Annual Report • Mar 30, 2017
Annual Report
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL REPORT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12, 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2017
☐ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___________ to ___________
OR
☐ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report ___________
Commission file number 1-14968
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
ISRAEL
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
8 AMAL STREET AFEQ INDUSTRIAL PARK ROSH-HA'AYIN 48103 ISRAEL
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Hadar Vismunski-Weinberg [email protected]
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or facsimile Number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
American Depositary Shares, each representing The NASDAQ Global Select Market one ordinary share, nominal value NIS 0.01 per share Ordinary Shares, nominal value NIS 0.01 per share* The NASDAQ Global Select Market
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares representing such ordinary shares, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
NONE
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
YES ☐ NO ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act 1934.
YES ☐ NO ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
YES ☒ NO ☐
Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☒ Non-Accelerated Filer ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ☐
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board x
Other ☐
If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow:
ITEM 17 ☐ ITEM 18 ☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ☐ NO ☒
| ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 5 |
|---|---|
| ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE | 5 |
| ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION | 5 |
| ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY | 30 |
| ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS | 74 |
| ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS | 74 |
| ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES | 106 |
| ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | 130 |
| ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 134 |
| ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING | 140 |
| ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 141 |
| ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK | 153 |
| ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES | 156 |
| ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES | 156 |
| ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS | 156 |
| ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 156 |
| ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT | 158 |
| ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS | 158 |
| ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES | 158 |
| ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES | 159 |
| ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS | 159 |
| ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACOUNTANT | 159 |
| ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 159 |
| ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 159 |
| ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 159 |
| ITEM 19. EXHIBITS | 159 |
As used herein, references to "we," "our," "us," the "Group," "Partner" or the "Company" are references to Partner Communications Company Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Partner Future Communications 2000 Ltd., Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions LP, Partner Business Communications Solutions LP, Partner Communication Products 2016 LP, 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. ("012 Smile") and 012 Smile's wholly-owned subsidiary, 012 Telecom Ltd., except as the context otherwise requires. Partner Future Communications 2000 Ltd. serves as the general partner and the Company serves as the limited partner of each of the limited partnerships.
Pursuant to a 15- year Network Sharing Agreement that the Company entered into with HOT Mobile Ltd. ("HOT Mobile") in November 2013, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership, P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership ("PHI"). See "Item 4B.9 OUR NETWORK ".
In the context of cellular services, references to "our network" refer to Partner's cellular telecommunications network which includes our core network, as well as the shared radio access network with HOT Mobile which is operated by PHI and any other Company infrastructure which enables our cellular service.
In addition, references to our "financial statements" are to our consolidated financial statements, unless the context requires otherwise.
The Company currently provides telecommunications services in the following two segments: (1) cellular telecommunications services ("Cellular Services") and (2) fixed-line communication services ("Fixed-Line Services"), which include: (a) Internet services ("ISP") that provide access to the internet as well as home Wi-Fi networks, including Value Added Services ("VAS") such as anti-virus and anti-spam filtering; and fixed-line voice communication services provided through Voice Over Broadband ("VOB"), SIP voice trunks and Network Termination Point Services ("NTP") – under which the Group supplies, installs, operates and maintains endpoint network equipment and solutions, including providing and installing equipment and cabling, within a subscriber's place of business or premises; (b) Transmission services and Primary Rate Interface ("PRI"); (c) International Long Distance services ("ILD"): outgoing and incoming international telephony, hubbing, roaming and signaling and calling card services. The cellular segment and the fixed-line segment also include sales and leasing of telecommunications, audio visual and related devices: mainly handsets, phones, tablets, laptops, modems, data cards, domestic routers, servers, audio-visual devices and related peripherals and equipment. Unless the context indicates otherwise, expressions such as "our business," "Partner's business" and "the Company's business" or "industry" refer to both Cellular and Fixed-Line Services.
In this document, references to "\$," "US\$," "US dollars," "USD" and "dollars" are to United States dollars, and references to "NIS" and "shekels" are to New Israeli Shekels. We maintain our financial books and records in shekels. This annual report contains translations of NIS amounts into US dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. No representation is made that the amounts referred to in this annual report as convenience translations could have been or could be converted from NIS into US dollars at these rates, at any particular rate or at all. The translations of NIS amounts into US dollars appearing throughout this annual report have been made at the exchange rate on December 31, 2016, of NIS 3.845 = US\$1.00 as published by the Bank of Israel, unless otherwise specified. See "Item 3A. Key Information – Selected Financial Data – Exchange Rate Data".
Our financial statements included in this annual report are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") published by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"). See "Item 18. Financial Statements" and "Item 5A. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results".
This annual report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "will," "plan," "could," "may," "project," "goal," "target" and similar expressions often identify forward-looking statements but are not the only way we identify these statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this annual report, including the statements in the sections of this annual report entitled "Item 3D. Key Information – Risk Factors," "Item 4. Information on the Company" and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and elsewhere in this annual report regarding our future performance, revenues or margins, market share or reduction of expenses, regulatory developments, and any statements regarding other future events or our future prospects, are forward-looking statements.
We have based these forward-looking statements on our current knowledge and our present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Partner, consumer habits and preferences in cellular and fixed-line telephone usage, trends in the Israeli telecommunications industry in general, the impact of current global economic conditions and possible regulatory and legal developments. For a description of some of the risks see "Item 3D Risk Factors," "Item 4 Information On The Company", "Item 5 Operating And Financial Review And Prospects," "Item 8A.1 Legal And Administrative Proceedings" and "Item 11 Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk". In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this annual report might not occur, and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Not applicable.
Our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB").
The tables below at and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, set forth selected consolidated financial data under IFRS. The selected financial information is derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by Kesselman & Kesselman, our independent registered public accounting firm in Israel and a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited. The audited consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2015 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, appear at the end of this report.
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | |
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | US\$ in | |||||
| (except per share data) | millions(1) | |||||
| Consolidated Statement of Income Data | ||||||
| Revenues, net | 5,572 | 4,519 | 4,400 | 4,111 | 3,544 | 922 |
| Cost of revenues | 4,031 | 3,510 | 3,419 | 3,472 | 2,924 | 760 |
| Gross profit | 1,541 | 1,009 | 981 | 639 | 620 | 162 |
| Selling and marketing expenses | 551 | 462 | 438 | 417 | 426 | 111 |
| General and administrative expenses | 236 | 217 | 193 | 223 | 263 | 68 |
| Income with respect to Settlement agreement with | ||||||
| Orange Other income, net |
- 111 |
- 79 |
- 50 |
61 47 |
217 45 |
56 12 |
| Operating profit | 865 | 409 | 400 | 107 | 193 | 51 |
| Finance income | 21 | 29 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 3 |
| Finance expenses | 255 | 240 | 162 | 156 | 118 | 31 |
| Finance costs, net | 234 | 211 | 159 | 143 | 105 | 28 |
| Profit (loss) before income tax | 631 | 198 | 241 | (36) | 88 | 23 |
| Income tax expenses | 153 | 63 | 79 | 4 | 36 | 9 |
| Profit (loss) for the year | 478 | 135 | 162 | (40) | 52 | 14 |
| Earnings (loss) per ordinary share and per ADS | ||||||
| Basic: | 3.07 | 0.87 | 1.04 | (0.26) | 0.33 | 0.09 |
| Diluted | 3.07 | 0.86 | 1.04 | (0.26) | 0.33 | 0.09 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands) |
||||||
| Basic: | 155,646 | 155,687 | 155,802 | 156,081 | 156,268 | 156,268 |
| Diluted (for calculation above): | 155,773 | 156,199 | 156,400 | 156,081 | 158,096 | 158,096 |
| 5 |
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 New Israeli Shekels in millions (except per share data) |
2015 | 2016 | 2016 US\$ in millions (1) |
|
| Other Financial Data | ||||||
| Capital expenditures (2) | 558 | 413 | 434 | 271 | 202 | 53 |
| Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 1,602 | 1,114 | 1,096 | 876 | 834 | 217 |
| Dividend per share (4) | 1.03 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Statement of Cash Flow Data | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 1,705 | 1,539 | 951 | 922 | 945 | 245 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (471) | (498) | (431) | (356) | (639) | (166) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (1,218) | (1,108) | (338) | (303) | (516) | (134) |
| Balance Sheet Data (at year end) | ||||||
| Current assets | 2,120 | 1,703 | 1,817 | 2,185 | 2,339 | 608 |
| Non current assets | 4,297 | 3,784 | 3,679 | 3,341 | 2,858 | 744 |
| Property and equipment | 1,990 | 1,791 | 1,661 | 1,414 | 1,207 | 314 |
| License and other intangible assets | 1,217 | 1,167 | 1,079 | 956 | 793 | 206 |
| Goodwill | 407 | 407 | 407 | 407 | 407 | 106 |
| Deferred income tax asset | 36 | 12 | 14 | 49 | 41 | 10 |
| Total assets | 6,417 | 5,487 | 5,496 | 5,526 | 5,197 | 1,352 |
| Current liabilities (5) | 1,525 | 1,374 | 1,385 | 1,765 | 1,607 | 418 |
| Long-term liabilities (5) | 4,151 | 3,239 | 3,072 | 2,741 | 2,479 | 645 |
| Total liabilities | 5,676 | 4,613 | 4,457 | 4,506 | 4,086 | 1,063 |
| Shareholders' equity | 741 | 874 | 1,039 | 1,020 | 1,111 | 289 |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | 6,417 | 5,487 | 5,496 | 5,526 | 5,197 | 1,352 |
(1) The NIS figures at December 31, 2016, and for the period then ended have been translated throughout this annual report into dollars using the representative exchange rate of the dollar at December 31, 2016 (USD 1 = NIS 3.845). The translation was made solely for convenience, is supplementary information, and is distinguished from the financial statements. The translated dollar figures should not be construed as a representation that the Israeli currency amounts actually represent, or could be converted into, dollars. See also "Item 3A. Key Information – Selected Financial Data – Exchange Rate Data".
The tables below at and for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, set forth a reconciliation between Profit (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA.
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | |
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | ||||||
| Reconciliation Between Profit (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA |
||||||
| Profit (Loss) | 478 | 135 | 162 | (40) | 52 | 14 |
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | 726 | 700 | 689 | 753 | 595 | 154 |
| Finance costs, net | 234 | 211 | 159 | 143 | 105 | 28 |
| Income tax expenses | 153 | 63 | 79 | 4 | 36 | 9 |
| Other (*) | 11 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 46 | 12 |
| Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 1,602 | 1,114 | 1,096 | 876 | 834 | 217 |
(1) The translations of NIS amounts into US dollars appearing throughout this annual report have been made at the exchange rate on December 31, 2016, of NIS 3.845 = US\$1.00 as published by the Bank of Israel, unless otherwise specified. See "Item 3A. Key Information – Selected Financial Data – Exchange Rate Data".
(2) Adjusted EBITDA as reviewed by the CODM represents Earnings Before Interest (finance costs, net), Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (including amortization of intangible assets, deferred expenses-right of use and impairment charges) and Other expenses (mainly amortization of share based compensation). Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies. Adjusted EBITDA may not be indicative of the Group's historic operating results nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. The usage of the term "Adjusted EBITDA" is to highlight the fact that the Amortization includes amortization of deferred expenses – right of use and amortization of employee share based compensation and impairment charges; it is fully comparable to EBITDA information which has been previously provided for prior periods.
(*) Mainly amortization of employee share based compensation.
| At December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |||
| Cellular Industry Data | |||||
| Estimated population of Israel (in millions) (1) | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Israeli cellular telephone subscribers (in millions) (2) | 10.3 | 10.5 | 10.3 |
| Estimated Israeli cellular telephone penetration (3) | 124% | 124% | 120% |
| Year ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Partner Data | |||||
| Cellular subscribers (000's) (at period end) (4) | 2,976 | 2,956 | 2,837 | 2,718 | 2,686 |
| Pre-paid cellular subscribers (000's) (at period end) (4) | 874 | 823 | 705 | 562 | 445 |
| Post-paid cellular subscribers (000's) (at period end) (4) | 2,102 | 2,133 | 2,132 | 2,156 | 2,241 |
| Share of total Israeli cellular subscribers (at period end) (5) | 29% | 29% | 28% | 27% | 26% |
| Average monthly usage per cellular subscriber ("MOU") (mins.) (6) | 450 | 522 | |||
| Average monthly revenue per cellular subscriber including roaming ("ARPU") | |||||
| (NIS) (7) | 97 | 83 | 75 | 69 | 65 |
| Churn rate for cellular subscribers (8) | 38% | 39% | 47% | 46% | 40% |
| Number of fixed-lines (000's) (9,10) (at period end) | 288 | 299 | |||
| ISP subscribers (000's)(10) (at period end) | 587 | 583 | |||
| Estimated cellular coverage of Israeli population (at period end) (11) | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
| Number of employees (full time equivalent) (at period end) (12) | 5,396 | 4,045 | 3,575 | 2,882 | 2,686 |
(1) The population estimates are as published by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel as of December 31, 2016.
