- Successful Capital Raising of NIS 99 Million in June 2018 Increased the Company’s Liquidity
and Decreased Its Net Debt -
Ramat Gan, Israel, Aug. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Gold - Golden Lines Ltd. (“the Company”) (NASDAQ Global Select market and TASE: IGLD), a holding company with the controlling interest in B Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: BCOM), which in turn holds the controlling interest in Bezeq, The Israel Telecommunication Corporation Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ), today reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2018.
Doron Turgeman, CEO of Internet Gold comment today: “The second quarter of 2018 was another stable period for Bezeq, which generated a net profit of NIS 195 million. After our successful NIS 99 million issuance of shares and options in June 2018, we have sufficient resources to service our debt until March 2020 and we will continue our efforts to strengthen our financial condition and liquidity with the goal of improving our debt and equity positions”.
Private Placement of Ordinary Shares and Warrants in Israel
On June 11, 2018, the Company conducted a private placement of 8,800,000 of its ordinary shares, NIS 0.01 par value, to certain institutional, “qualified” and private investors in Israel. The Company’s gross proceeds from the offering was NIS 99 million, based on a price of NIS 11.25 per share. The Company also issued warrants to purchase 4,400,000 additional ordinary shares of the Company (the “Warrants”) to the investors. The Warrants, which terminate on June 30, 2019, have an exercise price of NIS 11.00 per share. Of the 8,800,000 ordinary shares and 4,400,000 Warrants sold in the private placement, Eurocom Communications (our controlling shareholder) purchased a total of 4,800,000 ordinary shares and 2,400,000 Warrants.
Internet Gold’s Unconsolidated Financial Liabilities and Liquidity
As of June 30, 2018, Internet Gold’s unconsolidated liquidity balances comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled NIS 243 million ($67 million), its unconsolidated financial liabilities totaled NIS 817 million ($224 million) and its unconsolidated net debt totaled NIS 574 million ($157 million).
(In millions) | June 30, | June 30, | June 30, | December 31, | ||||||||||||
2018 | 2018 | 2017 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
NIS | US$ | NIS | NIS | |||||||||||||
Series C debentures | 22 | 6 | 261 | 43 | ||||||||||||
Series D debentures | *795 | *218 | 550 | 780 | ||||||||||||
Total financial liabilities | 817 | 224 | 811 | 823 | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 111 | 30 | 10 | 21 | ||||||||||||
Short-term investments | 132 | 37 | 206 | 174 | ||||||||||||
Total liquidity | 243 | 67 | 216 | 195 | ||||||||||||
Net debt | 574 | 157 | 595 | 628 |
* | The Series D debentures balance as of June 30, 2018 includes NIS 15 million ($4 million) arising from the initial implementation of IFRS9. It should be noted that the increase in the Series D debentures balance will not increase the Company’s future debt repayments and will decrease the Company’s finance expenses over the term of the debentures. |
Internet Gold’s Second Quarter Consolidated Financial Results
Internet Gold’s consolidated revenues for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 2.33 billion ($639 million), a 5.3% decrease from the NIS 2.46 billion reported in the second quarter of 2017. For both the current and the prior year periods, Internet Gold’s consolidated revenues consisted entirely of Bezeq’s revenues.
Internet Gold’s consolidated operating loss for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 17 million ($5 million) compared with operating profit of NIS 466 million reported in the second quarter of 2017. The decrease of consolidated operating profit is mainly due to a non-cash goodwill impairment of NIS 333 million ($91 million) recorded by B Communications with respect its purchase price allocation relating to Bezeq’s cellular communications segment.
Internet Gold’s consolidated loss for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 210 million ($58 million), compared with net profit of NIS 236 million reported in the second quarter of 2017. The consolidated loss for the second quarter of 2018 is mainly a result of the goodwill impairment at B Communications as described above.
Internet Gold’s loss attributable to shareholders for the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 217 million ($60 million) compared with net profit of NIS 14 million reported in the second quarter of 2017. The loss attributable to shareholders for the second quarter of 2018 is mainly a result of the goodwill impairment at B Communications.
