|
|
57,974 |
|
|
40,643 |
|
|
43,954 |
|
General
and administrative |
|
|
|
|
57,052 |
|
|
46,137 |
|
|
42,659 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
115,026 |
|
|
86,780 |
|
|
86,613 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss |
|
|
|
|
(129,851 |
) |
|
(98,681 |
) |
|
(7,819 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial
expenses, net |
|
19c |
|
|
(52,088 |
) |
|
(48,089 |
) |
|
(83,958 |
) |
Other income,
net |
|
19d |
|
|
3,053 |
|
|
278,535 |
|
|
80,996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
before taxes on income |
|
|
|
|
(178,886 |
) |
|
131,765 |
|
|
(10,781 |
) |
Taxes on
income |
|
17 |
|
|
(434 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
35,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
from operations of the Company and |
its
subsidiaries |
|
|
|
|
(178,452 |
) |
|
22,914 |
|
|
(46,357 |
) |
Equity in
earnings (losses) of affiliates, net |
|
5 |
|
|
(78,822 |
) |
|
10,910 |
|
|
40,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) for the year |
|
|
|
|
(257,274 |
) |
|
33,824 |
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per Ordinary share - NIS |
|
2p |
|
|
(8.92 |
) |
|
1.17 |
|
|
(0.19 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding |
(in
thousands) |
|
2p |
|
|
28,834 |
|
|
28,860 |
|
|
29,347 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-7-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - THE COMPANY
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Note
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In thousands,
except earning (loss)
per ordinary share and ADS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
2j |
|
|
337,583 |
|
|
347,890 |
|
|
367,326 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses: |
Depreciation |
|
|
|
|
103,026 |
|
|
116,151 |
|
|
116,878 |
|
Other
operating expenses |
|
19a |
|
|
248,680 |
|
|
229,917 |
|
|
207,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
351,706 |
|
|
346,068 |
|
|
324,083 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
(loss) |
|
|
|
|
(14,123 |
) |
|
1,822 |
|
|
43,243 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling,
marketing, general and administrative |
expenses: |
|
19b |
|
Selling
and marketing |
|
|
|
|
41,913 |
|
|
29,124 |
|
|
26,878 |
|
General
and administrative |
|
|
|
|
39,960 |
|
|
29,899 |
|
|
28,288 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
81,873 |
|
|
59,023 |
|
|
55,166 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss |
|
|
|
|
(95,996 |
) |
|
(57,201 |
) |
|
(11,923 |
) |
Financial
expenses, net |
|
19c |
|
|
(36,826 |
) |
|
(44,125 |
) |
|
(79,387 |
) |
Other income,
net |
|
19d |
|
|
3,121 |
|
|
286,574 |
|
|
84,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
before taxes on income |
|
|
|
|
(129,701 |
) |
|
185,248 |
|
|
(6,369 |
) |
Taxes on
income |
|
17 |
|
|
(2,305 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
35,496 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
from operations of the Company |
|
|
|
|
(127,396 |
) |
|
76,397 |
|
|
(41,865 |
) |
Equity in
earnings (losses) of affiliates and |
subsidiaries,
net |
|
5 |
|
|
(129,878 |
) |
|
(42,573 |
) |
|
36,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) for the year |
|
|
|
|
(257,274 |
) |
|
33,824 |
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per Ordinary share - NIS |
|
2p |
|
|
(8.92 |
) |
|
1.17 |
|
|
(0.19 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding (in |
thousands) |
|
2p |
|
|
28,834 |
|
|
28,860 |
|
|
29,347 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-8-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
STATEMENTS
OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
Share capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Cost
of
Company
shares held
by subsidiary
|
|
|
Number of
shares
|
Amount
|
Total
|
|
Adjusted
NIS
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
January 1, 2001 |
|
28,785 |
|
|
47,403 |
|
|
335,100 |
|
|
(14,772 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
367,731 |
|
Loss
for the year |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(257,274 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(257,274 |
) |
Exercise
of stock options by |
employees
and exercise of |
series
1 warrants (Note |
16b
and c) |
|
49 |
|
|
52 |
|
|
2,037 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,089 |
|
Acquisition
and exercise of |
Company
Series 1 warrants |
by
subsidiary |
|
1,370 |
|
|
1,427 |
|
|
64,517 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(66,205 |
) |
|
(261 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2001 |
|
30,204 |
|
|
48,882 |
|
|
401,654 |
|
|
(272,046 |
) |
|
(66,205 |
) |
|
112,285 |
|
Loss
for the year |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
33,824 |
|
|
- |
|
|
33,824 |
|
Sale
of Company shares held |
by
subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(325 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
1,288 |
|
|
963 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2002 |
|
30,204 |
|
|
48,882 |
|
|
401,329 |
|
|
(238,222 |
) |
|
(64,917 |
) |
|
147,072 |
|
Loss
for the year |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
Sale
of Company shares held |
by
subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(25,791 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
64,917 |
|
|
39,126 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2003 |
|
30,204 |
|
|
48,882 |
|
|
375,538 |
|
|
(243,672 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
180,748 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-9-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
(In
thousands) |
Cash flows
from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss) for the year |
|
(257,274 |
) |
|
33,824 |
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash |
provided
by (used in) operating activities (a) |
|
276,013 |
|
|
*) (123,249 |
) |
|
101,503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
18,739 |
|
|
(89,425 |
) |
|
96,053 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows
from investing activities: |
|
Jointly
controlled company, proportionally consolidated for |
the
first time (b) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,980 |
|
Purchase
of fixed assets |
|
(253,343 |
) |
|
(77,296 |
) |
|
(56,642 |
) |
Investment
in affiliate |
|
(3,518 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Repayment
of long-term loans to affiliate |
|
- |
|
|
461 |
|
|
292 |
|
Deposit
in trust, net |
|
- |
|
|
1,838 |
|
|
- |
|
Investment
in other assets |
|
(1,066 |
) |
|
(2,924 |
) |
|
- |
|
Proceeds
from sale of investment in affiliate |
|
20,651 |
|
|
*) 305,088 |
|
|
114,440 |
|
Proceeds
from sale of fixed assets |
|
2,012 |
|
|
1,243 |
|
|
1,700 |
|
Grant
of long-term loan for purchase of fixed assets |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(1,394 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
(235,264 |
) |
|
228,410 |
|
|
60,376 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows
from financing activities: |
|
Exercise
of stock options by employees and exercise of series |
1
warrants, net of issuance costs |
|
2,089 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Acquisition
and exercise of Companys series 1 warrants by a |
subsidiary |
|
(261 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Sale
of Company shares held by subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
963 |
|
|
39,126 |
|
Sale
of Company debentures by subsidiary |
|
23,268 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Receipt
of long-term loans from banks and others |
|
25,255 |
|
|
6,508 |
|
|
31,676 |
|
Repayment
of long-term loans to banks and others |
|
(2,139 |
) |
|
(129,430 |
) |
|
(73,522 |
) |
Redemption
of debentures |
|
(28,501 |
) |
|
(33,637 |
) |
|
(33,701 |
) |
Short-term
bank credit, net |
|
195,700 |
|
|
23,721 |
|
|
(89,664 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
215,411 |
|
|
(131,875 |
) |
|
(126,085 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(1,114 |
) |
|
7,110 |
|
|
30,344 |
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at beginning of year |
|
1,608 |
|
|
494 |
|
|
7,604 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at end of year |
|
494 |
|
|
7,604 |
|
|
37,948 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*)
Reclassified.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-10-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
(a) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
provided
by (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
Income and
expenses not involving cash flows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
in losses (earnings) of affiliates, net |
|
78,822 |
|
|
(10,910 |
) |
|
(40,907 |
) |
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
|
144,202 |
|
|
165,745 |
|
|
171,820 |
|
|
Deferred
income (expenses) taxes, net |
|
1,538 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
Accrued
severance pay, net |
|
(374 |
) |
|
(424 |
) |
|
1,685 |
|
|
Loss
(gain) from: |
|
Changes
in shareholding in affiliate (including from |
|
sale
of shares of affiliates) |
|
(5,145 |
) |
|
*) (295,933 |
) |
|
(96,662 |
) |
|
Write-off
of investment in other company |
|
- |
|
|
8,962 |
|
|
- |
|
|
Sale
of fixed assets |
|
2,704 |
|
|
44 |
|
|
1,428 |
|
|
Linkage
differences on principal of debentures |
|
375 |
|
|
692 |
|
|
355 |
|
|
Linkage
differences on principal of long-term loans |
|
from
banks and other, net |
|
1,364 |
|
|
(390 |
) |
|
(3,647 |
) |
|
Erosion
of deposit in trust |
|
- |
|
|
(1,838 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
223,486 |
|
|
(134,052 |
) |
|
18,442 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes
in operating asset and liability items: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease
(increase) in trade receivables |
|
(1,866 |
) |
|
3,642 |
|
|
9,718 |
|
|
Decrease
(increase) in affiliate - current accounts |
|
14,046 |
|
|
(5,194 |
) |
|
15,008 |
|
|
Decrease
(increase) in other accounts receivable |
|
2,873 |
|
|
(743 |
) |
|
(29 |
) |
|
Increase
(decrease) in trade payables |
|
19,822 |
|
|
(24,382 |
) |
|
(1,832 |
) |
|
Increase
in other accounts payable |
|
7,882 |
|
|
31,903 |
|
|
59,330 |
|
|
Increase
in customers deposits for converters, net |
|
9,770 |
|
|
5,577 |
|
|
866 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,527 |
|
|
10,803 |
|
|
83,061 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
276,013 |
|
|
(123,249 |
) |
|
101,503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) |
Jointly
controlled company, proportionally consolidated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
for
the first time: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
working capital (except for cash and cash equivalents |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
38,745 |
|
|
Fixed
assets, net |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(1,142 |
) |
|
Investment
in limited partnerships |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(2,057 |
) |
|
Rights
to broadcast movies and programs |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(34,927 |
) |
|
Long-term
liabilities |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
737 |
|
|
Investment
in affiliate |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
624 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,980 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) |
Supplementary
information on investing activity not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
involving
cash flows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of fixed assets against credit from suppliers |
|
57,353 |
|
|
57,656 |
|
|
35,512 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*)
Reclassified.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-11-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS - THE COMPANY
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
(In thousands)
|
Cash flows
from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss) for the year |
|
(257,274 |
) |
|
33,824 |
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash |
provided
by (used in) operating activities (a) |
|
230,362 |
|
|
*) (121,495 |
) |
|
42,870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
(26,912 |
) |
|
(87,671 |
) |
|
37,420 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows
from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of fixed assets |
|
(172,468 |
) |
|
(32,324 |
) |
|
(12,311 |
) |
Investment
in subsidiaries and affiliate (long-term accounts |
and
capital notes), net |
|
(3,518 |
) |
|
(67,287 |
) |
|
- |
|
Repayment
of long-term accounts to subsidiaries, net |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
54,396 |
|
Investment
in other assets |
|
(1,066 |
) |
|
(186 |
) |
|
- |
|
Proceeds
from sale of investment in affiliate, net |
|
20,656 |
|
|
*) 302,418 |
|
|
113,709 |
|
Proceeds
from sale of fixed assets |
|
1,842 |
|
|
1,036 |
|
|
1,077 |
|
Grant
of long-term loan for purchase of fixed assets |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(1,394 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
(154,554 |
) |
|
203,657 |
|
|
155,477 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows
from financing activities: |
|
Exercise
of stock options by employees and exercise of series |
1
warrants, net of issuance costs |
|
2,089 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Acquisition
and exercise of Companys series 1 warrants by a |
subsidiary |
|
(261 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Receipt
of long-term loans from banks and others |
|
25,261 |
|
|
6,508 |
|
|
31,676 |
|
Repayment
of long-term loans to banks and others |
|
(424 |
) |
|
(120,974 |
) |
|
(73,522 |
) |
Redemption
of debentures |
|
(33,675 |
) |
|
(33,637 |
) |
|
(33,701 |
) |
Short-term
bank credit, net |
|
187,955 |
|
|
36,718 |
|
|
(89,646 |
) |
Receipt
of long-term loans from subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
2,669 |
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash
provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
180,945 |
|
|
(108,716 |
) |
|
(164,462 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(521 |
) |
|
7,270 |
|
|
28,435 |
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at beginning of year |
|
695 |
|
|
174 |
|
|
7,444 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at end of year |
|
174 |
|
|
7,444 |
|
|
35,879 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*)
Reclassified.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-12-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS - THE COMPANY
Adjusted
to the NIS of December 2003 |
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
|
Adjusted NIS
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
(a) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
provided
by (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
Income and expenses not involving cash flows: |
|
Equity in losses (earnings) of affiliates and |
|
subsidiaries, net |
|
129,878 |
|
|
42,573 |
|
|
(36,415 |
) |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
103,515 |
|
|
118,480 |
|
|
126,350 |
|
|
Deferred income taxes, net |
|
1,042 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
Accrued severance pay, net |
|
(490 |
) |
|
(126 |
) |
|
1,109 |
|
|
Loss (gain) from: |
|
Changes in shareholding in subsidiary affiliates |
|
(including proceeds from realization of affiliate |
|
shares) |
|
(5,145 |
) |
|
*) (302,418) |
|
|
(97,876 |
) |
|
Write-off of investment in other company |
|
- |
|
|
8,830 |
|
|
- |
|
|
Sale of fixed assets |
|
2,637 |
|
|
92 |
|
|
938 |
|
|
Linkage differences on principal of debentures |
|
- |
|
|
220 |
|
|
(116 |
) |
|
Linkage differences on principal of long-term loans to |
|
banks and other, net |
|
1,306 |
|
|
(225 |
) |
|
(3,386 |
) |
|
Erosion of long-term accounts and capital note |
|
- |
|
|
294 |
|
|
82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
232,743 |
|
|
(132,280 |
) |
|
(24,944 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in operating asset and liability items: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease in trade receivables |
|
3,182 |
|
|
3,541 |
|
|
2,235 |
|
|
Decrease (increase) in affiliate - current accounts |
|
(32,600 |
) |
|
(950 |
) |
|
13,973 |
|
|
Decrease (increase) in other accounts receivable |
|
(2,272 |
) |
|
1,917 |
|
|
(5,781 |
) |
|
Increase (decrease) in trade payables |
|
15,354 |
|
|
(23,115 |
) |
|
(4,268 |
) |
|
Increase in other accounts payable |
|
6,366 |
|
|
25,436 |
|
|
61,120 |
|
|
Increase in customers deposits for converters, net |
|
7,589 |
|
|
3,956 |
|
|
535 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,381 |
) |
|
10,785 |
|
|
67,814 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
230,362 |
|
|
(121,495 |
) |
|
42,870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) |
Supplementary
information on investing activity not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
involving cash flows: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of fixed assets against credit from suppliers |
|
54,941 |
|
|
40,316 |
|
|
28,602 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*)
Reclassified.
The accompanying
notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
-13-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
1. |
Broadcasting licenses: |
|
Matav - Cable Systems
Media Ltd. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cable Systems
Media Haifa-Hadera Ltd. (Matav Haifa), operate in the field of cable television
(CATV) broadcasting. In the past until amendment 25, as elaborated below,
and the transfer to the policy of granting long-term non-exclusive licenses.
Prior to the grant of the current licenses in 2002, the Company and Matav
Haifa operated pursuant to five exclusive franchises granted to them by
the Ministry of Communications for the providence of cable television services
in franchise areas, in Israel as follows: Bat-Yam, Holon, Haifa, Netanya,
Hadera, Kiryat Shemona, Safed, the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee
area. The Company commenced commercial broadcasts in March 1990. |
|
The franchises were
granted to the Company and Matav Haifa under the Israeli Telecommunications
Law, 1982, and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder (the Telecommunications
Law), which determine the framework in which the Company operates and the
obligations of which the Company is required to fulfill. The Telecommunications
Law determines, among other things, maximum subscription fees, milestones
and restrictions on transfer and allotment of shares among the license holders. |
|
On July 25, 2001, the
Knesset ( the Israeli Parliament) approved an amendment (No. 25) to the
Telecommunications Law. Amendment 25 settled the licensing of CATV broadcasting
by establishing a policy of general, long-term, non-exclusive licenses,
as opposed to the exclusive regional CATV broadcasting franchises granted
to the Company and Matav Haifa, for limited periods, prior to said amendment.
As a result of the approval of Amendment 25, licenses conferring exclusive
rights in certain areas cannot be granted. Pursuant to Amendment 25, the
CATV operators are entitled to apply for a license to provide telecommunications
services, a non-exclusive broadcasting license for CATV broadcasting and
a non-exclusive license for a broadcasting center. Under the amendment,
all the CATV operators can also apply to operate jointly once they have
received their CATV licenses. In the beginning of 2002, the Company and
Matav Haifa were granted with a general, long-term non-exclusive Broadcasting
licenses for the same areas that were mentioned above, which replaced the
franchises based on which, the Company operated until that date. The broadcasting
licenses and the license to operate (Headend license) are for a period of
15 years, however, they may be extended for additional periods at the end
of the tenth year. |
-14-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
Under the Telecommunications
Law and in accordance with the council of Cable and Satellite Broadcastings
(the Council) resolution of June 2002 as amended in September 2002 and
in May 2003, each Cable Broadcast Licensee is required to allocate to production
or purchase of locally produced broadcasts, a percentage of its annual income
derived from subscriber fees for the year preceding the year of the investment,
as follows: (i) commencing April 30, 2002 (the date of the grant of the
Cable Broadcast License) and until the end of 2005, at least 8% of such
income; and commencing 2006 and thereafter, as to be determined by the Council
prior to the end of June 2005; and (ii) in the event a Cable Broadcast License
is granted to the merged entity of the Israeli cable television operators,
the Council shall determine, prior to the end of June 2005, the rate of
the amounts that shall be allocated to local productions by the Cable Broadcast
Licensee as of 2006 and thereafter. For this latter purpose, the Council
shall consider, among other things, the financial condition of the Licensees
in connection with their broadcast activities and the contribution of the
said merger to the improvement of the financial condition of the Licensees.
According to the valuation of the Companys management, the investment amount
made by the Company for local production in initial broadcasting in 2001,
2002 and 2003 is higher than 8% of its annual revenues from the subscription
fees for the same years. |
|
Telecommunications
Infrastructure License and structural separation of broadcasts and infrastructure: |
|
As a result of Amendment
25, as aforesaid, in October 2001 the Company presented (except for the
request to receive a general broadcasting license for multi channel TV and
a license to operate Headend, as aforesaid) a request to receive Telecommunications
Infrastructure license in connection with access to fast internet services
and related services. During 2002, when the Telecommunications infrastructure
license was granted to the Company, it was set that the license owner will
be authorized to provide infrastructure services for the distribution of
CATV broadcasts and access services to fast internet providers. |
|
In August 2002, the
Ministry of Communications granted the Company special licenses to provide
additional Bezeq services on the cable network infrastructure to its subscribers
in digital format (including SMS services and T-mail services over the cable
network among TV subscribers). |
|
In November 2002, the
Minister of the Communication modified the Telecommunications Infrastructure
license granted to Matav Infrastructures by adding data communication services,
digital transmission services and optical transmission services. |
-15-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
In November 2003, the
Ministry of Communications granted AMAT Telcom Limited Partnership (AMAT
Telecom) (as for further details, see 8 below) a license to provide fixed
internal Bezeq services over the cable network including inter alia - basic
telephony services, access to fast internet services, infrastructure services,
data and optical communication services and other services. Said license
canceled and terminated the Telecommunications Infrastructure License which
was granted to Matav infrastructures in March 2002. |
|
The new license that
was granted to AMAT Telecom is for a period of 20 years and it may be extended
for additional periods of 10 years. |
|
According to the Telecommunications
Law, a Telecommunications infrastructure license was granted to the Company
on the condition that the owners of the broadcasting licenses in the Group
will transfer to another entity in the Group that will receive the Telecommunications
Infrastructure License, all the rights in the cable network which they use
for their broadcasts. Nonetheless, at per the Company request, it was determined
in the broadcasting licenses and in the Telecommunications Infrastructure
license that an owner of a broadcasting license may continue to be the owner
of the cable network during an interim period which will end at the earlier
of either after two years from the receipt of the license or, if there was
a merger between the cable companies at the completion of the merger. Accordingly,
in March 2002, the Company and Matav Infrastructures entered into an agreement
whereby Matav conferred Matav infrastructure an exclusive right to lease
its cable network until the earlier of December 31, 2003 or sixty (60) days
from the date in which an authorized court issues a final merger order.