(2) We have estimated the total number of Israeli cellular telephone subscribers based on Partner subscriber data as well as information contained in published reports and public statements issued by operators and data regarding the number of subscribers porting between operators.
(3) Total number of estimated Israeli cellular telephone subscribers expressed as a percentage of the estimated population of Israel. The total number of estimated cellular telephone subscribers includes dormant subscribers as well as other subscribers who are not included in the Israeli population figures, such as Palestinians, visitors, and foreign workers.
(4) In accordance with general practice in the cellular telephone industry, we use the term "subscriber", unless the context otherwise requires, to indicate a telephone or a data or video device, rather than either a bill-paying network customer, who may have a number of telephones connected to the network, or a cellular telephone user who may share a single telephone with a number of other users. "Subscriber" includes our pre-paid customers. A pre-paid subscriber is recognized as such only following the actual use of his pre-paid SIM card and only once they have generated revenues in the amount of at least one shekel (excluding VAT).
References to the number of subscribers are stated net of subscribers who leave or are disconnected from the network, or who have not generated revenue for the Company for a period of over six consecutive months ending at a reporting date.
The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, exchange rates between the shekel and the US dollar, expressed as shekels per US dollar and based upon the daily representative rate of exchange on the last day of each year as published by the Bank of Israel.
| Year ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Average (1) | 3.858 | 3.609 | 3.577 | 3.884 | 3.841 |
| High | 4.084 | 3.791 | 3.994 | 4.053 | 3.983 |
| Low | 3.700 | 3.471 | 3.402 | 3.761 | 3.746 |
| End of period | 3.733 | 3.471 | 3.889 | 3.902 | 3.845 |
(1) Calculated based on the average of the daily exchange rates during the relevant period.
| September 2016 |
October 2016 |
November 2016 |
December 2016 |
January 2017 |
February 2017 |
March 2017 (through March 23) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 3.786 | 3.856 | 3.876 | 3.867 | 3.860 | 3.768 | 3.693 |
| Low | 3.746 | 3.778 | 3.799 | 3.787 | 3.769 | 3.659 | 3.614 |
On December 31, 2016, the exchange rate was NIS 3.845 per US\$1.00 as published by the Bank of Israel. Changes in the exchange rate between the shekel and the US dollar could materially affect our financial results.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this annual report. Depending on the extent to which any of the following risks materializes, our business, financial condition, cash flow or results of operations could suffer, and the market price of our shares may be negatively affected. The risks below are not the only ones we face, and other risks currently not affecting our business or industry, or which are currently deemed insignificant, may arise.
We operate in a highly regulated telecommunications market in which the regulator imposes substantial limitations on our flexibility in managing our business and continues to seek to increase industry competition. At the same time, the regulator limits our ability to compete by, among other measures, giving preference to new competitors, and limits our ability to expand our business and develop our network. Such measures may continue to increase our costs, decrease our revenues and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The Ministry of Communications (the "MoC") has failed to enforce its fixed-line wholesale market reforms ("Wholesale Market Reform") on Bezeq-The Israel Telecommunication Corp., Ltd.("Bezeq") and HOT Telecom LP ("HOT Telecom"), the two largest wireline infrastructure operators in Israel. See "Item 3D.2f Competition resulting from the full service offers by telecommunications groups and additional entrants into the mobile telecommunications market, as well as other actual and potential changes in the competitive environment and communications technologies, may continue to cause a further decrease in tariffs, an increase in subscriber acquisition and retention costs, and may continue to reduce our subscriber base and increase our churn rate, each of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. and "Item 4B.13e - vii The Ministry of Communications policy regarding the fixed-line telecommunications sector".
MoC policy and decisions regarding the Wholesale Market Reform (Bit Stream Access (BSA), fixed-line telephony and passive infrastructures, see "Item 4B.13e - vii The Ministry of Communications policy regarding the fixed-line telecommunications sector") have not been effectively enforced by the MoC since May 2015. If the MoC continues to fail in enforcing the most important components of its wholesale market reform, or if it rolls back (partially or in-whole), or fails to set competition-inducing tariffs for HOT Telecom's network, or adopts other regulation unfavorable to companies, such as Partner, which must rely on the two wholesale suppliers, such actions may negatively affect our business and results of operations.
For further information regarding this risk, see "Item "4B.13e - vii The Ministry of Communications policy regarding the fixed-line telecommunications sector".
The current structural separation limitations require Bezeq to equally market all ISPs (internet service providers) when selling service bundles which include its infrastructure services and ISP services. Since the launch of the Wholesale Market Reform, Bezeq has launched a bundle which includes its services and the services of certain ISPs and does not market all ISPs equally. If the MoC continues to fail to effectively enforce this requirement, it may continue to erode our market share in the internet segment.
The MoC has also announced that it intends to cancel the regulations requiring Bezeq to maintain a "structural separation" between its fixed-line telephony, ILD, mobile telecommunications, internet infrastructure and services and TV operations. The MoC has published official announcements which indicate its satisfaction with the implementation of the Wholesale Market Reform. The MOC has also recently provided Bezeq with a letter in which it announced it is promoting the removal of corporate separation provisions which currently apply to the Bezeq group. We have strongly opposed the factual descriptions and the conclusions in these announcements. If the MoC removes the structural separation provisions based on its abovementioned announcements before we have firmly established ourselves in the fixed-line telecommunications services market (in both fixed-line telephony, passive infrastructures and broadband) and the multi-channel TV market, Bezeq and HOT may be able to offer bundled services more effectively than we, and thereby gain a competitive advantage which could adversely affect our results of operations.
For further information regarding this risk, see "Item "4B.13e - vii The Ministry of Communications policy regarding the fixed-line telecommunications sector".
The MoC has, so far, failed to enforce the obligation of Golan Telecom Ltd. ("Golan Telecom") to build out an independent network. Partner has petitioned the Supreme Court for such enforcement, and although the MoC finally decided to liquidate NIS 30 Million of Golan Telecom's guarantees for this breach of its license, it has not actually executed this decision. See "Item 3D.2f Competition resulting from the full service offers by telecommunications groups and additional entrants into the mobile telecommunications market, as well as other actual and potential changes in the competitive environment and communications technologies, may continue to cause a further decrease in tariffs, an increase in subscriber acquisition and retention costs, and may continue to reduce our subscriber base and increase our churn rate, each of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations."
If the MoC continues to fail in enforcing Golan Telecom's build-out requirement, if it excuses such breach, or their cellular network sharing agreement includes better terms than those of our network sharing agreement with HOT Mobile (See "Item 3D.1d Network sharing and similar agreements entered into by our competitors"), this may place us at a competitive disadvantage, and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
In November 2013, we entered into a 15-year network sharing agreement ("Network Sharing Agreement") with HOT Mobile pursuant to which the parties created a limited partnership, under the name P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership ("PHI"). The purpose of PHI is to operate and develop a radio access network to be shared by both parties.
In May 2014, the Anti-Trust Commissioner resolved to approve the Network Sharing Agreement, subject to a number of conditions ("Anti-Trust Commissioner Approval") and in April 2015, the Ministry of Communications resolved to approve the Network Sharing Agreement, subject to a number of conditions as well ("MoU Approval"). The said 15-year period began in April 2015.
However, the Network Sharing Agreement may terminate or expire prior to the lapse of the said 15-year period due to regulatory intervention in one of the following circumstances:
If and when the network sharing will end, we will need to split the shared network with HOT Mobile and the resources, time and expense it may take to have our own network on a nation-wide coverage, may be substantial and could materially harm our business and results of operations at such time. See also "Item 3D.2e If the network sharing agreement entered into with HOT Mobile is unilaterally terminated by HOT Mobile earlier than we expected, we will be required to split the shared network with Hot Mobile and the resources, time and expense it may take us to have our own network in a nationwide coverage, may be substantial and could also materially harm our business and the results of operations at such time." and "Item 4B.9a Overview - Cellular Network Sharing Agreement".
In January 2017, Cellcom Israel Ltd. ("Cellcom") announced that it had reached an agreement with Electra Consumer Products Ltd. ("Electra") for 3G and 4G network sharing and 2G hosting services. According to Cellcom's report, Electra simultaneously entered into an agreement with Golan Telecom and its shareholders to purchase Golan Telecom's share capital. These agreements were approved by the Israeli Anti-Trust Commissioner, subject to certain conditions, among others, the requirement from Golan Telecom to offer to the public in each of the next 3 quarters, at least 1 promotion for no less than a 3 week period, in which cellular packages will be offered at a price that is lower than NIS 30 per subscriber for a period of 24 months and with conditions that are not inferior to the NIS 25 packages currently offered by Golan Telecom. On March 17, 2017, Cellcom reported that the agreements were approved by the Ministry of Communications. Our knowledge of the content of these agreements is based on partial publications including reports filed by Cellcom, Electra and the IDB Development Company Ltd. However, if these agreements or any future network sharing agreement receive regulatory approval under conditions that are more lenient than those imposed on us, this would place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors. As a result, our business and results of operations may be negatively impacted.
The implementation of the Telecommunications Law, 1982, ("Telecommunications Law"), the Wireless Telegraph Ordinance [New Version], 1972 (" Wireless Telegraph Ordinance") and other laws and regulations, as well as the provisions of our licenses, are all subject to interpretation and change. New laws, regulations or government policies, changes to current regulations, or a change to the interpretation thereof, may be adopted or implemented in a manner which damages our business and operating results. Such measures may include new limits on our ability to market our services, new safety and health related requirements, new limits on the construction and operation of cell towers, new requirements, standards, consumer protection provisions, coverage term and other conditions or limits applicable to the services we provide. Such measures may negatively affect our business and results of operations. Furthermore, if such measures would benefit our competitors or are applied only to us (and not to our competitors), we may be placed at a competitive disadvantage. For information regarding the principal regulations and regulatory developments affecting our business, see "Item 4B.13e Regulatory Developments".
The state (through the MoC and/or the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting) may impose regulations on nascent TV content services which are provided over the Internet ("OTT") and which are currently unregulated. If such regulations are set (including a requirement to invest in original productions), this will increase our costs, raise the cost of entry into this segment and, if applied only to Israeli OTT providers, place us at a competitive disadvantage, in each case with potential negative effects on our business and results of operations.

Although we believe that we are currently in compliance with all material requirements of the relevant legislation and our licenses, disagreements have arisen and may arise in the future between the MoC and us regarding the interpretation and application of the requirements set out in relevant legislation and our licenses. The MoC is authorized to levy significant fines on us for breaches of the Telecommunications Law, relevant regulations and our licenses. Our operations are also subject to the regulatory and supervisory authority of other Israeli regulators which have the authority to impose criminal and administrative sanctions against us.
We may not always be successful in our defense, and should we be found in violation of these regulations, we and our management may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, including the loss of our operating license as well as administrative sanctions. All such enforcement measures may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. For information regarding on-going litigation and legal proceedings, see "Item 8A.1 Legal and Administrative Proceedings".
In August 2014, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing aimed at increasing competition in roaming services abroad and which suggested adopting various measures intended to improve transparency and limit subscriber payments for roaming services. Adoption of such measures might decrease our roaming revenues and negatively affect our income. See "Item 14B.13e - vi Hearings and Examinations."
In October 2013, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing regarding proposed new regulations for the ILD market which would allow all general licensees to provide international call services (under certain conditions). The MoC also proposed that general licensees (such as cellular operators) would no longer be allowed to charge interconnect fees for outgoing international calls and that some international calls would be preceded with a voice message stating the tariff of such call and allowing the subscriber to disconnect without being charged. Such regulation, if adopted, may decrease our revenues from international calls and adversely affect our income. See Item ITEM 14B.13e - vi Hearings and Examinations.
A MoC economic opinion published in February 2013 included a recommendation for a further reduction of cellular call and SMS interconnect tariffs towards the end of 2016. Such a reduction may negatively affect our business and results of operations. In February 2017 the MoC notified the cellular companies that due to other priorities, it does not intend to pursue this task at this time.
