Cellcom Israel Announces First Quarter 2016 Results

NETANYA, Israel, May 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

First Quarter 2016 Highlights (compared to first quarter of 2015): 

• Total Revenues totaled NIS 1,022 million ($271 million) compared to NIS 1,062 million ($282 million) in the first quarter last year, a decrease of 3.8%
• Service revenues totaled NIS 774 million ($206 million) compared to NIS 800 million ($212 million) in the first quarter last year, a decrease of 3.3%
• EBITDA¹ totaled NIS 238 million ($63 million) compared to NIS 196 million ($52 million) and excluding a one-time expense NIS 226 million ($60 million) in the first quarter last year², an increase of 21.4% and 5.3% respectively 
• EBITDA margin 23.3%, up from 18.5%
• Operating income totaled NIS 101 million ($27 million) compared to NIS 55 million ($15 million) in the first quarter last year², an increase of 83.6%
• Net income totaled NIS 59 million ($16 million) compared to NIS 26 million ($7 million) and excluding a one-time expense NIS 51 million ($14 million) in the first quarter last year², an increase of 126.9% and 15.7% respectively
• Free cash flow¹ totaled NIS 149 million ($40 million) compared to NIS 127 million ($34 million) in the first quarter last year, an increase of 17.3%
• Cellular subscriber base totaled approx. 2.813 million subscribers (at the end of March 2016)

Nir Sztern, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, added:
"Despite the challenging competitive environment, in the first quarter of 2016 the Group succeeded in strengthening its financial stability and recorded an improvement in the financial indicators alongside a decrease in expenses. In this quarter compared to the first quarter last year, the net income was doubled, EBITDA increased by 21.4% and Free Cash Flow increased by 17.3%. We continue to see the fruits of our work as a communications group, providing the customer a complete value offer. Despite many challenges in the landline wholesale market, we are leading the landline customer acquisition, with, as at March 31, 2016, over 120,000 households in the landline wholesale market and approximately 75,000 households in Cellcom tv, an addition of approximately 11,000 Cellcom tv households in the first quarter 2016.

We continue our efforts to strengthen our position as a leading communications group. Over the last year we have substantially enlarged Cellcom tv's content offering and we have recently announced the addition of sports channels to Cellcom tv. Since the successful launch of these sport channels, the daily pace of customers joining Cellcom tv has doubled.

I wish to thank the excellent employees and managers of the Cellcom group, who provide quality service to our customers and form the most significant asset for our business success."

Shlomi Fruhling, Chief Financial Officer, commented:
"We expect the market's competition level, as characterized in the first quarter, will remain at a similar pace in the upcoming quarters. Accordingly, the Group continues to work to reduce its operating expenses.

In the first quarter of 2016 we witnessed a continued erosion in service revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in national roaming revenues and in revenues from Cellcom tv services. We also witnessed a growth in the customer base of Cellcom tv, wholesale market and the triple-play services. Simultaneously, the Group continues to work to lower its operating expenses.

In the first quarter of 2016, EBITDA totaled NIS 238 million, compared to NIS 196 million (and excluding a one-time expense NIS 226 million) in the first quarter last year, a 21.4% (and 5.3%) increase, and the net income totaled NIS 59 million, compared to NIS 26 million (and excluding a one-time expense NIS 51 million) in the first quarter last year, a 126.9% (and 15.7%) increase.
The Group continued this quarter also to work to lower its net debt level to NIS 2.68 billion, compared to NIS 2.93 billion in the same quarter last year. The Free Cash Flow totaled to NIS 149 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 17.3% increase compared to the same quarter last year. The increase resulted from a one-time tax refund and a decrease in payments made to suppliers, which was partially offset by a decrease in receipts from customers for services and end user equipment.

In March 2016, the Company completed a debt raising by a private issuance of additional Series I debentures, for a total consideration of NIS 250 million. This successful issuance reflects the continued investors' vote of confidence in the Company.

This quarter the Company has started reporting its results by "Cellular" and "Fixed-line" segments, in a way which reflects the Company's decision-making process as a result of entering into new fields of operations.

The Company's Board of Directors decided not to distribute a dividend for the first quarter of 2016, given the continued intensified competition in the market and its effect on the Company's operating results and in order to further strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The Board of Directors will re-evaluate its decision as market conditions develop, and taking into consideration the Company's needs."

Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL TASE: CEL) ("Cellcom Israel" or the "Company" or the "Group"), announced today its financial results for the first quarter of 2016. Revenues for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 1,022 million ($271 million). EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 238 million ($63 million), reflecting a margin of 23.3% of total revenues. Net income for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 59 million ($16 million). Basic earnings per share for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 0.59 ($0.16).