In October 2002, the Groups Broadcast Licensees and the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Licensee entered into an agreement, whereby the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Licensee shall provide the Cable Broadcast Licensees Infrastructure
services for the broadcast of cable broadcasts in the areas covered by their
respective license, including installment, maintenance and disconnection
of terminal equipment. |
|
In the Telecommunications
Infrastructure license which was granted to Amat Telcom it was determined
that during the period which will end at the earlier of either after two
years from the receipt of the license or, if there was a merger between
the owners of completion of the general Broadcasting licenses, then at the
date of the completion of the merger, AMAT Telcom shall have the exclusive
right, inter alia, to use, operate, maintain and to develop the network
and, at the end of said interim period, the full ownership in the cable
network will be transferred to Amat Telcom. As of the date of the financial
statements, an agreement between the Company and Amat Telcom in connection
with the grant of lease rights and the transfer of ownership to the network,
as above, was not yet signed. |
|
The Broadcastings licenses
and the Telecommunications Infrastructure includes provisions as to the
issue of a structural separation between the owner of Broadcastings license
and the owner of the Telecommunications Infrastructure license. |
-16-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
In was further set
in the Telecommunications Infrastructure license granted to AMAT Telecom
that if a general license to operate an additional CATV system over the
cable network is granted or if the number of access to fast internet subscribers
of the owner of a Telecommunications Infrastructure license reaches 350,000
or if the number of telephone lines operated by the owner of the license
reaches 250,000 a much broader structural separation (as detailed in the
said license) will be carried out between the owners of Broadcastings licenses
and the owner of the Telecommunications Infrastructure license. |
|
The licenses of the
Group include certain provisions relating to approvals required for change
of means of control in the owners of such licenses. |
|
2. |
On April 5, 2001, the
Council published its decision regarding joint channel broadcasting (tiering).
This technique enables the Company to provide to its digital services subscribers
a basic broadcasting package in consideration of fixed subscription fees
and to provide additional channels that will expand the basic package, in
consideration of additional fees. |
|
Based on the terms
of broadcasting licenses, the Company must provide to all of its subscribers
a basic package in an analogue and/or digital broadcasting method. In accordance
with the general license provisions for cable broadcasting, the Company
may request the council to reduce the basic broadcasting. In the event that
broadcasts were removed from the basic broadcasts, in respect of which,
a maximum tariff was determined in the license, the council may, subject
to the ministers approval, direct the reduction of the maximum tariff at
a rate to be determined by the council, provided that the license owner
was given the opportunity to assert his claims. As of today, the broadcast
package, for which a maximum tariff was set in the licenses is the basic
analogical package, however, in the merger resolution of the council, it
was determined that the council is authorized to direct the cable companies
to reduce the basic analogical package. |
|
The Company began to
market tiering broadcasting packages to its subscribers in August 2001. |
|
The Company informed
the minister of communications that according to the actual demand of its
subscribers, it shall provide its subscribers with digital converters (for
a main extension), as follows: during 2001, up to 100,000 digital converters
shall be provided; in 2002, 70,000 digital converters shall be provided;
and during 2003, 60,000 digital converters shall be provided. The remainder
is to be provided during 2004. |
|
The company makes the
necessary arrangements to meet the above requirements (according to the
actual demand of the companys customers). |
|
3. |
On January 5, 1999,
the Knesset approved an amendment to the Telecommunications Law, according
to which the Ministry of Communications may grant a license for direct broadcasting
via satellite. On January 21, 1999, the Ministry of Communications granted
D.B.S. Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. (known as:Yes) a license for providing
television broadcasts to subscribers in Israel via satellite. YES began
to operate and market its broadcasts in July 2000. |
-17-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
In January 2002, the
Minister of Communications issued administrative directives with respect
to allowing the utilization of subscriber lines (the administrative directives).
The administrative directives stipulate that the Company would be obligated
to allow Yes to utilize the lines of the subscribers of the Company, and
that Yes would be obligated to allow the Company to utilize the lines of
the subscribers of Yes. The administrative directives also establish instructions
regarding payments that Yes is to pay the Company in respect of the use
of a subscriber line which is located in an apartment that is part of a
shared building, as well as instructions as to the amounts the Company is
to pay Yes for such use of subscriber lines. |
|
4. |
Merger of the cable
companies: |
|
In March 2002, the
approval of the Council for the proposed merger of the operations of the
cable companies was received and it was amended in February 2003 . The approval
of the Council to the merger is subject to a number of conditions, including,
inter alia: (i) an obligation upon the cable television operators to allow
direct broadcasting by YES, to broadcast channels 3, 4, 5 & 6, for consideration.
This obligation expires upon the earlier of either: December 31, 2003 (regarding
channels 3 ,4 and 5); or the date on which Yes has at least 500,000 subscribers,
after which YES may request an extension; (ii) an obligation of unbundling,
obliging the merged entity to grant special broadcast license holders which
broadcast on a digital platform a non-exclusive permit, for consideration,
to use its network in order to transfer their broadcasts; (iii) a limitation
upon the number of channels which the cable television operators shall be
allowed to produce. In addition, in accordance with the approval of the
Council, in the event that the Council is convinced that there is a material
regression in competition in the multi channel television market, the Council
is entitled to instruct the cable television operators to allow each special
and general cable broadcast license holder, that broadcasts in a digital
format, use the Companys infrastructure in order to access all potential
subscribers, even if they are not the Companys subscribers, so long as
the Companys cable network infrastructure reaches their premises. According
to the Councils decision, a material regression will be deemed to occur,
among other things, in the event that YES shall cease its operation or the
merged entity shall provide services to more than 80% of multi-channel television
subscribers in Israel. |
|
In April 2002, the
approval for the proposed merger was received from the Controller of Restrictive
Business Practices (the Controller) for the merger. On April, June, November
and December 2003, the Controller extended the validity of his approval
to the merger until the earlier of December 15, 2004 or the completion of
the merger. |
|
The Controllers conditions
to the merger includes, inter alia, conditions concerning: (1) separation
between the cable infrastructure and the broadcasting activity of the merged
companies; (2) giving access to and use of cable broadcasting infrastructure
to owners of licenses to operate CATV systems; (3) the ownership structures
of the merged companies; (4) restrictions as to the purchase of content
and interest in the channels; (5) the commitment to transmit broadcasts;
(6) provisions concerning non prevention of competitive infrastructures
development; (7) restrictions on parties that are related to the merged
companies, including in connection with acting as officers in the merged
company and the transfer of business information; (8) the commitment to
supply fixed telephone services to the public in Israel over the cable infrastructure
on time and scope not below that was determined in the approval of the Controller
to the merger. |
-18-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
According to the Controllers
conditions to the merger as extended, it was determined, inter alia, that
the merged infrastructure company of the cable companies has to commercially
supply telephone services over cable infrastructure to the public in Israel
no later than by November 20, 2004. Similarly, it was determined that the
merged infrastructure company will provide telephone services that compete
with those of Bezeq in scope and time as mentioned in the Controller conditions. |
|
The investment in telephone
will be in an amount not below NIS 350 thousand and made as follows: until
June 31, 2004 - the infrastructure company will invest an amount not below
NIS 105 million; until June 31, 2005 - the infrastructure company will make
an additional investment of not below NIS 140 million; until June 30, 2006
- the infrastructure company will invest an amount not below NIS 105 million
and any other amount as far as it will be required in order to implement
the business plan for the provision of telephone services that fully compete
with Bezeq telephone services) and (9) the provision of a bank guarantee
(by all the Cable companies) in the amount of 15 million dollars in an unqualified
wording that will satisfy the Controller as collateral for the fulfillment
of the Controllers conditions. |
|
On November 19, 2003,
the cable companies, including the Company, filed a request to be exempt
from an approval of a Binding Arrangement as such term is defined under
Section 14 of the Anti Trust Law, commencing November 16, 2003 and until
the merger procedures of the cable companies are completed, or November 15,
2004, whichever is earlier, in order to enable the completion of the merger
procedure of the cable companies |
|
The above request to
be exempt was filed in connection with the on going cooperation of the cable
companies, inter alia, in the field of multi-channel cable broadcasting,
national fixed communication services, including access services to Internet
over the cables and telephony services including in the field of marketing,
production and purchase of content and channels. |
|
On December 17, 2003,
the Controller granted the cable companies, including the Company, an exemption
for a period of one year from approving of a Binding Arrangement in connection
with said cooperation. The grant of the exemption is subject to the conditions
as stated in the Controllers approval to the merger from April 2002, and
subject to other conditions, inter alia, that the cable companies will not
take any irreversible step which prevents independent and separate action
from any of them if the merger is not consummated and that, until December
15, 2004, the cable companies will not perform any cooperation that is irreversible. |
|
According to the position
of the Supervisor of the Banks at the Bank of Israel, the merger of the
cable companies and the formation of a merged cable entity constitutes a
deviation from the directives of the Bank of Israel and of Proper Bank
Management Instructions of the Supervisor of the banks, inter alia, regarding
the restriction on Group of Borrowers, as such term is defined in the
Proper Bank Management Instructions. The above position of the Supervisor
has an impact as to the issue of giving loans by banking corporations and
as to the issue of allocation of the merged company debts, inter alia, to
an indirect controlling shareholder of the Company. |
-19-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
The merger is still
conditional on additional approvals, among which the approval of the tax
authorities, the signing of a detailed merger agreement between the shareholders
of the cable companies, an arrangement with the banks and the approvals
of the meetings of the creditors and shareholders of the cable companies. |
|
In November 2002 and,
subsequently, in March 2003, the Companys Board of Directors approved the
signing of the agreements concerning the merger of the Cable companies,
including the merger agreement, the shareholders agreement and the financing
arrangements with the banks, etc. but these agreements whether the merger
will be actually completed and if it will be computed when it will occur
and what will be. |
|
Based on the aforesaid,
and due to the difficulties arising from the position of the Supervisor
of the Banks, there is no certainty whether the merger will be actually
completed and if it will be completed when it will actually occur and what
will be its structure. The Companys management is examining any and all
alternatives in order to continue to preserve the existing cooperation between
the cable companies, including the exanimation of possible acquisition of
Tevels subscribers in the multi channel television and fast Internet access.
(See Note 24). |
|
In the framework of
the approval of the Controller, there is an no going cooperation between
the cable companies in marketing, sales, content purchase and other fields
under the brand name Hot. |
|
Appeals against the
merger of the cable companies: |
|
a) |
On May 26, 2002, two
appeals were filed on the decision of the Controller with respect to the
approval of the terms of the merger between the cable companies (the Controllers
decision). The appeals were filed separately by Yes and Bezeq. Yes is requesting
the cancellation of the approval of the merger since, as it alleges, the
merger between the cable companies impairs the competition in the multi-channel
television filed. Alternatively, Yes is requesting the change in the terms
of the approval, among others, such that a structural separation will be
required between the merged companies, the prohibition of the exclusive
purchase of content (also with respect to original productions), the cancellation
of the mutual requirement of obligation to sell. |
|
Bezeq requested to
strike the appeal filed on its behalf, the cable companies and the Controller
requested to order Bezeq to pay court costs. A decision has not yet been
rendered. |
|
Summaries were made,
and a ruling has not yet been rendered. According to the Companys management
opinion, based on the opinion of its legal counsels, it is not possible
to estimate the success chances of the appeal of Yes. |
|
b) |
On January 20, 2004,
Eshkolot - the Israeli Artists Society for Performers Rights Limited (Eshkolot)
filed an appeal with the Restrictive Trade Practices Court on the decision
of the Controller dated December 15, 2003, to extend his approval to the
proposed merger of the cable companies. |
-20-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
Eshkolot, is requesting
the cancellation of the decision to extend the approval of the merger. Alternatively,
it is requesting that the court will make the merger contingent on further
conditions as detailed in the appeal and/or any other condition that the
court shall deem necessary. It is also requesting that the court will grant
any other directive at its discretion. |
|
The Controller and
the cable companies are the respondents to the appeal. |
|
On February 23, 2003,
the Controller filed his response to the appeal. The cable companies have
not yet filed a response to the appeal on their behalf. |
|
According to the Companys
management opinion, based on the opinion of its legal counsels, it is not
possible at this preliminary stage to estimate the chances of the appeal.
Nonetheless, the cable companies have good claims that refute those of Eshkolot. |
|
5. |
On March 27, 2002, Matav
Infrastructures 2001 L.P. (Matav Infrastructures), a subsidiary of the
Company, received its Telecommunications Infrastructure License from the
Ministry of Communications, for the providence of fixed domestic telecommunication
services and for operation of its Cable network as a telecommunication network
(the Telecommunications Infrastructure License). Services to customers
commenced in April 2002. |
|
Access to fast Internet
services is provided by Matav Infrastructures 2001 Limited Partnership (Matav
Infrastructure) and is transferred over the cable infrastructures of the
Group (see 8 below). |
|
In addition, the Group
has invested in ventures relating to the Internet and interactive communications
through the associated company Nonstop Ventures Ltd. (Nonstop Ventures)
(see Note 5b(3)). |
|
6. |
As for the operations
of Hot Vision Ltd. (Formerly: I.C.P. - Israel Cable Programming Company
Ltd.) (Hot Vision), a jointly controlled company owned by the Company
and the other CATV operators in Israel, see also Note 3 and Note 5b(4). |
|
7. |
To date the Company
through its wholly-owned subsidiary - Matav Investments Ltd. (Matav Investments),
holds approximately 5.29% (in December 31, 2002 7.44%) of the shares of
the affiliate, Partner Communications Company Ltd. (Partner). Partner
operates a mobile telecommunications network based upon the Global System
for Mobile Communications (GSM) Standard in Israel, see also Notes 5b(2)
and 24a. |
|
Matav Group can gain
significant influence, as defined in Statement 68, by virtue of an agreement,
entered into by and among the shareholders of Partner, according to which,
Matav has the right to appoint two directors to serve on its behalf on Partners
board of directors. |
-21-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
In April 2002, the
Group sold approximately 7.7% of Ordinary shares of Partner, in consideration
of approximately adjusted NIS 306 million. The capital gain, net of taxes,
from the above transaction amounted to adjusted NIS 197 million. As a result
of this sale, the holdings in Partner shares were 7.43%. |
|
In November 2003, the
Group sold approximately 2.1% Ordinary shares of Partner in consideration
of approximately adjusted NIS 114.4 million. The capital gain from the above
sale net of the taxes totaled approximately adjusted NIS 62 million. After
that sale, the holdings in Partner shares are approximately 5.29%. See also
Note 24. |
|
8. |
In October 2003, the
Companys Board of Directors approved an agreement entered into with the
other cable companies for the formation of a limited partnership, (the
Partnership) Amat Telcom Limited partnership (hereafter Amat Telecom),
whose aim was to be granted with a license from the Ministry of Communication
for the providence of fixed telephone services in Israel. |
|
In November 2003, the
Partnership received a license to provide the above services. This license
replaced the license to provide fixed domestic telecommunication services
and to operate its Cable network as a telecommunication network for the
provision of telecommunication services, which was received by Matav Infrustructures
on March 2002. |
|
In the context of the
agreement, the Company (through its subsidiary), based on its proportionate
share in overall subscribers of the cable companies (the subscribers of
multi channel TV broadcast and the subscribers of access to fast Internet
services) as of October 31, 2003, owns, directly and indirectly, approximately
26.5% of the Partnership rights as well as approximately 26.5% of the general
partner rights in the Partnership. |
|
According to the approval
of the Controller, in connection with the proposed merger of the cable companies
(see also 4 above), the Partnership is required to make a comprehensive
investment in an amount estimated at approximately NIS 350 million over
three years from the date the license was received. |
|
The Companys portion
of the investment, as aforesaid, is pro rata to its proportionate share
in the Partnership and is estimated to be approximately NIS 93 million.
(see also Note 15c(3). |
|
Following to the decision,
taken by the cable companies, the access to fast internet services activity
will be transferred to the Partnership as of January 1, 2004. |
|
9. |
As for the memorandum
of agreement between Partner and the Companys shareholders, see Note 24a. |
-22-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
In these
financial statements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wholly
owned and |
|
|
|
|
controlled companies |
-
|
companies
or limited partnerships in which more than 50% of the voting equity is owned
or controlled by the Company (as defined in Opinion 57 of the Institute
of Certified Public Accountants in Israel) and whose accounts are consolidated
with those of the Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jointly
controlled company |
- |
- a company
owned by various entities that have a contractual consent for joint control,
which is not of a temporary nature and whose accounts are consolidated with
those of the Company using the proportionate consolidation method. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Affiliates |
- |
companies
that are not subsidiaries, and over which the Company has significant influence.
The Companys investment therein is included using the equity method of
accounting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subsidiaries |
- |
Jointly
controlled company and wholly owned and controlled companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Group |
- |
the Company
and its subsidiaries. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested
Parties |
- |
as defined
in the Securities Regulations (Preparation of Annual Financial Statements)
1993. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related
parties |
- |
as defined
in the opinions of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel. |
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
|
The consolidated
financial statements presented herein are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in Israel and in accordance with
the Securities Regulations (Preparation of Annual Financial Statements,
1993). |
|
The preparation
of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
-23-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
b. |
Financial statements
in adjusted New Israeli Shekels: |
|
1. |
The Group maintains
its accounting records in nominal New Israeli Shekels (NIS). In accordance
with the Statements of the Israeli Institute, all the amounts in the financial
statements (including comparative figures) are presented in adjusted NIS,
which have a constant purchasing power. The purchasing power of adjusted
NIS reflects the average price level in December 2003, according to the
Israeli Consumer Price Index (Israeli CPI) published on January 15, 2004
(178.6 points on the average basis of 1993 = 100). |
|
2. |
The adjusted amounts
of non-monetary assets do not necessarily represent realizable value or
current economic value, but only the original historical cost of those assets
in terms of adjusted NIS. |
|
3. |
The term cost in these
consolidated financial statements signifies cost in adjusted NIS. |
|
4. |
A summary of the Companys
nominal data is presented in Note 25. |
|
c. |
Principles of adjustments: |
|
a) |
Non-monetary items (items
whose amounts in the balance sheet reflect their nominal amounts upon acquisition
or incurrence, see below) have been adjusted on the basis of the changes
in the Israeli CPI since their acquisition or incurrence. |
|
Items which were treated
as non-monetary include: other assets and deferred charges, property and
equipment and the related accumulated depreciation, share capital and additional
paid-in capital derived from cash received from shareholders. |
|
b) |
Monetary items (items
whose amounts in the balance sheet reflect current or realizable values)
are presented in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 in their nominal
amounts (comparative figures have been adjusted to the December 2003 Israeli
CPI). |
|
2. |
Statement of operations: |
|
a) |
The components of the
statement of operations (except for financing), relating to transactions
carried out during the year - sales, purchases, labor costs, etc., have
been adjusted at monthly indices at the time the related transactions were
carried out or paid. The erosion of monetary balances relating to the aforesaid
transactions has been included in financial income or expenses. |
-24-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
b) |
The components of the
statement of operations relating to non-monetary items included in the balance
sheet, (primarily depreciation and amortization) have been adjusted on the
same basis used for the adjustment of the related balance sheet items. |
|
c) |
The components of the
statement of operations relating to provisions included in the balance sheet,
such as liability in respect of accrued severance pay and accrued vacation
pay, have been included according to the analysis of the adjusted change
in the related balance sheet items after their relative cash flows are taken
into account. |
|
Current taxes include
payments on account during the year and the amounts outstanding as of balance
sheet date (or net of the amounts claimed as returns as of balance sheet
date). The payments on account have been adjusted on the basis of the Israeli
CPI on the date of each payment, whereas the amounts outstanding (or claimed
as refunds) were included without adjustment. In this manner, the current
taxes also include the expense which derives from the erosion of the value
of the payments on account from the date of payment to the end of the year. |
|
e) |
The financing item,
net, reflects real financial income and expenses, as well as the erosion
of monetary balances during the year. |
|
3. |
Data regarding Israeli
CPI and exchange rates of foreign currency: |
|
1. |
Assets and liabilities
in or linked to foreign currency are included in the financial statements
according to the representative exchange rates as published by the Bank
of Israel on December 31, 2003. |
|
2. |
Assets and liabilities
linked to the Israeli CPI are included in the financial statements according
to the relevant index for each asset or liability. |
|
|
|
|
The following are
details of the Israeli CPI and the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar: |
|
|
Israeli CPI
|
Exchange rate
of U.S. dollar
|
|
At
December 31,: |
points
*) |
NIS |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
178.6 |
|
|
4.379 |
|
|
2002 |
|
182.0 |
|
|
4.737 |
|
|
2001 |
|
170.9 |
|
|
4.416 |
|
|
2000 |
|
168.5 |
|
|
4.041 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes
during the year: |
|
% |
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
(7.6 |
) |
|
2002 |
|
6.5 |
|
|
7.3 |
|
|
2001 |
|
1.4 |
|
|
9.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*)
According to the Israeli CPI for the month ending on the balance sheet date
on an average basis of 1993 = 100. |
-25-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
|
|
|
d. |
Principles of consolidation: |
|
1. |
These financial statements
include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. |
|
2. |
The significant consolidated
subsidiaries are as follows: |
|
|
Wholly-owned: |
|
|
- |
Matav Haifa; |
|
|
- |
Matav Investments; |
|
|
- |
Matav Infrastructure
Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wholly-owned subsidiaries of Matav Investments: |
|
|
- |
Matav Properties Ltd; |
|
|
- |
Nonstop Internet 1999 Ltd. (ceased its operations in 2001)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wholly-owned subsidiaries of Matav Infrastructure
Ltd.: |
|
|
- |
Matav Infrastructure 2001 - limited partnership |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jointly controlled entity: |
|
|
- |
Hot Vision Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
3. |
Excess of cost of investment
- attributed to the exclusive franchise granted to Matav Haifa - is presented
in the consolidated balance sheets under Other assets and deferred charges
and is amortized by the straight-line method over the basic franchise period
(12 years commencing in the year of acquisition), under general and administrative
expenses. |
|
4. |
Intercompany balances
and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. |
|
1. |
Affiliates and subsidiaries: |
|
The investment in these
companies is accounted for by the equity method. |
|
The investment in these
companies is stated at cost, net of write-down for decrease in value which
is not of a temporary nature. |
|
f. |
Investments in limited
partnerships: |
|
|
|
|
|
The investment in
limited partnerships producing films, in which the Company is a limited
partner, is presented at cost. The investment in the partnerships is amortized
when actual broadcast takes place. |
-26-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
g. |
Rights to broadcast
films and programs: |
|
|
|
|
|
The cost includes
the amount of the commitments with sellers of rights to broadcast films
and TV programs with the addition of direct costs in order to adjust said
films and programs for broadcasting in Israel. |
|
|
|
|
|
The rights to use
content by the jointly controlled entity which made available by its shareholders,
are included in this section. |
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of rights are
amortized when actual broadcasting takes place, while giving a relatively
greater weight to primary broadcasting. |
|
1. |
These assets are stated
at cost. |
|
2. |
The assets (other than
capitalized lease fees and leasehold improvements, see below) are depreciated
by the straight-line method on basis of their estimated useful life Company
evaluates in each reporting period the necessity to record an impairment
loss, in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standard No. 15 (see
k below). The annual depreciation rates are as follows: |
|
%
|
Buildings |
|
|
2
- 4 (mainly 2) |
|
Cable network |
|
|
8.33;10 |
|
Equipment
in the broadcasting center and studio (primarily |
|
|
electronic
equipment) |
|
|
15 - 20
(mainly 15) |
|
Converters |
|
|
10 |
|
Computers
and peripheral equipment |
|
|
20 - 33 |
|
Office furniture
and equipment |
|
|
6 - 10 |
|
Internet
site development |
|
|
33 |
|
Vehicles |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized lease fees
are amortized by the straight-line method over the term of the lease. |
|
Leasehold improvements
are amortized by the straight-line method over the term of the lease or
the estimated useful life of the improvements, whichever is shorter. |
-27-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.) |
|
i. |
Other assets, long-term
receivables and deferred charges: |
|
1. |
Other assets - excess
of cost of investment in consolidated subsidiary is attributed to exclusive
franchise- see d(3) above. |
|
2. |
Deferred charges in
respect of issuance of debentures are amortized, using the interest method,
over the life of the debentures, in proportion to the balance of debentures
outstanding. The amortization is recorded under the financial expenses,
net. |
|
3. |
Other assets include
payment made in respect of a non-exclusive license to provide stationary
communications services within Israel. The license charges will be amortized
by the straight-line method over the period of the license (15 years). |
|
4. |
The embedded interest
component in the present value of the lease fees in respect of assets that
were leased in a capital leas is presented in the item of long-term other
receivables and is amortized over the lease term, 5 years. |
|
1. |
Revenue from subscription
fees is recognized on a monthly basis as the service is provided. |
|
2. |
See also l below (amortization
of customers deposits for converters). |
|
1. |
Impairment of fixed
assets: |
|
On January 1, 2003,
the Company adopted Accounting Standard No. 15, Impairment of Assets.