Our ability to maintain and improve the extent, quality and capacity of our network coverage depends in part on our ability to obtain appropriate sites and approvals to install our network infrastructure, including network sites. The erection and operation of most of these network sites require building permits from local or regional planning and building authorities, as well as a number of additional permits from other governmental and regulatory authorities. In addition, as part of our network build-out and expansion, we are erecting additional network sites and making modifications to our existing network sites for which we may be required to obtain new consents and approvals.
For the reasons described in further detail below, we have had difficulties obtaining some of the building permits required for the erection and operation of our network sites. As of December 31, 2016, less than 10% of our network sites were operating without local building permits or exemptions which, in our opinion, are applicable. In addition, some of our network sites are not built in full compliance with the applicable building permits.
Network site operation without required permits or that deviates from the permit has in some cases resulted in the filing of criminal charges and civil proceedings against us and our officers and directors, and monetary penalties against the Company, as well as demolition orders. See "Item 8A.1 Legal and Administrative Proceedings". In the future, we may face additional demolition orders, monetary penalties (including compensation for loss of property value) and criminal charges. The prosecutor's office has a national unit that enforces planning and building laws. The unit has stiffened the punishments regarding violations of planning and building laws, particularly against commercial companies and its directors. If we continue to experience difficulties in obtaining approvals for the erection and operation of network sites and other network infrastructure, this could have an adverse effect on the extent, coverage and capacity of our network, thus impacting the quality of our cellular voice and data services, and on our ability to continue to market our products and services effectively. In addition, as we seek to improve the range and quality of our services, we need to further expand our network, and difficulties in obtaining required permits may delay, increase the costs or prevent us from achieving these goals in full. Our inability to resolve these issues could prevent us from maintaining the quality requirements contained in our license.
Uncertainties under National Building Plan 36. Since June 2002, following the approval of the National Building Plan 36 (the "Plan"), which regulates network site construction and operation, building permits for our network sites (where required) have been issued in reliance on the Plan. Several local planning and building authorities have questioned the ability of Israeli cellular operators to receive building permits, in reliance on the Plan, for network sites operating in frequencies not specifically detailed in the frequency charts attached to the Plan. In a number of cases, these authorities have refused to grant building permits for network sites, claiming that frequencies are not included in the Plan. There has been no judicial ruling at this stage. If a future court ruling determines that building permits cannot be issued for network sites operating in frequencies not specifically detailed in the frequency charts attached to the Plan, this could have a material adverse effect both on our ability to erect new sites as well as on our existing sites.
The Plan is in the process of being changed. See "Item 4B.13h Network Site Permits".
Uncertainties regarding the validity of exemptions for wireless access devices. We have set up several hundred small communications devices, called wireless access devices, pursuant to a provision in the Telecommunications Law which exempts such devices from the need to obtain a building permit. A claim was raised that the exemption does not apply to cellular communications devices and the matter reached first instance courts a number of times, resulting in conflicting decisions. This claim is included in an application to certify a class action filed against the three principal Israeli cellular operators. In May 2008, a district court ruling adopted the position that the exemption does not apply to wireless access devices. We, as well as our competitors, filed a request to appeal this ruling to the Supreme Court. In May 2008, the Attorney General filed an opinion regarding this matter stating that the exemption does apply to wireless radio access devices under certain conditions. Two petitions were filed with the High Court of Justice in opposition to the Attorney General's opinion. The matter is still pending before the Supreme Court and the High Court of Justice. See "Item 4B.13h Network Site Permits". Recently, the Minister of Finance signed new draft regulations that are intended to regulate both existing as well as new wireless access devices. The regulations have been passed to various regulators for deliberation. At this stage we cannot anticipate the final version of the regulations that will be enacted. If the regulations will impose limitations on changes to our existing network it may adversely affect our existing network.
If a definitive court judgment holds that the exemption does not apply to cellular devices at all, we may be required to remove the existing devices. As a result, our network capacity and coverage would be negatively impacted, which could have an adverse effect on our revenue and results of operations.
Uncertainties regarding requirements for repeaters and other small devices. We, like the other cellular operators in Israel, provide repeaters, also known as bi-directional amplifiers, to subscribers seeking an interim solution to weak signal reception within specific indoor locations. In light of the lack of a clear policy of the local planning and building authorities, and in light of the practice of the other cellular operators, we have not requested permits under the Planning and Building Law, 1965 ("Planning and Building Law") for the repeaters. However, we have received an approval to connect the repeaters to our communications network from the Ministry of Communications and have received from the Ministry of Environmental Protection permit types for all our repeaters. If the local planning and building authorities determine that permits under the Planning and Building Law are also necessary for the installation of these devices, or any other receptors that we believe do not require a building permit, it could have a negative impact on our ability to obtain permits for our repeaters.
In addition, we construct and operate microwave links as part of our transmission network. The various types of microwave links receive permits from the Ministry of Environmental Protection in respect of their radiation level. Based on an exemption in the Telecommunications Law, we believe that building permits are not required for the installation of most of these microwave links on rooftops, but to the best of our knowledge, there is not yet a determinative ruling on this issue by the Israeli courts. If the courts determine that building permits are necessary for the installation of these sites, it could have a negative impact on our ability to obtain environmental permits for these sites and to deploy additional microwave links, and could hinder the coverage, quality and capacity of our transmission network.
Under the Planning and Building Law, local planning committees may be held liable for the depreciation of the value of nearby properties as a result of approving a building plan. Under the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law, 2006 ("the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law") the National Council for Planning and Building requires indemnification undertakings from cellular companies as a precondition for obtaining a building permit for new or existing network sites. The National Council has decided that until the Plan is amended to reflect a different indemnification amount, cellular companies will be required to undertake to indemnify the committees in full against all losses resulting from claims against a committee for reductions in property values as a result of granting a permit to the network site. On June 1, 2010, the National Council for Planning and Building approved the National Building Plan No. 36/A/1 version that incorporates all of the amendments to the Plan (the "Amended Plan"). The Amended Plan sets forth the indemnification amounts as a percentage of the value of the depreciated property claims in accordance with the manner in which the licenses were granted. See "Item 4B.13h Network Site Permits". The Amended Plan is subject to governmental approval, in accordance with the Planning and Building Law. It is unknown when the government intends to approve the Amended Plan.
As of December 31, 2016, we have provided local authorities with 511 indemnification undertakings. These indemnifications expose us to risks which are difficult to quantify or mitigate and which may have a material adverse effect on our financial conditions and results of operations, if we are required to make substantial payments in connection therewith. In addition, the requirement to provide indemnification in connection with new building permits may impede our ability to obtain building permits for existing network sites or to expand our network with the erection of new network sites. The indemnification requirement may also cause us to change the location of our network sites to less suitable locations or to dismantle existing network sites, which may have an adverse effect on the quality and capacity of our network coverage.
In 2007, the Israeli Ministry of Interior Affairs extended the limitation period within which depreciation claims may be brought under the Planning and Building Law from three years from approval of the building plan to the later of one year from receiving a building permit for a network site under the Plan and six months from the construction of a network site. The Ministry retains the general authority to extend such period further. This extension of the limitation period increased our potential exposure to depreciation claims.
The MoC might prevent us from using some of our existing spectrum, may limit our ability to use such spectrum (whether by demanding we share such use with others or placing other limits on such use) or may fail to respond to our demands for the allocation of additional spectrum or for the refarming of our existing spectrum (the conversion of existing frequencies to a different technology). Such actions may interfere with our ability to effectively manage our licensed spectrum, reduce our ability to adequately provide services to our subscribers and place us at a competitive disadvantage. These possible eventualities may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We conduct our operations pursuant to licenses granted to us by the Ministry of Communications, which may be extended for additional periods upon our request to the Ministry of Communications and confirmation from the Ministry that we have met certain performance requirements. We cannot be certain that our licenses will not be revoked, will be extended when necessary, or, if extended, on what terms an extension may be granted. See "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License ".
As with other companies engaged in the telecommunications business in Israel, our license requires that a minimum economic and voting interest in, and other defined means of control of our company be held by Israeli citizens and residents or entities under their control. If this requirement is not complied with, we could be found to be in breach of our license, even though ensuring compliance with this restriction may be beyond our control. See "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License".
Our general mobile telephone license requires that our "founding shareholders or their approved substitutes", as defined in the license, hold at least 26% of the means of control in the Company, including 5% which must be held by Israeli founding shareholders (Israeli citizens and residents), who were approved as such by the Minister of Communications. If the Company decides to raise capital, it may face significant difficulty to do so since the current holdings of Israeli entities (as defined in the license) holdings are approximately 5% and any equity offering to the public or to the Company's employees and office holders will require an equivalent equity offering of shares to Israeli entities, in a manner in which the total Israeli entities founding shareholders' holdings will not be less than 5% of the total issued share capital. Since the transfer of these Israeli entity shares requires pre-approval of the MoC to determine that the receiving shareholder is eligible to be an Israeli entity, they are limited in their capability of transfer to another shareholder. The Company may need to grant a significant discount in an equity offering of these Israeli entity shares. If the Company were required to raise capital and this issue prevented it from doing so, our business could be adversely impacted (e.g., reduction in sales with long term credit arrangements and/or reduction in capital investments). The license also requires that these Israeli founding shareholders appoint at least 10% of our Board of Directors. In 2006, our Israeli founding shareholders sold substantially all of their shares in the Company to Israeli institutional investors, who were approved as substitutes. Since then, there were additional share sales to Israeli institutional investors that were approved as substitutes by the Minister of Communications.
In addition, according to our license, no transfer or acquisition of 10% or more of any of such means of control, or the acquisition of control of our company, may be made without the consent of the Minister of Communications. Nevertheless, under certain licenses granted, directly or indirectly, to Partner, approval of, or notice to, the Minister of Communications may be required for holding of 5% or more of Partner's means of control. Our license also restricts cross-ownership and cross-control among competing mobile telephone operators, including the ownership of 5% or more of the means of control of both our company and a competing operator, without the consent of the Minister of Communications, which may limit certain persons from acquiring our shares. Shareholdings in breach of these restrictions relating to transfers or acquisitions of means of control or control of Partner could result in the following consequences: the shares will be converted into "dormant" shares as defined in the Israeli Companies Law, 1999 ("Israeli Companies Law"), with no rights other than the right to receive dividends or other distributions to shareholders, and to participate in rights offerings until such time as the consent of the Minister of Communications has been obtained and our license may be revoked. In addition, under certain licenses of the Company's subsidiaries, approval of, or notice to, the Minister of Communications may be required for holding of less than 5% of means of control. Because of this lack of consistency, Partner may be in breach of its licenses in this regard.
Our revenues in 2016 were NIS 3,544 million (US\$ 922 million), a decrease of 14% from NIS 4,111 million in 2015 and a decrease of 19% from NIS 4,400 million in 2014. The Company recorded a profit in 2016 of NIS 52 million (US\$ 14 million), compared with a loss in 2015 of NIS 40 million, and a profit of NIS 162 million in 2014.The principal factor leading to this continued decline in operating results over the past few years has been the intense competition resulting largely from regulatory developments intended to enhance competition in the Israeli telecommunications market. These developments have caused (i) significant price erosion in cellular services due to heightened competition from new entrants (since 2012) in the Israeli cellular market, (ii) a decrease in our cellular subscriber base and market share, and (iii) in 2016 a significant decrease in gross profits from equipment sales. The decrease in service revenues due to the continued price erosion and the decrease in gross profits from equipment sales may both continue in 2017.
Because the regulatory environment continues to evolve with the objective of further increasing competition in the various markets in which we operate, depending on past and future regulatory and market developments, these factors may continue to negatively impact our business through 2017 and beyond, which may adversely affect our financial condition by, among other things, increasing the risk of a substantial further impairment in the value of our telecommunications assets. See also "Item 5D.2 Outlook".
As of December 31, 2016, total borrowings and notes payables amounted to NIS 2,694 million (US\$ 701 million), compared to NIS 3,101 million as of December 31, 2015. See also "Item 5B.3 TOTAL NET FINANCIAL DEBT". The terms of the Company's borrowings require the Company to comply with financial covenants for existing borrowings. The existing borrowing agreements allow the lenders to demand an immediate repayment of the borrowings in certain events (events of default), including, among others, a material adverse change in the Company's business and non-compliance with the financial covenants set in those agreements. Although the Company has entered into agreements for deferred borrowings in a total amount of NIS 200 million, these agreements allow the lenders to not provide the borrowings should any of the events of default defined for our existing borrowings occur prior to the date for providing the deferred borrowings. Such events include a material adverse change in the Company's business. See "Item 5B.2 Long-Term Borrowings ".
