6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For
the month of November 2005
Matav Cable Systems Media Ltd.
(Translation of registrants name into English) |
42 Pinkas Street
North Industrial Park
P.O. Box 13600
Netanya 42134
Israel
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x
Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing
the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes o
No x
Attached please find Matav Cable Systems Media Ltd, third quarter 2005 financial report,
edited according to the Israeli securities authority regulations. This financial report was attached as part of Delek
Investments Properties Ltd. (holder of 40 % in Matav) third quarter 2005 financial results, released on November 28,
2005.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
28 November 2005 |
|
Matav - Cable Systems Media Ltd.
(Registrant)
BY: /S/ Meir Srebernik
Meir Srebernik Chief Executive Officer |
Print the name and title of the
signing officer under his signature
MATAV CABLE
SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,
2005
IN NIS
UNAUDITED
INDEX
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
|
|
|
September 30,
|
December 31,
|
|
2005
|
2004
|
2004
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | |
| 85,915 |
|
| 10,277 |
|
| 24,250 |
|
Short-term deposit | | |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 50 |
|
Trade receivables | | |
| 81,354 |
|
| 81,765 |
|
| 75,458 |
|
Other accounts receivable | | |
| 19,444 |
|
| 14,974 |
|
| 20,010 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 186,713 |
|
| 107,016 |
|
| 119,768 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
INVESTMENTS AND LONG-TERM RECEIVABLES: | | |
Investments in affiliates | | |
| 37,398 |
|
| 89,029 |
|
| 101,736 |
|
Investment in other Company | | |
| 19,278 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
Investment in limited partnerships | | |
| 1,117 |
|
| 1,626 |
|
| 1,656 |
|
Rights to broadcast movies and programs | | |
| 26,709 |
|
| 29,994 |
|
| 26,509 |
|
Other receivables | | |
| 315 |
|
| 602 |
|
| 601 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 84,817 |
|
| 121,251 |
|
| 130,502 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: | | |
Cost | | |
| 2,226,317 |
|
| 2,085,502 |
|
| 2,119,060 |
|
Less - accumulated depreciation | | |
| 1,398,947 |
|
| 1,254,051 |
|
| 1,293,549 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 827,370 |
|
| 831,451 |
|
| 825,511 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND DEFERRED CHARGES, NET | | |
| 2,627 |
|
| 3,272 |
|
| 3,101 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 1,101,527 |
|
| 1,062,990 |
|
| 1,078,882 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
- 2 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
|
|
|
September 30,
|
December 31,
|
|
2005
|
2004
|
2004
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | |
Bank credit | | |
| 553,256 |
|
| 430,909 |
|
| 465,339 |
|
Current maturities of debentures | | |
| 34,206 |
|
| 34,107 |
|
| 34,005 |
|
Trade payables | | |
| 105,015 |
|
| 97,722 |
|
| 104,282 |
|
Jointly controlled entity - current accounts | | |
| 10,852 |
|
| 15,274 |
|
| 18,112 |
|
Other accounts payable | | |
| 108,277 |
|
| 208,632 |
|
| 201,943 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 811,606 |
|
| 786,644 |
|
| 823,681 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: | | |
Loans and debentures (net of current maturities): | | |
Loans from banks and others | | |
| 57,368 |
|
| 114,863 |
|
| 101,457 |
|
Debentures | | |
| - |
|
| 33,182 |
|
| 33,201 |
|
Customer deposits for converters, net of accumulated | | |
amortization | | |
| 17,127 |
|
| 21,725 |
|
| 20,279 |
|
Accrued severance pay, net | | |
| 3,234 |
|
| 2,208 |
|
| 2,483 |
|
Deferred taxes | | |
| 4,252 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 81,981 |
|
| 171,978 |
|
| 157,420 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: | | |
Share capital: | | |
Ordinary shares of NIS 1.00 par value - authorized: | | |
100,000,000 shares at September 30, 2005 and 2004 and | | |
December 31, 2004; Issued and outstanding: 30,222,775 | | |
shares at September 30, 2005 and 30,220,477 shares at | | |
December 31, 2004 and September 30, 2004 | | |
| 48,901 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
Additional paid-in capital | | |
| 375,538 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
Accumulated deficit | | |
| (216,499 |
) |
| (320,069 |
) |
| (326,656 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 207,940 |
|
| 104,368 |
|
| 97,781 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 1,101,527 |
|
| 1,062,990 |
|
| 1,078,882 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
November 21, 2005
Date of approval of the financial statements |
Meir Srebernik Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board |
Tal Peres Chief Financial Officer |
- 3 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
|
|
|
Nine months ended
September 30,
|
Three months ended
September 30,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2005
|
2004
|
2005
|
2004
|
2004
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands (except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
| 407,643 |
|
| 444,140 |
|
| 134,373 |
|
| 145,612 |
|
| 584,564 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Operating expenses: | | |
Depreciation | | |
| 105,408 |
|
| 109,402 |
|
| 35,636 |
|
| 35,894 |
|
| 144,902 |
|
Other operating expenses | | |
| 251,715 |
|
| 243,981 |
|
| 85,275 |
|
| 76,585 |
|
| 327,586 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Total operating expenses | | |
| 357,123 |
|
| 353,383 |
|
| 120,911 |
|
| 112,479 |
|
| 472,488 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Gross profit | | |
| 50,520 |
|
| 90,757 |
|
| 13,462 |
|
| 33,133 |
|
| 112,076 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Selling, marketing, general and | | |
administrative expenses: | | |
Selling and marketing | | |
| 40,696 |
|
| 50,055 |
|
| 12,816 |
|
| 18,673 |
|
| 63,676 |
|
General and administrative | | |
| 30,726 |
|
| 34,136 |
|
| 10,667 |
|
| 13,606 |
|
| 45,391 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| 71,422 |
|
| 84,191 |
|
| 23,483 |
|
| 32,279 |
|
| 109,067 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Operating income (loss) | | |
| (20,902 |
) |
| 6,566 |
|
| (10,021 |
) |
| 854 |
|
| 3,009 |
|
Financial expenses, net | | |
| (38,156 |
) |
| (40,464 |
) |
| (11,144 |
) |
| (11,973 |
) |
| (50,333 |
) |
Other income (expenses), net | | |
| 163,577 |
|
| (46,594 |
) |
| 73 |
|
| (27,868 |
) |
| (42,680 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Income (loss) before taxes on income | | |
| 104,519 |
|
| (80,492 |
) |
| (21,092 |
) |
| (38,987 |
) |
| (90,004 |
) |
Taxes on income | | |
| (7,359 |
) |
| 6,888 |
|
| (1,506 |
) |
| 6,888 |
|
| 7,281 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Income (loss) after taxes on income | | |
| 111,878 |
|
| (87,380 |
) |
| (19,586 |
) |
| (45,875 |
) |
| (97,285 |
) |
Equity in earnings (losses) of | | |
affiliates, net | | |
| (1,721 |
) |
| 10,983 |
|
| (2,473 |
) |
| 4,724 |
|
| 14,301 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Net income (loss) | | |
| 110,157 |
|
| (76,397 |
) |
| (22,059 |
) |
| (41,151 |
) |
| (82,984 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Net income (loss) per NIS 1 par value of | | |
Ordinary share (in NIS) | | |
| 3.64 |
|
| (2.60 |
) |
| (0.73 |
) |
| (1.40 |
) |
| (2.83 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Weighted average number of shares | | |
outstanding during the period (in | | |
thousands) | | |
| 30,222 |
|
| 29,359 |
|
| 30,223 |
|
| 29,364 |
|
| 29,360 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
- 4 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
Nine months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited)
|
|
Share capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Total
|
|
Number of
shares
|
Amount
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at the beginning of the period (audited) |
|
|
| 30,221 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (326,656 |
) |
| 97,781 |
|
| | |
Exercise of stock options by | | |
employees | | |
| 2 |
|
| 2 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 2 |
|
Net income | | |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 110,157 |
|
| 110,157 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Balance at the end of the period | | |
| 30,223 |
|
| 48,901 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (216,499 |
) |
| 207,940 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
|
Nine months ended September 30, 2004 (unaudited)
|
|
Share capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Total
|
|
Number of
shares
|
Amount
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
| | |
Balance at the beginning of the | | |
period (audited) | | |
| 30,204 |
|