This Standard prescribes the accounting treatment and disclosures required
in the event of impairment of assets. The Standard applies to all assets
recognized in the balance sheet other than inventories, assets generated
by construction contracts, assets generated by employee benefits, deferred
tax assets and financial assets (except investments in investees that are
not subsidiaries). According to the new Standard, whenever there is an indication
that an asset may be impaired, the Company should determine if there has
been an impairment of the asset by comparing the carrying amount of the
asset to its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of
an assets net selling price or value in use, which is determined based
on the present value of estimated future cash flows expected to be generated
by the continuing use of an asset and by its disposal at the end of its
useful life. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable
amount, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which
the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. An impairment loss
recognized should be reversed only if there have been changes in the estimates
used to determine the assets recoverable amount since the impairment loss
was recognized. |
-28-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
The adoption of this
Standard did not have a material effect on the Companys financial position
and results of operations. |
|
2. |
Impairment of investments
in other companies: |
|
The Company generally
evaluates the fair value of its investments in each reporting period and
whenever changes in circumstances or occurrence of other events indicate
a decline in value that is other than temporary. |
|
The evaluation of the
fair value takes into consideration, among others, the market value of the
investments (in respect of investments in marketable securities), estimates
of analysts and valuations of the investments, the conditions of the industry
in which the portfolio company is operating, the portfolio companys business
condition, off-market transactions in the portfolio companys securities,
prices of equity transactions in the portfolio company and additional information
that the portfolio company presents to its board of directors (if the Company
is represented on the board) or to its shareholders. |
|
Based on the results
of the above evaluation, the Company, if necessary, recognizes an impairment
loss that is other than temporary in the statement of operations. |
|
l. |
Customers deposits
for converters: |
|
|
|
|
|
The Company and Matav
Haifa collect deposits from their subscribers in respect of converters,
in an amount not exceeding their cost. The Company and Matav Haifa partially
refund the deposit when the converter is returned. The refund amount (which
is linked to the Israeli CPI) is reduced to reflect 10% amortization for
each year or portion of a year in which the subscriber used the converter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In July 2003, the
financial committee of the Knesset approved amendment No. 5 of the Bezeq
regulations (Licenses) that enables the Company to amortize deposits that
were collected from the date of approval at a rate of 10% of their cost
to the Company. |
|
|
|
|
|
The amortization of
the deposits is included in revenue. |
|
1. |
Deferred taxes are computed
in respect of differences between the amounts presented in these financials
statements and those taken into account for tax purposes. As to the main
factors in respect of which deferred taxes have been included - see Note
17b. |
|
Deferred tax balances
are computed at the tax rate expected to be in effect at time of release
to income from the deferred tax accounts. The amount of deferred taxes presented
in the income statements reflects changes in the above balances during the
reported years. |
-29-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
2. |
Taxes which would apply
in the event of disposal of the investments in the subsidiaries and the
affiliates (except for Partner) have not been taken into account in computing
the deferred taxes, as it is the Companys policy to hold these investments.
As to Partner: During the year, the Companys management revised its plans
as to the nature of the investment in the shares of Partner from an investment
whose realization in the foreseeable future is unlikely to an investment
whose realization may be in the foreseeable future. In view of the change
in Companys management plans as to the nature of the investment in the
shares of Partner, as aforesaid, and in accordance with the provisions of
Opinion 68 of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel, in
the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability.
See also Note 5b. |
|
3. |
Due to the uncertainty
whether or not the company shall incur taxable income in the foreseeable
future and since the Company accumulated tax loss carryforwards, the Company
did not provide for deferred taxes in respect of tax loss carryforwards
and in respect of temporary differences for certain income and expenses
between the financial reporting purposes and reporting for tax purposes. |
|
n. |
Allowance for doubtful
accounts: |
|
|
|
|
|
The allowance is principally
determined for specific debts that are doubtful of collection, based on
the age of the customers debt. |
|
o. |
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
The Group considers
all highly liquid investments, which include unrestricted short-term bank
deposits (up to three months from date of deposit), to be cash equivalents.
|
|
p. |
Earnings (loss) per
Ordinary share: |
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per
Ordinary share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares
outstanding during each year (including shares issuable under the option
plan for senior employees, see Note 16b, and exercise of series 1 warrants,
see Note 16c). |
|
q. |
Linkage basis: |
|
|
|
|
|
Balances whose contractual
linkage terms stipulate linkage to the latest index published prior to the
date of payment are stated on basis of the latest index published prior
to balance sheet date. |
|
|
|
|
r. |
Advertising expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising expenses are charged to income as incurred,
see also Note 19b. |
|
s. |
Derivatives: |
|
|
|
|
|
The Company enters
into forward exchange contracts to offset possible fluctuation in the NIS/dollar
exchange rate. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments
for trading purposes. |
-30-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
2:- |
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
|
The forward exchange
contracts are stated at fair value. Gains and losses on the forward exchange
contracts are included in the financial expenses. |
|
|
|
|
t. |
Implementation of new
accounting standards and their impact on the financial statements: |
|
|
|
|
|
In October 2001, the
Israel Accounting Standards Board published Accounting Standard No. 12 with
respect to the discontinuance of the adjustment of financial statements.
In December 2002, Accounting Standard No. 17 was published with respect
to the deferral of the effective date of Accounting Standard No. 12 to January 1,
2004. |
|
|
|
|
|
According to Accounting
Standards No. 12 and No. 17, which deal with the discontinuance of the adjustment
of financial statements, financial statements will cease to be adjusted
for inflation in Israel beginning January 1, 2004. Until December 31, 2003,
the Company continued to prepare adjusted financial statements in accordance
with Opinion No. 36 of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in
Israel. The adjusted amounts included in the financial statements as of
December 31, 2003, will serve as the starting point for nominal financial
reporting beginning January 1, 2004. |
|
|
|
|
|
The effect of the
adoption of Accounting Standard No. 12 is dependent on the inflation rate
in Israel, on the composition of the Companys assets and its sources of
financing at that time. |
NOTE
3:- |
JOINTLY CONTROLLED
COMPANY |
|
a. |
On December 31, 2003,
the accounts of Hot Vision were consolidated for the first time by the proportionate
consolidation method on the basis of the Companys proportionate share in
the issued share capital of Hot Vision (26.6%). Until that date, the investment
in Hot Vision was presented by the equity method of accounting. |
|
b. |
Below are condensed
data from the financial statements of the aforesaid company as they were
included in the adjusted consolidated financial statements. |
|
|
|
|
December 31,
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
20,520 |
|
|
|
|
Noncurrent
assets |
|
|
|
38,125 |
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
61,913 |
|
|
|
|
Long-term
liabilities |
|
|
|
737 |
|
|
|
|
-31-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
4:- |
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Open accounts
(1) (2) |
|
|
|
68,350 |
|
|
82,772 |
|
|
47,303 |
|
|
45,054 |
|
Notes and
checks |
|
|
|
347 |
|
|
379 |
|
|
332 |
|
|
346 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,697 |
|
|
83,151 |
|
|
47,635 |
|
|
45,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Net of allowance for |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
doubtful
accounts |
|
|
|
3,887 |
|
|
3,250 |
|
|
2,898 |
|
|
2,495 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
Includes credit cards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
balance
in the amount of |
|
|
|
20,471 |
|
|
21,551 |
|
|
14,356 |
|
|
13,442 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
b. |
Other accounts receivable: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
|
12,063 |
|
|
10,851 |
|
|
9,858 |
|
|
12,422 |
|
Accrued income |
|
|
|
1,699 |
|
|
3,953 |
|
|
1,199 |
|
|
3,238 |
|
Other |
|
|
|
4,075 |
|
|
4,961 |
|
|
1,620 |
|
|
3,771 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,837 |
|
|
19,765 |
|
|
12,677 |
|
|
19,431 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-32-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANY |
|
a. |
Investments in subsidiaries
(losses over the investments in subsidiaries): |
|
1. |
The investment is composed
as follows: |
|
The Company
|
|
December
31,
|
|
2003
|
2002
|
|
Included in
investments
and
long-term
receivables
|
Included in
long-term
liabilities
|
Total
|
Total
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Cost of shares |
|
8,362 |
|
|
- |
|
|
8,362 |
|
|
8,290 |
|
Excess of
investment cost, |
net |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
894 |
|
Equity in
accumulated |
losses
(1) |
|
(120,578 |
) |
|
(7,177 |
) |
|
(127,755 |
) |
|
(96,654 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity value |
|
(112,216 |
) |
|
(7,177 |
) |
|
(119,393 |
) |
|
(87,470 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
loan (2) |
|
36,903 |
|
|
- |
|
|
36,903 |
|
|
36,903 |
|
Long-term
accounts (3) |
|
322,661 |
|
|
- |
|
|
322,661 |
|
|
376,175 |
|
Capital notes
(4) |
|
- |
|
|
(3,601 |
) |
|
(3,601 |
) |
|
(2,669 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
247,348 |
|
|
(10,778 |
) |
|
236,570 |
|
|
322,939 |
|
Cost of Company
shares held |
by
subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(64,917 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
247,348 |
|
|
(10,778 |
) |
|
236,570 |
|
|
258,022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excess of
investment cost, |
net |
Original
amount |
|
17,099 |
|
|
- |
|
|
17,099 |
|
|
17,099 |
|
Net of accumulated |
amortization |
|
17,099 |
|
|
- |
|
|
17,099 |
|
|
16,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
894 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Net of amortization
of excess of investment cost, net |
|
(2) |
The CPI linked loan
does not bear interest and its repayment date had not yet been determined. |
|
(3) |
Long term accounts are
linked to the CPI, and its repayment date had not yet been determined. |
|
(4) |
Capital notes are unlinked
to CPI and bear no interest, and its repayment date had not yet been determined. |
-33-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
2. |
The changes in the investments
during 2003 and 2002 are as follows: |
|
|
The Company
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
|
Balance at
the beginning of the year |
|
246,804 |
|
|
258,022 |
|
|
Changes during
the year: |
|
Equity
in earnings (losses) |
|
(57,357 |
) |
|
(31,485 |
) |
|
Impairment
of investment in subsidiary (MIS) |
|
- |
|
|
(1,062 |
) |
|
Sale
of company shares by subsidiary |
|
1,288 |
|
|
64,917 |
|
|
Firstly
proportionate consolidation of jointly |
|
consolidated
company |
|
- |
|
|
624 |
|
|
Long
term accounts granted |
|
67,287 |
|
|
- |
|
|
Repayment
of long term accounts |
|
- |
|
|
(54,396 |
) |
|
Erosion
of capital note |
|
- |
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
the end of the year |
|
258,022 |
|
|
236,570 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
b. |
Investments in affiliates: |
|
1. |
The investment is composed
as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
|
Partner,
see (2) below |
|
18,400 |
|
|
65,373 |
|
|
14,180 |
|
|
62,369 |
|
|
Nonstop Ventures,
see (3) |
|
below |
|
2,664 |
|
|
1,434 |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
13,623 |
|
|
Hot Vision,
see (4) below |
|
1,336 |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,336 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,400 |
|
|
66,807 |
|
|
29,170 |
|
|
75,992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-34-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
|
|
|
The changes
in the investments during 2003 and 2002 are as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Balance
at the beginning of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
the
year |
|
|
|
20,939 |
|
|
22,400 |
|
|
15,005 |
|
|
29,170 |
|
Changes during
the year: |
|
|
Company
that consolidated |
|
|
for
the first time by |
|
|
proportionate |
|
|
consolidation |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
(624 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(624 |
) |
Erosion
of capital note |
|
|
(see
Note 5(3)) |
|
|
|
(294 |
) |
|
(31 |
) |
|
(294 |
) |
|
(31 |
) |
Sale
of investments |
|
|
|
(9,155 |
) |
|
(17,508 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(16,293 |
) |
Equity
in earnings |
|
|
|
10,910 |
|
|
62,840 |
|
|
14,459 |
|
|
64,042 |
|
Provision
for expected |
|
|
dilution |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
(270 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(270 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
the end of the |
|
|
year |
|
|
|
22,400 |
|
|
66,807 |
|
|
29,170 |
|
|
75,992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) |
The investment in Partner
is composed as follows: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of shares |
|
|
|
3,474 |
|
|
2,437 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Equity
in accumulated earnings |
|
|
(losses) |
|
|
|
14,926 |
|
|
63,206 |
|
|
14,180 |
|
|
62,639 |
|
Provision
for expected dilution |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
(270 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(270 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,400 |
|
|
65,373 |
|
|
14,180 |
|
|
62,369 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-35-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
|
|
b) |
Partner operates a mobile
telecommunications networks based upon the Global System for mobile Communications
(GSM) Standard in Israel. |
|
On November 1, 1999,
Partner - in which the Group held by the Company and Matav Investments 20.326%
of its issued capital - offered to the public abroad in an initial public
offering (IPO) 38,888,999 ADS, each ADS representing one Ordinary share
of NIS 0.01 par value of Partner, at a price of $ 13.50 per ADS. |
|
Since the IPO, Partners
ADS are listed on the NASDAQ National Market in the United States (NASDAQ)
and on the London Stock Exchange. Since July 2001, Partners shares are
also listed for trading on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). |
|
On October 17, 2000,
the Group purchased an additional 0.42% of Partners share capital (760,000)
for adjusted NIS 20.4 million. During August and November 2001, the Company
sold those shares in consideration of adjusted NIS 20.7 million. As a result
of these sales, the Company recorded a capital gain of adjusted NIS 5.1
million. The Group owns as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, 5.29% and 7.44%,
respectively, in Partner. |
|
The market value of
Partners shares owned by the Group is NIS 332 million and adjusted NIS
223 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The market value
of the shares on or about the date of publishing the financial statements
is NIS 341.2 million. |
|
As to collateral on
Partners shares, see Note 15c(2). |
|
c) |
In April 2002, the Group
entered into agreements according to which it sold to a subsidiary of Hutchison
Whampoa Ltd. 13,778,668 shares of Partner, which constitute 7.7% of Partners
issued and outstanding share capital. The proceeds from the sale amounted
to adjusted NIS 306 million. The capital gain (net of taxes) recorded by
the Group from the above transaction amounts to adjusted NIS 197 million. |
|
On November 3, 2003,
a subsidiary sold 3,826,169 Ordinary shares of Partner in consideration
for approximately adjusted NIS 114.4 million. The capital gain from the
above sale net of the tax effect totals approximately adjusted NIS 62 million.
After said sale, the shareholdings in Partner is 5.29%. |
|
d) |
During the year, the
Companys management revised its plans as to the nature of the investment
in the shares of Partner Communication Ltd. (Partner) from an investment
whose realization in the foreseeable future is unlikely to an investment
whose realization may be in the foreseeable future. The revision of the
plans of Companys management, as aforesaid, included sale of holdings in
Partners unrestricted shares, as described above. |
-36-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
|
|
In view of the change
in Companys management plans as to the nature of the investment in the
shares of Partner, as aforesaid, and in accordance with the provisions of
Opinion 68 of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel, in
the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability
of approximately adjusted NIS 22 million for the difference between the
cost of the investment in shares for tax purposes and their book value as
presented in the financial statements as of December 31, 2003. This expense
was presented at the profit and loss accounts as an offset from the Companys
share in earnings of affiliates. |
|
e) |
Partners contingent
liabilities: |
|
1) |
On October 28, 1999,
an Israeli consumer organization lodged a claim against Partner, alleging
a variety of consumer complaints and requested that this claim be approved
as a class action. |
|
On March 20, 2002,
the Haifa District Court decided to strike the claim, because the consumer
organization lost, on December 31, 2001, a special status required under
Israeli law for consumer organizations, to file class action claims. |
|
Another claim, involving
a substantial amount, which was filed by a private consumer who had previously
requested to join the above class action, has been brought again before
the court. The court had previously stayed the proceedings of the private
consumers claim, until a decision was made in the case that was filed by
the consumer organization. |
|
On May 25, 2003, the
private consumer filed a request to amend his motion to file a class action
claim and the proposed claim itself, and also a draft of the proposed amended
motion and claim. The motion to amend was granted and on January 21, 2004,
Partner has submitted its response to the motion. |
|
While the amount of
the claim is substantial, the ultimate liability cannot be determined because
of the considerable uncertainties that exist. At this stage, unless and
until the claim is approved as class action, Partner and its legal counsel
are unable to evaluate the probability of success of such claim and therefore
no provision has been made. In addition, Partner and its legal advisers
are of the opinion that in light of the facts known at this early stage,
the prospects that a material amount would be ordered in favor of the plaintiffs
are low. |
-37-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
2) |
On July 8, 2001, a claim
was filed against Partner for alleged violation of suppliers exclusivity
agreement. For filing purposes, the claim was set at NIS 18 million; however,
this amount can be increased by the claimant. |
|
At this stage, since
preliminary proceedings between the parties are yet to take place, and the
claim concerns a contract interpretation issue, Partner and its legal counsel
are unable to evaluate the probability of success of the said litigation,
and therefore no provision has been made. |
|
3) |
On April 8, 2002, a
claim was filed against Partner, together with a motion to approve this
claim as a class action, alleging a variety of consumer complaints. The
amount of the claim against Partner is estimated at approximately NIS 545
million plus additional significant amounts relating to other alleged damages.