In addition, our need for cash to service our substantial existing debt may in the future restrict our ability to continue offering long-term installment plans to promote sales of equipment. As a result, our ability to continue benefiting from one of the current drivers of total Company profits may be limited. (See also "ITEM 5 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS" and specifically "Item 5D.2 Outlook");
Our substantial indebtedness could also adversely affect our financial condition and profitability by, among other things:
• requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our debt, thereby reducing the funds available for financing ongoing operating expenses and future business development;
If our financial condition is affected to such an extent that our future cash flows are not sufficient to allow us to pay principal and interest on our debt, we might not be able to satisfy our financial and other covenants, and may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, use existing cash balances or issue additional equity or other securities. We cannot be sure that we will be able to do so on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
Our entry into the television services market necessarily entails costs, including capital expenditures related to the establishment of the infrastructure of our technological content management system, which supports our TV service, and costs of TV technicians, the content management team, service and sales, distribution rights and the purchase of other equipment (e.g. Set top boxes).
As is typical when entering a new market, we do not expect to achieve profitability in the short term.
In addition, our entry into a market which is controlled by two dominant competitors, as well as the competition we may face from additional existing and potential competitors, may cause us unexpected increased costs in content, sales and marketing, as part of our goal to penetrate the TV market.
Such an increase in our costs would have a further negative impact on our EBITDA and results of operations.
Over the last few years, our revenues from cellular pre-paid subscriber base have decreased. The principal factors leading to this continued decline over the past few years have been the decline in pricing of unlimited post-paid plans and therefore the relative attractiveness of those plans compared to the pre-paid plans as well as increased competition due to the entrance of new operators into the pre-paid market. If this trend continues, revenues from pre-paid subscribers will continue to decline.
Pursuant to the terms of the Network Sharing Agreement that we entered into with HOT Mobile (see "Item 3D.1d The Network Sharing Agreement we entered into with HOT Mobile may be terminated earlier than we expected due to regulatory intervention. In such case we will be required to split the shared network with Hot Mobile, and the resources, time and expense it may take us to have our own network on a nation-wide coverage may be substantial and could also materially harm our business and the results of operations at such time. Network sharing and similar agreements entered into by our competitors may place us at a competitive disadvantage.") as of April 2023, either party is entitled to terminate the Network Sharing Agreement for convenience by notifying the other party to that effect two years in advance.

If and when the network sharing will end, we will need to split the shared network with HOT Mobile and the resources, time and expense it may take to have our own network on a nationwide coverage, may be substantial and could materially harm our business and results of operations at such time.
3D.2f Competition resulting from the full service offers by telecommunications groups and additional entrants into the mobile telecommunications market, as well as other actual and potential changes in the competitive environment and communications technologies, may continue to cause a further decrease in tariffs, an increase in subscriber acquisition and retention costs, and may continue to reduce our subscriber base and increase our churn rate, each of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Competition by Golan Telecom and HOT Mobile. HOT Mobile and Golan Telecom, which entered the market in May 2012, were awarded various benefits and leniencies, such as low minimum license fees and a reduction mechanism of the license fee (to the minimum fee set) offered to the winner based on the market share gained in the private sector over five years after being awarded the license. In addition, the MoC has, so far, failed to enforce Golan Telecom's license obligation regarding deployment of its infrastructure.
The acquisition of Golan Telecom by Electra, which was approved by the Anti-Trust Commissioner under certain conditions (see "Item 3D.1d- Network sharing and similar agreements entered into by our competitors) and by the MoC, might increase competition in the cellular market. Electra's retail business allows it access to a wide customer base and distribution network and may enable it to offer attractive package prices to their customers. Furthermore, the terms under which the acquisition of Golan by Electra may be approved by the relevant regulators, may also affect our ability to compete. See "Item 3D.1d- Network sharing and similar agreements entered into by our competitors.
Entrance of the sixth facility-based operator. Following the 4G tender results, Xphone 018 Ltd. ("Xphone") gained one band of 5 MHz in the 1800 range, allowing it to share its frequencies with other operators and share their network (as part of a network sharing agreement). Cellcom, Golan and Xphone have reached a network sharing agreement which has been approved by the Anti-Trust Commissioner and the Ministry of Communications. This agreement will enable Xphone to enter the market. If Xphone enters the market (as the sixth facility based operator), this may further increase competition levels in the cellular market and negatively affect our results of operation.
Additional leniencies by the MoC as part of the 4G tender. The Ministry of Communications has granted various leniencies as part of the 4G tender to HOT Mobile, Golan Telecom and Xphone (which has participated in the 4G tender as a new operator). These leniencies include:
These leniencies place us at a substantial competitive disadvantage, which may negatively affect our results of operations.
Network sharing and national roaming agreements entered into by our competitors. If the MoC and the Israeli antitrust authority approve any future network sharing agreements or national roaming agreements under conditions that are more lenient than those imposed on our network sharing and national roaming deal with HOT Mobile, this would place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors. As a result, our business and results of operations may be negatively impacted. See "Item 3D.1d The Network Sharing Agreement we entered into with HOT Mobile may be terminated earlier than we expected due to regulatory intervention. In such case we will be required to split the shared network with Hot Mobile, and the resources, time and expense it may take us to have our own network on a nation-wide coverage may be substantial and could also materially harm our business and the results of operations at such time. Network sharing and similar agreements entered into by our competitors may place us at a competitive disadvantage."
Entrance of additional MVNOs. The entrance of additional Mobile Virtual Network Operators ("MVNOs") has further increased competition in the market, since some MVNOs are retailers with a wide customer base and distribution network that allows them to offer attractive package prices to their customers. See "Item 4B.10a Competitors in the Cellular Services market".
Competitive advantages of the two fixed-line infrastructure groups. The Bezeq Group and the HOT Group are the only Israeli telecommunications providers that have their own nationwide fixed-line telecommunications infrastructures. See Item 3D.1b "If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations."
Bezeq Group – Bezeq, Israel's largest telecommunications provider and the primary fixed-line operator, provides fixed-line telephony services, cellular telecommunications services, primary rate interface ("PRI"), broadband internet access infrastructure services, ISP services, transmission and data communications services, ILD services and multi-channel television services.
HOT Group – The HOT Group provides cellular telecommunications services, multi-channel television services, fixed-line telephony services, PRI, broadband internet access, infrastructure services, transmission and data communications services, ISP services and ILD services.
Because the Bezeq Group and the HOT Group operate their own broadband internet access and transmission infrastructures, they do not depend on any third party for broadband internet access. Partner and other telecommunications services providers who do not have an independent broadband internet access infrastructure are unable to provide some of these services, substantially limiting their ability to compete.
Entry into the TV services market. We have announced that we plan to enter the TV services market during the first half of 2017. Offering TV services may improve our ability to compete with bundled offerings by our competitors. However, entering into the TV services market will entail costs and require access to premium content. If we fail to gain access to premium content or if we fail to secure the required resources for successful entry, this may negatively affect our results of operations.
Furthermore, entry into new markets (e.g. television services, fiber optic infrastructure) may further intensify price competition in the cellular market that may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Israel Broadband Company (IBC). In August 2013, the Minister of Communications granted Israel Broadband Company (2013) Ltd. ("IBC"), a general license for the provision of fixedline telecom services (infrastructure) and for the establishment of a nationwide optic fiber network using the Israeli Electric Company's infrastructure. IBC has launched a web portal in which it offers ISP services to end-users (through agreements with selected ISPs). The variety of suppliers, immediate choice, and ability to quickly switch suppliers may commoditize the ISP segment and negatively impact our revenues and profits. IBC was also granted a special license for the provision of domestic fixed-line data communication. According to local media reports, IBC is permitted under its special license to provide its services to large business customers. Entry of IBC into the large business segment of the ISP market may increase competition in this segment and erode our market share and may affect our results of operation. IBC has recently retained Rothschild Bank in its attempt to find a strategic investor. Partner is examining the feasibility of such investment, as are other entities.
Sale of handsets and other equipment. Competition in the market for handsets and other equipment including tablets, laptops, audio-visual devices and other related equipment sold by the Company is high and may increase, which may affect our results of operation.
Competition in Roaming Services. Some of our competitors may be able to obtain lower roaming rates than us either since they have larger call volumes or through their affiliations with other international cellular operators. Some competing service providers use alternative technologies for roaming that bypass the existing method of providing roaming services. Further competition in roaming services (both inbound and outbound) has arisen and may arise in the future from other telecommunication operators and new technologies that allow subscribers to use global SIM cards and pure internet-based services such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp, as well as other operator products which use VoIP applications. In addition, some cellular operators began marketing plans that, in addition to calls, SMS and internet, include roaming services to set lists of countries.
Reliance on other service providers for roaming. We rely on agreements to provide roaming capability to our subscribers in many areas outside Israel. However, we cannot control the quality of the service that other telecommunication companies provide or whether they will be able to provide the services at all, and it may be inferior to our quality of service. Our subscribers also may not be able to use some of the advanced features that they enjoy when making calls on our network. As a result, we may lose some of our customers' roaming traffic to other roaming solutions, which would negatively impact our results of operations from this important source of earnings.
Beginning in December 2011, total capacity available in international connectivity between Israel and Western Europe increased significantly as a result of the entry into operation of new underwater cables, and international connectivity services experienced a sharp decline in prices. In addition, we face increased competition in the retail ISP market, mainly since the launch of HOT-NET in the beginning of 2012. We therefore performed, with the assistance of an independent appraisal an impairment test on assets that belong to the VOB/ISP Cash Generating Unit ("CGU") of our fixed-line segment. As a result of the testing, impairment charges in a total amount of NIS 235 million were recognized for the fixed-line business at December 31, 2011. In addition, the Company's management performed, as required, its annual impairment review of goodwill, which resulted in an impairment charge to goodwill in 2011 in an amount of NIS 87 million with respect to the VOB/ISP and ILD group of CGUs of the fixed line segment.
At December 31, 2015, we recorded further asset impairment of NIS 98 million for the fixed-line business in the ISP/VOB CGU. See "Item 5A.1f Acquisition of 012 Smile".
Continued increases in the level of competition for international connectivity and ISP services may bring further downward pressure on prices, and as a result, we may be required to perform further impairment tests of our fixed-line telecommunications assets in the future. Such impairment tests may lead to recording additional significant impairment charges, which could have a material negative impact on our operating and net profit.
In addition, continued increases in the level of competition for cellular, fixed-line and data transmission services may bring further downward pressure on prices which may require us to perform further impairment tests of our assets. Such impairment tests may lead to recording additional significant impairment charges, which could have a material negative impact on our operating and net profit.
In September 2014, we recognized the Histadrut, currently the largest Israeli labor union, as the union representing the Company's employees. We signed a collective employment agreement with the employees' representatives and the Histadrut on March 13, 2016. The agreement includes an organizational chapter that is valid for a period of three years (2016-2018) and an economic chapter that was valid until December 30, 2016, and on December 12, 2016, we signed a new economic chapter that is valid for the years 2017 and 2018. The organizational chapter includes, among others, provisions regarding manning and changing of positions, termination of employment and tenure. The new economic chapter includes, among others, provisions regarding terms of employment, benefits and welfare. See "Item 6D Employees".
As a result, management attention that would otherwise be available for our ongoing business must be directed towards the implementation of the collective employment agreement and other matters involving the unionization. The unionization of our employees has limited management's flexibility to efficiently run our business and adjust operations to market conditions, including the ability to execute organizational and personnel changes. It has resulted in increased costs and negatively affected our financial results, and may continue to do so in the future.
Following the expiration of our previous agreement in 2016 and pursuant to a non-exclusive agreement we entered into in June 2016 with Apple Distribution International for the purchase and resale of iPhone handsets in Israel, we agreed to purchase a minimum quantity of iPhone handsets per year, for a period of three years. These purchases represent a significant portion of our expected handset purchases over that period. If we fail to meet the minimum quantities and do not reach an agreement with Apple regarding this matter, we may be in breach of the agreement which may involve payment of damages, which would increase our costs.
Network suppliers. We purchased our network equipment, such as switching equipment, base station controllers and base transceiver stations and network software, from Ericsson. In October 2010, we entered into an agreement with Ericsson for the upgrade and modernization of our networks and the deployment of our fourth generation network in Israel. The initial term of the agreement ended on December 31, 2014. Following the expiration of the initial term, we extended the initial period for the provision of support and maintenance service for additional periods until December 31, 2016. Recently we have ordered maintenance services for the years 2017 and 2018. See "Item 4B.9f Suppliers". We are therefore, as a practical matter, materially dependent on Ericsson as our sole vendor for our UMTS and LTE networks.