| 48,882 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (243,672 |
) |
| 180,748 |
|
| | |
Exercise of stock options by | | |
employees | | |
| 17 |
|
| 17 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 17 |
|
Net loss | | |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (76,397 |
) |
| (76,397 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Balance at the end of the period | | |
| 30,221 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (320,069 |
) |
| 104,368 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
- 5 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
Three months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited)
|
|
Share capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Total
|
|
Number of
shares
|
Amount
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at the beginning of the period |
|
|
| 30,223 |
|
| 48,901 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (194,440 |
) |
| 229,999 |
|
| | |
Net loss | | |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (22,059 |
) |
| (22,059 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Balance at the end of the period | | |
| 30,223 |
|
| 48,901 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (216,499 |
) |
| 207,940 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
|
Three months ended September 30, 2004 (unaudited)
|
|
Share capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Total
|
|
Number of
shares
|
Amount
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
| | |
Balance at the beginning of the | | |
period | | |
| 30,204 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (278,918 |
) |
| 145,519 |
|
| | |
Net loss | | |
| 17 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (41,151 |
) |
| (41,151 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Balance at the end of the period | | |
| 30,221 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (320,069 |
) |
| 104,368 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
|
Year ended December 31, 2004 (audited)
|
|
Share capital
|
Additional
paid-in
capital
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
Total
|
|
Number of
shares
|
Amount
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
| | |
Balance at the beginning of the | | |
year | | |
| 30,204 |
|
| 48,882 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (243,672 |
) |
| 180,748 |
|
| | |
Exercise of stock options by | | |
employees | | |
| 17 |
|
| 17 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 17 |
|
Net loss | | |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (82,984 |
) |
| (82,984 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Balance at the end of the year | | |
| 30,221 |
|
| 48,899 |
|
| 375,538 |
|
| (326,656 |
) |
| 97,781 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
- 6 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
|
|
|
Nine months ended
September 30,
|
Three months ended
September 30,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2005
|
2004
|
2005
|
2004
|
2004
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
Net income (loss) | | |
| 110,157 |
|
| (76,397 |
) |
| (22,059 |
) |
| (41,151 |
) |
| (82,984 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to | | |
net cash provided by (used in) operating | | |
activities (a) | | |
| (153,230 |
) |
| 174,941 |
|
| (53,197 |
) |
| 82,621 |
|
| 204,244 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating | | |
activities | | |
| (43,073 |
) |
| 98,544 |
|
| (75,256 |
) |
| 41,470 |
|
| 121,260 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | |
| | |
Short-term deposit | | |
| 50 |
|
| - |
|
| 50 |
|
| - |
|
| (50 |
) |
Investment in affiliated partnership Hot | | |
Telecom | | |
| (33,649 |
) |
| (6,076 |
) |
| (14,739 |
) |
| (4,482 |
) |
| (12,209 |
) |
Investment in limited partnerships | | |
| - |
|
| (58 |
) |
| - |
|
| (29 |
) |
| (88 |
) |
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | | |
| (114,176 |
) |
| (68,541 |
) |
| (46,155 |
) |
| (31,726 |
) |
| (95,217 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and | | |
equipment | | |
| 108 |
|
| 983 |
|
| - |
|
| 449 |
|
| 1,393 |
|
Proceeds from sale of investment in an | | |
affiliate company, net | | |
| 244,249 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
Collection of long-term loans granted for | | |
the purchase of property, plant and | | |
equipment | | |
| 277 |
|
| 278 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 278 |
|
Grant of capital note to affiliate | | |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| (68 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing | | |
activities | | |
| 96,859 |
|
| (73,414 |
) |
| (60,844 |
) |
| (35,788 |
) |
| (105,961 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | |
| | |
Exercise of stock options by employees | | |
| 2 |
|
| 17 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 17 |
|
Receipt of long-term loans from banks and | | |
others | | |
| - |
|
| 3,662 |
|
| - |
|
| 2,662 |
|
| 3,759 |
|
Repayment of long-term loans from banks and | | |
others | | |
| (14,534 |
) |
| (28,053 |
) |
| (184 |
) |
| (5,609 |
) |
| (45,965 |
) |
Redemption of debentures | | |
| (34,585 |
) |
| (34,107 |
) |
| (34,585 |
) |
| (34,107 |
) |
| (34,107 |
) |
Short-term bank credit, net | | |
| 56,996 |
|
| 5,680 |
|
| 3,702 |
|
| 12,519 |
|
| 47,299 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing | | |
activities | | |
| 7,879 |
|
| (52,801 |
) |
| (31,067 |
) |
| (24,535 |
) |
| (28,997 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash | | |
equivalents | | |
| 61,665 |
|
| (27,671 |
) |
| (167,167 |
) |
| (18,853 |
) |
| (13,698 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of | | |
period | | |
| 24,250 |
|
| 37,948 |
|
| 253,082 |
|
| 29,130 |
|
| 37,948 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | |
| 85,915 |
|
| 10,277 |
|
| 85,915 |
|
| 10,277 |
|
| 24,250 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
- 7 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
|
|
|
Nine months ended
September 30,
|
Three months ended
September 30,
|
Year ended
December 31,
|
|
2005
|
2004
|
2005
|
2004
|
2004
|
|
Unaudited
|
Audited
|
|
Reported 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 | | |
| (893 |
) |
| (16,146 |
) |
| 2,473 |
|
| (6,826 |
) |
| (22,652 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization | | |
| 109,217 |
|
| 110,757 |
|
| 38,111 |
|
| 36,653 |
|
| 146,488 |
|
Deferred income taxes, net | | |
| (19,729 |
) |
| 5,163 |
|
| (1,531 |
) |
| 2,102 |
|
| 8,351 |
|
Severance pay, net | | |
| 751 |
|
| 102 |
|
| 59 |
|
| (68 |
) |
| 377 |
|
Loss (gain) from: | | |
Write-off of investment in | | |
non-marketable equity securities | | |
| - |
|
| 16,241 |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| 16,241 |
|
Sale of property, plant and equipment | | |
| 5 |
|
| (349 |
) |
| 1 |
|
| (155 |
) |
| 197 |
|
Sale of shares of affiliate company | | |
| (164,647 |
) |
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
Linkage differences on principal of | | |
debentures | | |
| 1,585 |
|
| 1,550 |
|
| 1,004 |
|
| 119 |
|
| 1,467 |
|
Linkage differences on principal of | | |
long-term loans from banks and other | | |
accounts receivable, net | | |
| 1,375 |
|
| 1,682 |
|
| 858 |
|
| 24 |
|
| (1,097 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| (72,336 |
) |
| 119,000 |
|
| 40,975 |
|
| 31,849 |
|
| 149,372 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Changes in operating asset and liability | | |
items: | | |
| | |
Decrease (increase) in rights to | | |
broadcast movies and programs | | |
| (200 |
) |
| 4,933 |
|
| 3,022 |
|
| (4,088 |
) |
| 8,418 |
|
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables | | |
| (5,896 |
) |
| 1,386 |
|
| (2,505 |
) |
| (643 |
) |
| 7,693 |
|
Decrease (increase) in affiliate - | | |
current accounts | | |
| (7,260 |
) |
| 4,791 |
|
| (4,478 |
) |
| 268 |
|
| 422 |
|
Decrease (increase) in other accounts | | |
receivable | | |
| 566 |
|
| 6,710 |
|
| 2,325 |
|
| 17,075 |
|
| (245 |
) |
Increase (decrease) in trade payables | | |
| 4,733 |
|
| (2,416 |
) |
| 8,681 |
|
| 4,281 |
|
| 9,717 |
|
Increase (decrease) in other accounts | | |
payable | | |
| (69,685 |
) |
| 44,487 |
|
| (100,154 |
) |
| 35,683 |
|
| 34,263 |
|
Decrease in customer deposits for | | |
converters, net | | |
| (3,152 |
) |
| (3,950 |
) |
| (1,063 |
) |
| (1,804 |
) |
| (5,396 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| (80,894 |
) |
| 55,941 |
|
| (94,172 |
) |
| 50,772 |
|
| 54,872 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| (153,230 |
) |
| 174,941 |
|
| (53,197 |
) |
| 82,621 |
|
| 204,244 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
(b) Significant non-cash activities: | | |
| | |
Purchase of property, plant and | | |
equipment on credit | | |
| 11,693 |
|
| 11,793 |
|
| 11,693 |
|
| 11,793 |
|
| 16,833 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.