Only a preliminary hearing has taken place and another preliminary hearing
is set for March 28, 2004. |
|
At this stage, and
until the claim is approved as a class action, Partner and its legal counsel
are unable to evaluate the probability of success of such claim, and therefore
no provision has been made. |
|
In addition, Partner
and its legal counsel are of the opinion that even if the request to approve
this claim as a class action is granted, and even if the plaintiffs arguments
are accepted, the outcome of the claim will be significantly lower than
the abovementioned amount. |
|
4) |
On April 13, 2003 a
claim was filed against Partner and other cellular telecommunication companies,
together with a request to approve 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 90 million. Partner has filed its response on October 1, 2003. |
|
At this stage, no hearings
have taken place and unless and until the claim is approved as a class action,
Partner and its legal counsel are unable to evaluate the probability of
success of such claim, and therefore no provision has been made. |
|
5) |
Partner does not have
building permits for many of its cell sites and as a result is involved
in numerous legal actions (including criminal proceedings against officers
and directors) relating to this issue. |
|
Most of these proceedings
have been settled under plea bargain arrangements, whereby Partner has paid
fines of insignificant amounts. |
-38-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
|
|
Management, based upon
current experience and the opinion of legal counsel, does not believe that
these legal actions will result in significant costs to Partner. The accounts
do not include a provision in respect thereof. |
|
6) |
Partner 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 Partner. The accounts do not include a provision in
respect thereof. |
|
7) |
On July 15, 2003, the
Ministry of Communications decided to decrease the deduction rate in respect
of payments that Bezeq The Israel Communication Corp. Limited fails to
collect from its customers for using Partners network to 1.1% from 2.5%.
The decision is effective retroactively for the period from October 2, 2000
and through August 31, 2003. As from September 1, 2003 the deduction rate
was cancelled altogether. |
|
Bezeq has filed an
appeal with the Jerusalem District Court on the Ministers decision. |
|
On January 6, 2004,
the Supreme Court within the framework of Partners appeal on the District
Courts ruling in respect of previous case between the parties, that related
to Bezeqs failure to collect payments from its customers for using Partners
network for calls from fixed lines to mobile lines - ruled that the Ministers
decision concerning the aforementioned deduction of 1.1% shall also apply
to the period from March 1, 2000 to October 2, 2000, and that this deduction
rate shall remain in effect or shall be amended in accordance with the outcome
of the appeal filed by Bezeq on the aforesaid decision of the Minister. |
|
At this stage, since
preliminary proceedings are yet to take place, Partner and its legal counsel
are unable to evaluate the probability of success of the appeal, therefore
the effect of the Ministry of Communications decision on Partners results
(income of approximately NIS 19.5 million), was not recognized. |
-39-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
a) |
The Group owns, December
31, 2003 and 2002, 50% of Nonstop Ventures (see b) below). The Groups investment
in Nonstop ventures is composed as follows: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of shares |
|
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Equity
in accumulated |
losses |
|
(10,995 |
) |
|
(12,194 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Long-term
loans and |
capital
notes *) |
|
13,654 |
|
|
13,623 |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
13,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,664 |
|
|
1,434 |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
13,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*) |
Include long-term
loans (bearing interest at the rate of Prime) and capital notes that bear
no interest and are unlinked, effective from January 2002. The date of repayment
of the above capital notes and long-term loans, has not yet been determined. |
|
|
|
|
b) |
Nonstop ventures is
50% owned by the Group and 50% by shareholders of the Company. |
|
Nonstop Ventures is
engaged in the investments in companies and entrepreneurs whose main activities
are in the area of Internet, cable and data Communications. |
-40-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
a) |
The Company owns, at
December 31, 2003 and 2002, 26.6% and 25.65% respectively of Hot Vision
ordinary shares (see b. below). In addition, the Company owns 28.6% of Hot
vision preferred shares. Since December 31, 2003, the Company consolidated
the accounts of Hot Vision by the proportionate consolidation method (see
Note 3). The Companys investment in Hot Vision is composed as follows: |
|
Consolidated
and
Company
|
|
December
2002*)
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
|
|
|
Shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of shares |
|
|
72 |
|
|
Equity
in undistributed profits |
|
|
1,264 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
*) |
As of December 31,
2003 the Investment in Hot Vision is included in the Investments in subsidiaries.
See Note 3 and 5(a) above. |
|
b) |
Hot Vision is owned
by the CATV companies in Israel (including the Company). It was formed in
order to jointly acquire sole and exclusive rights to broadcast movies and
television programs and to grant those rights to its shareholders for the
purpose of television broadcast. |
|
As of December 31,
2003, the Company holds, directly and indirectly, approximately 26.6% of
the issued ordinary shares capital of Hot Vision and this is according to
an agreement between the cable companies, the owners of interests in Hot
Vision, according to which, each of them shall retain holding in ordinary
shares capital and in voting rights according to the relative share of the
shareholders in the weighted number of active subscribers in each year.
Similarly, the Preferred shares confer upon their holders an exclusive right
in the distribution of earnings upon liquidation up to the amount of approximately
NIS 12 million. Other earnings will be distributed to the ordinary shareholders
pro rata to their holdings. Similarly, Hot Vision is jointly controlled
by the cable companies. |
-41-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
NOTE
5:- |
INVESTMENTS
IN SUBSIDIAIRES AFFILIATES AND OTHER COMPANIES
(Cont.) |
|
1) |
According to the
opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal counsel,
that in light of the decision of the Controller dated April 22, 2002, with
respect to the merger of the cable companies, as extended, and in light
of the exemption from approving of a Binding Agreement granted
by Controller on December 17, 2003, there is no longer a need for the approval
of the Restrictive Trade Practices Court for the continued existence of
the ICP arrangement; that is, to continued joint broadcasting of channels
3 and 4 through Hot Vision. |
|
|
|
|
2) |
In the past, Hot Vision
signed agreements with certain shareholders in connection with the provision
of contents purchased by them from the rights suppliers. The agreements
are until December 31, 2000, where shareholders are entitled to extend them
for additional periods of 12 months each, on terms to be determined by the
parties. The shareholders have not yet exercised the extension option for
an additional year in 2004. |
|
|
|
|
|
The scope of investments
in 2003 and 2002 is NIS 66 million and NIS 115 million, respectively. |
|
c) |
Bank Hapoalim Ltd. considers
Hot Vision as Related Party as such term is defined in the Proper Bank
Management Instructions of the Supervisor of the Banks of the Bank of Israel.
Accordingly, the bank demands that Hot Vision repays its outstanding borrowings
amounting to NIS 71 million. The Companys portion in these borrowings is
approximately NIS 18.9 million. The cable companies, including the Company,
are operating in order to settle the issue. |
|
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
|
Cost of shares
of Barak I.T.C |
|
(1995)
- International |
|
Telecommunications
Services |
|
Corp.
Ltd. (Barak) *) |
|
16,241 |
|
|
16,241 |
|
|
16,227 |
|
|
16,227 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*) |
Barak, 10% of which
is held by the Group, won a tender of the Israeli Ministry of Communications
for the provision of international telephony services. The operating license
was granted to Barak in February 1997 for a period of ten years and the
provision of services commenced in July 1997. |
|
During 2002, the Company
wrote-off a part of its investment in Barak, which amounted to NIS 8.8 million,
inter-alia, by valuation of Barak. This amount was presented in other income,
net. |
-42-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
6:- |
INVESTMENT
IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS |
|
|
|
The jointly controlled
entity invests in limited partnerships that are engaged in the production
of films in Israel. The limited partnerships received an approval from a
committee at the Ministry of Industry and Trade which deals with withholding
tax of films under the Income Tax Regulations (Withholding of Investors
Income from Israeli Films), 1990. |
|
|
|
The jointly controlled
entity is a limited partner in these partnerships. |
NOTE
7:- |
RIGHTS TO BROADCAST
MOVIES AND PROGRAMS |
|
December 31,
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Balance at
the end of the year *) |
|
|
|
34,927 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*) See
also Note 5b(4). |
|
|
-43-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
Composition of assets
and accumulated depreciation and amortization, grouped by major classifications,
and changes during 2003, are as follows:
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
Cost
|
Accumulated
depreciation
|
Depreciated
balance
|
|
Changes during
the year
|
Changes during
the year
|
December 31,
|
|
Balance at
beginning
of year *)
|
Additions
|
Disposal
|
Jointly
controlled
company,
proportionally
consolidated
for the
first time
|
Balance
at end
of year
|
Balance at
beginning
of year *)
|
Additions
|
Disposals
|
Jointly
controlled
company,
proportionally
consolidated
for the
first time
|
Balance a
at end of
year
|
2002 *)
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Leasehold
land (including |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
construction
plans) (1) |
|
4,319 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,319 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,319 |
|
|
4,319 |
|
Buildings
(including land)(2) |
|
53,435 |
|
|
264 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
53,699 |
|
|
10,572 |
|
|
1,088 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
11,660 |
|
|
42,863 |
|
|
42,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cable network |
|
1,314,716 |
|
|
27,897 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,342,613 |
|
|
714,380 |
|
|
106,160 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
820,540 |
|
|
600,336 |
|
|
522,073 |
|
Broadcasting
center |
(primarily
electronic |
equipment) |
|
132,211 |
|
|
2,175 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,554 |
|
|
136,940 |
|
|
94,109 |
|
|
5,396 |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,973 |
|
|
101,478 |
|
|
38,102 |
|
|
35,462 |
|
Studio equipment |
|
18,269 |
|
|
43 |
|
|
6,018 |
|
|
- |
|
|
12,294 |
|
|
14,816 |
|
|
904 |
|
|
3,426 |
|
|
- |
|
|
12,294 |
|
|
3,453 |
|
|
- |
|
Converters
and modems |
|
380,368 |
|
|
22,763 |
|
|
12,889 |
|
|
- |
|
|
390,242 |
|
|
105,604 |
|
|
34,626 |
|
|
4,125 |
|
|
- |
|
|
136,105 |
|
|
274,764 |
|
|
254,137 |
|
Computers
and peripheral |
equipment |
|
59,819 |
|
|
2,230 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
62,049 |
|
|
40,962 |
|
|
10,185 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
51,147 |
|
|
18,857 |
|
|
10,902 |
|
Office furniture
and |
equipment |
|
11,876 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,600 |
|
|
14,507 |
|
|
7,210 |
|
|
541 |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,183 |
|
|
9,934 |
|
|
4,666 |
|
|
4,573 |
|
Leasehold
improvements |
|
5,887 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
- |
|
|
441 |
|
|
6,364 |
|
|
3,962 |
|
|
305 |
|
|
- |
|
|
353 |
|
|
4,620 |
|
|
1,925 |
|
|
1,744 |
|
Internet
site development |
|
1,395 |
|
|
177 |
|
|
473 |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,099 |
|
|
989 |
|
|
421 |
|
|
438 |
|
|
- |
|
|
972 |
|
|
406 |
|
|
127 |
|
Vehicle |
|
4,924 |
|
|
- |
|
|
761 |
|
|
119 |
|
|
4,282 |
|
|
2,617 |
|
|
689 |
|
|
496 |
|
|
62 |
|
|
2,872 |
|
|
2,307 |
|
|
1,410 |
|
Telephone
equipment |
|
- |
|
|
39 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
39 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,987,219 |
|
|
55,655 |
|
|
20,141 |
|
|
5,714 |
|
|
2,028,447 |
|
|
995,221 |
|
|
160,315 |
|
|
8,485 |
|
|
4,571 |
|
|
1,151,622 |
|
|
991,998 |
|
|
876,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The land is leased for
a 49 year period ending in 2038. The lease fees have been capitalized. Registration
of the lease with the Land Registry has not yet been completed. |
|
(2) |
The cost of the buildings,
includes an amount of adjusted NIS 21,907 thousand at December 31, 2003
and 2002, representing cost of buildings on leased land. The lease in respect
of most of the land is for 49 year period ending in 2040, with an option
to renew the lease for an 49 additional years. The lease fees have been
capitalized. Registration of the leases with the Land Registry has not yet
been completed. |
-44-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
8:- |
FIXED ASSETS
(Cont.) |
|
The Company
|
|
Cost
|
Accumulated
depreciation
|
Depreciated
balance
|
|
Balance
at
beginning
of year (*)
|
Changes during
the year
|
Balance
at
end
of year
|
Balance
at
beginning
of year(*)
|
Changes during
the year
|
Balance
at
end
of year
|
December 31,
|
|
Additions
|
Disposals
|
Additions
|
Disposals
|
2002 (*)
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Leasehold
land (including |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
construction
plans) (1) |
|
4,319 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,319 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,319 |
|
|
4,319 |
|
Buildings
(including land) (2) |
|
18,672 |
|
|
203 |
|
|
- |
|
|
18,875 |
|
|
5,103 |
|
|
429 |
|
|
- |
|
|
5,532 |
|
|
13,569 |
|
|
13,343 |
|
Cable network |
|
990,209 |
|
|
189 |
|
|
- |
|
|
990,398 |
|
|
517,859 |
|
|
78,363 |
|
|
- |
|
|
596,222 |
|
|
472,350 |
|
|
394,176 |
|
Broadcasting
center (primarily |
|
|
|
|
|
|
electronic
equipment) |
|
64,551 |
|
|
534 |
|
|
- |
|
|
65,085 |
|
|
53,012 |
|
|
2,688 |
|
|
- |
|
|
55,700 |
|
|
11,539 |
|
|
9,385 |
|
Studio equipment |
|
7,194 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
3,655 |
|
|
3,561 |
|
|
4,907 |
|
|
547 |
|
|
1,893 |
|
|
3,561 |
|
|
2,287 |
|
|
- |
|
Converters
and modems |
|
272,081 |
|
|
10,558 |
|
|
9,877 |
|
|
272,762 |
|
|
75,303 |
|
|
25,168 |
|
|
3,212 |
|
|
97,259 |
|
|
196,778 |
|
|
175,503 |
|
Computers
and peripheral equipment |
|
52,942 |
|
|
2,218 |
|
|
- |
|
|
55,160 |
|
|
35,927 |
|
|
9,603 |
|
|
- |
|
|
45,530 |
|
|
17,015 |
|
|
9,630 |
|
Office furniture
and equipment |
|
8,699 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
- |
|
|
8,704 |
|
|
5,327 |
|
|
379 |
|
|
- |
|
|
5,706 |
|
|
3,372 |
|
|
2,998 |
|
Leasehold
improvements |
|
5,887 |
|
|
34 |
|
|
- |
|
|
5,921 |
|
|
3,962 |
|
|
305 |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,267 |
|
|
1,925 |
|
|
1,654 |
|
Internet
site development |
|
1,568 |
|
|
- |
|
|
473 |
|
|
1,095 |
|
|
998 |
|
|
434 |
|
|
438 |
|
|
994 |
|
|
570 |
|
|
101 |
|
Vehicle |
|
3,986 |
|
|
- |
|
|
683 |
|
|
3,303 |
|
|
2,040 |
|
|
567 |
|
|
430 |
|
|
2,177 |
|
|
1,946 |
|
|
1,126 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,430,108 |
|
|
13,763 |
|
|
14,688 |
|
|
1,429,183 |
|
|
704,438 |
|
|
118,483 |
|
|
5,973 |
|
|
816,948 |
|
|
725,670 |
|
|
612,235 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The land is leased for
a 49 year period ending in 2038. The lease fees have been capitalized. Registration
of the lease with the Land Registry has not yet been completed. |
|
(2) |
The cost of the buildings,
includes an amount of adjusted NIS 21,907 thousand at December 31, 2003
and 2002, representing cost of buildings on leased land. The lease in respect
of most of the land is for 49 year period ending in 2040, with an option
to renew the lease for an 49 additional years. The lease fees have been
capitalized. Registration of the leases with the Land Registry has not yet
been completed. |
-45-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
9:- |
OTHER ASSETS
AND DEFERED CHARGES |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
Original amount
|
Unamortized
balance
|
|
Unamortized
balance
|
|
December
31,
|
|
December
31
|
|
2002
|
|
2003
|
|
2002
|
|
2003
|
|
2002
|
|
2003
|
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Excess of
cost of investment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in
Matav Haifa, see Note 2d |
|
17,099 |
|
|
17,099 |
|
|
894 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
charges in respect of |
issuance
of debentures, see |
Note
14 |
|
11,393 |
|
|
11,393 |
|
|
2,497 |
|
|
1,330 |
|
|
2,497 |
|
|
1,330 |
|
Payment in
respect of |
non-exclusive
license, see |
Note
2(i) |
|
3,972 |
|
|
3,972 |
|
|
3,531 |
|
|
2,616 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,464 |
|
|
32,464 |
|
|
6,922 |
|
|
3,946 |
|
|
2,497 |
|
|
1,330 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average
interest
rate
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
%
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Short-term
credit, see Note 18 |
|
7 |
|
|
438,888 |
|
|
389,730 |
|
|
438,869 |
|
|
349,223 |
|
Current maturities
of long-term |
loans,
see Note 13 |
|
|
|
|
75,235 |
|
|
45,673 |
|
|
75,235 |
|
|
45,673 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
514,123 |
|
|
435,403 |
|
|
514,104 |
|
|
394,896 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As to
financial covenant See Note 15a(5). |
|
|
|
|
NOTE
11:- |
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
AND ACCRUALS |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
a. Trade
payables: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open
accounts |
|
60,002 |
|
|
63,499 |
|
|
46,448 |
|
|
43,983 |
|
Notes
and checks |
|
24,054 |
|
|
31,200 |
|
|
20,973 |
|
|
19,634 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,056 |
|
|
94,699 |
|
|
67,421 |
|
|
63,617 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-46-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
11:- |
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
AND ACCRUALS (Cont.) |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
b. Other
accounts payable: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payroll
and related expenses |
|
7,726 |
|
|
6,912 |
|
|
6,174 |
|
|
4,757 |
|
Provision
for vacation pay |
|
4,917 |
|
|
4,473 |
|
|
3,875 |
|
|
3,438 |
|
Government
authorities (1) |
|
52,178 |
|
|
96,416 |
|
|
43,942 |
|
|
89,391 |
|
Advances
from trade receivables |
|
- |
|
|
5,004 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Franchise
fees to the Government |
of Israel |
|
5,428 |
|
|
11,225 |
|
|
5,428 |
|
|
11,225 |
|
Accrued
interest |
|
4,306 |
|
|
1,846 |
|
|
4,306 |
|
|
1,846 |
|
Accrued
expenses (2) |
|
10,052 |
|
|
16,623 |
|
|
9,376 |
|
|
13,844 |
|
Deferred
taxes |
|
- |
|
|
15,630 |
|
|
- |
|
|
15,630 |
|
Others |
|
- |
|
|
853 |
|
|
84 |
|
|
477 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,607 |
|
|
158,982 |
|
|
73,185 |
|
|
140,608 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Mainly includes a provision
for taxes in respect of the realization of Partner shares during 2002 and
2003 (see Note 5b(2)(c)). |
|
The Company paid an
amount of NIS 71 million as an advance on account of capital gains tax in
respect of the realization of Partner shares in 2002. As of December 31,
2003, the accumulated tax balance in respect of the above realization in
the amount of NIS 83 million, was not yet paid due to a dispute with the
tax authorities. |
|
The financial statements
contain a provision for the full tax liability relating to exercising Partner
shares in 2003 and 2002. |
|
(2) |
Consolidated and the
Company includes balance with interested party in amount of adjusted NIS
128 thousand and adjusted NIS 76 thousand at December 31, 2003 and 2002,
respectively. |
-47-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
12:- |
SEVERANCE PAY
LIABILITY (FUND) |
|
Labor
laws and agreements require the Group companies to pay severance pay to
employees dismissed or leaving their employment under certain other circumstances.
|
|
The companies severance
pay liability to their employees, is computed based on the number of years
of employment multiplied by the most recent salary and, is covered primarily
by purchase of insurance policies and by an accrual. The companies record
the obligation as if it was payable at each balance sheet date on an undiscounted
basis. The balance of the severance pay liability and the amount funded
as above are as follows: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Amount of
severance pay liability |
|
16,323 |
|
|
17,272 |
|
|
13,059 |
|
|
12,878 |
|
Amount funded |
|
(16,639 |
) |
|
(15,166 |
) |
|
(13,464 |
) |
|
(12,174 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unfunded
(funded) balance, net |
|
(316 |
) |
|
2,106 |
|
|
(405 |
) |
|
704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The companies may
make withdrawals from the funds only for the purpose of disbursement of
severance pay. |
|
The amounts accumulated
in insurance companies in connection with deposits made by a jointly controlled
entity in order to cover its liabilities for severance pay are not under
its control and management and, therefore, said amounts and the related
liabilities in respect of which they were provided are not included. |
NOTE
13:- |
LONG-TERM LOANS
FROM BANKS AND OTHERS |
|
Consolidated
and The Company
|
|
Interest rate
|
December 31,
|
|
31.12.2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
%
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
From banks
linked to the dollar |
|
|
Libor+1.5 |
|
|
6,508 |
|
|
3,678 |
|
From banks
- linked to the Israeli CPI |
|
|
5.5-6.2 |
|
|
163,541 |
|
|
147,862 |
|
From others
- linked to the dollar |
|
|
Libor+1.75 |
|
|
47,271 |
|
|
21,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
217,320 |
|
|
173,076 |
|
Less
current maturities |
|
|
|
|
|
75,235 |
|
|
45,673 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
142,085 |
|
|
127,403 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-48-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
13:- |
LOANS
FROM BANKS AND OTHERS (Cont.) |
|
b. |
The loans (net of current
maturities) are repayable in the following years subsequent to the balance
sheet dates: |
|
Consolidated
and The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
|
Second year |
|
|
|
45,917 |
|
|
28,317 |
|
|
Third year |
|
|
|
27,597 |
|
|
26,698 |
|
|
Forth year |
|
|
|
26,181 |
|
|
57,832 |
|
|
Fifth year |
|
|
|
27,826 |
|
|
14,556 |
|
|
Sixth year
and thereafter (through 2008) |
|
|
|
14,564 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
142,085 |
|
|
127,403 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As to collateral to
secure the loans see Note 15c. |
|
|
As to the financial
covenant See Note 15a(5). |
|
|
|
|
a. |
According to a prospectus
dated August 28,1997, the Company issued NIS 200 million par value of registered
debentures (series A), for redemption in seven equal annual installments
on August 20 in each of the years 2000 to 2006, and 2,850,000 warrants (series
1), see Note 16c. The debentures (principal and interest) are linked to
the Israeli CPI as published in August 1997 in respect of July 1997 and
bear annual interest at the rate of 3.7% (as determined in the tender).