Handset and other equipment suppliers. We purchase the majority of our handsets and other equipment from a limited number of suppliers.
We cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain equipment or handsets from one or more alternative suppliers on a timely basis in the event that any of our suppliers is unable to satisfy our requirements for equipment or handsets, or that the equipment provided by such alternative supplier or suppliers will be compatible with our existing equipment. Our handset suppliers may experience inventory shortages from time to time.
Our results of operations could be adversely affected if any of our key suppliers fails to provide us with adequate supplies of handsets, equipment, as well as ongoing maintenance and upgrade support, in a timely manner. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected if the price of network equipment rises significantly. In our experience, suppliers from time to time extend delivery times, limit supplies and increase the prices of supplies due to their supply limitations and other factors. If the availability of handsets and other equipment furnished by our suppliers is insufficient to meet our customers' demands, we may lose opportunities to benefit from demand for this product, and our unserved customers may purchase the equipment independently which may adversely affect our revenues. In addition, the constant development of new handsets and other equipment can render existing handsets and other equipment obsolete resulting in high levels of slow moving inventory.
As part of our strategy of evolving into a diversified multi-service communications and media service provider, we have developed services and successfully encouraged subscriber demand for internet access and content and data consumption using cellular phones, smartphones, tablets, data cards and ISP Services. However, in the event subscriber demand for data increases more rapidly than expected, we may need to develop strategies to avoid data traffic overloading the capacity of the network. Such strategies may include modifying certain products or services or undertaking significant additional investments. In addition, regulatory developments seeking to ensure "fair usage" of the internet for all persons may impose changes on the terms and conditions of certain of our current or future services. In the event of substantial, rapid growth in data consumption by our subscribers and the public generally, we may be obliged to undertake significant investments and to adjust our product offerings or, both of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
In order to attract and retain the maximum number of subscribers in our highly competitive market, we design specific tariff plans to suit the preferences of various subscriber groups. We require sophisticated information systems to record accurately subscriber usage pursuant to the particular terms of each subscriber plan, as well as accurate database management and operation of a very large number of tariff plans. From time to time, we have detected some discrepancies between certain tariff plans and the information processed by our internal information systems, such as applying an incorrect rebate or applying an incorrect tariff to a service, resulting in a higher or lower charge. We have invested substantial resources to refine and improve our information and control systems and ensure that our tariff plans are appropriately processed by our information systems. We have also taken steps to remedy the identified discrepancies. Despite our investments, we may experience discrepancies in the future due to the multiplicity of our plans and the scope of the processing tasks. Further, while we invest substantial efforts in monitoring our employees and third-party distributors and dealers that market our services, it is possible that some of our employees, distributors or dealers may offer terms and make (or fail to make) representations to existing and prospective subscribers that do not fully conform to applicable law, our license or the terms of our tariff plans. As a result of these discrepancies, we may be subject to subscribers' claims, including class action claims, and substantial sanctions for breach of our license that may materially adversely affect our results of operations.
A number of studies have been conducted to examine the health effects of wireless phone use and network sites, and some of these studies have been construed as indicating that radiation from wireless phone use causes adverse health effects. Media reports have suggested that radio frequency emissions from network sites, wireless handsets and other mobile telecommunication devices may raise various health concerns.
The Ministry of Health published in July 2008 recommendations regarding precautionary measures when using cellular handsets. The Ministry of Health indicated that although the findings of an international study on whether cellular phone usage increases the risk of developing certain tumors were not yet finalized, partial results of several of the studies were published, and a relationship between prolonged cellular phone usage and tumor development was observed in some of these studies. These studies, as well as the precautionary recommendations published by the Ministry of Health, have increased concerns of the Israeli public with regards to the connection between cellular phone exposure and illnesses.
In May 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer ("IARC"), which is part of the World Health Organization ("WHO"), published a press release according to which it classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on an increased risk for adverse health effects associated with wireless phone use.
In June 2011, WHO published a fact sheet (no. 193) in which it was noted that "A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use". It was also noted by WHO that "While an increased risk of brain tumors is not established, the increasing use of mobile phones and the lack of data for mobile phone use over time periods longer than 15 years warrant further research of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk in particular, with the popularity of mobile phone use among younger people, and therefore a potentially longer lifetime of exposure". WHO notified that in response to public and governmental concern it will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radio frequency fields exposure by 2014. We are not aware that such an assessment has been published.
We have complied and are committed to continue to comply with the rules of the authorized governmental institutions with respect to the precautionary rules regarding the use of cellular telephones. We refer our customers to the precautionary rules that have been recommended by the Ministry of Health, as may be amended from time to time.
While, to the best of our knowledge, the handsets that we market comply with the applicable laws that relate to acceptable Specific Absorption Rate ("SAR") levels, we rely on the SAR levels published by the manufacturers of these handsets and do not perform independent inspections of the SAR levels of these handsets. As the manufacturers' approvals refer to a prototype handset, and not for each and every handset, we have no information as to the actual level of SAR of the handsets along the lifecycle of the handsets, including in the case of repaired handsets. See also "Item 4B.13g Other Licenses". Furthermore, our network sites comply with the International Council on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection standard, a part of the World Health Organization, which has been adopted by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Several lawsuits have been filed in the past against operators and other participants in the wireless industry alleging adverse health effects and other claims relating to radio frequency transmissions from sites, handsets and other mobile telecommunications devices, including lawsuits against us.
A class action was filed against us and three other operators alleging, among other things, that health effects were caused due to a lack of cell sites, resulting in elevated levels of radiation, mainly from handsets. The plaintiffs stressed that health damages are not a part of the claim. Another class action was also filed against us and three other operators alleging, among other things, that the supply of accessories that are intended for carrying cellular handsets on the body are sold in a manner that contradicts the instructions and warnings of the cellular handset manufacturers and the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, and without disclosing the risks entailed in the use of these accessories when they are sold or marketed. In these two class actions, Partner and the plaintiff filed a settlement agreement, which the court approved.
In February 2009, a municipal court ruled against one of our competitors, stating that there is no need for the standard burden of proof to prove damages from a cellular network site, and that under certain circumstances it would be sufficient to prove the possibility of damage in order to transfer the burden of proof to the cellular companies. To the best of our knowledge, the defendant appealed the ruling and the ruling was dismissed as part of a settlement between the parties. Although we were not a party to this proceeding, such rulings could have an adverse effect on our ability to contend with claims of health damages as a result of the erection of network sites.
The perception of increased health risks related to network sites may cause us increased difficulty in obtaining leases for new network site locations or renewing leases for existing locations or otherwise in installing mobile telecommunication devices. If it is ever determined that health risks existed or that there was a deviation from radiation standards which would result in a health risk from sites, other telecommunication devices or handsets, this would have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition, including through exposure to potential liability, a reduction in subscribers and reduced usage per subscriber. Furthermore, we do not expect to be able to obtain insurance with respect to such liability.
Our ability to provide ongoing services to our subscribers, bill for services rendered and protect company and subscriber data are all vulnerable to various types of risks.
Such risks may include equipment failures, network failures, computer and IT system failures, transmission outages, spectral interferences, third-party systems and networks, natural disasters (such as fire, extreme weather and earthquakes), hostile events (such as acts of war, terror-attacks, see "Item 3D.2r The political and military conditions in Israel may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.") cyber-attacks and data breaches whether by employees or other third parties. If any such events do occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Like many other telecommunication companies, we have experienced an increase in cyber incidents over the past few years, some of which penetrated our cyber defenses, although no significant damage resulted and there has been no loss of or access to customer data. We have integrated protective systems and prepared Disaster Recovery Plans ("DRP") to mitigate such risks; however it is not possible to determine in advance whether our defense systems and recovery plans will continue to be entirely effective, or how quickly we will be able to restore any affected service.
As threats to our network, services and data continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant efforts and resources to enhance our control environment, processes, practices and other protective measures.
If despite such efforts, we are unable to provide some or all of the telecommunications services to a substantial portion of our customers, whether temporarily or for an extended period of time, or if customer data is lost or accessed by third parties, we may be exposed to legal claims and liability, we may be found to be in breach of our legal obligations towards our customers, our brand and reputation may be damaged, we may suffer a loss of customers, our ability to attract new customers may be impaired, and we may be required to compensate our customers. Such eventualities may negatively affect our business, and our short- and long- term results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
We face competition from existing or future technologies that have the technical capability to handle mobile, fixed-line and international long distance telephone calls, and to interconnect with local and international telephone networks and the Internet. Such new and evolving technologies include fixed-line and broadband wireless access services, Over the Top or Internet-based voice and multimedia services, Wi-Fi technologies and VoC. For example, internet-based services that provide user experience largely equivalent to our offerings, such as Voice over IP ("VoIP"), messaging services (WhatsApp , Skype, Viber), and video services (YouTube, video portals) are already available. In addition, the rapid development in recent years of technologies that allow international calls to be placed over the Internet without the need to use the services of an ILD has caused a decrease in the amount of international call minutes placed through the ILD services and also serve as an alternative for fixed-line communications. In particular, the risk posed by VoIP is that the purchase of a data package alone will be sufficient for the provision of most cellular voice, data and messaging services.
The effect of emerging and future technological changes, including the convergence of technologies, on the viability or competitiveness of our network cannot be accurately predicted. The technologies we employ or intend to employ may become obsolete or subject to competition from new disruptive technologies in the future. Competition from new technologies in the future may have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Moreover, global equipment vendors and Internet providers have expressed their interest in penetrating the cellular telephone industry and strengthening their position along the value chain. They have expressed their intention, and some have already begun, to provide direct access to the end-user to a wide variety of applications and services (e.g Apple with iTunes and Google with the Android market). This has already changed our competitive position and may further increase the dominance of those new providers at the expense of cellular service providers. Changes in the industry value chain structure might result in an increase in our expenses as well as a decrease in our revenues.

In addition to a number of legal and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business, we have been named as defendants in a number of civil and criminal proceedings related to our network infrastructure, which may result in civil liabilities or criminal penalties against us or our officers and directors, and consumer claims, including class action suits, regarding, for example, our tariff plans and billing methods or alleging, for example, unlawful charges, which are costly to defend and may result in significant monetary damages and civil penalties. The number of class actions that have been filed against us has increased over the past few years and this trend may continue in light of various amendments to the Consumer Protection Law and stricter regulatory policies that have been adopted. In class actions that require interpretation of our license provisions, the courts have in some instances requested the position of the Ministry of Communications or the Attorney General. In cases where the interpretation contradicts our interpretation and the court adopts the interpretation of the State, it may enforce the implementation of such provisions retroactively which may adversely affect our financial results. The costs that may result from these lawsuits are only accrued when it is more likely than not that a liability, resulting from past events, will be incurred and the amount of that liability can be quantified or estimated within a reasonable range. The amount of the provisions recorded is based on a case-by-case assessment of the risk level, and events arising during the course of legal proceedings may require a reassessment of this risk. The Company's assessment of risk is based both on the advice of legal counsel and on the Company's estimate of the financial exposure if the verdict is in favor of the plaintiff. If the requests to certify lawsuits against us as class actions are approved and succeed or if we underestimate the potential exposure our financial results will be adversely affected. See "Item 8A.1 Legal and Administrative Proceedings".
We are also subject to the risk of intellectual property rights claims against us, including in relation to innovations we develop ourselves and the right to use content, including television, video and music content, which we have purchased or licensed from third parties who present themselves as the owners or official licensors (or as the representatives of owners or licensors) of the intellectual property rights included in the content, when in fact they may not be. These claims may require us to initiate or defend protracted and costly litigation, regardless of the merits of these claims. If any of these claims succeed, we may be forced to pay damages or may be required to obtain licenses for the infringing content, product or service, which may affect our financial results. If we cannot obtain all necessary licenses on commercially reasonable terms, we may be forced to cease using, distributing or selling the products and services.
Our ability to provide commercially viable fixed-line and cellular telephone services depends upon our ability to interconnect with the telecommunications networks of existing and future fixed-line, cellular telephone and international operators in Israel in order to complete calls between our customers and parties on the fixed-line or other cellular telephone networks. All fixed-line, cellular telephone and international operators in Israel are legally required to provide interconnection to, and not to discriminate against, any other licensed telecommunications operator in Israel. We have interconnect relations with all the Israeli operators, including Bezeq and HOT Telecom, and we also depend on their internet broadband access infrastructure in order to provide ISP services and VoB fixed telephony services to the residential market. See "Item 3D.1a If the Ministry of Communications continues to fail to enforce its fixed-line wholesale market reforms on Bezeq and HOT Telecom, this may negatively affect our business and results of operations." and "Item 3D.1b If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations."