Internet Gold’s Second Quarter Unconsolidated Financial Results
(In millions) | Three months ended June 30, | Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2018 | 2017 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
NIS | US$ | NIS | NIS | |||||||||||||
Financing expenses, net | (10 | ) | (3 | ) | (14 | ) | (60 | ) | ||||||||
Operating expenses | (3 | ) | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
Interest in BCOM’s net profit (loss) | (204 | ) | (56 | ) | 29 | 51 | ||||||||||
Net profit (loss) | (217 | ) | (60 | ) | 14 | (15 | ) |
As of June 30, 2018, Internet Gold held approximately 65% of B Communications’ outstanding shares. Accordingly, Internet Gold’s interest in B Communications’ loss for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 204 million ($56 million) compared with net profit of NIS 29 million reported in the second quarter of 2017. B Communications loss in the second quarter of 2018 was mainly due to the non-cash goodwill impairment of NIS 333 million ($91 million) with respect its purchase price allocation relating to Bezeq’s cellular communications segment, which resulted from the continued fierce competition in the Israeli cellular telephony market.
Internet Gold’s unconsolidated net financial expenses in the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 10 million ($3 million) compared with NIS 14 million in the second quarter of 2017. Net financial expenses in 2018 included NIS 13 million ($4 million) of interest and CPI linkage expenses related to its publicly-traded debentures. These expenses were partially offset by financial income of NIS 3 million ($1 million) generated by short term investments.
Internet Gold’s unconsolidated loss for the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 217 million ($60 million) compared with net profit of NIS 14 million reported in the second quarter of 2017. The unconsolidated loss for the second quarter of 2018 is mainly a result of the goodwill impairment at B Communications.
Bezeq Group Results (Consolidated)
To provide further insight into its results, the Company is providing the following summary of the consolidated financial report of the Bezeq Group for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. For a full discussion of Bezeq’s results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, please refer to its website: http://ir.bezeq.co.il.
Bezeq Group (consolidated) | Q2-2018 | Q2-2017 | % change | |||||||||
(NIS millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenues | 2,333 | 2,463 | (5.3 | )% | ||||||||
Operating profit | 371 | 573 | (35.3 | )% | ||||||||
Operating margin | 15.9 | % | 23.3 | % | ||||||||
Net profit | 195 | 358 | (45.5 | )% | ||||||||
EBITDA | 908 | 997 | (8.9 | )% | ||||||||
EBITDA margin | 38.9 | % | 40.5 | % | ||||||||
Diluted EPS (NIS) | 0.07 | 0.13 | (46.2 | )% | ||||||||
Cash flow from operating activities | 806 | 875 | (7.9 | )% | ||||||||
Payments for investments 1 | 611 | 406 | 50.5 | % | ||||||||
Free cash flow 2 | 123 | 487 | (74.7 | )% | ||||||||
Total debt | 12,000 | 11,519 | 4.2 | % | ||||||||
Net debt | 9,401 | 9,646 | (2.5 | )% | ||||||||
EBITDA (trailing twelve months) | 3,729 | 3,972 | (6.1 | )% | ||||||||
Net debt/EBITDA (end of period) 3 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 3.8 | % |
* As of January 1, 2018, the Bezeq Group has early adopted accounting standard IFRS 16 “Leases”. The impact of the implementation of IFRS16 on EBITDA and cash flow from operating activities in the second quarter of 2018 and 2017 was an increase of NIS 102 million and NIS 89 million, respectively.
1 Includes payments of NIS 192 million for permit fees and taxes relating to the pending “sale” of Sakia.
2 Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities less net payments for investments.
3 EBITDA in this calculation refers to the trailing twelve months.
Revenues of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 were NIS 2.33 billion ($639 million) compared to NIS 2.46 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 5.3%. The decrease in revenues was due to lower revenues recorded by Bezeq International (due to a large transaction in the ICT field recorded in the corresponding quarter), Yes and Pelephone (mainly equipment), partially offset by an increase in revenues in Bezeq Fixed-Line.
Salary expenses of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 were NIS 503 million ($138 million) compared to NIS 494 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, an increase of 1.8%. The increase in salary expenses was due to higher expenses incurred by Bezeq Fixed-Line.
Operating expenses of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 were NIS 838 million ($230 million) compared to NIS 973 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 13.9%. The decrease was primarily due to the early adoption of accounting standard IFRS 16 whereby rental expenses relating to assets rented through operating leases are capitalized.
Other operating expenses, net of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 amounted to NIS 84 million ($23 million) compared to other operating income, net of NIS 1 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017. Other operating expenses, net in the second quarter of 2018 was impacted by a provision of NIS 80 million ($22 million) for costs associated with the early retirement of Bezeq Fixed-line employees.
Depreciation and amortization expenses of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 were NIS 537 million ($147 million) compared to NIS 424 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, an increase of 26.7%. The increase was due to the amortization of right-of-use assets resulting from the early adoption of accounting standard IFRS 16 beginning January 1, 2018.