MAIN CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS:

MAIN FINANCIAL DATA BY OPERATING SEGMENTS:

As a result of recent business and regulatory changes, as well as the Company's entry into new fields of operations in the landline market - sale of television services and sale of internet infrastructure services, the Company's management attention has shifted to focus on two main fields of operations, "Cellular" and "Fixed-line". Accordingly, starting from the first quarter of 2016, the Company presents its operations in two segments, "Cellular" segment and "Fixed-line" segment. These segments are managed separately for allocating resources and assessing performance purposes. The Company adjusted its operating segments reporting for prior periods on a retroactive basis, therefore the segment reporting for those periods reflect the new reporting format.

• Cellular Segment - the segment includes the cellular communications services, end user cellular equipment and supplemental services.
• Fixed-line segment - the segment includes landline telephony services, internet infrastructure and connectivity services, television services, end user fixed-line equipment and supplemental services.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Revenues for the first quarter of 2016 decreased 3.8% totaling NIS 1,022 million ($271 million), compared to NIS 1,062 million ($282 million) in the first quarter last year. The decrease in revenues is attributed to a 3.3% decrease in service revenues, and a 5.3% decrease in equipment revenues.

Service revenues totaled NIS 774 million ($206 million) in the first quarter of 2016, a 3.3% decrease from NIS 800 million ($212 million) in the first quarter last year.

Service revenues in the cellular segment totaled NIS 559 million ($148 million) in the first quarter of 2016, a 4.0% decrease from NIS 582 million ($155 million) in the first quarter last year. This decrease resulted mainly from a decrease in cellular services revenues due to the ongoing erosion in the price of these services and churn of customers resulting from the intensified competition in the cellular market. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in revenues from national roaming.

Service revenues in the fixed-line segment totaled NIS 264 million ($70 million) in the first quarter of 2016, a 1.9% decrease from NIS 269 million ($71 million) in the first quarter last year. This decrease resulted mainly from a decrease in revenues from long distance calls which was partially offset by an increase in revenues from the TV field.

Equipment revenues in the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 248 million ($66 million), a 5.3% decrease compared to NIS 262 million ($70 million) in the first quarter last year. This decrease resulted mainly from a decrease in the number of cellular handsets sold during the first quarter of 2016 as compared with the first quarter of 2015. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in equipment revenues in the fixed-line segment.

Cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 670 million ($178 million), compared to NIS 722 million ($192 million) in the first quarter of 2015, a 7.2% decrease. This decrease resulted mainly from a decrease in costs associated with the sale of cellular handsets, primarily as a result of a decrease in the amount of handsets sold during the first quarter of 2016 as compared with the first quarter of 2015, as well as a decrease in the cost of service revenues mainly as a result of a decrease in costs related to local and international operators, which was partially offset by an increase in content costs related to the TV field.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2016 Increased 3.5% to NIS 352 million ($93 million), compared to NIS 340 million ($90 million) in the first quarter of 2015. Gross profit margin for the first quarter of 2016 amounted to 34.4%, up from 32.0% in the first quarter of 2015.

Selling, Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses ("SG&A Expenses") for the first quarter of 2016 decreased 12.5% to NIS 251 million ($66 million), compared to NIS 287 million ($76 million) in the first quarter of 2015. This decrease is primarily a result of an approximately NIS 30 million one-time expense due to entering a collective employment agreement, recorded in the first quarter of 2015, and of the efficiency measures implemented by the Company.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2016 increased by 83.6% to NIS 101 million ($27 million) from NIS 55 million ($15 million) in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in the operating income resulted mainly from an approximately NIS 30 million one-time expense in the first quarter of 2015, due to entering a collective employment agreement, as well as an improvement in gross profitability and a decrease in operating expenses mainly as a result of efficiency measures implemented by the Company.

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 increased by 21.4% totaling NIS 238 million ($63 million) compared to NIS 196 million ($52 million) in the first quarter of 2015. EBITDA for the first quarter 2016, as a percent of first quarter revenues, totaled 23.3%, up from 18.5% in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in the EBITDA resulted mainly from an approximately NIS 30 million one-time expense in the first quarter of 2015, due to a collective employment agreement and also from an improvement in gross profitability and efficiency measures in operating expenses. Cellular segment EBITDA totaled NIS 178 million ($47 million), compared to NIS 130 million ($35 million) in the first quarter last year, also as a result of an increase in revenues from national roaming as well as a decrease in operating expenses as mentioned above. Fixed-line segment EBITDA totaled NIS 60 million ($16 million), a 9.1% decrease from the first quarter last year, also as a result of an erosion in international calls revenues.