- 8 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
|
a. |
These
financial statements have been prepared in a condensed format as of September 30,
2005, and for the nine months and three months then ended (interim
financial statements). These financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the Companys audited annual financial statements and
accompanying notes as of December 31, 2004 and for the year then ended. |
|
b. |
Financial situation and operational losses: |
|
During
the recent years the Company has incurred operational losses resulted from the continued
intense competition in the Israeli multi- channel television market. The Company has
financed its operations using, inter alia, short-term bank borrowings and using the
proceeds received from realization of its shares in Partner. During April 2005 the
Company sold most of its shares in Partner for approximately NIS 250 million (the
proceeds net of taxes paid, totaled approximately NIS 140 million). As of September 30,
2005 the Companys working capital deficit totaled approximately NIS 630
million (which was mainly financed by short-term bank credit). The Company believes that
it will be able to repay or renew its obligations as they become due, including through
receipt of long-term borrowings as the market conditions dictate. |
|
Compared
to the previous period, the Company has incurred an increased operational losses resulted
from the intense competition in the Israeli multi-channel television market, certain
additional costs associated with the operational merger between the cable companies,
additional costs arising from the introduction of additional services (such as VOD) and
subscribers loss. The Company believes that the introduction of its triple play
strategy (bundling of telephony, television and broadband internet in one package to its
costumers) along with the significant investments in infrastructure (including through
Hot Telecom) will stimulate growth of its revenue and market share, and consequently
improve its operational profit in the near future. |
|
As
a result of the abovementioned, the Company has decided to adjust and to limit (if
needed) its capital expenditure to its actual operating cash flow along with its other
available resources. |
|
In
addition the Company believes that the expected merger between the cable companies, as
described in Note 3, will strengthen its ability to improve its operational results. |
NOTE 2: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
|
a. |
The
interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles for the preparation of financial statements for
interim periods, as prescribed in Accounting Standard No. 14 of the Israel
Accounting Standards Board and in accordance with the Chapter D of the
Securities Regulations (Periodic and Immediate Reports), 1970. |
- 9 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 2: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
The
significant accounting policies and methods of computation followed in the preparation of
the interim financial statements are identical to those followed in the preparation of
the latest annual financial statements. |
|
b. |
Initial
adoption of Accounting Standard No. 19 with respect to taxes on income: |
|
On
January 1, 2005, the Company adopted Accounting Standard No. 19, Taxes on
Income (the Standard) of the Israel Accounting Standards Board. The
Standard prescribes the principles for recognition, measurement, presentation and
disclosure of taxes on income and deferred taxes in the financial statements. |
|
The
major change promulgated by the Standard in relation to the accounting principles which
were previously in effect is the recognition of deferred taxes for temporary differences
relating to land. |
|
The
initial adoption of the provisions of the Standard did not have a material impact on the
interim financial statements. |
|
c. |
Effect
of a new Accounting Standard: |
|
1. |
In
July 2005, the Israel Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard
No. 22, Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation. |
|
This
Standard prescribes principles regarding the presentation of financial instruments and
details the proper disclosure required in their respect in the financial statements. The
presentation principles apply to the classification of financial instruments or their
component parts, on initial recognition as a financial liability, financial asset or
equity instrument; the classification of related interest, dividends, losses and gains;
and the circumstances in which a financial asset and a financial liability should be
offset. This Standard shall apply to financial statements for periods commencing on or
after January 1, 2006. |
|
According
to the new standard, compound financial instruments, that include both a liability and an
equity component, should be bifurcated between the equity and liability component and
each component should be classified separately in accordance with the Standards
guidance. That is in contrast to current accounting principles, according to which the
aforementioned financial instrument is classified as a financial liability or a mezannine
item (depending on the probability of conversion). Transaction costs (net of any related
income tax benefit) of an equity transaction are accounted for as a deduction from
equity, while transaction costs of a financial liability are deducted from the liability
and are taken into account, when calculating the effective interest rate. |
- 10 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 2: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
The
new Standard also broadens the definition of a financial liability, thus causing certain
financial instruments, which are considered under current accounting guidance to be
equity instruments, to be considered as financial liabilities. In addition, the new
Standard supersedes Standards No. 48 and 53 of the Institute of Certified Public
Accountants in Israel, according to which an investor should record a provision for a
probable loss to result from decrease in its interest in the investee, following the
conversion of the investees convertible instruments (loss provision). |
|
The
Standard shall be applied prospectively. Comparative data presented in financial
statements for periods beginning on the Standards effective date will not be
restated. Financial instruments that were issued prior to the Standards effective
date will be classified and presented in accordance with the provisions of the Standard
beginning on the Standards effective date. Compound financial instruments, which
were issued in prior periods and were not yet converted or redeemed as of the Standards
effective date, will be bifurcated to their components and presented accordingly,
beginning on the Standards effective date. A loss provision included in the
financial statements of an investor at the Standards effective date should be
reversed at such date as a cumulative effect in the current period. |
|
The
Company is in the opinion that the effect of the new standard on its financial position
is not expected to be material. |
|
2. |
Effect
of a new Accounting Standard: |
|
In
September 2005, the Israel Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard No. 24,
Share- Based Payment (the Standard). The Standard shall apply to
financial statements for periods commencing on or after January 1, 2006 (effective
date). |
|
This
Standard requires the Company to recognize share-based payment transactions in its
financial statements in respect to, for example, the purchase of goods or services. Such
transactions include transactions with employees or other parties that must be settled in
the Companys equity instruments or in cash, as well as transactions that provide
the Company or the supplier of the service or goods with a choice of settling in cash or
in equity instruments. Concurrently with the recognition of the goods or services
received, it is necessary to recognize in the financial statements an increase in
shareholdersequity when the share- based payment transaction will be settled in
equity instruments and the incurrence of a liability when this transaction will be
settled in cash. This contrasts with the current situation in which certain types of the
above mentioned transactions are not reflected in the financial statements. |
- 11 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 2: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.) |
|
The
Standard prescribes the principles for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of the
fair value of the goods or services provided in exchange for the equity instrument
granted. In particular, measurement principles are prescribed with respect to
transactions with employees and others providing similar services, transactions with
parties who are not employees and transactions that are measured by reference to the fair
value of the equity instruments granted. In addition, requirements are prescribed for
situations in which modifications are made to the conditions on which the equity
instrument were granted. |
|
For
equity-settled share-based payment transactions, the Standard applies to grants made
subsequent to March 15, 2005, and which had not yet vested as of January 1,
2006 (the effective date). The Standard shall also apply to modifications (not just to
grants) that were made to the conditions of equity-settled transactions subsequent to
March 15, 2005, even if the grants to which the modifications were made are not
subject to the Standard. In the financial statements for 2006, comparative data in the
financial statements for 2005 shall be restated in order to reflect the expense relating
to the aforementioned grants. |
|
For
liabilities arising from share- based payment transactions existing as of the effective
date, it will be necessary to apply the provisions of the Standard retrospectively. The
Company should restate the comparative data, including adjusting the opening balance of
retained earnings for the earliest period in which comparative data are presented. The
Standard encourages retrospective application regarding other liabilities arising from
share- based payment transactions (such as, transactions that were settled in 2005 and in
respect of which comparative information is presented). |
|
The
Company is currently evaluating the effect of the Standard on the financial statements,
see also Note 5(d). |
|
d. |
Following
are data regarding the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar: |
|
As of
|
Exchange rate of
U.S. dollar
|
|
|
N I S
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2005 |
|
|
| 4.598 |
|
|
|
September 30, 2004 | | |
| 4.482 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2004 | | |
| 4.308 |
|
|
|
| | |
|
Change during the period
|
%
|
|
| | |
|
September 2005 (nine months) | | |
| 6.7 |
|
|
|
September 2004 (nine months) | | |
| 2.4 |
|
|
|
December 2004 (12 months) | | |
| (1.6 |
) |
|
- 12 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 3: |
|
THE
OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL MERGER BETWEEN THE CABLE COMPANIES |
|
As
of 2001, the cable television operators are acting in order to merge their activities.