We are also dependent on the submarine infrastructure made available by Med Nautilus, which provides mutual international transmission based on fiber optics between Israel and other countries. See "10C Material Contracts". We also depend on foreign operators that provide us with interconnection to the global internet network.
We also rely on agreements to provide ILD services to our subscribers. However, we cannot control the quality of the service that other foreign telecommunication companies provide or whether they will be able to provide the services at all, and it may be inferior to our quality of service.
We have no control over the quality and timing of the investment and maintenance activities that are necessary for these entities to provide us with interconnection to their respective telecommunications networks. Disruptions, stoppages, strikes and slowdowns experienced by them may significantly affect our ability to provide telecommunication services. The failure by our suppliers to provide reliable interconnections and transmission services to us on a consistent basis could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The political and military conditions in Israel directly influence us. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Hostilities involving Israel, the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its trading partners and political instability within Israel or its neighboring countries are likely to cause our revenues to fall and harm our business. During the last decade, there has been a high level of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, including missile strikes by Hamas against Israel, which led to an armed conflict between Israel and the Hamas over the past few years and more recently in July 2014. In the last few years, Iran has threatened to attack Israel with nuclear weapons. There is evidence that Iran has a strong influence among extremist groups in areas that neighbor Israel, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria. This situation may potentially escalate in the future to violent events which may affect Israel and us. Ongoing violence between Israel and its Arab neighbors and Palestinians may have a material adverse effect on the Israeli economy, in general, and on our business, financial condition or results of operations. During such periods, incoming and outgoing tourism may be affected which consequently may have an adverse effect on our financial results. In particular, in recent conflicts, missile attacks have occurred on civilian areas, which could cause substantial damage to our infrastructure network, reducing our ability to continue serving our customers as well as our overall network capacity. In addition, in the event political unrest and instability in the Middle East, including changes in some of the governments in the region, causes investor concerns resulting in a reduction in the value of the shekel, our expenses in non-shekel currencies may increase, with a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Some of our directors, officers and employees are currently obligated to perform annual reserve duty. Additionally, all reservists are subject to being called to active duty at any time under emergency circumstances. In addition, some of our employees may be forced to stay at home during emergency circumstances in their area. We cannot assess the full impact of these requirements on our workforce and business if conditions should change.
During an emergency, including a major communications crisis in Israel's national communications network, a natural disaster, or a special security situation in Israel, control of our network may be assumed by a lawfully authorized person in order to protect the security of the State of Israel or to ensure the provision of necessary services to the public. During such circumstances, the government also has the right to withdraw temporarily some of the spectrum granted to us. Under the Equipment Registration and Mobilization to the Israel Defense Forces Law, 1987, the Israel Defense Force may mobilize our engineering equipment for their use, compensating us for the use and damage. This may materially harm our ability to provide services to our subscribers in such emergency circumstances, and would thus have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations.
Moreover, the Prime Minister of Israel may, under powers which the Telecommunications Law grants him for reasons of state security or public welfare, order us to provide services to the security forces, to perform telecommunications activities and to set up telecommunications facilities required by the security forces to carry out their duties. While the Telecommunications Law provides that we will be compensated for rendering such services to security forces, the government is seeking a change in the Telecommunications Law which would require us to bear some of the cost involved with complying with the instructions of security forces. Such costs may be significant and have a negative impact on our revenues and results of operations.
There is an inherent risk of potential abuse by individuals, groups, businesses or other organizations that use our telecommunications services and avoid paying for them entirely or at all. The effects of such fraudulent activities may be, among others, a loss of revenue and out-of-pocket expenses which we will have to pay to third parties in connection with those services, such as interconnect fees, payments to international operators or to operators overseas and payments to content providers. Such payments may be non-recoverable. Although we are taking measures in order to prevent fraudulent activities, we have suffered from these activities in the past, and we may suffer from them in the future. The financial impact of fraudulent activities that have occurred in the past has not been material. However, fraudulent activities may in the future materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Nearly all of our revenues and a majority of our operating expenses are denominated in shekels. However, in recent years, between one fifth and one quarter of our operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization), including a substantial majority of our equipment purchases, were linked to or denominated in non-shekel currencies, mainly the US dollar. These expenses related principally to the acquisition of equipment and devices, where the price paid by us is based mainly on US dollars. In addition, a substantial amount of our capital expenditures are incurred in, or linked to, non-shekel currencies, mainly US dollars. A decline in the value of the shekel against the dollar (or other foreign currencies) could have a further adverse impact on our results, which may be material if we are unable to pass on higher costs to our customers in the Israeli market. Material changes in exchange rates may cause the amounts that we must invest to increase materially in shekel terms.
Since May 2013, we have not entered into any derivative transactions to hedge underlying exposure to foreign currencies. As a matter of policy, we do not enter into transactions of a speculative or trading nature.
Our financial institutions borrowings and repayments of principal and interest on our Series C Notes due 2018, Series D Notes due 2021 and Series E Notes due 2017 are currently in shekels, of which Series C and borrowings, at a total principal of NIS 621 million as of December 31, 2016 (including current maturities, less offering expenses) are linked to CPI. We may not be able to raise our tariffs in a manner that would fully compensate for any increase in the CPI. Therefore, an increase in the rate of inflation may also have a material adverse impact upon us by increasing our financial expenses without an offsetting increase in revenue. See "ITEM 11 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK" for more information regarding the Company's exposure to exchange rate fluctuations and inflation.
Our efforts to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 relating to the evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting require substantial resources, management time and attention. We expect these efforts to require a continued commitment of resources. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting. Although our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016, we may identify material weaknesses or other disclosable conditions relating to internal control over financial reporting in the future. Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in investigation or sanctions by regulatory authorities and significant effort and expense, and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and on the market price of our ordinary shares.
In September 2012, the Board of Directors resolved to cancel the then existing dividend policy, which targeted a minimum payout ratio of 80% of annual net income, and to assess dividend distributions (and their scope) from time to time, by reference to, among other things, the Company's cash flow, profitability, debt level, debt coverage ratios and the business environment in general. The level of any distribution of dividends may also be affected by the Company's stated intention to use its cash flow and take other measures to reduce its financial debt, as well as by the need to comply with existing financial covenants and to fund any necessary capital expenditures.
Under Israeli law, the payment of dividends is generally made from accumulated retained earnings or retained earnings accrued over a period of the last two years (after deducting prior dividends to the extent not already deducted from retained earnings), and in either case, provided there is no reasonable concern that the dividend will prevent the company from satisfying current or foreseeable obligations as they come due. A dividend distribution that does not meet the above mentioned conditions would be allowed only after receiving court approval and after providing debtors with the opportunity to present to the court any opposition to the dividend distribution.
There is no assurance that we will declare dividend distributions in the future or regarding the level of any dividend distribution which may be declared. No dividends have been distributed since 2013. A distribution of dividends that may result in a significant reduction of our future reserves could prevent us from complying with existing or future financial covenants, or limit our ability to fund capital expenditures. We may also be required to increase our financial indebtedness to obtain needed liquidity, which may not be possible on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
If we are unable to pay dividends at levels anticipated by our shareholders, the market price of our shares may be negatively affected and the value of our investors' investment may be reduced.
As of March 1, 2017, our largest shareholder, S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd. ("S.B. Israel Telecom"), held approximately 30.18% of our issued and outstanding shares.
As our largest shareholder, S.B. Israel Telecom has the ability to significantly influence our business through its ability to appoint directors serving on our Board of Directors and thereby substantially control all actions that require approval of our Board of Directors. S.B. Israel Telecom is not obligated to provide us with financial support or to exercise its rights as a shareholder in our best interests or in the best interests of our other shareholders and noteholders, and it may engage in activities that conflict with such interests. If the interests of S.B. Israel Telecom conflict with the interests of our other shareholders and noteholders, those shareholders and noteholders could be disadvantaged by the actions that it may pursue. However, S.B. Israel Telecom is subject to the fairness duty of a controlling shareholder under the Israeli Companies Law, and, in the context of related party transactions, to vote for the approval of transactions which are in favor of the Company. See "Item 6C.10 Duties of a Shareholder".
We were incorporated in Israel under the laws of the State of Israel on September 29, 1997, as Partner Communications Company Ltd. Our products and services were marketed under the "Orange" brand until February 16, 2016, when it was replaced with the "Partner" brand. In addition, since 2011, we have used the "012 Smile" brand for certain products and services. Our principal executive offices are located at 8 Amal Street, Afeq Industrial Park, Rosh Ha'ayin 48103, Israel (telephone: +972-54-7814-888). Our website addresses are www.partner.co.il and www.012mobile.co.il. Information contained on our websites does not constitute a part of this annual report. Our authorized U.S. representative is Puglisi and Associates, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware, 19711 and our agent for service in the United States is CT Corporation, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011.
Since our incorporation, we have achieved a number of important milestones:
· In October 2009, Scailex became our principal shareholder through acquiring the entire interest in the Company of our previous controlling shareholder.
· In February 2010, following the District Court's approval, a total amount of NIS 1.4 billion or approximately NIS 9.04 per share was paid on March 18, 2010, to shareholders and ADS holders of record on March 7, 2010, as a special dividend distribution.
For information on our capital expenditures for the last three financial years, and for the principal capital expenditures currently in progress, see "Item 4B.9 Our Network" and "Item 5B.3 Total Net Financial Debt- Capital Expenditures".
Partner Communications Company Ltd. is a leading Israeli telecommunications company, providing a wide integrated and customized range of cellular and fixed-line telecommunication services, including infrastructure, ILD and ISP services. We offer our subscribers a full range of products and services to address a broad range of communications needs based on advanced technologies currently available as well as a variety of competitive tariff plans.
As part of our strategy to be a diversified multi-service communications group, we supply our services through two business segments:
At December 31, 2016, we had approximately 2,686 thousand cellular subscribers, representing an estimated 26% of total Israeli cellular telephone subscribers at that date. As of that date, approximately 83% of our subscriber base (approximately 2,241 thousand subscribers) was represented by subscribers who subscribe to post-paid tariff plans and 17% (approximately 445 thousand subscribers) by subscribers who subscribe to pre-paid tariff plans. (For a definition of "subscriber", see "Item 3A Selected Financial Data").
In 2016, we marketed our cellular services mainly under the Partner brand (after rebranding our products and services that were previously under the "Orange" brand to be under the new "Partner" brand in February 2016), as well as under the 012 Mobile brand;
and
In 2016, our fixed-line services were marketed under the Partner brand and under the 012 Smile brand.
In July 2016, we assigned and transferred the business activities of two of our subsidiaries, 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. and 012 Telecom Ltd. with respect to their customers and creditors, to Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions LP.
Our GSM/UMTS network covered 99% of the Israeli population at year-end 2016. Our LTE network currently covers 87% of the Israeli population, in line with the deployment milestones in our license. We currently operate our GSM network in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, the UMTS network in the 900 MHz and 2100 MHz band and the LTE network in the 1800 MHz band. Our services provided on our network include standard and enhanced services, as well as value-added services and products. See "Item 4B.6 SERVICES AND PRODUCTS".
In 2016, Partner was named by Marketest, a multi-discipline research and consulting firm, as the leading company among the large cellular companies in Israel in their "market-test rating for customer experience" for the eleventh consecutive year and was named the "best workplace" award in the telecommunications industry for the twelfth consecutive year according to a survey by Business Data Information and The Marker magazine.
In 2016, we were named by the Maala organization in their highest platinum plus category for corporate social responsibility for the ninth consecutive year.
We believe that the following special characteristics differentiate the Israeli market from other developed cellular telecommunications markets. In particular, as noted below, on-going, significant changes in regulations applicable to cellular operators have created a complex environment specifically intended to substantially increase competition:
• High Rate of Unlimited Packages. Israeli cellular operators provide, among other price-competitive offers, a particularly high rate of unlimited voice and text packages, and various data packages consisting of relatively high volumes of data at competitive prices.
Bezeq and the HOT Telecom are the only telecommunications services providers with their own nationwide fixed-line infrastructure. IBC, which has a license to provide fixed-line services nationwide, has started a limited deployment of its fiber-based fixed-line services. Partner and Cellcom have fiber optic lines in certain areas nationwide.
Bezeq is the incumbent provider of fixed-line telephony services in Israel and holds more than 60% of the market. The remaining portion of the market is divided between HOT Telecom as the next largest provider and Cellcom and Partner.
The fixed internet access market used to be divided into two tiers of services: infrastructure services and ISP service. Since February 2015, with the launch of the wholesale market reform, ISPs have begun to market bundled packages which include both (Bezeq's) infrastructure and ISP components.