Financing expenses, net for the first quarter of 2016 increased 33.3% and totaled NIS 24 million ($6 million), compared to NIS 18 million ($5 million) in the first quarter of 2015. The increase resulted mainly from a lower financing income, net from linkage to the Israeli Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), associated with the Company's debentures, offset by CPI hedging transactions, due to a lower deflation in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in interest expenses in relation of the Company's debentures, as a result of a decrease in the Company's debt level in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2015.

Net Income for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 59 million ($16 million), compared to NIS 26 million ($7 million) in the first quarter of 2015, a 126.9% increase.

Basic earnings per share for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 0.59 ($0.16), compared to NIS 0.25 ($0.07) in the first quarter last year.

OPERATING REVIEW

MAIN PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - cellular segment:

Cellular subscriber base – at the end of the first quarter of 2016 the Company had approximately 2.813 million cellular subscribers. During the first quarter of 2016 the Company's cellular subscriber base decreased by approximately 22,000 net cellular subscribers, mainly pre-paid subscribers.

Cellular Churn Rate for the first quarter of 2016 totaled 11.1%, compared to 11.9% in the first quarter of 2015.

The monthly cellular Average Revenue per User ("ARPU") for the first quarter of 2016 totaled NIS 65.2 ($17.3), compared to NIS 65.5 ($17.4) in the first quarter of 2015. The decrease in ARPU resulted, among others, from the ongoing erosion in the prices of cellular services, resulting from the intensified competition in the cellular market, which was partially offset by an increase in revenues from national roaming.

MAIN PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - fixed-line segment:

At the end of the first quarter of 2016, the Company had approximately 121,000 households in the internet infrastructure field and approximately 75,000 households in the TV field.

FINANCING AND INVESTMENT REVIEW

Cash Flow
Free cash flow for the first quarter of 2016 increased by 17.3% to NIS 149 million ($40 million), compared to NIS 127 million ($34 million) in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in free cash flow was mainly due to a one-time tax refund and a decrease in payments made to suppliers for end user equipment purchase, which was partially offset by a decrease in receipts from customers for services and end user equipment.

Total Equity
Total Equity as of March 31, 2016 amounted to NIS 1,245 million ($331 million) primarily consisting of accumulated undistributed retained earnings of the Company.

Cash Capital Expenditures in Fixed Assets and Intangible Assets
During the first quarter of 2016 the Company invested NIS 90 million ($24 million) in fixed assets and intangible assets (including, among others, investments in the Company's communication networks, information systems, software and TV set-top boxes), compared to NIS 96 million ($25 million) in the first quarter of 2015.

Dividend
On May 22, 2016, the Company's board of directors decided not to declare a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2016. In making its decision, the board of directors considered the Company's dividend policy and business status and decided not to distribute a dividend at this time, given the intensified competition and its adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, and in order to strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The board of directors will re-evaluate its decision in future quarters. No future dividend declaration is guaranteed and is subject to the Company's board of directors' sole discretion, as detailed in the Company's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2015 on Form 20-F, under "Item 8 - Financial Information – A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information - Dividend Policy".

Debentures
For information regarding the Company's summary of financial liabilities and details regarding the Company's outstanding debentures as of March 31, 2016, see "Disclosure for Debenture Holders" section in this press release.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2016 AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

Private Offering of the Company's Debentures
In March 2016, the Company issued in a private offering approximately NIS 246 million aggregate principal amount of additional Series I debentures to certain institutional investors, for a total consideration of NIS 250 million, representing a price of  NIS 101.5 for a unit of  NIS 100 principal amount Series I debenture, reflecting an effective interest of 4.06% per annum. The Company's debentures (Series I) are listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or TASE, and the issuance was executed after receiving the TASE's approval.

The said offering was made only in Israel and only to residents of Israel. The said debentures were not registered and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and will not be offered or sold in the United States. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

For additional details in regards to the Company's existing debentures, see the Company's most recent annual report for the year ended December 31, 2015 on Form 20-F, filed on March 21, 2016 under: "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – B. Liquidity and Capital Resources – Debt Service – Public Debentures" and the Company's current report on form 6-K dated March 23, 2016.

Agreements with Golan Telecom
In April 2016, the Israeli Antitrust commissioner and the Ministry of Communications notified the Company they are opposing the proposed purchase of Golan Telecom Ltd. ("Golan") by the Company.