The purpose of the merger, among other things, is to enable the Company to provide
additional telecommunications services, to increase the Companys ability to compete
successfully with Bezeq in the field of domestic fixed line services, including
telephony, and, to cooperate in various areas, including purchase of content, marketing,
sales and unified networks and effect substantial cost savings. The consummation of the
merger is subject to reaching an agreement with the major Israeli banks and the other
creditors of the merging entities addressing among other things, the assignment of
certain of the current debts and securities to the merged entity, and its future
financing, and receipt of approvals required under applicable law, including the
approvals of the Income Tax Commission, the Council, the Controller of Restrictive
Business Practices, or the Controller, and the Israeli court. To date, the Company have
received approvals, subject to certain terms and conditions, from the Council, the
Controller and the Income Tax Commission. Subject to the final terms of the merger,
further approval of the Income Tax Commission to the merger may be required. |
|
In
February 2003, the Company and the other Israeli Cable Companies agreed on a final
version of an agreement outlining the structure and conditions of a merger between the
Company, and the other Israeli Cable Companies including, inter alia, the terms of the
agreement between the shareholders. The parties have agreed that if the final version of
the merger agreement has not been signed by July 31, 2003, or a later date agreed upon by
the parties, the provisions of the agreement will not apply, the parties shall not have
any claim or suit towards another party with respect to the proposed merger agreement
and/or the shareholders agreement, and shall be free to act independently or together
with others, without any limitation. To date, the agreement has not been signed. |
|
According
to the position of the Supervisor of Banks, the merger of the cable television operators
and the formation of a merged cable entity would constitute a deviation from the
directives of the Bank of Israel and of Proper Bank Management Directives of
the Supervisor of Banks regarding, among other things, restriction on debt amounts to a
Group of Borrowers as such term is defined in the Proper Bank
Management Directives. The relevant directives deal with certain limits applicable
to loan amounts given by banking corporations to Sole Borrower and/or Group
of Borrowers and as a result, attribution of the merged companys debts, among
other things, to an indirect controlling shareholder of the Company and the other Cable
Companies. |
|
In
March 2002, the Council granted an approval to the merger which was amended in February
2003. |
- 13 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 3: |
|
THE
OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL MERGER BETWEEN THE CABLE COMPANIES (Cont.) |
|
The
approval of the Controller to the merger was granted in April 2002 and amended from time
to time. The Controllers approval to the merger is subject to certain conditions
)most of which already apply in light of the cooperation between the Cable Companies as
described below and defined as the Operational Merger(, include, inter alia, conditions
concerning: (1) separation between the cable infrastructure and the broadcasting activity
of the merged companies; (2) allowing 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) provisions concerning non prevention of competitive
infrastructures development; (6) 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; (7) the commitment to supply fixed telephony services
to the public in Israel over the cable infrastructure that compete with those of Bezeq as
detailed in the approval; (8) the provision of a bank guarantee (by all the Cable
Companies) in the amount of 15 million dollars for the fulfillment of the Controllers
conditions. |
|
On
January 30, 2005, the Controller has issued an amendment to its previous approval to the
merger of the Cable Companies from April 2002, as amended from time to time. According to
the amendment, the Controller extended the validity of the approval to the merger until
the earlier of January 29, 2006 or the date of the consummation of the merger. As part of
the amendment, the controller revised some of the conditions to the approval, including,
allowing the merged entity to hold means of control in four additional channels and
amending the schedule set for the investment of NIS 350 million required by the merged
entity as follows: not less than NIS 190 million until June 30, 2005, not less than NIS
160 million until June 30, 2006 and any other amount that shall be required for the
fulfillment of the business plan for the provision of telephony services, which fully
compete with the telephony services of Bezeq. As of the date of the approval of the
financial statements, the cable companies comply with the investments they are required
to invest, as described above. In addition, according to the amendment, the Controller
increased the minimum number of subscribers to whom the merged entity is obliged to
provide telephony services by the end of the consecutive years 2005, 2006 and 2007. |
|
On
January 30, 2005, the Controller also granted the three Israeli Cable Companies an
exemption from the requirement to receive an approval of a Restrictive Arrangement as
such term is defined under section 14 of the Restrictive Business Practice Law, in
relation to the ongoing cooperation between the Cable Companies. Pursuant to the
exemption, the Cable Companies may continue their cooperation in the multi-channel TV
broadcasting operations, including marketing, content acquisition and content production,
and in building infrastructure and providing fixed line telecommunication services
including access to High Speed Internet and telephony. The exemption is subject to
several terms and granted for a period of one year, until January 30, 2006. |
- 14 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 3: |
|
THE
OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL MERGER BETWEEN THE CABLE COMPANIES (Cont.) |
|
Since
April 2002, and in accordance with the approval of the Controller to the proposed merger,
the Cable Companies have strengthened the cooperation between themselves and have
gradually cooperated in most areas of their activities. Since October 2003 the joint
activity is carried out under the brand name HOT. |
|
In
order to strengthen the cooperation among the Cable Companies, Matav Group, Tevel group
and Golden Channels group agreed in September 2004 to perform an operational merger (the
Operational Merger). To this effect, a joint management was appointed to
oversee the Operational Merger of the marketing, sales, engineering, customer service,
operations and information systems activities of the three Cable Companies (including
those of Hot Telecom). The joint management conducts and manages the Companys
activities in the ordinary course of business in the areas of the joint activities.
Material decisions applicable to the operational merger require the Companys
approval as well as the approval of Tevel and Golden Channels. The Companys
approval is subject to the decision of its board of directors and other corporate bodies,
as required by law. Since the appointment of the joint management and the commencement of
the operational merger, the Company, Tevel and Golden Channels have operated jointly on a
regular basis. The three Cable Companies have agreed in principle that the allocation of
the expenses deriving from the joint activity among themselves shall be proportional to
the number of subscribers of each party. The operational merger does not include transfer
of assets from any of the three Cable Companies to a merged entity or from any of the
three Cable Companies to another Cable Company. Each of the three Cable Companies remains
the sole owner of its assets and is entitled to the revenue generated from its own
subscribers. Furthermore, the joint activity does not include transfer of liabilities
owed to third parties, including, inter alia, banks or other creditors. |
|
Negotiations
for the performance of the full legal merger between the cable companies |
|
The
Company, together with the other Cable Companies (Tevel Group and Golden Channels Group),
is currently examining the possibility of performing a full legal merger between the
Groups, based on the merger agreements which were paraphed by the parties in the year
2003, while performing changes resulting from the passage of time and the change of
circumstances. The course of the merger is currently being reconsidered by the parties,
after it was indicated that the issue regarding sole borrower / group of borrowers
arising from the directives of the Bank of Israel, could be resolved. This issue has so
far delayed the consummation of the merger. Another possibility, which is being examined
within the discussions, is the financing of a part of the debt of the merged company
through guarantees by foreign banks, thus narrowing even more the restrictions arising
from the issue of sole borrower / group of borrowers. It should be noted, that according
to the structure of the merger considered today, the Company, which is a public company
whose shares are traded both in Israel and in the United States, is intended to serve as
the surviving company in the merger. It should be emphasized that the process of
completing the full legal merger is still in the discussion stage, and there is no
assurance that it shall be consummated, and in any event, the consummation of the full
legal merger will be conditioned upon preconditions, including the receipt of regulatory
approvals and the finalization of financing agreements with the banks. |
- 15 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS |
|
a. |
Claims
and petitions for approval of class actions: |
|
1. |
On
April 22, 1999, a lawsuit and motion to approve the claim 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 it 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 unreasonable and unfair prices for
the services it provides. |
|
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 reported 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 reported NIS 360 million. In
addition, the subscriber is also claiming compensation with respect to 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 judgment is rendered. In addition, the petitioner is seeking a
mandatory injunction according to which the Company will be obliged to reduce the service
fee it charges from its subscribers. |
|
The
Company filed an objection 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 petitioner 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
petitioner 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 hearing of the
request will be joined with similar requests that were filed against the Cable Companies
Tevel, Golden Channels and Idan (however, in the meantime, this condition changed, as
detailed below). |
|
After
the unification of proceedings and pursuant to the arrangement reached by the parties and
which was validated by the a court, 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). |
- 16 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
On
August 21, 2003, the Court rendered its decision thereby rejecting the arguments of the
Company (and of the other Cable Companies) and determined that the expenses with respect
to the proceedings will be taken into account upon the conclusion 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 Restrictive Trade Practices Court that was granted in the past does not constitute
a binding precedent or Courts ruling toward the petitioners in the said procedure.
Nevertheless, according to a procedural 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 hearing 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.
The parties reached a procedural arrangement concerning the hearing according to which no
examinations shall be conducted and each party shall submit its summations. According to
said agreement, the summations on behalf of the petitioner were submitted on April 1,
2005 and the summations on behalf of the Company were submitted by June 23, 2005.
The petitioner submitted a response to the Companys summations on August 18, 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 the Companys
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 outcome of the claim.
Therefore, no provision was recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in the Companys
financial statements. |
|
2. |
On
August 28, 2002, a lawsuit and motion to approve the claim as a class
action were filed 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 nine years from the date on which the franchises were granted.