The Ministry of Communications declared its intention to provide an incentive for Bezeq to implement the wholesale market by reducing the regulations requiring Bezeq to maintain a "structural separation" between its fixed-line and mobile telecommunications operations. The MoC has also declared its intention to promote the removal of corporate separation in the Bezeq group and to publish a hearing in 2017 suggesting removal of the structural separation in the Bezeq group. See "Item 3D.1b If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations."
In August 2013, the Israel Broadband Company (IBC), was granted licenses after winning the tender published by the State of Israel for the election of a minority shareholder in the Israel Electric Corporation telecommunication project. IBC introduced a new business model which enables it to reach the retail market through the services of ISPs. IBC has launched a web portal in which it offers ISP services to end users. ISPs which reach agreements with IBC are listed on the web portal. Currently only niche ISPs have reached agreements with IBC.
Internet access is currently provided by three major Internet service providers, or ISPs: Netvision from the Cellcom Group, Bezeq International and Partner, as well as some other niche players. All three major providers are also suppliers of ILD services (see below).
Until 2011, the Israeli ISPs were connected to the World Wide Web through an underwater communications cable owned and operated by Med Nautilus, a subsidiary of Telecom Italia SpA. Since January 2012, Bezeq International has its own underwater communications cable, and in February 2012, the Tamares Group's underwater communications cable commenced operations. These additional underwater cables have increased the effective bandwidth of international data connectivity and reduce costs for ISPs.
ILD services in Israel have been open for competition since December 1996. There are currently eight players in this market. The three major players are: Partner, through 012 Smile, Bezeq International and Cellcom through Netvision, who are estimated to hold together approximately 80% of the market. The other players are Xfone and Telzar 019 International Telecommunications Services Ltd., which commenced operations in 2011, and Hashikma Communications Marketing Ltd., Golan Telecom and HOT Mobile, that commenced operations in 2012. Beginning in 2012, as part of the unlimited packages that the cellular companies began offering their customers, most of them, including the Company, included ILD services to certain destinations in these packages. Proposed regulations intend, among others, to allow all general telecommunications licensees (including MVNOs) to provide international call services to international destinations included in their subscribers' tariff plans and only calls to destinations not included in the subscriber's plans would be routed through ILD providers. See "Item 4B.13e - vi Hearings and Examinations". Such regulations may alter the ILD market structure in Israel and decrease the volume of international calls routed through ILD providers.
Partner's goal is to be a comprehensive telecommunications company that offers an entire range of telecommunication solutions to a variety of customers. The principle elements of our business strategy are as follows:
· Launch a television service in the first half of 2017. As part of our strategy to connect our customers "Any place, Any time, Any device" (AAA), we have chosen the Android TV operating system solution for our quality and advanced TV services that we intend to offer to our customers.
· Customer satisfaction is a key factor to increase customer loyalty and decrease churn. In order to increase customer satisfaction, we constantly strive to provide advanced services at a high level of technology and simplify processes and information by providing our customers with a high level of accessible customer service at our service centers, call centers and digital channels.
We believe that the following competitive strengths will assist us in achieving our mission and implementing our strategies:
We continuously pursue an advertising presence in the media in order to maintain exposure for our brands and advanced technologies and promote our services to various segments of the Israeli population. We advertise our network capabilities, services and equipment in several languages. In addition to traditional media, we also promote our brands on digital and social platforms.
In February 2016, we launched a new brand named "Partner", which replaced the "Orange" brand we have used since our inception. See "Item 5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd." We believe that "Partner" is a highly attractive brand name for a communications group. The change of the brand name, which was carried out successfully, offered an excellent opportunity to reinvigorate our market presence with a new brand name which is simple and innovative. The rebranding also supports our business strategy of providing our customers with comprehensive telecommunication solutions, any time, any place, on any device and has provided us with the means to better position the Company in the Israeli telecommunications market.
Our marketing strategy emphasizes value for money, network quality, quality of customer service and innovation.
We market some of our services under the 012 Smile and 012 Mobile brands. However we have decided to cease use of the 012 Smile brand in 2017.
Our principal business, which provided approximately 80% of our revenues in 2016 (excluding inter-segment revenues) was derived from our cellular segment. Approximately 20% of our revenues (excluding inter-segment revenues) were generated from our fixed-line segment.
Our goal is to provide quality mobile broadband and fixed-line network and to offer a wide range of products, services and content to the cellular and fixed-line customers.
Our main business is cellular telephony – provided mostly on our 3G and 4G networks. Our basic offer includes cellular voice services in Israel and abroad, text messaging services and mobile broadband at speeds of up to 150 Mbps1 and a mobile application for information and purchasing. Our services are provided over our cellular network including wholesale services to other operators as well as equipment and device sales.
In addition to standard mobile value-added services, we offer a variety of value-added services including among others, various content services, 4G TV video content, a variety of television and music applications, backup and synchronizing services, defense and security services and a variety of services for small and medium-sized businesses in all segments. We also provide our customers with M2M (machine to machine) connectivity solutions based on cellular communications in the finance, security and fleet management markets. These services and others are important to our business as they create differentiating factors and increase customer usage, satisfaction and retention. We continuously track all major market developments regarding valueadded network services, and we intend to implement and offer those services that are likely to be popular with customers and which would add value to our business.
1 The cellular data transmission speed is not constant and is dependent on various factors including coverage, network availability, the chosen connectivity technology, the handset, and cellular, internet and other telecommunication networks.

We offer our customers roaming services abroad, which allow a mobile phone subscriber to place and to receive calls while in the coverage area of foreign networks owned by operators with whom we have commercial roaming agreement. Our roaming packages allow our customers to benefit from attractive rates in over 108 destinations. We offer data-only packages as well as packages that combine calls, data and SMS. The Ministry of Communications may introduce new regulations that would limit our revenues from roaming services. See "Item 4B.13e - vi Hearings and Examinations".
At December 31, 2016, we had commercial roaming relationships with 475 operators in 188 countries or jurisdictions, 315 3G roaming agreements in 144 countries and 80 4G roaming agreements in 58 countries. Creating roaming relationships with multiple operators in each country increases potential incoming roaming revenue for us and gives our subscribers more choice in coverage, services and prices in that country.
The 3G and 4G roaming agreements enable our 3G roamers to initiate video calls, high speed data and video and audio content while abroad.
Although GSM (2G), UMTS (3G) and LTE (4G) are standardized, the frequency allocation per each technology varies from one country to another. Currently we operate our GSM services on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, UMTS on 900 MHz and 2100 MHz bands and LTE on 1800 MHz bands. All 4G handsets which we sell, support all the above listed technologies and bands while 3G handsets support the above listed bands for GSM and UMTS. While roaming, there is a possibility that a subscriber's handset will not support all the technologies due to lack of support of a country's specific frequency bands; however this is rare in GSM and UMTS, due to technology maturity. Standardization bodies allow for more than 27 different LTE bands and since LTE in many countries utilizes reframed GSM and UMTS bands, there may be cases where handsets do not support the frequency allocated for LTE in specific countries.
Equipment and device sales in the cellular segment, include sales and leases of cellular handsets, cellular modems, tablets, laptops (including both WI-FI-only devices and devices with 3G-HSPA or 4G LTE embedded data cards) and related accessories, as well as handset maintenance and spare parts through the Company's repair services and labs. We also sell a variety of digital audio visual equipment including televisions, digital cameras, game consoles, media streamers, earphones, digital watches, 3D glasses, smart TVs and other related equipment. As from 2017, in view of updates to our sales strategy and the anticipated launch of television services, sales of WI-FI-only devices and other devices not directly related to cellular services, including televisions, will no longer be recorded under the cellular segment.
We offer fixed-line services that include ISP services as well as home and business Wi-Fi networks, ILD services, transmission services and VoB telephony services (including SIP services).
· ISP services. As an internet service provider providing access to the World Wide Web, we offer our customers, in addition to access, additional ISP services including email accounts, Wi-Fi networking as well as additional value added services such as anti-virus and anti-spam filtering. We also offer a bundled package that includes infrastructure and ISP access services following the wholesale market reform, and since 2016, we also offer access services over our own optic fiber fixed-line infrastructure in certain parts of the country, with speeds up to 1 GB. Furthermore, we offer our business customers additional tailored value services that combine an entire array of solutions including: network and data infrastructures, advanced information security solutions, integration solutions, designated services for customers with multiple branches and commercial networks, business information storage in a secured and advanced data center and cloud services.
In addition to standard fixed-line value-added services, we offer a variety of value-added services that include defense and security services for the computer and e-mail that include among others, parental monitoring control, firewall, web hosting, anti-virus and site filtering based on the customer's restriction definition, and other value added internet services including hosting, cloud-based hosted services and virtual switchboard. In 2015, we launched a new and upgraded data center that provides customers with business solutions on a secure site including hosting services (storage and maintenance of physical and virtual servers, website hosting, information storage and disaster recovery site), management communication services, and integrated services.
Equipment and devices sales in the fixed-line segment include sales and leases of landline phones, modems, domestic routers, servers, smartboxes and related equipment, media streamers, WI-FI-only tablets and other telecommunications and audio-visual devices and accessories to fixed-line segment customers.
In addition, we provide our business customers with office communication Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) on the premises and cloud-based that provides them with all of the telephony services including unified communication features as well as Direct Inward Dialing (DID) that provides a block of telephone numbers for calling into the PBX system. DID allows us to offer our customers individual phone numbers for each person or workstation within the company without requiring a physical line into the PBX for each possible connection.
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 83% of our cellular subscriber base (approximately 2,241 thousand subscribers) subscribed to post-paid tariff plans, and 17% (approximately 445 thousand subscribers) subscribed to pre-paid tariff plans.
Business cellular tariff plans. Our post-paid cellular business tariff plans offer features attractive to business users such as bundles including unlimited amounts of call minutes and SMS (subject to reasonable use) as well as browsing packages; bundles with fixed amounts of call minutes and SMS and browsing packages; tariff plans with fixed tariffs for airtime usage without adding the interconnect charges imposed by other cellular and fixed-line providers for calls made by our subscribers that terminate on third party networks; and providing discounts for calls to designated numbers within a subscriber's calling circle. Some of these bundles also include a limited amount of international call minutes and other value-added services. Furthermore, some of our contracts with large business customers with over 100 subscribers include commitment terms with exit fees for early termination.
Private customer cellular tariff plans. Most of our post-paid cellular tariff plans for private customers are bundles including unlimited amounts of call minutes and SMS (subject to reasonable use) as well as browsing packages. Some of these bundles also include a limited amount of international call minutes and other value-added services. In addition, we offer a limited number of bundles with fixed amounts of call minutes and SMS and browsing packages. The elements of our cellular tariff plans for post-paid private customers are packaged and marketed in various ways to create tariff packages attractive to target markets, including families, military personnel, youth, students, family members of business customers and other sectors. Since February 2011, our private customer subscriber agreements do not have any commitment periods.
Since 2012, the Company has also marketed cellular tariff plans under an alternative brand, "012 Mobile", based on the 012 Smile brand. Under this brand, the Company offers plans mainly under a digital self-service model through a dedicated website (including web-chat with customer representatives) at competitive prices. These tariff plans were launched in order to compete with offers of new operators launched in 2012.
Under our pre-paid plans, upon purchase of a SIM card or phone card or prepayment by credit card or cash, customers can use our network, including some of our value-added services, without the need to register with us or enter into any contract. Our pre-paid plans enable us to compete in the pre-paid cellular services market.
Fixed-line tariff plans. For our Fixed-Line Services, we have a wide range of diverse plans to meet the needs of the various sub-markets-ISP, ILD, transmission, VOB and PRI. We have also launched an unlimited plan for our VoB packages. In the ILD services market we have tariff plans based on call destinations and level of use. Our Internet Service prices and our wholesale infrastructure services prices are based on bandwidth speed. We offer a variety of internet solutions for home and business use according to each customer's needs.
We apply a multi-channel approach to target various market segments and to coordinate our cellular and fixed-line sales strategy for both our business as well as private customers. Our customer support and service provides several channels for our customers: call centers, walk-in centers and self-service support, which include web-based services, mobile application, Interactive Voice Response ("IVR"), and automated SMS.
Call Centers. Guided by our aim to provide high quality service, our call-center services are divided into several sub-centers including business, private and pre-paid for cellular and fixed-line services, and specialized support and services (finance, network, international roaming and data transfer related issues). The call center services are provided in several languages and also provide chat, digital and SMS services through the Company's websites.