Debentures with a par value of NIS 30,700 thousand were purchased by a wholly-owned
subsidiary, within the framework of the issuance. The net proceeds from
the public (not including from the subsidiary) to the Company from the issuance
of debentures amounted to adjusted NIS 185 million. The debentures are traded
on the TASE. Expenses in respect of the issuance of debentures, totaled
adjusted NIS 11,393 thousand are presented in the balance sheets as deferred
charges. See Notes 2j and 9. |
|
|
On August 8, 2001, the
subsidiary sold to the public its holding of the debentures in consideration
of adjusted NIS 23,268 thousand. |
|
b. |
The debentures are presented
in the balance sheets as follows: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
December 31,
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
|
Debentures
outstanding |
|
134,920 |
|
|
101,103 |
|
|
134,920 |
|
|
101,103 |
|
|
Less - discount
in respect of sale |
|
of
debentures by subsidiary |
|
1,728 |
|
|
1,257 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
133,192 |
|
|
99,846 |
|
|
134,920 |
|
|
101,103 |
|
|
Less - current
maturities |
|
33,730 |
|
|
33,701 |
|
|
33,730 |
|
|
33,701 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99,462 |
|
|
66,145 |
|
|
101,190 |
|
|
67,402 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-49-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS |
|
1. |
Royalties and other
payments to the Government: |
|
a) |
The Company and Matav
Haifa were required to pay royalties at the rate of 5% to the Government
of Israel, based on the gross income from operating CATV broadcasts. |
|
|
On June 16, 2003, the
finance committee of the Knesset approved amendment No. 2 of the Bezeq Regulations
(Franchises - 1987) which retroactively reduces the royalties payable by
the holder of a license to operate CATV systems from 5% of gross annual
revenues from providing broadcasting services to 4% in 2002 and 2003 and
to 3.5% in 2004 and thereafter. |
|
The financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2003 include income from differences due
to the retroactive reduction of the royalties for 2002 in the amount of
approximately NIS 4 million, which was presented as other income. |
|
As to the revenues
from the Internet activities, the Company is obligated to a payment at a
rate of 4% in 2002 and 2003 and a rate of 3.5% in 2004 and thereafter to
the Government of Israel. |
|
b) |
In July 2001, the cable
companies, including the Company, entered into an agreement with the State
of Israel (the State) regarding the right of each of the cable
companies to operate its cable infrastructure after the end of the license
period. In the agreement it is determined that the cable companies will
waive on any claim, demand, right and plea against the State in any issue
relating to the grant of DBS license and besides the fulfillment of each
of the cable companies liability to pay to the State the amounts set in
the agreement, the State has undertaken to drop all its claims and interests
in connection with the cable infrastructure so that each cable company will
be the owner of all of the rights, including property rights, to the cable
infrastructure which it owns in its franchise areas for all intent and purposes
and it will have the right to operate, subject to any law, also after the
end of its license period.
According to the agreement each cable television operator is obliged to
make payments to the government over a period of 12 years commencing on
January 1, 2003, equal to its pro rata portion of a sum of accumulative
certain income of all the cable operators, including income derived from
the use of cable infrastructure, multiplied by a percentage of the income,
which is between 0% and 4% increasing gradually according the amount of
certain income. (In the July 2001 agreement, it was agreed that the Companys
pro rata portion would be 24.1% until agreed differently by all of the cable
operators). Further, each cable operator must pay the State of Israel up
to 12% of its income from sales of certain services (regarding infrastructure)
and assets in the 12 year period. These provisions shall continue to be
in effect if the cable television operators effect the proposed merger.
(See Note 1.a(4)). |
-50-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS |
|
As to Royalties and
other payments to the Government, see Note 19a. |
|
The Company and Matav
Haifa have undertaken to pay royalties to various entities in respect of
copyrights on programs transmitted or broadcasted on cable television, as
stipulated in the agreements with the said entities. The annual amounts
of royalties in 2003, 2002 and 2001 were approximately adjusted NIS 2.7
million, NIS 2.9 million and adjusted NIS 2.7 million, respectively. |
|
3. |
As to commitments to
purchase rights, liabilities and licenses relating to the productions of
certain channels, see Note 5b(4). |
|
4. |
As to commitment to
purchase local production, see Note 1a(1). |
|
a) |
The total unused credit
lines out of the authorized credit lines as of December 31, 2003, amounts
to NIS 182 millions. |
|
b) |
According to a credit
arrangement from September 2003, the Company received credit line from a
bank in the amount of approximately NIS 87 million (of which approximately
NIS 40 millions have been used as of December 31 2003(. The use of credit,
which is collateralized by a floating charge, proportionately with other
banks, is conditional upon the Companys fulfillment of certain financial
and non-financial covenants determined under the aforesaid agreement. |
|
In the opinion of the
Companys management, the Company complies with the covenants determined
under the aforesaid agreement. |
|
b. |
Contingent liabilities: |
|
1. |
Claims and petitions
for approval of class actions: |
|
a) |
On April 22, 1999, a
lawsuit and motion to approve the suit as a class action were filed against
the Company with the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa District Court pursuant to Article 46a
of the Restrictive Business Practices Law, 1988 by a subscriber of the Company
who seeks approval as class action, thereby representing all of the members
of the class allegedly included in such action. |
|
In the claim, it is
alleged that the Company constitutes a monopoly, and that is adversely exploits
its position in the market, in a manner which is, or may be damaging to
the general public, inter alia, by setting and collecting an unreasonable
and unfair prices for the services it provides. |
-51-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS(Cont.) |
|
If the class action
is approved, the court will be requested to require the Company to reduce
the subscriber fees that it collects and to pay its subscribers compensation
in connection with the subscriber fees collected from May 10, 1996 to April
1, 1999. In this context, the petitioner claims that he has sustained damages
in a sum of adjusted NIS 1,387 and further claims that the sum of compensation
due to all of the members of the class included in the class action, if
approved, amounts to adjusted NIS 360 million. The subscriber is also claiming
compensation in respect of the damages caused to all of the members included
in the class action, if approved, from the date of filing the lawsuit to
the date the judgment is rendered. |
|
The Company filed an
opposition to the motion to approve the claim as a class action inter alia,
on the grounds that the claim and the motion lack any merits, because of
the fact that the plaintiff has disregarded the high investments made in
infrastructure and equipment, because of the fact that the franchise granted
to the Company for CATV broadcasts, is limited in time, because of the fact
that the comparisons made by the plaintiff between the Company and foreign
companies dealing in CATV broadcasts in countries where the situation is
very different, are not relevant to the Companys modus operandi, and because
of the fact that the subscriber fees are subject to supervision and are
highly regulated. |
|
At the beginning of
the hearing of the request, it was stated that the clarification of the
request will be made in combination with similar requests that were filed
against the cable companies Tevel, Golden Channels and Idan (however, in
the meantime, this condition changed, see below). After the Joinder of files
and pursuant to the arrangement reached by the parties and which was validated
as a court decision, it was agreed that the Court will preliminarily decide
with respect to the legal threshold claims that were raised by the Company
(and other cable companies). The main elements of these claims are as follows: |
|
1) |
The
cable companies acted pursuant to the legislation that allowed them to collect
subscriber fees, and even determined the rates for this matter, according
to the discretion that was applied by the sub legislator in the regulations
for that purpose. According to the claim, the reasonability of the rates
of the cable companies should not be attacked as if they are unfair, as
long as it was not determined that there was a flaw in the legislation pursuant
to which the franchisees operated. Therefore, the Company is entitled to
benefit from the article 6 to Torts Ordinance, which grants a type of immunity
to someone acting according to legislation. The court will be requested
to determine, among others, if a prior law of the Supreme Court in this
respect is valid for our case. |
-52-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS(Cont.) |
|
2) |
In
the past, the Restrictive Trade Practices Court approved that the cable
companies could raise the subscriber fees rates, in the context of the request
to approve the restrictive arrangement presented to it. The Company claims
that this ruling constitutes an estoppel by res judicata and a good defense
against this claim. |
|
|
On
August 21, 2003, the Court rendered its decision and rejected the arguments
of the Company (and of the other cable companies) are rejected with a determination
that the expenses involved in the proceedings will be taken into account
at the end of the proceedings. |
|
|
In
that decision the Court has determined, among other things, that the immunity
stated in article 6 to Torts Ordinance is not granted to the cable companies
and that the decision of the Trade Restrictions Court in the case of Idan
does not constitute a binding precedent or Courts ruling toward the plaintiffs
in said procedure. Nevertheless, according to a deliberative settlement
reached by the parties, the Court will have to rule on other issues and
parties arguments which were detailed in the request to approve the claim
as a class action and the responses of the cable companies in that issue. |
|
|
In
a pre-trial hearing held on November 26, 2003, it was determined that the
deliberation of the proceedings against the various cable companies will
be separated and that the first to be heard is the request to approve a
class action which was filed against the Company. In that hearing the Court
has determined that the Company is permitted to present complementary opinion
and declarations, that the plaintiff may present counter opinion and declarations,
that the parties disclose the identity of their witnesses and that all witnesses
be present in the hearing scheduled in 2005. |
|
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its
legal counsels, since the claim and the motion to approve it as a class
action, and Matavs response to the claim and the motion, raise complex,
factual and legal questions that have not yet been resolved in Israeli case
law, and for which there are no precedents that are based on similar facts,
it is not possible to estimate the chances of the claim. Therefore, no provision
was recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in The Companys financial
statements. |
-53-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS(Cont.) |
|
b) |
On August 28, 2002,
a motion was filed to approve the filing of a class action against the cable
companies on behalf of the residents of peripheral settlements. The claim
is for indemnification in respect to these settlements not being connected
to the cable networks with the elapse of six years from the date on which
the licenses were granted. The relief requested from the Company amounts
to about NIS 139 million. |
|
In view of a rejection
of substantially similar claim by Court, the Company and Golden Channels
have presented a request to strike ab limine the claim. The plaintiffs presented
a reply to the request to strike ab limine and the Company and Golden Channels
presented their reply to the plaintiffs reply. Similarly, the Company and
Golden Channels presented a reply to the request to approve. |
|
The Court ruled that
the request to strike ab limine will be heard together with the request
to approve. The hearing in the request to approve was postponed in view
of Tevel announcement that it is introducing stay of proceedings. The plaintiffs
presented a request to remove the postponement of the hearing in relation
to the Company and Golden Lines. A decision in the request to revoke the
halt in the case due to Tevel stay of proceedings was yet not given. |
|
In the opinion of Company
management, based on the opinion of its legal counsels, the chances of the
request are not good and, therefore, no provision was recorded in respect
to the aforesaid claim in the Companys financial statements. |
|
c) |
On December 3, 2002,
a lawsuit and motion to approve the lawsuit as a class action were filed
by seven claimants against cable companies, Ministry of Communications and
the council in respect to the conditions of the Council not being fulfilled
with respect to the companies cable broadcasts and the satellite broadcasts
of channel 5. The requested relief amounts to about NIS 302 million as well
as an additional monthly cumulative installment of NIS 25.2 million from
the date of filing the lawsuit to the date a judgment is rendered. The cable
companies argue, inter alia, that the claim does not qualify to be a class
action due to the differences between the claimants that exist on the level
of the content of the broadcasts (program preference), as well as on the
level of the damages being claimed, and that the cable companies fulfilled
most of the conditions that were determined by the Council. |
|
On October 26, 2003,
the Court ruled that in order to determine whether article 29 or the Consumers
Protection Law may be applied and to present a class action by virtue of
their operation, first the relevant facts should be examined and, therefore
the request to approve cannot be dismissed before it is being heard. On
October 26, 2003 the Court held a hearing meeting in this class action and
later the parties submitted their summaries to the Court. |
-54-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS(Cont.) |
|
According to the opinion
of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal counsels,
believe that, at present, it is not possible to estimate the chances of
the request and, therefore, no provision was recorded in respect to the
aforesaid claim in the Companys financial statements. |
|
d) |
On June 29, 2003, a
request to approve a class action was filed against the Company. The amount
of the claim, as estimated by the petitioners, is placed at approximately
NIS 100 million, as of the date of the request. The claim consists of two
causes of action. The first cause of action is not granting penetration
discount as opposed to the directives of the franchise. The petitioners
argue that the discount requested is by virtue of the terms of the franchise
which determines that it is mandatory to grant a penetration discount at
the rate of 10% of the price determined in ICP arrangement whereas, in practice,
the Company granted to its customers a penetration discount of 10% of the
price set in the franchise. |
|
The cause of action
of the second claim is in respect of a limitation, which the Restrictive
Trade Practices Court imposed on the increase of subscriber fees, where
it prohibited the cable companies, including the Company, to increase, in
real terms, the subscriber fees in excess of 1.9% per year (the Ruling). |
|
The petitioners contend
that the cable companies increased the subscriber fees a day after the Ruling
was rendered and calculated the annual increase rate 1.9% from a starting
price that was higher than the price that was determined as a starting price
by the Restrictive Trade Practices Court. |
|
On February 23, 2004,
the Company submitted its response to this petition, whereby with respect
to the first allegation of the petitioners, the Company clarified in its
response that the clear and defined objective of the increase of the subscriber
fees that was determined by the Restrictive Trade Practices Court was not
a determination of new subscriber fees, as defined in the franchise. |
|
The Company claimed
that the Restrictive Trade Practices Court determined a ceiling for the
increase only to prevent the cable companies from rolling over to the public
the arrangement fee they were required to pay, by an immediate increase
of the subscriber fees up to the ceiling. In addition, whereas the Company
already granted a penetration discount of 10% in regions, which are the
object of the claim prior to rendering the Ruling, the petitioners allegation
implies that it was to grant a double discount than the one intended by
the Minister of Communications, and such a conclusion is unreasonable and
is not consistent with the provisions of the Ruling. |
|
As to the second allegation
of the petitioners, the Company responded that an increase of the subscriber
fees a day after the Ruling was rendered, was only a result of linking the
subscriber fees to the CPI, pursuant to the provisions of the franchise
and Bezeq Regulations (Franchises) 1987, and such an increase was permitted
in ICP arrangement and pursuant to the Ruling. |
-55-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (cont.) |
|
|
|
The
petitioners response to the Companys answer was not yet submitted |
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its
legal counsel, the prospects of the request to
approve are remote and, therefore, no provision was
recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in the Companys financial
statements. |
|
a) |
On
November 8, 1999, the Controller declared the Company to be a monopoly in the field
of providing multi channel TV broadcasts for payment
in the franchise regions in which it operates. |
|
On
December 28, 1999, the Company filed an appeal with the Restrictive Trade Practices
Court in respect of the Controllers declaration.
This appeal has been consolidated with a similar
appeal lodged by the other CATV franchisees. |
|
In
its appeal, the Company claimed that the Controllers declaration should be
dismissed in limine, for two main reasons: firstly,
since the declaration lacks any appropriate factual
basis, particularly since it shows quite clearly that the
Controller did not bother to examine, prior to
making the declaration, what is the relevant market
segment, and what products and services serve as reasonable
alternatives for the services provided by the
Company to its subscribers. Secondly, the Company
claimed that regarding its matter, the burden for a more intensive
examination lies with the Controller (which the
Director General did not fulfill), which is due to
previous decisions he issued, in the context of which he determined
that Matav is competing with Channels 1 and 2 in the
television broadcasting sector. In addition, Matav
claims that the proceedings held before the Director were flawed
since the Controller did not fulfill his
obligation for a hearing, and since the
Controllers considerations were not objective in
view of the pressures exerted on him by the Company
for Television Broadcasts by Satellite (Yes). |
|
The
Company also claimed that the Controllers declaration should be revoked based on
its substance inter alia, since it is a fact that, in
the relevant market (namely, the entertainment and
leisure market in its entirety, or at most, the TV services market)
the Company does not provide more than 50% of the
services in the franchise regions in which it
operates, and therefore, it cannot be deemed to be a monopoly in this market.
In addition, the Companys claim in relation to
the fact that all of the customary criteria for
examining a market segment indicate the fact that the Controller erred in
the definition of the market, pursuant to which he
examined the Companys operations and that is
competing with numerous and varied service providers, among which: the
terrestrial television channels, such as channels 1
and 2, television channels that are received via
domestic satellite dishes, video suppliers, etc. |
-56-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (cont.) |
|
In
his response to the appeal, the Controller claimed that the appeal filed by the
Company on his declaration should be dismissed, as
should the appeals filed by the other CATV companies
on the declaration. In his response, the Controller gave, inter
alia, the following reasons: firstly, since some of
the CATV companies had previously expressly admitted,
that they were monopolies; secondly, that the true criteria for
the definition of the market, in this matter, shows
that the relevant market is the multi channel TV
market, and not as claimed by the Company, and thirdly, regarding the
Companys claim relating to the procedure undertaken,
the Controller explained that he had conducted
sufficient examinations prior to the declaration, and was not required
to give detailed reasoning for his declaration. |
|
On
October 30, 2001, the evidentiary stage ended in the context of the appeal where
the parties filed their summations and the parties are
currently awaiting the judgment to be rendered. |
|
According
to the opinion of Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsel, the prospects of the appeal due to the
complex factual and legal questions raised in that
case cannot be estimated at this stage. |
|
b) |
On
March 28, 2000, a claim was filed with the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa District Court against
the CATV franchisees, including the Company, by the
Association for the International Collective
Management of Audiovisual Works - AGICOA, an international association of
producers of cinema and TV works (the Producers). |
|
The
aggregate sum of the claim (against all the companies) is not less than $ 171
million (the claim was limited for the purpose of
court fees to an initial sum of $ 20 million, while
the plaintiffs right was reserved to increase the sum of the claim). |
|
The
claim is for copyright allegedly infringed upon, by the CATV franchisees, in the
broadcasting of programs whose copyright is owned by
the Producers, without permission and without payment
of consideration to the Producers. The Producers are also claiming
unjust enrichment by the CATV franchisees, and are
seeking the remedy of submission of accounts. |
|
The
Companys management believes, as expressed in the answer filed with the Court on
July 9, 2000, that the Producers have no right to
file this claim in light of the Restrictive Business
Practices Law in Israel. In addition, the period of time in which
the claim is raised deviates, at least in part,
from that time set by law and since the Producers
have not properly proved the validity of their claimed rights in the
programs; and since the sum of the claim appears
to be grossly unrealistic and exaggerated. |
|
The
claim was referred to mediation that was unsuccessful and, therefore, the case was
returned to be heard by the Court. |
-57-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
On
June 18, 2002, an initial preliminary hearing was held in the Tel-Aviv District
Court, in the context of which, the Court determined
that it is necessary to wait for the decision of the
Supreme Court on the additional hearing regarding a similar case,
in which matter the Court was persuaded that the
Supreme Courts decision will have actual
implications on the dispute in this case, or at least on part of it.