Following the regulators' opposition to the proposed purchase of Golan by the Company, the parties are negotiating an agreement which would, if finalized and approved by the regulators, allow Golan to continue to use the Company's networks in the provision of its services. Entering such an agreement is subject to further agreements which are yet to be reached and there is no certainty that such agreements will be reached nor as to the entering into such an agreement. 

For additional details see the Company's most recent annual report for the year ended December 31, 2015 on Form 20-F, filed on March 21, 2016, under "Item 3 Key Information - D. Risk Factors - Risks Related to our Business - We face intense competition in all aspects of our business" and "- Risks Related to the Proposed Acquisition of Golan Telecom Ltd." and under "Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - General - Agreement for the Purchase of Golan", and under "-Competition - Cellular" and "- Government Regulation - Additional MNOs", and the Company's current reports on Form 6-K date March 28, 2016, April 12, 2016 and May 16, 2016.

Voluntary Retirement Plan
In May 2016, the Group in collaboration with the employees representatives, launched a new voluntary retirement plan for employees. As of the date of this report, the number of employees who will join the plan and the expense the Company will record in the second quarter of 2016 with respect to this plan, are unknown.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

The Company will be hosting a conference call regarding its results for the first quarter of 2016 on Monday, May 23, 2016 at 09:00 am ET, 06:00 am PT, 14:00 UK time, 16:00 Israel time. On the call, management will review and discuss the results, and will be available to answer questions. To participate, please either access the live webcast on the Company's website, or call one of the following teleconferencing numbers below. Please begin placing your calls at least 10 minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

at: 09:00 am Eastern Time; 06:00 am Pacific Time; 14:00 UK Time; 16:00 Israel Time

To access the live webcast of the conference call, please access the investor relations section of Cellcom Israel's website: www.cellcom.co.il. After the call, a replay of the call will be available under the same investor relations section.

About Cellcom Israel
Cellcom Israel Ltd., established in 1994, is the largest Israeli cellular provider; Cellcom Israel provides its approximately 2.813 million cellular subscribers (as at March 31, 2016) with a broad range of value added services including cellular telephony, roaming services for tourists in Israel and for its subscribers abroad and additional services in the areas of music, video, mobile office etc., based on Cellcom Israel's technologically advanced infrastructure. The Company operates an LTE 4 generation network and an HSPA 3.5 Generation network enabling advanced high speed broadband multimedia services, in addition to GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Cellcom Israel offers Israel's broadest and largest customer service infrastructure including telephone customer service centers, retail stores, and service and sale centers, distributed nationwide. Through its broad customer service network Cellcom Israel offers technical support, account information, direct to the door parcel delivery services, internet and fax services, dedicated centers for hearing impaired, etc. Cellcom Israel further provides OTT TV services (as of December 2014), internet infrastructure (as of February 2015) and connectivity services and international calling services, as well as landline telephone communication services in Israel, in addition to data communication services. Cellcom Israel's shares are traded both on the New York Stock Exchange (CEL) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (CEL). For additional information please visit the Company's website http://investors.cellcom.co.il.

Forward-Looking Statements
The following information contains, or may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Israeli Securities Law, 1968). In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company, may include projections of the Company's future financial results, its anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in its business. These statements are only predictions based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: changes to the terms of the Company's license, new legislation or decisions by the regulator affecting the Company's operations, new competition and changes in the competitive environment, the outcome of legal proceedings to which the Company is a party, particularly class action lawsuits, the Company's ability to maintain or obtain permits to construct and operate cell sites, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2015. 

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform its prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). 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 3.766 = US$ 1 as published by the Bank of Israel for March 31, 2016.

Use of non-IFRS financial measures
EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is defined as income before financing income (expenses), net; other income (expenses), net (excluding expenses related to employee voluntary retirement plans); income tax; depreciation and amortization and share based payments. This is an accepted measure in the communications industry. The Company presents this measure as an additional performance measure as the Company believes that it enables us to compare operating performance between periods and companies, net of any potential differences which may result from differences in capital structure, taxes, age of fixed assets and related depreciation expenses. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for operating income, any other performance measures, or cash flow data, which were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as measures of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not take into account debt service requirements, or other commitments, including capital expenditures, and therefore, does not necessarily indicate the amounts that may be available for the Company's use. In addition, EBITDA as presented by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, due to differences in the way these measures are calculated. See the reconciliation of net income to EBITDA under "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures" in the press release.

Free cash flow is a non-IFRS measure and is defined as the net cash provided by operating activities (including the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents), minus the net cash used in investing activities excluding short-term investment in tradable debentures and deposits and proceeds from sales of such debentures (including interest received in relation to such debentures) and deposits. See "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures" below.