The compensation requested from the Company amounts to about NIS 139
million, as of the date the claim was filed. |
- 17 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
The
Company and Golden Channels filed a motion to dismiss the suit without prejudice due to
the dismissal of a lawsuit identical in substance to the aforementioned suit. The court
determined that the motion for dismissal of the suit without prejudice will be heard
together with the application to recognize the suit as a class action. In addition, the
Company and Golden Channels presented a reply to the request to approve the Claim as a
Class Action. The petitioners request to join the hearing as creditors of Tevel was
dismissed by the court. On July 27, 2005 the petitioners filed their response to the
reply to the request to approve the Claim as a Class Action, which was filed on behalf of
the Company and Golden Channels. A date for a hearing is scheduled for January 29, 2006. |
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsels, it is not possible to estimate the outcome of the claim. Therefore, no
provision was recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in the Companys financial
statements. |
|
3. |
On
December 3, 2002, a lawsuit and motion to approve the claim as a class action
were filed by seven Israeli residents, who requested that their action be
declared as representing 1,050,000 subscribers of the Cable Companies.
According to the claim, the Cable Companies violated the terms of the
approval given to them by the Council for the transmission of the pay
sport channel, since they did not maintain certain programs in the
original sport channel, which is part of the basic package, offered to
subscribers. The petitioners requested the Court to instruct all three
Cable Companies to compensate the subscribers by a total sum of NIS 302
million as of the date of the motion and by an additional sum of NIS 25
million for each month from the date the claim was filed up to the date
judgment is rendered by the Court. The Companys proportionate share
based on the subscribers ratio as of the balance sheet date, is
approximately NIS 80 million, in addition to a monthly amount of
approximately NIS 6.7 million accumulating from the date the claim was
filed until a ruling is rendered (the Original Lawsuit). |
|
On
May 27, 2004, the Court denied the motion to approve the claim as a class action. On July
5, 2004, the petitioners submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court. The parties submitted
their summations. The date for a hearing of the appeal in the Supreme Court is set for
January 9, 2006. |
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsels, it is not possible to estimate the outcome of the appeal. Therefore, no
provision was recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in the Companys financial
statements. The amount of the Original Lawsuit was calculated by the petitioners based on
the number of subscribers of each of the Cable Companies at the date the claim was filed. |
- 18 -
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|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
4. |
On
February 8, 2005, the Company received notice of a lawsuit and motion to
approve the claim as a class action (the Lawsuit and the
Motion accordingly).The lawsuit and the motion were filed
against the Company by an Israeli resident in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa District
Court. The motion alleges, among other things, that the Company has misled
consumers within the framework of a certain sales promotion campaign in
2001, thereby violating the Israeli Consumers Protection Law. According to
the motion, the damages owed to the petitioner are in the amount of NIS
1,574 (equates to approximately $ 357) and the aggregate damages to the
class are indeterminable at this stage, because the number of other
potential petitioners is not known to the petitioner. |
|
The
Company noted that the motion relates to the same subject matter of an indictment that
was filed in March 2003 in the Netanya Magistrate Court against the Company and certain
of its officers for violation of the Israeli Consumers Protection Law. The officers were
dropped from the indictment and in November 2003, the court approved a plea bargain,
pursuant to which the Company admitted the facts in an amended indictment and paid an
insignificant fine. |
|
On
May 15, 2005, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa District Court approved the request filed by the parties
and rendered a judgment according to which the claim was stricken. |
|
1. |
a. |
In July September 1999, Tevel and Golden Channels and Co. (Golden
Channels) entered into license agreements with the major studios
(Columbia, Fox and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (Warner)
to purchase contents (the Agreements). The contents were
broadcasted, inter alia, in channels HOT 3 and HOT Movies,
which are produced by Hot Vision for the Cable Companies, and for the pay
channels- HOT Drama, Hot Action, Hot Fun and
Cinema Prime, which are produced by Avdar Silver Industries
Ltd. (Avdar) for 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 between Avdar and the Cable Companies, pursuant to
which the broadcast rights for the above pay channels were placed with Avdar. |
|
On
November 27, 2002, Warner filed a lawsuit against Tevel in the District Court in
California seeking, inter alia, a monetary compensation of $ 17 million (Warner
Lawsuit). Warner contends that the agreement between Warner and Tevel dated July 13,
1999, pursuant to which Tevel acquired from Warner the rights to broadcast films, was
breached and consequently terminated by Warner (see also c. below). |
- 19 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
Following
the Warner Lawsuit and other actions taken by Warner, on December 5, 2002, the
trustee for Tevel group filed with the District Court in Tel Aviv (the Court)
a motion to instruct Warner, inter alia, to take any measures necessary to discontinue
the Warner Lawsuit (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 Court and based on the proof of debt submitted by
Warner to the trustee under the same cause of action (the Trustees Motion). |
|
On
February 10, 2003, the Court rendered its ruling in favor of the Trustees motion
and dismissed Warners position (although a Blocking Order as this term
is defined in the Civil Procedure Regulations 1984, was not granted). The Court
determined, inter alia, that Warner instituted unlawful proceeding in the United States
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 its decision of Warners proof of debt, according to
which, it rejected the majority of the said proof. 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 September 24, 2003, Warner filed an amended appeal on the
trustees decision relating to the matter of the proof of debt. |
|
On
October 21, 2003, the Supreme Court dismissed Warners appeal with respect to the
Courts ruling dated February 10, 2003, subject to the rights of Warner and the
Trustee to raise arguments as to the issue of the applicable law with respect to the
proceeding of the proof of debt within Warners appeal on the trustees
decision. In addition, the Court instructed Warner to file an amended appeal in order to
include the argument with respect to the applicable 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 proved the debt for Warner in the
amount of $ 182 thousand only) and proved Warner a debt in the aggregate of $ 17
million and alternatively $ 12 million. |
|
On
September 1, 2004, the Court dismissed the amended appeal with respect to the proof of
debt determining that the Warners appeal contradicts the law and its entire
substance is nothing but an attempt to generate high profit in an unjust and
extraordinary manner at the expense of the ordinary creditors of Tevel. In view of the
extraordinary circumstances and the scope of litigation, the Court ruled that Warner
shall pay Tevel expenses and legal fees. |
- 20 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
On
October 5, 2004, Warner filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. Simultaneously, Warner
filed, on that very day a motion for stay of performance with respect to the ruling dated
September 1, 2004, with the Court and an urgent motion for hearing the said motion. On
October 5, 2004, the Court rendered a ruling according to which, the facts referred to in
the motion for stay of performance were not supported by an affidavit and it was further
determined that the motion is inappropriate to be heard ex parte and the case shall be
scheduled for hearing. In addition, the court, instructed that the trustee shall take
into consideration the fact that a motion for the stay of performance proceeding was
filed. On November 24, 2004, a reply to the motion for stay of performance was filed on
behalf of the Trustee and on January 17, 2005 a reply on behalf of the Official Receiver
was filed. |
|
On
February 9, 2005, the Court rendered its ruling in the matter of the motion for stay of
performance. The court indicated that the prospects of Warners appeal to prevail
are remote, however, due to the concern that if the stay of performance is not granted
the factual situation shall be irreversible (in the event that a decision in the appeal
shall be rendered in favor of Warner) and in order not to completely nullify the appeal,
the court instructed that until a ruling in the appeal is rendered the trustee shall hold
up an amount of $ 4 million, which is necessary for dividend distribution to Warner, if
the Court shall render a judgment in favor of Warner in the appeal. The stay of
performance is contingent upon a deposit of a bank guarantee by Warner in the amount of
NIS 2 million to secure the creditors damages. The said amount was imposed in
addition to the guarantees that may be determined by the Supreme Court as a prerequisite
for hearing the appeal. |
|
On
May 10, 2005, the summations were filed on behalf of Warner. On August 2, 2005, the
summations in the appeal on behalf of Tevel & Warner were entitled to file a response