Nevertheless, the Court determined that it is
necessary to begin completing the preliminary
proceedings in the claim, including disclosure of documents,
questionnaires and providing additional information. |
|
The
above preliminary proceedings have not been completed in view of several
extensions of postponements as agreed between the
parties and under the Courts approval. On
November 26, 2003, a pre-trial meeting was held in the context of which
it was agreed that the date for completing the
preliminary proceedings will be postponed until
the decision of the Supreme Court in the additional hearing is
rendered. |
|
According
to the opinion of Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsel, since, at this time, the legal proceeding
is in its initial stages it is difficult to estimate
the prospects of the claim. Nevertheless, the Company has good
and substantial defense arguments, and therefore,
no provision has been included in the Companys
financial statements in respect thereof. |
|
c) |
On
December 31, 2003, Eshkolot - the Israeli Artists Society for Performers Rights
Limited (Eshkolot) filed a claim with the Tel Aviv
Jaffa Court against the cable companies, including
the Company, alleging non-payment of cash and issuing a permanent
injunction as well as requests to issue a
preliminary injunction and to give instructions to
Tevel trustee, as follows: |
|
Eshkolot
argues that since January 1, 2003, the cable companies broadcast programs
which use the performers rights of the Israeli
artists which are held by Eshkolot and this without
Eshkolot permission or consent to that and without making any royalties
whatsoever for broadcasting the performances. |
|
In
the context of the claim, the Court was requested to instruct and affirm that
Eshkolot is entitled to the payment of NIS 8,500
thousand as compensation for 2003 royalties (net of
payments already transferred to Eshkolot) and that, from now on, in
each year the cable companies will have to pay
this amount including linkage differences and to
update such royalties relative to the number of broadcasting
minutes of protected performances increase.
Additionally, Eshkolot requests to obligate the
cable companies to pay the maximum statutory compensation, as set in the
Copy Rights Law, in the total amount of NIS 24,320
thousand. Eshkolot also requests a permanent
injunction order against the cable companies that will disallow to broadcast
protected performances employing performers rights
held by Eshkolot, if an explicit authorization from
Eshkolot does not exist. |
-58-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
Further,
the Court was requested by Eshkolot to give a preliminary injunction which
prohibits the cable companies to broadcast
performances, employing performers rights held by
Eshkolot, if an advance explicit and written authorization from Eshkolot does
not exist, until the hearing and the decision
in Eshkolot primary claim for compensation due
to breach of performers rights and in the request of the permanent
order against the cable companies. |
|
As
of the date of the approval of the financial statements, neither an answer on
behalf of the cable companies nor a reply to the
requests outlined above were filed. |
|
As
of March 30, 2004, the parties are negotiating a settlement according to which, the
disputes will be forwarded to arbitration. |
|
According
to the opinion of Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsel, at this time, the prospects of the claim
cannot be estimated. Therefore, no provision was
recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in The
Companys financial statements. |
|
d) |
On
January 8, 2004, Eshkolot filed with the Restrictive Trade Practices Court an
appeal on the decision of the Controller of
the Anti-Trust Authority (the Controller)
dated December 17, 2003 to exempt the cable companies (including Matav
and Golden Channels) from receiving the approval
of the Court to the restrictive arrangement between
them. Eshkolot requests to revoke the Controllers decision.
Alternatively, it requests that the Court gives any
other provision at its discretion. |
|
The
Controller and the cable companies are the respondents to the appeal. |
|
Eshkolot
principal arguments are as follows: |
|
1) |
Ultra vires - the restrictive arrangement, which is the
issue of the appeal is inappropriate to the administrative channel of granting
an exemption by the Controller in view of the wide-ranging implications
that the restrictive arrangement has on the communication market, in general,
and on many populations, including the community of the Israeli performer
artists in particular. |
|
|
|
|
2) |
A mistaken decision - the restrictive arrangement does
not comply with the conditions set in the Anti Trust Law for granting an
exemption. The Controllers mistakes are factual and legal. The Controller
has disregarded the damage to the consumers, the public, in general and
the community of artists and performers, in particular, as a result of intensifying
the bargaining power of the cable companies versus the producers, artists
and performers. |
-59-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
In
his reply, the Controller rejects Eshkolot arguments one by one. His principal
arguments are as follows: |
|
1) |
The exemption was
granted until the earlier of one year or the completion of the merger procedures
between the cable companies. It was granted on the basis of the Controller
decision to extend the validity of the approval of the merger between the
cable companies and, practically, it was granted only out of precaution. |
|
|
|
|
2) |
Eshkolot did not object
to the Controllers decisions to approve the merger of the cable companies
( a decision dated April 22, 2002) or to extend its validity (except the
recent decision). |
|
|
|
|
3) |
The basis for the
appeal is a business dispute which merits are the amount of compensation
that the cable companies have to pay Eshkolot. It is inappropriate that
the appeal will serve as a tool to leverage and compel a person to pay its
debt. |
|
|
|
|
4) |
The appeal does not
have a minimal factual economic ground. |
|
|
|
|
5) |
The damage to competition
as an outcome of the arrangement is irrelevant. |
|
|
|
|
6) |
The arrangement has
an underlying competitive benefit. |
|
|
|
|
7) |
Arguments that the
arrangement impairs local production have been rejected in the past by Court. |
|
|
|
|
8) |
The exemption was
granted with powers. |
|
|
|
|
9) |
The Controller gave
reasonable consideration when granting the exemption. |
|
The
cable companies have not yet presented an answer. |
|
On
February 26, 2004, the Court has granted the request of the cable companies to
extend the date for replying to the appeal until March
23, 2004. |
|
A
preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 20, 2004. |
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its
legal counsel, at this early stage of proceedings
it is difficult to estimate the prospects of the
appeal. Therefore, no provision was recorded in respect to the
aforesaid claim in The Companys financial
statements. Nonetheless, the cable companies
maintain valid arguments to refute Eshkolot claims. |
-60-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
e) |
The
Company is involved in several additional claims that are not included in this
section and which do not exceed the aggregate
of NIS 5 million. The Companys management
estimation, based on the opinion of its legal counsel, is that no provision
should be included in the financial statements in
respect of such claims. |
|
f) |
In
2002 and 2004, the Company and its subsidiary, Matav Haifa, received assessments
for tax years 1997 - 2001. Under these assessments,
the additional taxes that the Company and Matav
Haifa are required to pay the amount of NIS 52 million (not
including interest and CPI linkage) and to decrease
their carry forward loss for the years 2000-2001
by NIS 96 million. The Company and Matav Haifa disagree with Tax
Authorities assessments and appealed on these
tax assessments. The assessments discussions are
in preliminary stages and it is impossible to evaluate its results.
Managements opinion, based on the evaluation of
its external advisers, has well founded arguments
against all the claims included these tax assessments, and therefore
no provision has been made in the Companys accounts
for the tax amount claimed. |
|
g) |
Since
a subsidiary did not file on time its tax return for the year ended December 31,
2002 with the Tax Authorities, it received an
assessment for 2002 during December 2003. Lately,
the subsidiary filed the said tax returns. As to the dispute with the
tax authorities, see Note 11b(1). |
|
3. |
Hot
Visions contingent liabilities: |
|
a) |
On
June 27, 2002, Yes filed a lawsuit, by way of opening motion with the district
court in Tel Aviv, against Hot Vision, which is
engaged in providing broadcasting of channels 3 and 4
to Yes. In its lawsuit, Yes argues that it is not obliged to pay Hot
Vision the amounts demanded for the broadcasting
rights of channel 4 and therefore Hot Vision is not
entitled to cease the provision of channel 3 broadcasting to Yes,
because of its refusal to pay Hot Vision the
amounts demanded for channel 4 broadcasting. |
|
In
the context of the lawsuit, on June 24, 2002, following Yess motion, the court
rendered an interim injunction, prohibiting Hot
Vision from ceasing the ordinary provision of
channel 3 to Yes, until a ruling is rendered in the motion. |
|
The
temporary order was conditioned on an autonomous bank guarantee in the amount of
NIS 1 million, which was deposited by Yes. |
|
On
July 2, 2002, a reply was filed on behalf of Hot Vision to the request to grant an
interim injunction, and on July 3, 2002, a hearing
was held regarding the request to grant an interim
injunction. An agreement was reached between the parties, pursuant
to which Yes shall pay Hot Vision NIS 4 million in
cash (for the broadcast rights of channel 4) without
admitting to any charge. |
-61-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
In addition, an arbitration
meeting was agreed by that the parties concerning the payment in respect
to channel 4.
It was further agreed by the parties, that the interim injunction given
by the court on June 24, 2002, will remain in force until 14 days following
the arbitration proceedings. |
|
According
to the opinion of Hot Visions legal counsel, at this stage it is not
possible to estimate the prospects of the Companys
claims. |
|
b) |
In
July September 1999, Tevel Israel International Communications Ltd. (Tevel) and
Golden Channels and Co. (Golden Channels) entered
into license agreements with the major studios
(Columbia, Fox and Warner Bros. Television Distribution (Warner) to
purchase contents (The agreements). The contents
were placed, among others, in channels 3 and 4
and are produced by Hot Vision for all cable companies, and for
channels for pay - Cinema 1, 2, 3 and cinema prime,
that are produced by Avdar Silver Industries Ltd.
(Avdar) for all of the cable companies. |
|
Agreements
were entered into by and between Tevel, Golden Channels and Hot Vision,
according to which, broadcasting rights for the
above contents, were provided to Hot Vision. In
addition, agreements were entered into by Avdar and all of the cable
companies, pursuant to which the broadcast rights
for the above pay channels were placed with Avdar. |
|
(a) |
On November 27, 2002,
Warner Entertainment Company (Warner) filed a lawsuit against Tevel in a
court in California seeking, inter alia, a monetary compensation of $ 17
million (Warner lawsuit in California), on the grounds that the agreement
from July 13, 2000, pursuant to which, Tevel (through which all the cable
companies) acquired from Warner the rights to broadcast films, was breached
and consequently was rescinded by Warner. |
|
|
|
|
|
Following Warner lawsuit
in California and other actions taken by Warner, on December 5, 2002, the
trustee for Tevel group filed with the District Court in Tel Aviv a motion
to instruct, among others, that Warner should take any measure necessary
to discontinue the lawsuit in California and this in view, among others,
of the stay of proceedings order that was granted with respect to Tevel,
which prohibits the institution of new proceedings against Tevel without
the approval of the District Court in Tel Aviv) and based on the proof of
debt submitted by Warner to the trustee under the same cause of action.
|
-62-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
|
On February 10, 2003,
the court rendered its ruling on the trustees motion. Pursuant to
the ruling, the court dismissed Warners position and accepted the
motion. The court, inter alia, ruled that Warner instituted unlawful proceeding
in the United States and under circumstances substantiating doubts as to
its good faith, and such a proceeding cannot be materialized or enforced
in the boundaries of the state of Israel. On March 25, 2003, the trustee
rendered it decision of Warners proof of debt, in which the majority
of the proof was rejected. On April 24, 2003, Warner appealed to the district
court on the issue of proof of debt and following decisions rendered on
the appeal, on June 24, 2003, Warner filed an amended appeal on the trustees
decision in the matter of the proof of debt. |
|
|
|
|
|
On October 21, 2003,
the Supreme Court rejected Warners appeal on the courts ruling
of February 10, 2003, subject to the rights of Warner and the trustee to
argue on the issue of the applicable law on the debt and this is in the
context of Warners appeal on the trustees decision on the
proof of debt and instructed Warner to file an amended appeal in order to
include the argument that Warners lawsuit should be litigated under
California law. |
|
|
|
|
|
The amended appeal
was filed, in the context of which, Warner seeks the reversal of the trustees
decision on the proof of debt (which approved the debt for Warner in the
amount of $ 182 thousand) and approve Warner a debt in the aggregate of
$ 17 million and alternatively $ 12 million. The trustee filed its response
to the appeal. The company estimates, based on the opinion of Tevels
legal counsel, that the chances of the appeal to prevail, are remote, therefore,
no provision has been included in the Companys financial statements in
respect thereof. |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
On December 9, 2002,
Warner filed a lawsuit against Golden Channels with the district court in
Los Angeles, California in the U.S. The lawsuit is seeking, inter alia,
a monetary compensation on the grounds of breach of contract with Golden
Channels dated July 13, 1999 and a lawsuit for declaratory remedies, as
contained in the complaint. On January 17, 2003, an amended complaint was
filed in context of which, Warner was seeking, inter alia, to compel Golden
Channels to pay compensation of at least $ 16 million in addition to expenses.
In addition, among others, declaratory remedies and an injunction were requested.
On February 14, 2003, Golden Channels filed its answer and a counterclaim.
In the context of the lawsuit, the parties also filed motions for preliminary
injunctions. A hearing for the preliminary injunctions was held on March
31, 2003. The court rejected all of the motions for preliminary injunctions.
The evidential hearing for the claim and the counterclaim was held during
January 2004 and on February 2004 the parties filed their post trial briefs.
In Warners post trial brief it requested compensation in the amount of
approximately US$ 25 million. In addition to expenses Golden channels requested
compensation in the amount of approximately $ 3 million. At this time, the
Companys management and Golden channels U.S. legal counsel can not assess
the chances of the claim, its monetary implications and the financial risks
caused therefrom and, accordingly, no provision (except of a provision for
estimated cost of the legal handling (see also below)) has been made in
the financial statements in respect thereof. |
-63-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
(c) |
On or about the filing
date of the above lawsuits, Warner forfeited bank guarantees it was granted
by Golden Channels and Tevel in the amount of $ 5 million each. |
|
|
|
|
|
Further to the above
lawsuits and the demand of Tevel and Golden Channels, Hot Vision board of
directors resolved that, in principle, Hot Vision shall bear the amounts
born or to be born by Tevel and Golden Channels in respect of the forfeiture
of guarantees, as above, and in respect of the aforesaid agreements with
the major studios, including their rescission and related expenses and/or
in respect of legal proceedings taken as above, subject to indemnification
by its shareholders to cover these amounts. |
|
|
|
|
On
June 30, 2003, Hot Vision and the cable companies signed an agreement for the
indemnification of Hot Vision relating to all of
the amounts that it shall bear in connection with
the debt to major studios and expenses associated with the management
of the above legal procedures (the indemnification
agreement). According to the indemnification
agreement, the cable companies are committed, one towards the other,
to jointly finance through Hot Vision the debt to
the major studios and expenses associated with the
management of these legal procedures which were implemented until
the date of the financial statements against certain
of the cable companies as well as any other procedure
between Tevel and/or Golden Channels and the major studios in
connection with agreements which were signed and/or
nullified with the major studios - this regarding
content which was provided to channels 3 and 4. As for the pay channels
(Cinema 1, 2, 3 and cinema prime), it was agreed
that the amounts will be paid directly to Tevel.
According to the indemnification agreement, the debt to the major
studios contains amounts that Tevel and/or Golden
Channels have to pay, as the case may be, to the
major studios in connection with the legal proceedings associated with
these agreements. |
|
As
well as amounts of new guarantees provided to the major studios, if so provided,
and which the major studios will forfeit and legal
fees that Tevel and/or Golden Channels will have
to pay to the major studios, all by virtue of a judgment or a
decree rendered in the context of the proceedings.
The indemnification does not refer to amounts that
are payable by the cable companies to Tevel and/or Golden Channels
through Hot Vision and Avdar Silver Infrastructures
Ltd. for purchase of content to channels 3 and 4 and
to the pay channels (Cinema channel 1, 2, 3 and Cinema Prime). |
-64-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
The
indemnification agreement further stipulates that the commitments of the cable
companies be revoked in the following cases: (1) if
the cable companies release, in writing, Hot Vision
from its obligations under this agreement (2) if Tevel, Golden
Channel and Matav merge into another cable company
(the merged company) and the merged company
assumes, in writing and without any condition, the commitments of all
of the cable companies towards Hot Vision under this
agreement even if Hot Vision is not released from
all of its said obligations given that the merged cable company
holds all of the issued share capital of Hot Vision
and that its commitments cover all of Hot Vision
obligations under the indemnification agreement. |
|
In
light of the abovementioned, Hot Vision recorded in its financial statements a
provision of approximately NIS 8.7 million
connection with the legal handling of the case of
Warner against Golden Channels, as mentioned in section b above. The Companys
portion is approximately NIS 2.3 million. |
|
c. |
Guarantees
and charges: |
|
1. |
The
Company placed a first ranking charge in favor of banks and a trustee in respect of
the debentures on its assets and rights for securing its
liabilities to banks and holders of the debentures. The
total secured liabilities at the balance sheet date amounted to
approximately NIS 636 millions. |
|
2. |
Under
some credit facility agreements of Partner, its principal shareholders were required
to pledge, in favor of the participating banks in the
aforesaid agreements, a part of their shares in Partner.
Under the amended Credit Facility agreement, in the event that Partner
meets the following financial conditions, a permitted
dividend distribution will be allowed and the shares pledged
by the principal shareholders may be released: |
|
- |
Meeting,
during the years 2003-2007, each of the financial covenants as included in
the agreement at minimum certain ratios, as described
in the agreement. |
|
- |
Partner
should have repaid to the participating banks as amount equal to half the
amount of the total commitments under the Credit
Facility agreement. |
|
Matav,
as one of Partner principal shareholders, registered a pledge, unlimited in amount,
on its shares in Partner (5.29%) and all the rights
attached thereto as security for the balance of Partners
bank loans. |
|
The
Company undertook not to register any pledges or floating charges on any assets in
favor of any third party, without obtaining the prior written
consent of the trustee for the banks. |
|
The
balance of Partners debt, secured by the above pledges, totaled, as of December
31, 2003, at approximately adjusted NIS 1,807 million (in
December 31, 2002 - adjusted NIS 2,422 million). |
-65-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
As
of December 31, 2003, Partner is not complying with any of the above financial
conditions and the Companys pledged shares in Partner
(5.29% of Ordinary shares of Partner) have not been
released, yet from their pledges. |
|
3. |
The
Company provided a bank guarantee of NIS 9.2 million to the Government of Israel,
which is valid through April 2005, for the purpose of
assuring its compliance with the terms of the general
Broadcasting license. |
|
In
addition, the Company provided a bank guarantee of NIS 16 million to the Government
of Israel, which is valid through March 2025, for the
purpose of assuring compliance with the terms of the
Telecommunication Infrastructure license granted to Amat Telecom. (see also
Note 1(a)8). |
|
4. |
The
Company guarantees in an unlimited amount, to Hot Vision, for all amounts due to a
bank at a rate of 24.6% of the total liabilities. In
accordance with the resolution of Hot Visions board of
directors, it was determined that the total credit to be extended to Hot
Vision by the bank shall not exceed the amount of $ 35
million. Any excess amount shall be approved in writing
by the Companys board of directors. This resolution was forwarded to
the bank that provides the credit. As of December 31,
2003 the Companys share in those guarantees amounted to $
4.6 million. |
|
In
addition, the Company is a guarantor to another bank to secure Hot Visions
liabilities in the amount, which is varied between $ 4.3- $
7 million (the Company share). |
|
5. |
The
Company recorded a charge on equipment purchased from a supplier to secure
its liabilities toward such supplier in a total amount of
NIS 0.6 million. |
|
In
addition, the Company provides a bank guarantee of NIS 8.7 million to another supplier
to secure its liabilities toward such supplier in a total
amount of NIS 19.9 million. |
|
6. |
The
Company guarantees in an amount of $ 200 thousand to Barak (other company). |
|
7. |
The
Company provided a bank guarantee of NIS 18.6 million to the Controller, which is
valid through April 2006, for the purpose of meeting the
conditions for the merger of the cable activities as was
determined by the Controller (see Note 1.a.4). |
-66-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
15:- |
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COLLATERALS (Cont.) |
|
d. |
In
2000, the Company was granted a call option for the purchase of 50% of the shares in
the channel company, Hop Ltd. (Hop) from its shareholders. Due
to regulatory provisions and by virtue of the directives of the
Controller in connection with the merger of the cable companies, the Company was
required to transfer the option to the full and exclusive
ownership of a third party so that the Company does not have any
interest in Hop. In the context of the agreement with the third party, it
was determined that, in return for the transfer of the rights in
the option to a third party, the third party shall pay the Company
an amount equivalent to 95% of the proceeds actually received
upon the exercise of the option and the actual purchase of
ownership in 50% of the shares in Hop. In August 2003, the third
party entered into an agreement with another company for the sale of the
option in consideration for the total amount of approximately $ 1.8
million. The Companys share amounts to approximately $ 1.7 million. |
|
|
As of
December 31, 2003, the Company did not recognize as income the expected gain, which
amounts to $ 1.1 million, net of tax effect, from the sale of the
option, since the material conditions, as stipulated in the
selling agreement, were not fulfilled. |
NOTE
16:- |
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY |
|
1. |
Composition of share capital
|
|
December
31, 2003 and 2002
|
|
Authorized |
Issued
and
paid-up |
|
|
|
|
Number
of shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary
shares 1 NIS par value each |
100,000,000 |
|
30,203,918 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
The
Companys shares are traded on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). |
|
The
Companys ADS are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol MATV. Each ADS represents
two of the Companys Ordinary shares of NIS 1 par value. |
|
b. |
Option
plan for senior employees: |
|
1. |
In
November 1997, the Board of Directors approved an option plan for senior employees
(the 1997 plan). According to the 1997 plan, 16 senior
employees will be allotted, without consideration, up to
500,000 options to purchase 500,000 Ordinary shares of NIS 1 par value
of the Company (subject to adjustments). |
|
Notwithstanding
the above, employees who exercise options will not be allotted shares in the
full amount of the options exercised, but only in the
amount which reflects the element of the benefit embodied
in the options as calculated at the time of exercises. |
|
These options are exercisable
from the following dates: 1/3 of the options - 12 months after the allotment;
1/3 of the options - 24 months after the allotment; and 1/3 of the options
- 36 months after the allotment. These options are exercisable for a period
of 24 months from the end of each of the above periods (the exercise period).