Operating profit of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 371 million ($102 million) compared to NIS 573 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 35.3%.
Financing expenses, net of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 amounted to NIS 110 million ($30 million) compared to NIS 102 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, an increase of 7.8%.
Income tax expenses of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 were NIS 65 million ($18 million) compared to NIS 111 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 41.4%. The decrease in tax expenses was due to a reduction in profitability as well as a decrease in the corporate tax rate from 24% to 23% in 2018.
Net profit of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 195 million ($53 million) compared to NIS 358 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 45.5%. The decrease in net profit was primarily due to the decrease in revenues and the provision for early retirement.
EBITDA of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 908 million ($249 million) (EBITDA margin of 38.9%) compared to NIS 997 billion (EBITDA margin of 40.5%) in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 8.9%.
Cash flow from operating activities of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 806 million ($221 million) compared to NIS 875 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 7.9%. The decrease in cash flow from operating activities was primarily due to the decrease in profitability and changes in working capital.
Payments for investments (Capex) of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 611 million ($167 million) compared to NIS 406 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, an increase of 50.5%. The increase in investments was primarily due to payments of NIS 192 million for permit fees and an improvement levy relating to the pending sale of “Sakia”.
Free cash flow of the Bezeq Group in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 123 million ($34 million) compared to NIS 487 million in the corresponding quarter of 2017, a decrease of 74.7%. The decrease in free cash flow was primarily due to timing differences resulting from the payments in relation to the sale of “Sakia” while the proceeds from the sale have not yet been recorded.
Total debt of the Bezeq Group as of June 30, 2018 was NIS 12.0 billion ($3.3 billion) compared to NIS 11.5 billion as of June 30, 2017.
Net debt of the Bezeq Group was NIS 9.40 billion ($2.58 billion) as of June 30, 2018 compared to NIS 9.64 billion as of June 30, 2017.
Net debt to EBITDA (trailing twelve months) ratio of the Bezeq Group as of June 30, 2018, was 2.52, compared to 2.43 as of June 30, 2017.
Notes:
Convenience translation to U.S Dollars
Unless noted specifically otherwise, the dollar denominated figures were converted to US$ using a convenience translation based on the New Israeli Shekel (NIS)/US$ exchange rate of NIS 3.65 = US$ 1 as published by the Bank of Israel for June 30, 2018.
Use of non-IFRS financial measures
We and the Bezeq Group’s management regularly use supplemental non-IFRS financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate its business and make operating decisions. The following non-IFRS measures are provided in the press release and accompanying supplemental information because management believes these measurements are useful for investors and financial institutions to analyze and compare companies on the basis of operating performance:
â— EBITDA - defined as net profit plus net interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization;
â— EBITDA trailing twelve months - defined as net profit plus net interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization during last twelve months;
â— Net debt - defined as long and short-term liabilities minus cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments; and
â— Net debt to EBITDA ratio - defined as net debt divided by the trailing twelve months EBITDA.
â— Free Cash Flow (FCF) - defined as cash from operating activities less cash for the purchase/sale of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets, net.
These non-IFRS financial measures may differ materially from the non-IFRS financial measures used by other companies.
We present the Bezeq Group’s EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure because we believe that it facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period and company to company by backing out potential differences caused by variations in capital structure, tax positions (such as the impact of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses) and the age of, and depreciation expenses associated with, fixed assets (affecting relative depreciation expense).
EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net profit or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with IFRS as a measure of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not take into account our debt service requirements and other commitments, including capital expenditures, and, accordingly, is not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary uses. In addition, EBITDA, as presented in this press release, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies due to differences in the way that these measures are calculated.
Management of Bezeq believes that free cash flow is an important measure of its liquidity as well as its ability to service long-term debt, fund future growth and to provide a return to shareholders. We also believe this free cash flow definition does not have any material limitations. Free cash flow is a financial index which is not based on IFRS. Free cash flow is defined as cash from operating activities less cash for the purchase/sale of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets, net. Bezeq also uses the net debt and net debt to EBITDA trailing twelve months ratio to analyze its financial capacity for further leverage and in analyzing the company’s business and financial condition. Net debt reflects long and short-term liabilities minus cash and cash equivalents and investments.
Reconciliations between the Bezeq Group’s results on an IFRS and non-IFRS basis with respect to these non-IFRS measurements are provided in tables immediately following the Company’s consolidated results. The non-IFRS financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable IFRS measures and should be read only in conjunction with its consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.