on its behalf until August 23, 2005. |
|
The
hearing of the appeal in the Supreme Court is scheduled to May 10, 2006. |
|
In
the opinion of Tevels management, based on the opinion of its legal counsels, the
prospects of Warners appeal on the ruling of the district court, are remote and
therefore, no provision was recorded in respect to the aforesaid claim in the Companys
financial statements. |
|
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
detailed 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 in March 2003. |
- 21 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
The
court rejected all of the motions for preliminary injunctions. The evidential hearing for
the complaint and the counterclaim was held during January 2004 and in February 2004 the
parties filed their summations. In Warners post trial brief it requested
compensation in the amount of approximately $ 25 million. Golden channels requested
compensation in the amount of approximately $ 3.8 million. |
|
On
September 29, 2004, the district court in Los Angeles, California, ruled in favour of
Warner. The district court awarded Warner damages in the amount of approximately $ 19.3
million (excluding attorney fees) and rejected Golden Channelscounterclaims in the
matter. The Court originally entered judgment for Warner in the amount of $ 19
million. It subsequently granted Goldens motion to amend the judgment to deduct $ 0.6
million in tax certificate damages, and Warners motion to add $ 0.65 million
in prejudgment interest. Following amendment, the judgment awarded Warner damages of
approximately $ 19.3 million, $ 0.2 million in costs, and approximately $ 2.2
million in attorneys fees and other costs, for a total judgment amount of
approximately $ 21.7 million (the Final Amended Judgment). |
|
On
March 7, 2005, Golden Channels filed a notice of appeal, pursuant to which, it appeals to
the Unites States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from the Final Amended Judgment,
including other prior orders and decisions granted by the Court. |
|
On
March 21, 2005, Warner filed a notice of cross appeal pursuant to which, it appeals to
the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from the order of the District
Court denying Warners motion to amend the judgment to add prejudgment interest, as
reflected in the Final Amended Judgment, including all orders and decisions pertaining
thereto that are or may be merged into the Final Amended Judgment. |
|
On
August 3, 2005, the opening brief in respect of the appeal was filed on behalf of Golden
Channels. |
|
On
October 24, 2005, the Appellees Brief was filed on behalf of Warner. Warner
withdrew the cross appeal which was filed on its behalf. Golden Channels intends to file
a reply to the Appealees Brief which was filed on behalf of Warner during December
2005. |
|
Pursuant
to an agreement among the Israeli cable television operators (including Golden Channels,
Tevel and the Company) and Hot Vision (see below), the Company is required to indemnify
Golden Channels (through Hot Vision) for approximately 26.5% of the damages awarded to
Warner, which will actually be paid by Golden Channels amounting at the maximum to
approximately $ 5.8 million. |
- 22 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
In
light of the above mentioned and taking into consideration the additional interest and
legal costs that may be incurred by Golden channels, Hot Vision included in its financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2004 a provision of NIS 92.8 million (NIS
98.9 million including linkage differences plus interest as of September 30, 2005). |
|
c. |
On
or about the filing date of the lawsuits detailed in sections a and b above,
Warner forfeited letters of credit it was granted by Golden Channels and Tevel
in the amount of $ 5 million each. |
|
On
September 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 the 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 terminated with the major studios regarding
content which was provided to channels HOT 3 and HOT Movies. As
for the pay channels (Hot Drama, HOT Action, Hot Fun and
Cinema Prime), it was agreed that the amounts shall 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, including the
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 legal proceedings. The Indemnification Agreement stipulates, inter alia, that each
of the Cable Companies shall pay Hot Vision sums, according to its relative share in the
market, of the amounts that shall be actually paid by Tevel and/or Golden Channels with
respect to their debt to the major studios and expenses associated with the management of
the legal procedures in connection with Hot Movies and/or HOT 3". |
|
The
indemnification does not include amounts that are payable by the Cable Companies to Tevel
and/or Golden Channels through Hot Vision and Avdar for purchase of content to channels
HOT 3 and HOT Movies and to the pay channels (Hot Drama,
HOT Action, Hot Fun and Cinema Prime). |
- 23 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
The
indemnification Agreement further stipulates that the commitments of the Cable Companies
shall be revoked in the following cases: (1) if the Cable Companies release Hot Vision in
writing from its obligations under this agreement (2) if Tevel, Golden Channel and the
Company 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 Company holds all of the
issued share capital of Hot Vision and that its commitments cover all of Hot Visions
obligations under the Indemnification Agreement. |
|
In
light of the abovementioned, the Company included in the financial statements for 2004
its relative share in the provision recorded by Hot Vision in the amount of NIS 24.7
million (includes additional amounts as mentioned above). During the reported period, the
Company included in the financial statements financial expenses in the amount of NIS 1
million as linkage differences plus interest. |
|
2. |
On
December 31, 2003, Eshkolot The Israeli Artists Society for
Performers Rights Ltd., or Eshkolot, filed a lawsuit in the District
Court of Tel Aviv-Jaffa against the Company and the other Cable Companies
for certain payments, for temporary and permanent injunctions, and to give
instructions to Tevels trustee. Eshkolot claims that, since January
1, 2003, the cable television operators broadcast programs in violation of
the rights of Israeli performers held by Eshkolot since such broadcasts
were made without Eshkolots consent and without payment of
royalties. In the context of the claim, the
Court was requested to instruct and affirm that Eshkolot is entitled to receive a usage
payment of NIS 8.5 million 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 differentials and to update such royalties
relative to increases in the number of broadcasting minutes of protected performances.
Additionally, Eshkolot requested to oblige the Cable Companies to pay the maximum
statutory compensation, as set in the Copyrights Law, in the total amount of NIS 24.3
million. Eshkolot also requested a permanent injunction order against the cable companies
that will prohibit the broadcast of protected performances employing performersrights
held by Eshkolot, unless expressly authorized by Eshkolot. |
|
Further,
the Court was requested to give a temporary injunction to prohibit the Cable Companies
from broadcasting performances employing performers rights held by Eshkolot, unless
an advance express written authorization from Eshkolot is received, until the hearing and
the decision in Eshkolots primary claim for compensation for violating performers rights
and in the request for the permanent injunction against the Cable Companies. |
- 24 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
On
May 13, 2004, the court approved the parties notice of arbitration and the case was
forwarded to arbitration with instructions to strike the lawsuit with no order for
expenses. |
|
The
statement of complaint on behalf of Eshkolot, in the arbitration, was filed on September 25,
2004. The amount of the claim, which significantly exceeds the amounts that were paid
previously to Eshkolot by the Cable Companies pursuant to the agreement that was valid
until 2002, is NIS 8.5 million for 2003 and a similar amount plus 10% for each of the
years 2004-2006. Eshkolot argues that this is the appropriate royalty as
implied in the Performers and Broadcasters Rights Law 1984, which is to be paid
each year. |
|
The
statement of defense on behalf of the Cable Companies was filed on August 3, 2004.
In the statement of defense, the Cable Companies refute Eshkolots arguments, inter
alia, concerning the scope of the use of its repertoire and claim that in view of the
various developments in the communications market in Israel, and particularly in view of
entering of competitors to the market such as Yes the amount of the royalties paid
to Eshkolot should be decreased. It is further argued that Eshkolot is not the owner of
rights in certain musical works, which it refers to within its claim, since the
performing artists exclusively assigned their rights to production companies. The Company
also claims that Eshkolot misused its monopolistic powers in the market, in order to
impose unreasonable prices on its consumers. |
|
On
January 30, 2005, Eshkolot requested the Cable Companies to pay an interim payment in the
amount of NIS 11.5 million for the years 2003 2005 (in addition to the payment in
the amount of NIS 3.5 million). On February 15, 2005 the Cable companies replied Eshkolot
and declined said request. On October 31, 2005, the arbitrator rendered a decision to
decline Eshkolots request for an interim payment. According to the said decision,
due to the factual and legal controversies between the parties, at this stage, there is
no justification to order the Cable Companies to pay an interim payment and the main
conflict should be resolved. The date for the hearing is set for December 2005. |
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsels, it is impossible, at this stage, to estimate the chances of the claim.