Options not exercised will expire after the exercise period. The exercise
price of the options is $ 8 per share. |
-67-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
16:- |
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY (Cont.) |
|
The
Ordinary shares under the options were issued in accordance with the provisions
of Section 102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance
which stipulate, inter-alia, that the Company shall be
able to claim as a tax deduction the amounts credited to senior employees
as benefit in respect of sale of the shares so issued at a
price in excess of the exercise price, when such benefit is
considered as taxable income in their hands. |
|
As
of December 31, 2003 and 2002, 1997 Plan ended, in which some senior employees
exercised 275,000 options for purchasing 185,153 Ordinary
shares of NIS 1 par value, 149,000 options were forfeited
and 76,000 options were expired. |
|
2. |
On
January 30, 2001, the Companys Board of Directors approved an option plan for
the Companys senior employees (the 2001 Plan). Under the
2001 plan, senior employees will be allotted, without
consideration, up to 864,000 options to purchase 864,000 Ordinary shares
of NIS 1 par value of the company. |
|
Notwithstanding
the above, employees who exercise options will not be allotted shares in the
full amount of the options exercised, but only in the
amount which reflects the element of the benefit embodied
in the options as calculated at the time of exercises. |
|
These
options are exercisable from the following dates: 1/3 of the options - 12 months after
the decision was taken to make the allotment; 1/3 of the
options - 24 months after the allotment; and, 1/3 of
the options - 36 months after the allotment. These options are
exercisable (in whole or in part) for a period of 24
months from the end each of the above periods (the exercise
period). |
|
Options
not exercised will expire after the exercise period. The exercise price of the
options is NIS 49 per share, linked to the Israeli CPI for
December 2000 (based on 85% of the price of the Companys
Ordinary shares on the date of the decision of the Board of
Directors) (NIS 52 in December 31, 2003 terms). |
|
The
Ordinary shares under the 2001 plan were issued in accordance with the provisions
of Section 102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance
which stipulate, inter-alia, that the Company shall be
able to claim as a tax deduction the amounts credited to senior employees
as benefit in respect of sale of the shares so issued at a
price in excess of the exercise price, when such benefit is
considered as taxable income. |
|
On
August 28, 2001, the Companys Board of Directors approved to reprice the exercise
price of the first allotted portion to NIS 39.60 (based
on 90% of the price of the Companys Ordinary shares on
August 15, 2001) (NIS 41 in December 31, 2003 terms) and the earliest
date on which the first portion of the options may be
exercised was postponed for three months from the
original date. |
|
As
of December 31, 2003, under the 2001 Plan, 770,500 options were issued to 45
employees and 699,032 options were forfeited. See Also 3
below. |
-68-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
16:- |
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY (Cont.) |
|
3. |
In
November and December 2003, the Companys Board approved a stock option plan for 50
of the Companys employees without consideration (the
2003 Plan). The plan includes a total of 770,500 options
that are exercisable into 770,500 Ordinary shares of NIS 1 of the
Company. |
|
Notwithstanding
the above, employees who exercise options will not be allotted shares in the
full amount of the options exercised, but only in the
amount which reflects the element of the benefit embodied
in the options as calculated at the time of exercises. |
|
These
options are exercisable from the following dates: 1/3 of the options - January 31,
2004; 1/3 of the options - January 31, 2005; and 1/3 of
the options - January 31, 2006 (the vesting period).
These options are exercisable for a period of 36 months from the end of
each of the above periods (the exercise period). |
|
Any
option that is not exercised during the exercise period expires. In the first
tranche, the exercise price of the options is NIS 26.816
per share (on the basis of 85% of the average price for
Company share during 30 trading days on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange before
the date of the Boards decision - November 17, 2003). In
the second and third tranches, the exercise price of the
options will be the basis of 90% of the average price for Company
share during 30 trading days on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
before the end of vesting period of each of the following
tranches per share. |
|
According
to the 2003 plan, options may be issued provided that the employee waives their
rights to options, which matured in the first and second
tranches of the 2001 plan and that the Companys Board of
Directors approve the cancellation of the third tranche of the 2001
Plan, subject to the employees agreement (see 2 above). |
|
The
issuance of options is managed under the principles which were determined for
that purpose in section 102 of the Income Tax Ordinance
which stipulate, inter-alia, that the Company shall not
be able to claim as a tax deduction the amounts credited to senior
employees as benefit (in respect of sale of the issued
shares at a price in excess of the exercise price), if
that benefit is subject to capital gains tax in a reduced tax rate and
will be able to claim as a tax deduction the amounts
credited, as mentioned if that benefit is considered as
regular taxable income. |
|
On
December 31, 2003, the General Meeting of the Company approved the abovementioned
plan. As of that date 770,500 options were issued to the
Companys employees. |
|
|
According to
a prospectus dated August 28, 1997, the Company issued 2,850,000 registered warrants
(series 1) exercisable through August 20, 2001 for acquisition
of Ordinary shares of NIS 1 par value. Each (series 1) warrant
is exercisable to purchase one Ordinary share of NIS 1 par value for
a cash payment of NIS 41 linked to the Israeli CPI for July 1997
(NIS 49.17 in December 31, 2002 terms). Warrants not exercised
through August 20, 2001 will expire and will not confer on their
holders any rights. |
|
|
The net proceeds from
the issuance received in cash, amounted to adjusted NIS 1,909 thousand. |
-69-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
16:- |
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY (Cont.) |
|
|
383,750 warrants
were purchased by Matav Haifa in the framework of the issuance. In August 2001,
Matav Haifa purchased 986,398 warrants in consideration of adjusted
NIS 250,000 and exercised them, together with another 383,750
warrants (that had been purchased at the original time of their
issuance) at the date of their expiration (August 20, 2001)
into 1,370,148 of the Companys Ordinary shares in the amount of
approximately adjusted NIS 66.2 million. |
|
|
The aforementioned
shares conferred in Matav Haifa constitute 4.54% of ownership and control in the
Company. |
|
|
On August
20, 2001, the remaining warrants that had not been exercised into shares, expired. |
|
|
In 2002,
Matav Haifa sold 26,651 shares of the Company in consideration for approximately
NIS 1 million. |
|
|
In 2003
Matav Haifa sold the remaining 1,343,497 shares of the Company in consideration
for approximately NIS 39.1 million. |
NOTE
17:- |
TAXES ON INCOME |
|
a. |
Tax
laws applicable to the companies: |
|
|
The provisions
of the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985 apply to the Company and
certain of its Israeli investees. According to the law, the
results for tax purposes are measured based on the changes in the
Israeli CPI. In November 2001, an amendment to the Income Tax
(Inflationary Adjustments) Law (Amendment No. 14), 2001 was
passed by the Knesset (Israeli parliament), pursuant to which
until February 28 of the year following the reported tax year, the
Minister of Finance, with the approval of the finance committee
of the Knesset, is entitled to determine by an order that the
provisions of the aforesaid law, in whole or in part, will not apply
with respect to a certain tax year if the Israeli CPI in that
year did not increase by more than 3%. In February 2004, the
Minister of Finance and the finance committee decided that the
Inflationary Adjustments Law will be implemented with respect to
2003. |
|
|
The tax
liability for 2003 is computed according to the law, while taking into account the
decrease in the Israeli CPI in that year. The Company and its
subsidiaries are taxed under this law. |
-70-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
17:- |
TAXES ON INCOME
(Cont.) |
|
b. |
Deferred
income taxes: |
|
|
The composition
of the deferred taxes, and the changes therein during the reported years and the
related valuation allowance as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, are as
follows: |
|
Consolidated
|
|
For
temporary
differences
of investment
in affiliate
company
|
For provisions
for employees
rights (severance
pay and vacation
pay) and for
allowance for
doubtful accounts
|
In respect
of
carryforward
tax losses
|
Total
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
January 1, 2001 |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax asset |
|
- |
|
|
1,656 |
|
|
53,586 |
|
|
55,242 |
|
Less - valuation
allowance |
|
- |
|
|
(1,656 |
) |
|
(53,586 |
) |
|
(55,242 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2002 |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax asset (liability) |
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
2,368 |
|
|
35,029 |
|
|
21,767 |
|
Less - valuation
allowance |
|
- |
|
|
(2,368 |
) |
|
(35,029 |
) |
|
(37,397 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2003 |
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company
|
|
For temporary
differences
of investment
in affiliate
company
|
For provisions
for employees
rights (severance
pay and vacation
pay) and for
allowance for
doubtful accounts
|
In respect
of
carryforward
tax losses
|
Total
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at January 1, 2001 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax asset |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
1,249 |
|
|
37,274 |
|
|
38,523 |
|
Less - valuation
allowance |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
(1,249 |
) |
|
(37,274 |
) |
|
(38,523 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2002 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax asset (liability) |
|
|
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
1,491 |
|
|
34,926 |
|
|
20,787 |
|
Less - valuation
allowance |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
(1,491 |
) |
|
(34,926 |
) |
|
(36,417 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2003 |
|
|
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(15,630 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-71-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
17:- |
TAXES ON INCOME
(Cont.) |
|
c. |
Taxes on income included
in the statements of operations: |
|
1. |
These taxes - for
the reported years - are composed as follows: |
|
Consolidated
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Current |
|
|
|
(84 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
41,799 |
|
Deferred
taxes |
|
|
|
1,538 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(6,303 |
) |
For previous
years - current |
|
|
|
(1,888 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(434 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
35,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Current |
|
|
|
(4,668 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
41,799 |
|
Deferred
taxes |
|
|
|
1,042 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(6,303 |
) |
For previous
years - current |
|
|
|
1,321 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,305 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
35,496 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
taxes are computed at the tax rate of 36%. |
-72-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
17:- |
TAXES ON INCOME
(Cont.) |
|
2. |
Below
is a reconciliation between the theoretical tax expense (benefit), assuming all of the
Groups income is taxed at the regular tax rates applicable
to companies in Israel (see (1) above), and the actual tax
expense as reported in the statements of operations. |
|
Consolidated
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Income
(loss) before taxes on income, as |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
reported
in the statement of operations |
|
|
|
(178,886 |
) |
|
131,765 |
|
|
(10,781 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Theoretical
tax expenses (benefit) |
|
|
|
(64,400 |
) |
|
47,435 |
|
|
(3,881 |
) |
Increase
(decrease) in taxes resulting |
|
|
from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disallowable
deductions |
|
|
|
912 |
|
|
4,115 |
|
|
1,980 |
|
Increase
in taxes in respect of tax |
|
|
losses
incurred in the reported year |
|
|
for
which deferred taxes were not |
|
|
created |
|
|
|
62,798 |
|
|
53,586 |
|
|
35,029 |
|
Increase
in taxes in respect of temporary |
|
|
differences
which deferred taxes were |
|
|
not
provided |
|
|
|
2,144 |
|
|
1,656 |
|
|
2,368 |
|
Difference
in definition of capital and |
|
|
assets
for tax purposes |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
2,059 |
|
|
- |
|
Taxes in
respect of previous years |
|
|
|
(1,888 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(434 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
35,576 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Income
(loss) before taxes on income, as |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
reported
in the statement of operations |
|
|
|
(129,701 |
) |
|
185,248 |
|
|
(6,369 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Theoretical
tax expenses (benefit) |
|
|
|
(46,713 |
) |
|
66,689 |
|
|
(2,293 |
) |
Increase
(decrease) in taxes resulting |
|
|
from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disallowable
deductions |
|
|
|
683 |
|
|
3,639 |
|
|
1,372 |
|
Increase
in taxes in respect of tax |
|
|
losses
incurred in the reported year |
|
|
for
which deferred taxes were not |
|
|
created |
|
|
|
39,856 |
|
|
37,274 |
|
|
34,926 |
|
Increase
in taxes in respect of temporary |
|
|
differences
which deferred taxes were |
|
|
not
provided |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
1,249 |
|
|
1,491 |
|
Difference
in definition of capital and |
|
|
assets
for tax purposes |
|
|
|
2,548 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Taxes in
respect of previous years |
|
|
|
1,321 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,305 |
) |
|
108,851 |
|
|
35,496 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-73-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
17:- |
TAXES ON INCOME
(Cont.) |
|
d. |
Carryforward
tax losses: |
|
|
At December
31, 2003 and 2002, the Group had carryforward tax losses of adjusted NIS 523 million
and NIS 426 million, respectively. The carryforward tax losses
are linked to the Israeli CPI and can be utilized indefinitely.
The carryforward tax losses amounts are dependent on the results of
the dispute with the tax authorities (Note 11b(1)) and the tax
assessments (Note 15b(f) and 15b(g)). |
|
|
The Company
has received final assessments through tax year 1996, and the other Group companies
have received final assessments through tax year 1997. |
|
|
Regarding tax
assessments which were received by the Company and its subsidiaries for tax years
1997 - 2002 (see Note 15b(f) and 15b(g)). |
-74-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
18:- |
LINKAGE TERMS
OF MONETARY BALANCES |
|
Consolidated
|
|
December
31, 2002
|
December
31, 2003
|
|
In or linked
to foreign
currency
|
Linked to
the Israeli
CPI
|
Unlinked
|
Total
|
In or linked
to foreign
currency
|
Linked to
the Israeli
CPI
|
Unlinked
|
Total
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and
cash equivalents |
|
6,681 |
|
|
- |
|
|
923 |
|
|
7,604 |
|
|
80 |
|
|
- |
|
|
37,868 |
|
|
37,948 |
|
Trade receivables |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
68,697 |
|
|
68,697 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
83,151 |
|
|
83,151 |
|
Other accounts
receivable |
|
- |
|
|
1,699 |
|
|
4,075 |
|
|
5,774 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
8,592 |
|
|
8,592 |
|
Loan and
capital note to affiliates |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
13,623 |
|
|
13,623 |
|
Long-term
loans granted to employees |
|
- |
|
|
611 |
|
|
- |
|
|
611 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Other receivables |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
885 |
|
|
885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,681 |
|
|
2,310 |
|
|
87,349 |
|
|
96,340 |
|
|
80 |
|
|
- |
|
|
144,119 |
|
|
144,199 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term
credit |
|
- |
|
|
25,672 |
|
|
413,216 |
|
|
438,888 |
|
|
19,005 |
|
|
163 |
|
|
370,562 |
|
|
389,730 |
|
Trade payables |
|
16,887 |
|
|
- |
|
|
67,169 |
|
|
84,056 |
|
|
7,331 |
|
|
- |
|
|
87,368 |
|
|
94,699 |
|
Affiliate
- current accounts |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
2,682 |
|
|
2,682 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
17,690 |
|
|
17,690 |
|
Other accounts
payable |
|
- |
|
|
40,024 |
|
|
44,583 |
|
|
84,607 |
|
|
- |
|
|
83,418 |
|
|
54,930 |
|
|
138,348 |
|
Loans from
banks and other (including current |
maturities) |
|
53,779 |
|
|
163,541 |
|
|
- |
|
|
217,320 |
|
|
25,214 |
|
|
147,862 |
|
|
- |
|
|
173,076 |
|
Debentures
(including current maturities) |
|
- |
|
|
133,192 |
|
|
- |
|
|
133,192 |
|
|
- |
|
|
99,846 |
|
|
- |
|
|
99,846 |
|
Customers
deposits for converters, net of |
accumulated
amortization |
|
- |
|
|
24,809 |
|
|
- |
|
|
24,809 |
|
|
- |
|
|
25,675 |
|
|
- |
|
|
25,675 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,666 |
|
|
387,238 |
|
|
527,650 |
|
|
985,554 |
|
|
51,550 |
|
|
356,964 |
|
|
530,550 |
|
|
939,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-75-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
18:- |
LINKAGE TERMS
OF MONETARY BALANCES (Cont.) |
|
The Company
|
|
December
31, 2002
|
December
31, 2003
|
|
In or linked
to foreign
currency
|
Linked to
the Israeli
CPI
|
Unlinked
|
Total
|
In or linked
to foreign
currency
|
Linked to
the Israeli
CPI
|
Unlinked
|
Total
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and
cash equivalents |
|
6,591 |
|
|
- |
|
|
853 |
|
|
7,444 |
|
|
80 |
|
|
- |
|
|
35,799 |
|
|
35,879 |
|
Trade receivables |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
47,635 |
|
|
47,635 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
45,400 |
|
|
45,400 |
|
Other accounts
receivable |
|
- |
|
|
1,651 |
|
|
1,168 |
|
|
2,819 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
7,009 |
|
|
7,009 |
|
Loan and
capital note to affiliates |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
13,654 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
13,623 |
|
|
13,623 |
|
Long-term
loans granted to employees |
|
- |
|
|
464 |
|
|
- |
|
|
464 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,591 |
|
|
2,115 |
|
|
63,310 |
|
|
72,016 |
|
|
80 |
|
|
- |
|
|
101,831 |
|
|
101,911 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term
credit |
|
- |
|
|
25,672 |
|
|
413,197 |
|
|
438,869 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
349,223 |
|
|
349,223 |
|
Trade payables |
|
16,887 |
|
|
- |
|
|
50,534 |
|
|
67,421 |
|
|
7,331 |
|
|
- |
|
|
56,286 |
|
|
63,617 |
|
Affiliate
- current accounts |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
3,077 |
|
|
3,077 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
15,988 |
|
|
15,988 |
|
Other accounts
payable |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
73,185 |
|
|
73,185 |
|
|
- |
|
|
43,418 |
|
|
81,560 |
|
|
124,978 |
|
Loans from
banks and other (including |
current
maturities) |
|
53,779 |
|
|
163,541 |
|
|
- |
|
|
217,320 |
|
|
25,214 |
|
|
147,862 |
|
|
- |
|
|
173,076 |
|
Debentures
(including current maturities) |
|
- |
|
|
134,920 |
|
|
- |
|
|
134,920 |
|
|
- |
|
|
101,103 |
|
|
- |
|
|
101,103 |
|
Customers
deposits for converters, net of |
accumulated
amortization |
|
- |
|
|
18,347 |
|
|
- |
|
|
18,347 |
|
|
- |
|
|
18,882 |
|
|
- |
|
|
18,882 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,666 |
|
|
342,480 |
|
|
539,993 |
|
|
953,139 |
|
|
32,545 |
|
|
311,265 |
|
|
503,057 |
|
|
846,867 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-76-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
19:- |
SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION OF THE STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
|
a. |
Other operating expenses: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Payroll and
related expenses |
|
41,136 |
|
|
31,763 |
|
|
32,131 |
|
|
29,225 |
|
|
19,203 |
|
|
18,840 |
|
Royalties
and other payments |
to
the Government |
|
21,945 |
|
|
20,631 |
|
|
24,242 |
|
|
15,686 |
|
|
14,450 |
|
|
15,925 |
|
Royalties
in respect of films |
and
programs - paid to Hot |
Vision |
|
69,718 |
|
|
61,763 |
|
|
53,994 |
|
|
49,669 |
|
|
44,981 |
|
|
38,129 |
|
Programs
and other Broadcasts |
|
157,213 |
|
|
181,172 |
|
|
140,414 |
|
|
112,491 |
|
|
121,885 |
|
|
98,957 |
|
Subscribers
maintenance |
|
18,841 |
|
|
17,619 |
|
|
22,845 |
|
|
13,786 |
|
|
11,590 |
|
|
14,380 |
|
Other |
|
33,074 |
|
|
32,493 |
|
|
32,539 |
|
|
27,823 |
|
|
17,808 |
|
|
20,974 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
341,927 |
|
|
345,441 |
|
|
306,165 |
|
|
248,680 |
|
|
229,917 |
|
|
207,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
b. |
Selling, marketing,
general and administrative expenses: |
Selling and
marketing: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payroll and
related expenses |
|
17,817 |
|
|
15,832 |
|
|
15,539 |
|
|
13,082 |
|
|
11,191 |
|
|
10,446 |
|
Advertising |
|
28,650 |
|
|
10,218 |
|
|
14,698 |
|
|
20,245 |
|
|
8,952 |
|
|
8,457 |
|
Sales promotion |
|
11,507 |
|
|
14,593 |
|
|
13,717 |
|
|
8,586 |
|
|
8,981 |
|
|
7,975 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,974 |
|
|
40,643 |
|
|
43,954 |
|
|
41,913 |
|
|
29,124 |
|
|
26,878 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and
administrative: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payroll and
related expenses |
|
22,144 |
|
|
20,777 |
|
|
16,596 |
|
|
16,207 |
|
|
10,735 |
|
|
12,718 |
|
Office rent
and maintenance |
|
11,344 |
|
|
9,687 |
|
|
7,894 |
|
|
9,680 |
|
|
7,687 |
|
|
4,692 |
|
Professional
fees |
|
4,362 |
|
|
4,600 |
|
|
1,199 |
|
|
3,158 |
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
3,011 |
|
Legal fees |
|
5,690 |
|
|
2,383 |
|
|
1,547 |
|
|
4,081 |
|
|
2,383 |
|
|
1,182 |
|
Amortization
of excess of |
cost
of investment in |
Matav
Haifa |
|
1,420 |
|
|
1,420 |
|
|
894 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Allowance
for doubtful |
accounts
and write-off of |
bad
debts |
|
2,823 |
|
|
2,065 |
|
|
5,300 |
|
|
2,124 |
|
|
1,452 |
|
|
3,590 |
|
Other |
|
9,269 |
|
|
5,205 |
|
|
9,229 |
|
|
4,710 |
|
|
4,542 |
|
|
3,095 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57,052 |
|
|
46,137 |
|
|
42,659 |
|
|
39,960 |
|
|
29,899 |
|
|
28,288 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
115,026 |
|
|
86,780 |
|
|
86,613 |
|
|
81,873 |
|
|
59,023 |
|
|
55,166 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-77-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
19:- |
SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION OF THE STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Cont.) |
|
c. |
Financial
expenses (income), net: |
|
Consolidated
|
The Company
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In respect
of debentures and |
long-term
loans |
|
23,771 |
|
|
25,032 |
|
|
11,214 |
|
|
23,421 |
|
|
24,092 |
|
|
11,214 |
|
In respect
of short-term |
credit
*) |
|
21,124 |
|
|
10,328 |
|
|
51,637 |
|
|
21,072 |
|
|
10,771 |
|
|
49,272 |
|
Bank commissions |
|
6,052 |
|
|
6,595 |
|
|
7,473 |
|
|
4,237 |
|
|
4,732 |
|
|
5,296 |
|
Other |
|
2,681 |
|
|
7,254 |
|
|
13,778 |
|
|
2,002 |
|
|
4,530 |
|
|
13,605 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,628 |
|
|
49,209 |
|
|
84,102 |
|
|
50,732 |
|
|
44,125 |
|
|
79,387 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income: |
Interest
on a bank deposit |
|
- |
|
|
(1,120 |
) |
|
(144 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Interest
on loan to an |
affiliate |
|
(1,540 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(13,906 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,540 |
) |
|
(1,120 |
) |
|
(144 |
) |
|
(13,906 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,088 |
|
|
48,089 |
|
|
83,958 |
|
|
36,826 |
|
|
44,125 |
|
|
79,387 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
. |
*) Net
of erosion of monetary items, net: |
|
d. |
Other
income (expenses), net: |
Gain
(losses) from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in
shareholding in |
affiliate
(including from |
sale
of shares of affiliate) |
|
5,145 |
|
|
295,933 |
|
|
96,662 |
|
|
5,145 |
|
|
302,418 |
|
|
97,876 |
|
Write-off
of investment in |
other
companies |
|
- |
|
|
(8,962 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(8,830 |
) |
|
- |
|
Sale of fixed
assets |
|
(2,704 |
) |
|
(44 |
) |
|
(1,428 |
) |
|
(2,637 |
) |
|
(92 |
) |
|
(1,209 |
) |
Settlement
of a claim |
|
(973 |
) |
|
(235 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(972 |
) |
|
(235 |
) |
|
- |
|
Gain from
transfer of Company |
Internet
subscribes to |
another
Internet services |
provider,
net |
|
1,585 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,585 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Merger expenses
related to |
the
cable companies |
|
- |
|
|
(2,801 |
) |
|
(4,487 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(2,801 |
) |
|
(4,487 |
) |
Adjustments
of amortization |
for
deposits converters |
liabilities
and other |
|
- |
|
|
(5,356 |
) |
|
(4,001 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(3,434 |
) |
|
(2,803 |
) |
Retroactive
refund of royalties |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,151 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
4,151 |
|
Write-off
of fixed assets |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(8,528 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(6,429 |
) |
Other |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(1,373 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(452 |
) |
|
(2,158 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,053 |
|
|
278,535 |
|
|
80,996 |
|
|
3,121 |
|
|
286,574 |
|
|
84,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-78-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
20:- |
NET EARNING
(LOSS) PER SHARE |
|
Number of shares and
income (loss) used in the calculation of income (loss) per ordinary share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
2001
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Net
income
(loss)
|
|
Weighted
Average
amount of
shares
|
|
Net income
(loss)
|
|
Weighted
average
amount of
shares
|
|
Net
income
(loss)
|
|
Weighted
average
amount of
shares
|
|
Adjusted
NIS in thousands |
|
|
Number
of shares and the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net income
(loss) |
according
to statements of |
operations |
(257,274) |
|
(* 28,834 |
|
33,824 |
|
(* 28,860 |
|
(5,450) |
|
(* 29,347 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*) Net
of the shares held by a subsidiary. |
NOTE
21:- |
BUSINESS SEGMENTS |
|
a. |
The group companies
operate in two principal business segments: cable television and Internet. |
|
|
|
|
b. |
All income and expenses
are attributed directly to business segments. No material transactions among
the segments were carried out. |
|
|
|
|
c. |
Segments assets
include all operating assets used in the segment and mainly consist of cash
and cash equivalents, checks collectible, trade receivables and fixed assets.