IFRS16
Effective January 1, 2018 (“the Initial Application Date”), the Bezeq Group early adopted IFRS 16, Leases (“IFRS16” or “the Standard “). The main effect of early adoption of IFRS16 is reflected in the cancellation of the existing requirement that lessees classify leases as operating (off-balance sheet) or financing leases. The new Standard presents a uniform model for the accounting treatment of all leases, pursuant to which the lessee is to recognize the asset and the liability in respect of the lease in its financial statements. The Standard also sets out new disclosure requirements that are more extensive than the existing requirements. Accordingly, until the date of initial application, the Bezeq Group classified most of the leases in which it is the lessee as operating leases, since it did not substantially bear all the risks and rewards from the assets.
In accordance with IFRS16, for agreements in which the Bezeq Group is the lessee, the Bezeq Group applies a unified accounting model, by which it recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the inception of the lease contract for all the leases in which the Bezeq Group has a right to control identified assets for a specified period of time. Accordingly, the Bezeq Group recognizes depreciation and amortization expenses in respect of a right-of-use asset, tests a right-of-use asset for impairment in accordance with IAS 36, Impairment of Assets (hereinafter: “IAS 36”) and recognizes financing expenses on a lease liability. Therefore, as from the date of initial application, lease expenses relating to assets leased under an operating lease, which were presented as part of general and administrative expenses in the income statement, are recognized as assets and written down as depreciation and amortization expenses.
The Bezeq Group applies the standard using the cumulative effect approach without a restatement of comparative information.
In respect of all the leases, the Bezeq Group has elected to apply the transitional provision of recognizing a lease liability at the initial application date according to the present value of the future lease payments discounted at the incremental interest rate of the lessee at that date and concurrently recognizing a right-of-use asset at the same amount of the liability, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease payments that were recognized as an asset or liability before the date of initial application. Therefore, application of the standard did not have an effect on the balance of the Bezeq Group’s retained earnings at the date of initial application.
Upon initial application, the Bezeq Group also elected to apply the following expedients, as permitted by the standard:
a. Relying on a previous assessment of whether an arrangement is a lease or contains a lease at the application date of the standard. Accordingly, the agreements that were previously classified as operating leases are accounted for in accordance with the new Standard, and the agreements that were previously classified as service contracts continue to be accounted for as such without change.
b. Applying a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with similar characteristics.
c. Not separating non-lease components from the lease components and accounting for all the components as a single lease component.
d. Relying on a previous assessment of whether a contract is onerous in accordance with IAS 37 at the transition date, as an alternative to assessing the impairment of right-of-use assets.
e. Excluding initial direct costs from the measurement of the right-of-use asset at the date of initial application.
f. Using hindsight in determining the lease period if the contract includes options to extend or cancel the lease.
Presented below are the principal accounting policies for leases in which the Bezeq Group is the lessee, which were applied as from January 1, 2018 following the application of the Standard:
(1) Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease
At the inception of the arrangement, the Bezeq Group determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease and examines whether the arrangement transfers the right to control the use of an identifiable asset for a period of time in return for payment. When assessing whether the arrangement transfers control over the use of an identifiable asset, the Bezeq Group estimates, over the lease term, whether it has both rights set out below:
(A) The right to essentially obtain all the economic rewards associated with the use of the identifiable asset
(B) The right to direct the use of the identifiable asset
For lease contracts that include non-lease components, such as services or maintenance, which are related to a lease component, the Bezeq Group elected to account for the contract as a single lease component without separating the components.
(2) Leased assets and lease liability
Contracts that award the Bezeq Group the right to control the use of an identifiable asset over a period of time for a consideration are accounted for as leases. At initial recognition, the Bezeq Group recognizes a liability at the present value of the future minimum lease payments (these payments do not include variable lease payments that are not linked to the CPI, or to any change in the rate of interest, or any change in the exchange rate), and concurrently, the Bezeq Group recognizes a right-of-use asset at the amount of the liability, adjusted for lease payments paid in advance or accrued, plus direct costs incurred in the lease.
Since the interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable, the incremental borrowing rate of the Bezeq Group is used (the borrowing rate that the Bezeq Group would be required to pay to borrow the amounts required to obtain an asset at a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment, in a similar period and with similar collateral).
Subsequent to initial recognition, the asset is accounted for using the cost model and it is amortized over the lease term or the useful life of the asset (whichever is earlier).
(3) The lease term
The lease term is the non-cancellable period of the lease plus periods covered by an extension or termination option if it is reasonably certain that the Bezeq Group