Nevertheless, the Companys management included in the financial statements a
provision, which in its opinion reflects adequately the Companys exposure in
respect of this claim. |
|
3. |
On
April 11, 2005, the Israeli Records and Cassettes Federation (the Federation)
filed in the District Court of Haifa a claim against the Company and the
other Cable Companies as well as a request for payment of temporary
royalties. The Federation seeks to represent the Israeli record companies
as well as foreign record companies that impressed musical compositions on
records and compact disks, which the Cable Companies broadcast. |
|
The
Federation seeks a permanent injunction that shall prohibit the Cable Companies to use
the compositions, which are included in the Federations repertoire. The Federation
further notified the Court that it shall be willing to withdraw the claim for permanent
injunction subject to payment by the Cable Companies of the license fees in the amount
demanded by the Federation or determined by the Court. |
- 25 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
The
Federation contemplated that since March 15, 2004, the Cable Companies broadcast programs
in violation of the rights held by the Federation, due to the fact that the agreement
between the Cable Companies and the Federation terminated on December 31, 2002 as
well as the temporary license rendered by the Federation to the Cable Companies in order
to negotiate and execute a new agreement. The Federation claims that although the Cable
Companies acknowledge its rights they continue to use the compositions included in the
Federations repertoire and violate the Law. |
|
The
Federation noted that it reserves the right to request a preliminary injunction. The
Federation further noted its consent that the Court shall render a judgment in way of
granting the operative legal ruling without furnishing any reasoning. In addition, the
Federation informed the Court of its consent to arbitration proceedings. The Court is
further requested to instruct the Cable Companies to pay the Federation interim royalties
until a judgment is rendered. The Federation presented two main models in respect of the
calculation of the royalties as follows: (a) payment in the amount of 0.26% 0.3%
of the income of the Cable Companies (plus VAT); (b) payment of yearly royalties in a
fixed sum per subscriber (plus VAT). |
|
The
Federation requested the Court to oblige the Cable Companies to pay permanent royalties
in the sum of $ 2 per each subscriber that does not receive the audio channels or $ 5 per
each subscriber that receives the audio channels. |
|
The
Cable Companies submitted the response to the request for payment of temporary royalties
and the statement of defense on September 6, 2005. In the response the Cable Companies
claimed, inter alia, that the request made by the Federation for the payment of temporary
royalties was not timely and was not submitted in good faith. In addition the Cable
Companies claimed that the amount requested was extremely unreasonable whereas it exceeds
11 times the amount of the highest royalty amount paid to the Federation during the term
of the agreement. In that matter, the Cable Companies claimed that the request for
payment temporary royalties can be in an amount of up to US$ 200,000, which is the
contractual amount that was paid to the Federation during the term of the agreement. |
|
On
July 6, 2005, a hearing was held in the matter of the temporary royalties. The Court
rendered a decision according to which the temporary royalties shall be US$ 380,000 (plus
VAT) per each year. The Court determined that the Cable Companies shall receive a license
in the scope of the actual use by the Cable Companies of Eshkolts repertoire. The
said amount is due in respect to the year 2003 and onwards until a further decision is
rendered by the Court. According to the agreement reached between the Cable Companies and
the Federation, the said amount shall be paid in 8 monthly equally installments as of
August 2005 until March 2006. |
- 26 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
According
to the opinion of the Companys management, based on the opinion of its legal
counsels, it is not possible, at this stage, to estimate the chances of the claim.
Nevertheless, the Companys management included in the financial statements a
provision, which in its opinion reflects adequately the Companys exposure in
respect of this claim. |
|
4. |
On
July 29, 2004, Bezeq, the Israel Telecommunication Corp. Ltd. (Bezeq)
submitted a petition for the granting of orders ex parte and for the
granting of an interim order, against the Government of Israel, the
Minister of Communications and the Minister of Finance (the
Respondents) and against Hot Telecom as a formal respondent. |
|
The
petition was based on an amendment to the Communications Regulations (Bezeq and
Broadcasting) (Payments for Interconnection), 2000 (the Interconnection Regulations),
specifically on interim Regulation No. 10. This regulation sets a Bill and Keep arrangement
which applies between Bezeq and Hot Telecom as follows: |
|
In
regulation 10 to the interconnection regulations, Bezeq and the internal operator (except
for a unique internal operator and Bezeq) will not make payments to each other for
reciprocal communication links as stated in the aforesaid regulation, and each of them
will bear their costs in this respect, all of which is if the following cumulative
conditions are met: |
|
(a) |
Two
years have not yet elapsed from the (the date on which the internal operator
commenced providing telephony services on a commercial basis, as the Minister
of Communications informed the concerned license holders) (November 25, 2004). |
|
(b) |
The
difference between the total minutes of traffic originating in the internal
operators aforesaid network and their destination being the internal
operator network of Bezeq and the total minutes of traffic originating in the
internal operators network of Bezeq and their destination being internal
operators aforesaid network does not exceed 1,050,000,000 minutes of
traffic. |
|
Subsequent
to a preliminary hearing of the petition, and after the Bezeq (Royalties) Regulations,
2001 was amended in a way that ensured that Bezeq may set off the loss of income, the
petitioner filed an amended petition. |
|
During
a preliminary hearing of the amended petition, which was held on April 14, 2005, and in
accordance with the Courts recommendation Bezek withdrew the petition. |
- 27 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 4: |
|
COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LIENS (Cont.) |
|
As
of December 31, 2004, the company did not comply with two covenants to maintain the
financial ratios, as defined in the agreement and out of which approximately NIS 87
million and NIS 47 million have been used as of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004,
respectively (see also Note 10(a) to the Companys annual financial statements as of
December 31, 2004). |
|
During
March 2005, the company received a letter from the bank according to which the bank does
not deem the non-compliance, as above, a violation of the company to maintain the
financial ratios for a period of one year from the date of the letter (the waiver
period). As of the date of the financial statements the Company expects that it will have
difficulties to comply with the financial ratios, determined in the abovementioned
agreement, for 2005, and therefore reclassified its long term borrowing credit from that
bank (in the amount of approximately NIS 30 million) as a short term credit. |
NOTE 5: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS |
|
a. |
On
April 20, 2005, the Company has exercised its option to participate in the
share buyback of Partner Communications Company Ltd. (Partner),
together with Elbit Ltd., Eurocom Communications Limited and Polar
Communications Limited. At the closing of the transaction, the Company sold to
Partner 7,783,444 Ordinary shares of Partner for total consideration of
approximately NIS 250 million. The above mentioned transaction was subsequent
to the removal of the pledge on Partner shares. The Company currently holds
1,884,926 Ordinary shares of Partner (approximately 1.2% of the share capital
of Partner), almost all of which are subject to transfer restrictions under
Partners communications license. |
|
As
a result of a decrease in the shareholdings in Partner and effective as of April 2005 the
investment in Partner is presented in the Companys financial statements, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, at cost accounting basis. |
|
Further
to the sale of shares of Partner by the Company, and further to discussions with the
Israeli Tax Authorities (ITA) regarding the sales of Partner shares by the
Company in 2002 and 2003, following which no agreement was reached pertaining to the tax
aspects related to these capital gains, and following an order which was issued against
Matavs subsidiary (the subsidiary) with respect to 2002 Matav and the
Subsidiary reached a settlement with the ITA. |
|
Pursuant
to the settlement, a portion of the gain that was recognized by the Subsidiary from the
sale of Partner shares, in the amount of approximately NIS 208 million, will be
considered Matavs gain and offset against Matavs carry-forward tax losses.