Most of the assets can be attributed to a certain segment. The amounts of
certain assets that are jointly used by 2 segments or more, are allocated
to segments on a reasonable basis. |
|
|
|
The liabilities
of a segment include all operating liabilities deriving from operating activities
of the segment and mainly of trade payables and other accounts payable.
Assets and liabilities of the segment do not include income tax assets and
liabilities. |
-79-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
21:- |
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(Cont.) |
|
Year ended
December 31, 2003
|
|
Internet
|
Cable
Television
|
Total
consolidated
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
Sales to
external customers |
|
34,403 |
|
|
511,077 |
|
|
545,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
34,403 |
|
|
511,077 |
|
|
545,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Result of
segments (operating (loss) income) |
|
10,436 |
|
|
(18,255 |
) |
|
(7,819 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unallocated
financial expenses, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(83,958 |
) |
Other income,
net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
80,996 |
|
Taxes on
income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(35,576 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
after taxes on income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(46,357 |
) |
Equity in
earnings (losses) of affiliates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,450 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Other information |
The segments
assets |
|
78,090 |
|
|
978,611 |
|
|
1,055,701 |
|
Unallocated
common assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
85,851 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total consolidated
assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,142,552 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The segments
liabilities |
|
15,963 |
|
|
184,141 |
|
|
200,104 |
|
Unallocated
common liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
761,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total consolidated
liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
961,804 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital investments |
|
38,131 |
|
|
17,524 |
|
|
55,655 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
|
6,792 |
|
|
153,729 |
|
|
160,521 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-80-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
21:- |
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(Cont.) |
|
Year ended
December 31, 2002
|
|
Internet
|
Cable
Television
|
Total
consolidated
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
Sales to
external customers |
|
9,124 |
|
|
486,412 |
|
|
495,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
9,124 |
|
|
486,412 |
|
|
495,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Result of
segments (operating (loss) income) |
|
(7,724 |
) |
|
(90,957 |
) |
|
(98,681 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unallocated
financial expenses, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(48,089 |
) |
Other income,
net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
278,536 |
|
Taxes on
income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(108,851 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Income after
taxes on income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,914 |
|
Equity in
earnings of affiliates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,910 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,824 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The segments
assets |
|
39,297 |
|
|
1,049,964 |
|
|
1,089,261 |
|
Unallocated
common assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,365 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total consolidated
assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,132,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The segments
liabilities |
|
10,369 |
|
|
145,761 |
|
|
156,130 |
|
Unallocated
common liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
829,424 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total consolidated
liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
985,554 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital investments |
|
36,073 |
|
|
80,768 |
|
|
116,841 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization |
|
5,893 |
|
|
156,103 |
|
|
161,996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-81-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
22:- |
TRANSACTIONS
WITH INTERESTED PARTIES |
|
Consolidated
and the Company
|
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Adjusted NIS
in thousands
|
a. Salaries
and profit sharing grant: |
|
1.
To unemployed directors: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments |
|
148 |
|
|
194 |
|
|
142 |
|
Number
of recipients |
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
2.
Employed interested parties: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of salaries (1) |
|
2,122 |
|
|
1,251 |
|
|
1,116 |
|
Number
of recipients |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
b. Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rental
and services to shareholders affiliate |
|
293 |
|
|
286 |
|
|
244 |
|
Payment
to supplier |
|
13,725 |
|
|
15,127 |
|
|
13,936 |
|
Operating
commissions |
|
2,508 |
|
|
2,902 |
|
|
- |
|
Costs
related to set up of infrastructure, |
included
in fixed assets |
|
498 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
Professional
services |
|
- |
|
|
295 |
|
|
2,728 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) See
also Note 16b(3). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-82-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
23:- |
TRANSACTIONS
WITH INTERESTED PARTIES |
|
a. |
Foreign exchange risk
management: |
|
|
The Company enters into
foreign exchange contracts to protect itself against the risk of the possible
fluctuation of change in the exchange rate, relating to agreements with
suppliers. |
|
|
The amounts relating
to foreign currency derivatives - forward contracts - for exchange of NIS
into U.S. dollars currency, are as follows: |
|
|
As of December 31, 2003,
the Company has forward contracts for call options to buy $ 24 million and
put options to sell $ 24 million. The options are presented in the financial
statements at market value (see c below). As of December 31, 2002, there
were no forward contracts. |
|
b. |
Concentrations of credit
risks: |
|
|
At December 31, 2003
and 2002, the Group held cash and cash equivalents which were deposited
mainly with Israeli banks. The Group is of the opinion that the credit risk
in respect of these balances is remote. |
|
|
The Groups revenues
are derived from a large number of customers in the franchise areas. Consequently,
the exposure to credit risk relating to trade receivables is limited. The
Group performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers for the purpose
of determining the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts. |
|
c. |
Fair value of financial
instruments: |
|
|
The fair value of the
financial instruments included in working capital of the Group is usually
identical or approximates their carrying value. The fair value of long-term
loans granted and the fair value of long-term bank loans also approximate
their carrying value, since they bear interest at rates close to prevailing
market rates. |
|
|
The fair value of debentures
as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 amounted to adjusted NIS 99 million and
adjusted NIS 122 million, respectively, which represents the market value
of the debentures on the TASE. |
|
|
The fair value of the
derivatives mentioned in a. above as of December 31, 2003 is a net liability
of adjusted NIS 1,588 thousand. |
-83-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
24:- |
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS |
|
a. |
On January 24, 2004,
Delek Investments Properties Ltd. (Delek) purchased from Dankner
Investments Ltd. (Dankner) 17.99% of the Companys outstanding
Ordinary shares. |
|
|
During February 2004
the Company announced that it was engaged in preliminary negotiations with
Tevel Israel International Communications Ltd. (Tevel) and with
Tevels shareholders to purchase all of Tevels cable assets,
including Tevels holdings in Golden Channels and Co. and in Tevels
subsidiaries that have cable broadcasting and access to fast-internet licenses
(Tevels Communications Assets) |
|
|
The Company was evaluating
a few alternatives for the execution of the transaction, including the possibility
of the Company purchasing Tevels Communications Assets and in return
the Company would issue its shares to Tevel and take on part of Tevels
bank debt, thus increasing the Companys total debt. |
|
|
Following the signing
of the Memorandum of Agreement with Partner, (see below), these negotiations
with Tevel and its shareholders, shall be conducted at this stage in the
context of Matav-Partner transaction. |
|
|
On March 15, 2004 the
Company and its shareholders, Dankner and Delek entered into a memorandum
of agreement with a leading Israeli mobile communications operator, Partner
pursuant to which Partner shall invest up to $ 137 million in the Company
for up to 40% share of the Company equity, and control of the Company. The
memorandum will become binding only upon approval of the Board of Directors
of each company. The transaction is subject to significant prerequisites
which include, inter alia: |
|
- |
Execution of a definitive
agreement and completion of due diligence by Partner; |
|
- |
Distribution to the
shareholders of Partner shares currently held by the Company (the
Distribution); |
|
- |
Receipt of significant
additional subscriber base by the Company from existing providers; |
|
- |
An agreement for commercial
cooperation between Partner and the Company; |
|
- |
Satisfactory agreements
with the lenders of each of the companies; |
|
- |
Approval of the Company
shareholders of an amendment of the Articles of Association of the Company,
and Confirmation that Dankner, Delek and Partner will not be deemed a group
of borrowers of the Company, for purposes of Israeli banking regulations,
as a result of the transaction. |
|
|
Upon closing of the
proposed Partner investment in the Company, the holdings of Delek and Dankner
will each be diluted to approximately 12%. Each of Delek and Dankner will
have an option during the two years following the closing to purchase up
to an additional 6% of the Company shares from Partner at a price to be
determined on the basis of the price of Matav shares and the price of the
Partner shares received by Matav shareholders as a distribution from the
Company, during the option period. In addition, Partner will have the option
at the end of the two year option period to repurchase Matav shares from
Delek and Dankner at a material premium over the Delek and Dankner option
price, so that Partners holding in the Company will be at least 2%
greater than that of Delek and Dankner together, should they exercise their
options. |
-84-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
24:- |
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS(Cont.) |
|
|
During the two years
following the closing for as long as Delek and Dankner hold the Company
shares, and subject to certain conditions, Partner will receive from Delek
and Dankner limited proxies that will grant Partner voting power in the
aggregate of 50.01% of the voting shares of the Company, and has agreed
to vote in favor of two directors designated on behalf of each of Delek
and Dankner for as long as each of them holds at least 5% of the Company. |
|
|
The parties undertook
to negotiate with the intent of entering into a definitive agreement until
May 15, 2004. However, there is no assurance that a definitive agreement
will be concluded, or that all the prerequisites for closing will be fulfilled. |
|
|
The Company reviews
the tax implications of the Distribution on the Company and its shareholders
and estimates that the total tax liability to the Company, based on the
value of Partner shares as of today, will amount to approximately $ 27 million. |
|
|
The Company also estimates
that if the transaction will be completed, the equity of the Company will
increase by approximately $ 100 million. |
|
b. |
In February 2004, a
subsidiary of the Company received tax assessments for the years 1999 -
2001 (see Note 15(2)(f). |
-85-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
25:- |
A SUMMARY OF
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN NOMINAL VALUE |
|
a. |
Balance sheets - the
Company: |
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS: |
Cash
and cash equivalents |
|
7,586 |
|
|
35,879 |
|
Trade
receivables |
|
48,546 |
|
|
45,400 |
|
Other
accounts receivable |
|
12,919 |
|
|
19,431 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
69,051 |
|
|
100,710 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
INVESTMENTS
AND LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES: |
Investments
in affiliates |
|
14,453 |
|
|
72,365 |
|
Investment
in other company |
|
16,536 |
|
|
16,536 |
|
Investments
in subsidiaries and long-term accounts |
|
238,661 |
|
|
227,483 |
|
Long-term
loans granted to employees |
|
473 |
|
|
- |
|
Severance
pay fund, net |
|
413 |
|
|
- |
|
Other
receivables |
|
- |
|
|
815 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
270,536 |
|
|
317,269 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIXED ASSETS: |
Cost |
|
1,089,664 |
|
|
1,090,654 |
|
Less
- accumulated depreciation |
|
446,330 |
|
|
536,694 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
643,334 |
|
|
553,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER ASSETS
AND DEFERRED CHARGES, NET |
|
2,148 |
|
|
1,134 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
985,069 |
|
|
973,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-86-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
25:- |
A SUMMARY OF
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN NOMINAL VALUE(Cont.) |
|
December 31,
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
Bank
credit |
|
523,931 |
|
|
394,896 |
|
Current
maturities of debentures |
|
34,375 |
|
|
33,701 |
|
Trade
payables |
|
68,710 |
|
|
63,617 |
|
Jointly
controlled entity - current account |
|
1,940 |
|
|
15,988 |
|
Other
accounts payable |
|
74,513 |
|
|
139,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
703,469 |
|
|
647,229 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONG-TERM
LIABILITIES: |
Loans
and debentures (net of current maturities): |
Loans
from bank and others |
|
144,801 |
|
|
127,403 |
|
Debentures |
|
103,124 |
|
|
67,402 |
|
Losses
over investments in subsidiaries |
|
10,568 |
|
|
12,393 |
|
Customers'
deposits for converters, net of accumulated |
amortization |
|
18,698 |
|
|
18,882 |
|
Severance
pay liability |
|
- |
|
|
704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
277,191 |
|
|
226,784 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHAREHOLDERS
EQUITY: |
Share
capital: |
|
30,204 |
|
|
30,204 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital |
|
318,350 |
|
|
295,439 |
|
Accumulated
deficit |
|
(281,851 |
) |
|
(226,583 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,703 |
|
|
99,060 |
|
Less
- cost of Company shares held by subsidiary |
|
62,294 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,409 |
|
|
99,060 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
985,069 |
|
|
973,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-87-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
25:- |
A SUMMARY OF
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN NOMINAL VALUE(Cont.) |
|
b. |
Statements of operations
- the Company: |
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
321,877 |
|
|
346,094 |
|
|
372,202 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses |
|
|
|
315,077 |
|
|
323,537 |
|
|
304,573 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit |
|
|
|
6,800 |
|
|
22,557 |
|
|
67,629 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling,
marketing, general and administrative |
|
|
expenses: |
|
|
Selling
and marketing |
|
|
|
39,899 |
|
|
29,159 |
|
|
27,236 |
|
General
and administrative |
|
|
|
38,042 |
|
|
29,934 |
|
|
28,664 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
77,941 |
|
|
59,093 |
|
|
55,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
profit (loss) |
|
|
|
(71,141 |
) |
|
(36,536 |
) |
|
11,729 |
|
Financial
expenses, net |
|
|
|
(42,251 |
) |
|
(70,832 |
) |
|
(71,181 |
) |
Other income,
net |
|
|
|
3,539 |
|
|
285,130 |
|
|
88,516 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
before taxes on income |
|
|
|
(109,853 |
) |
|
177,762 |
|
|
29,064 |
|
Taxes on
income |
|
|
|
(2,220 |
) |
|
110,720 |
|
|
36,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss)
from operations of the Company |
|
|
|
(107,633 |
) |
|
67,042 |
|
|
(7,466 |
) |
Equity in
earnings (losses) of affiliates and |
|
|
subsidiaries,
net |
|
|
|
(117,224 |
) |
|
(61,228 |
) |
|
62,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) for the year |
|
|
|
(224,857 |
) |
|
5,814 |
|
|
55,268 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-88-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
NOTE
25:- |
A SUMMARY OF
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN NOMINAL VALUE(Cont.) |
|
c. |
Statements of changes
in shareholders' equity |
|
Share
capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Retained
earnings
(accumulated
deficit)
|
Cost of
Company
shares held
by subsidiary
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
January 1, 2001 |
|
28,785 |
|
|
254,833 |
|
|
(62,808 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
220,810 |
|
Loss
for the year |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
(224,857 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
(224,857 |
) |
Exercise
of stock options |
by
employees and exercise |
of
series 1 warrants |
|
49 |
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
1,958 |
|
Acquisition
and exercise of |
Company
Series 1 warrants |
by
subsidiary |
|
1,370 |
|
|
61,985 |
|
|
- |
|
|
(63,603 |
) |
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2001 |
|
30,204 |
|
|
318,727 |
|
|
(287,665 |
) |
|
(63,603 |
) |
|
(2,337 |
) |
Net
income for the year |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
5,814 |
|
|
- |
|
|
5,814 |
|
Sale
of Company shares held |
by
subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
(377 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
1,309 |
|
|
932 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2002 |
|
30,204 |
|
|
318,350 |
|
|
(281,851 |
) |
|
(62,294 |
) |
|
4,409 |
|
Net
income for the year |
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
55,268 |
|
|
- |
|
|
55,268 |
|
Sale
of Company shares held |
by
subsidiary |
|
- |
|
|
(22,911 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
62,294 |
|
|
39,383 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
December 31, 2003 |
|
30,204 |
|
|
295,439 |
|
|
(226,583 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
99,060 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-89-
MATAV
- CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
APPENDIX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL INVESTEE COMPANIES |
Holding
Company |
|
Name
of Company |
|
Percentage
of
ownership and
control by holding
company as of
December 31, 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matav
Cable Systems Ltd. |
|
Cable
System Media Haifa-Hadera Ltd. |
|
100% |
|
Subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matav
Cable Systems Ltd. |
|
Matav
Investments Ltd. |
|
100% |
|
Subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matav
Cable Systems Ltd. |
|
Matav
Infrastructures 2001 - Limited
Partnership |
|
100% |
|
Subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matav
Investments Ltd. |
|
Matav
Properties Ltd. |
|
100% |
|
Subsidiary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partner
Communication Company Ltd. |
|
5.29% |
|
Affiliate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hot
Vision Ltd. |
|
26.6% |
|
Proportionately
consolidated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonstop
Ventures Ltd. |
|
50% |
|
Affiliate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|