The remaining total tax liability from the sales of Partner shares, net of an advanced
payment previously paid to ITA, in the amount of approximately NIS 106 million (including
accrued interest and CPI linkage), was fully paid by the subsidiary during the reported
period. |
- 28 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 5: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS (Cont.) |
|
In
light of this settlement, the capital gain, after taxes and related expenses, from the
sale of Partner shares, as described above, which is included in the Companys
financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2005, is approximately NIS 170
million. |
|
b. |
On
September 15, 2005, Barak, Clalcom Ltd (which holds approximately 44% of the
share capital of Barak and which is a subsidiary of Clal Industries and
Investments Ltd.), Clal Industries and Investments Ltd. (together:
Clal), Dial-the Israeli Company for International Communications
Ltd. (Dial), and Matav entered into a Non-Binding Term Sheet in
order to set out the terms for a proposed restructuring of Baraks capital
and debt (the Term-Sheet), subject, inter alia, to the entry of
Barak, certain holders of Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2007 of Barak
(the Existing Notes) (the Note Holders) and Clal into a
definitive Restructuring Agreement (the Restructuring Agreement). |
|
On
July 26, 2005, Clal announced that the Restructuring Agreement was signed. |
|
The
Restructuring Agreement shall be effected through, among others, a plan under Section 350
of the Companies Law (the Plan). |
|
Pursuant
to the Plan, Barak shall pay the Note Holders, upon the Plan becoming effective (the
Closing) a cash sum (the Cash Payment) of US$ 32.35 million in
exchange for the full and final compromise of: (a) US$ 57.4 million of the principal face
value of the Existing Notes; (b) default interest on the interest coupon due on the
outstanding Existing Notes on November 15, 2004 (the November Coupon), but
excluding the November Coupon itself; and (c) all interest accrued on the outstanding
Existing Notes including the interest coupon due on the outstanding Existing Notes on May
15, 2005 and all default interest thereon, but excluding (i) the November Coupon, and
(ii) the interest due on the Residual Notes accruing from March 1, 2005 (The Debt
Compromise). |
|
Following
the Debt Compromise, the principal amount of the Existing Notes shall be reduced to US$
65 million (the Residual Notes). The Residual Notes shall bear interest at
the rate of 10% per annum, accruing from March 1, 2005. |
|
In
addition, according to the Restructuring Agreement, Barak shall pay to the Note holders,
US$ 7.65 million (being the November Coupon) out of its cash funds. The payment of the
November Coupon shall be in addition to the payment of the Cash Payment. |
|
The
Cash Payment shall be funded by Clal and the Company, as described below, in exchange for
ordinary shares that will be issued by Barak, on terms to be agreed between Clal, Barak
and the Company, and subject to the prior approval by the Note Holders. |
|
The
Restructuring Agreement is subject to certain conditions and approvals which have not yet
been met or received. |
- 29 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 5: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS (Cont.) |
|
The
Company entered into an agreement with Clal, according to which the Company is entitled
to participate in the cash payment together with Clal (Clal shall invest in Barak a total
amount of approximately US$ 26 million, and the Company shall invest in Barak an amount
of approximately US$ 6 million, in accordance with its proportional holdings in Barak),
the Company will be entitled to appoint one board member out of a total five board
members in Barak and will be granted, among other preemptive rights, a Put option to sell
all of its shares in Barak to Clal at certain conditions as detailed in the agreement. In
addition, it has been agreed by the parties that Clal will be granted, among certain
rights as defined in the agreement, a Call option at certain conditions as agreed upon,
to purchase all of the companys shares in Barak. According to the agreement, the
Company had to inform Clal on its participation no later than September 30, 2005. |
|
On
September 28, 2005, the Company informed Clal of its decision to participate in the
funding of the Cash Payment, in the amount of US$6 million. Accordingly, following the
said participation of the Company in the funding of the Cash Payment and upon the
completion of the restructuring agreement, the Companys holdings in Barak will be
increased to approximately 18.5%. |
|
c. |
On
May 26, 2005, the Company announced that it is delaying the implementation of
its previously announced plan, as mentioned in the annual financial statements
as of December 31, 2004, to terminate its SEC registration, NASDAQ listing
and its American Depository Receipt (ADR) program. |
|
The
board of directors of the Company will re-examine the timing of such termination in the
next few months. |
|
d. |
In
the reported period, the Company approved the issuance of additional 70,000
options of the Companys employees (under the 2003 plan, as specified in
the annual financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2004). The
expiration and the vesting periods of the above options are identical to the
terms set forth in the 2003 plan and which are in force effective on the date
of the actual issuance. The exercise price of 30,000 options is identical to
the terms set forth in the 2003 plan and the fair value of each option at the
date of grant, computed by the B&S formula, was NIS 13-14. The exercise
price of the remaining 40,000 options is NIS 38 per share and the fair
value of each option at the date of grant, computed by the B&S formula, was
NIS 8-12. In addition, 10,266 options (of the 2003 plan) were exercised during
the reported year. |
|
e. |
On
July 25, 2005, the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) passed the Law for the
Amendment of the Income Tax Ordinance (No. 147), 2005, which prescribes, among
others, a gradual decrease in the corporate tax rate in Israel to the following
tax rates: in 2006 31%, in 2007 29%, in 2008 27%, in 2009
26% and in 2010 and thereafter 25%. |
|
The
effect of the aforementioned amendment on the interim financial statements resulted in a
decrease in tax expense in the amount of approximately NIS 1.5 million in the three
months and nine months ended September 30, 2005. |
- 30 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 5: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS (Cont.) |
|
1. |
On
July 21, 2005, the Controller issued an amendment to the merger approval
thereby reducing the bank guarantee to ensure compliance with the terms of
the approval in the amount of US$ 15 million to US$ 8 million. The Companys
share in the guarantee as of December 31, 2004 was NIS 16.5 million and
consequently to the above amendment reduced to NIS 9.6 million. In
addition, on October 31, 2005, the controller issued an additional
amendment to the merger approval thereby reducing the said bank guarantee
to US$ 2 million. |
|
2. |
On
September 28, 2005, the Ministry of Communications reduced the bank guarantee
provided by the three Cable Companies, pursuant to Hot Telecom
infrastructure License, by US$ 2.9 million. The Companys share in
the guarantee as of December 31, 2004 was NIS 16.3 million and
consequently to the above was reduced to NIS 9.6 million. |
|
3. |
The
Cable Companies provided a guarantee of up to NIS 200 million to ensure
compliance of Hot Telecoms liabilities towards third party with whom
it signed a tenancy agreement. The Companys relative part in this
guarantee is approximately NIS 53 million. |
|
g. |
On
August 9, 2005, as part of its economical policy for the year 2006, the Israeli
Government adopted the following Resolutions |
|
1. |
Resolution
no. 4121 To procure the establishment of a digital, nationwide,
terrestrial distribution system which will broadcast and enable the free
terrestrial reception of the following channels: the Israeli Broadcasting
Authority channels (Channels 1 and 33), the commercial
broadcasts channels (channels 2 and 10) and the
Parliament Channel (channel 99) (DTT
System). This resolution further provides for the appointment of
a multi-ministerial tenders committee that shall publish a tender designed
to enable that committee to choose a single bidding winner who shall
design, establish and operate the said DTT System. According to the
resolution such tender shall be published by not later than January 1,
2006, the announcement of the chosen winner shall be made by not later
than April 1, 2006 and said DTT System shall commence operation by no
later than January 1, 2007; |
|
2. |
Resolution
no. 4095 (i) To allow consumers, by no later than January 1, 2007,
to purchase from a multi-channel television operator a basic package of
services which will include connection to the infrastructure of such
operator and reception of the aforementioned channels, the Educational
Television channel (channel 23) and the Dedicated Channels
(channels 9 and 24) (the Basic Package),
without being obliged to purchase any other services; (ii) To appoint an
inter-ministerial committee which will determine by no later than March 1,
2006 the maximum price payable by the consumers for the said package. Such
price shall be based on the cost of access to the infrastructure and the
cost of distribution of the said channels, plus reasonable profit to the
relevant operator; (iii) to perform the necessary legislation amendments
in order to implement said Resolution. |
- 31 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 5: |
|
SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS (Cont.) |
|
In
accordance with Resolution no. 4095, an amendment to the Telecommunications Law was
submitted to the Knessets Finance Committee. The amendment incorporates Resolution
no. 4095 within the framework of the Arrangements Bill for the Countrys Economy for
the year 2006 (as section 37 of the Telecommunications chapter). According to the said
amendment: (1) the Cable Broadcast Licensee (Licensee) shall be
obliged to offer the Basic Package to its subscribers, without conditioning the provision
of said Basic Package upon the purchase of any other broadcasts or services; (2) the
Minister of Telecommunications, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, and after
having consulted with the Council may determine the maximum amount that a general
Licensee for Cable Television Broadcast may demand for the provision of the Basic
Package, based on the cost of the provision of said Basic Package plus a reasonable
profit for the Licensee; (3) the Minister may, after having consulted with the Council,
instruct such Licensee with respect of the activities which said Licensee will be
demanded to undertake for the purpose of providing the Basic Package. |
|
The
entry into force of the said amendment, if approved by the Knesset, shall be as from
January 1, 2007. |
- 32 -
MATAV - CABLE SYSTEMS MEDIA LTD. |
|
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
|
|
NOTE 6: |
|
INFORMATION
ABOUT BUSINESS SEGMENTS |
|
Internet
|
Cable
TV
|
Total
consolidated
|
|
Reported NIS in thousands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited) |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | |
Segment revenues | | |
| 45,532 |
|
| 362,111 |
|
| 407,643 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Segment results | | |
| 21,327 |
|
| (42,229 |
) |
| (20,902 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2004 (unaudited) | | |
| | |
Segment revenues | | |
| 49,546 |
|
| 394,594 |
|
| 444,140 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Segment results | | |
| 20,043 |
|
| (13,477 |
) |
| 6,566 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Three months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited) | | |
| | |
Segment revenues | | |
| 14,800 |
|
| 119,573 |
|
| 134,373 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Segment results | | |
| 6,143 |
|
| (16,164 |
) |
| (10,021 |
) |
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Three months ended September 30, 2004 (unaudited) | | |
| | |
Segment revenues | | |
| 17,135 |
|
| 128,477 |
|
| 145,612 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Segment results | | |
| 7,601 |
|
| (6,747 |
) |
| 854 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Year ended December 31, 2004 (audited) | | |
| | |
Segment revenues | | |
| 65,659 |
|
| 518,905 |
|
| 584,564 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Segment results | | |
| 28,457 |
|
| (25,448 |
) |
| 3,009 |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
- 33 -