Walk-in Centers. We currently operate 27 service and sales centers across Israel. These centers provide a face-to-face, uniformly designed, contact channel and offer all services that we provide to customers: sales, handset upgrade, handset maintenance, tablet sales, fixed-line services (such as VOB and ISP) and other services (such as finance, rate-plan changes and subscription to new services) as well as accessories sales. Lease agreements for our retail stores and service centers are for periods of two to ten years. We have the option to extend the lease agreements for different periods including the initial lease period. See also Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.

Self-Service. We provide our customers with various self-service channels, such as IVR, web-based services, services via SMS, services via mobile and services via smartphone applications. The services provided through these channels include general and specific information, tariff plans, account balance, billing-related information and roaming tariffs. They also provide customers with information regarding trouble shooting and handset operation, and enable customers to activate services and to download content as well as to purchase various services and update tariff plans.
All of our service channels are monitored and analyzed regularly in order to ensure the quality of our services and to detect areas that require improvement.
Management Systems. Our management systems are certificated and monitored by IQC (The Institute for Quality Control, an RVA accredited Certification Body authorized by Bureau Veritas Quality International) to the appropriate international standards:
We distribute our services and products through direct sales channels and indirect sales channels.
Sales and Service Centers: Our walk-in centers in stores and malls also serve as sales centers. The face-to-face contact enables customers to get the "touch and feel" of new handsets, tablets, accessories and services demonstrated by our representatives. We have stands in some of our centers in cooperation with Apple called "CEP" –channel excellence program, in which we demonstrate Apple products to customers. As of December 31, 2016, we are the only cellular operator in Israel that has this type of agreement with Apple.
Direct Sales Force: Our sales force is comprised of sales and service representatives.
Our sales force undergoes regular training to improve their skills in selling advanced solutions such as cellular data, intranet extension and connectivity, virtual private networks, location based services, m2m services, and other value-added services that appeal to corporate customers.
In addition, as of December 31, 2016, we have 20 Partner stands in shopping centers throughout the country, as well as six stores that specialize in sales and handset upgrades.
We have agreements with many traditional dealers that provide over 60 points of sale, selling a range of our products. The private dealer network is an important distribution channel because of its ability to attract existing cellular users to our network. Our dealer network focuses primarily on sales to individual customers and, to a lesser extent, small business customers. These dealers specialize in sales for post-paid customers and handset sales.
In addition we have agreements with prepaid distributors that specialize in sales for pre-paid customers and distribution of pre-paid plans to sub-dealers.
We also have specific dealers that target different segments of the Israeli population with the appropriate style, language and locations. We provide regular training to employees of our dealers to update them on our products and services. Our managers visit dealers on a regular basis to provide information and training, answer questions and solve any problems that may arise. We pay our dealers commissions; however, dealers are not entitled to commissions for any customers that terminate their service within 90 days of activation.
Our cellular and fixed-line services are also available to be purchased online. We also manage an online service for the purchase of handsets and other equipment that we sell.
Since 2011, our standard customer agreements with most of our private customers do not include commitment periods. Some of our business customers that have more than 100 cellular subscribers enter into an agreement with a commitment period of up to 36 months, as do some of our fixed-line customers with monthly invoices of over NIS 5,000. Customers are billed monthly for charges per services. Roaming access for direct debit cellular customers is subject to credit scoring by our credit supervisors with the assistance of outside credit agencies and may require additional guarantees or deposits.
Our customers pay for their services by credit card or by direct bank debit. All credit card accounts are subject to an initial maximum credit limit each month, which varies depending upon the type of credit card and for which we obtain prior approval from the card issuer. When a customer account reaches this limit, we may seek approval from the card issuer. If the card issuer does not grant the approval, we may require the customer to provide other means of payment or arrange an increase in the approved limit from his credit card issuer. If this does not occur, the customer's usage may be limited or suspended, after receiving our prior notice of such limitation or suspension, until we receive a cash deposit or guarantee from the customer.
Most of our customers pay for equipment devices with long term financing plans whereby the customer pays for the equipment through monthly payments (generally over 12 to 36 months), which are charged directly to their credit card or to their monthly bill. Where the customer opts to pay the monthly payments via their monthly bill, the outstanding installment payments are not secured. Customers acquiring more than a certain number of device sales are subject to a credit scoring review performed by Partner's credit supervisors with the assistance of outside credit agencies. During 2016, changes were made to the credit scoring review process whereby stricter requirements were imposed for customers to be accepted for long term financing plans. These changes significantly adversely affect the level of sales of equipment with long term financing plans. See also "Item 5A.1b Business Developments in 2016".

We have built an extensive, resilient and advanced network system in Israel, allowing us to offer our services with extensive coverage and consistent high quality. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, we made capital expenditures of NIS 137 million and NIS 88 million (\$23 million), respectively, in our network infrastructure, including optic fibers. See "Item 5B.3 TOTAL NET FINANCIAL DEBT".
Our network is a converged fixed and mobile telecommunications network. For mobile services we built a multi generation (2G, 3G &4G) wireless network, which offers full interactive multimedia capabilities. This technology brings wire-free networks significantly closer to the capabilities of fixed-line networks. Improvements in coding and data compression technology provide better voice quality and more reliable data transmission. UMTS is the global standard adopted for the implementation of third generation wireless telecommunications capable of data rates of up to 42 Mbps in the down-link and is the 3G technology we use. HSPA is a technological enhancement to our 3G services that offers subscribers the ability to access our 3G services at higher speeds for downloading (HSDPA) and uploading (HSUPA) data. LTE is the newly introduced, most advanced mobile network technology which is currently available in more than half of the macro base stations. Currently our LTE network is based on the existing spectrum of 20 MHz and can support up to 150Mbps in the downlink and up to 50Mbps in the uplink.
In 2016, we continued to deploy and introduce 4G services, utilizing part of our existing 1800 MHz spectrum (that was used for the 2G network), while continuing to expand our 3G and HSPA business in Israel. To meet these goals, we are implementing (directly or through our limited partnership, PHI) a strategic network upgrade project, in which our network radio and core elements are being upgraded to our vendors' most advanced products range. We have also expanded our transmission network to support the demand for high data rates, and we concluded the introduction of a third radio carrier for HSPA services, utilizing part of our existing 900 MHz spectrum.
Cellular Network Sharing Agreement. In November 2013, we entered into a 15-year Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile that was approved by the Antitrust Authority Commissioner in May 2014 and by the Ministry of Communications in April 2015. Pursuant to the agreement, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership in the form of a limited partnership under the name P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership ("PHI"), the purpose of which is to operate and develop a radio access network to be shared by both parties starting with a pooling of both parties' radio access network infrastructures to create a single shared pooled radio access network ("Shared Network"). The parties have also established a 50-50 company limited by shares under the name Net 4 P.H.I Ltd., to be the general partner of the limited partnership. In August 2015, we were allocated a frequency bandwidth of 5MHz in the 1800MHz spectrum as a result of the 4G frequencies tender conducted by the Ministry of Communications in January 2015. PHI started to operate in August 2015, at which time each of Partner and Hot Mobile transferred to PHI certain employees who were previously engaged in their respective radio operations.
One of the main purposes of the limited partnership is to seek to improve network efficiency by reducing the number of network sites, while improving network coverage and capacity and introducing new technology. The expected results from PHI's operations are that the Shared Network will optimize operating costs, including required maintenance and reduce environmental impact.
Both companies continue to compete and differentiate their services and be responsible for providing cellular telecommunication services to its own customers, including the provision of customer service, value-added services, marketing and sales. Each company continues to retain and operate its own core network.
According to the Network Sharing Agreement, HOT Mobile paid Partner a onetime amount of NIS 250 million ("Lump Sum"), and since April 1, 2016, (i) each party bears half of the expenditures relating to the Shared Network, and (ii) responsibility for the operating costs of the Shared Network is apportioned according to a pre-determined mechanism, according to which one half of the operating costs are shared equally by the parties, and one half are divided according to the relative volume of traffic of each party in the Shared Network ("Capex-Opex Mechanism"). See "Item 5A.1d Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile" and note 26(d) and note 9 to the consolidated financial statements with respect to balances and transaction with PHI.
In May 2014, the Antitrust Commissioner approved the Network Sharing Agreement, subject to conditions, the most important of which are set forth below:
In April 2015, the Ministry of Communications also resolved to approve the Network Sharing Agreement.
As of December 31, 2016, our network consists of the following main elements:
Our core network domain consisted of 3 mobile switching centers, 3 media gateways, 2 service GPRS support node/mobility management entity and 2 gateway GPRS support node/evolved packet gateway.
The base transceiver stations, the mobile switching centers and the radio network controllers are interconnected by 6,000 transmission links for voice services, and a dedicated IP radio access network and a mobile packet backbone network (IP-RAN, MPBN) for voice and data traffic for the 3G and 4G network.
Ericsson is our sole radio and core network equipment supplier. See "Item 4B.9f Suppliers".
Our fixed-line network domain consists of circuit-switched and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platforms. Ericsson, Dialogic Networks, Sonus, Broadsoft and ACME Packet supplies our VoIP solution, whereas the circuits-switched services utilize the mobile switching center platforms alongside Sonus's switches. The International Long Distance network domain consists of Dialogic ILD Switch, together with NSN's Signaling Transit Point.
In addition, our network is interconnected with two public switched telephone companies, Bezeq and HOT Telecom, in several locations across Israel. Our network is also connected to all of the cellular networks, all the Israeli international operators, the fixed-line telephone network of the Palestine Telecommunication Co. Ltd. ("Paltel"), and the cellular network of Wataniya Palestine Mobile Telecommunication Company ("Wataniya"), and indirectly to the cellular network of Palestine Cellular Communications Ltd. ("Jawwal"). Our transmission network is made up mainly by our own microwave links and fiber optic infrastructure, while for sites that are unreachable with our own transmission, we lease lines from Bezeq and other operators. Currently approximately 15% of our transmission network consists of leased lines. Our fiber-optic and microwave transmission network enables us to reduce our transmission costs as well as to provide our business customers with bundled services of data and voice transmission and fixed-line services. Currently, our transmission network has more than 16 hundred kilometers of fiber optics and more than 13 hundred microwave links.
Our radio networks covered 99% of the Israeli population at year-end 2016. We are continuing to expand and improve the coverage, capacity and quality of our LTE network.
Our primary cellular network design objective is to further expand and improve our network to provide high voice, video and packet quality, service reliability, high capacity and high coverage quality. In formulating our network design objectives, we have been guided by our business strategy to continue to broaden the highest quality network. The quality parameters that we seek to satisfy are those that we believe are important to cellular users: voice quality, high data rate packet sessions, low "blocked call" rate, low "dropped call" rate and deep indoor penetration, especially in densely populated areas or areas of special commercial interest. The two main examined parameters used to measure network performance are the setup call success rate and the dropped calls rate.
With these quality parameters in mind, we rolled out our UMTS/HSPA network starting in 2004, which shares locations with the GSM sites. In December 2007, we signed an agreement with LM Ericsson Israel Ltd. (Ericsson") for the replacement of third party 3G radio equipment existing in our network, and in October 2010, we signed an agreement with Ericsson for the upgrade of our existing fixed-mobile network and the deployment of our fourth generation network.
Our transmission network design confers the following benefits: (i) necessary bandwidth for GSM and UMTS/HSPA and LTE services; (ii) resilience; (iii) use of high transmission rate back-bone routes based on Synchronous Digital Hierarchy; and (iv) the ability to utilize a new generation of sophisticated technology to optimize the system and increase capacity where necessary. Our switching architecture is based on two STP switches connected to all of our systems and platforms and three MSCBCs and MGWs.
In our Fixed-Line business we offer telephony lines using VoB technology, SIP voice trunks, PRI, Internet Services, data transmission and ILD services targeting households and business customers in the Israeli market. These services are provided over third parties' existing network infrastructure as well as our own partially country covering infrastructure. In order to provide the Fixed-line Services in the residential market, we developed a home gateway box (smartbox), that provides the customer with a setup of a home network Wi-Fi based on the protocol 802.11n, Voice FXS and DECT supported phones, and built-in firewall. This solution enables us to provide services to our customers such as call "hijack" which allows customers to retrieve incoming mobile line calls on their fixed-line and vice-versa, improved email accounts, anti-virus and site filtering based on the customer's restriction definition.
Spectrum availability is limited and is allocated by the Ministry of Communications through a licensing process. Pursuant to the terms of our license and subsequent allocations, we were allocated 2x10.4 MHz in the 900 MHz frequency band, of which 2 x 2.4 MHz are shared with Jawwal which operates in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and an additional 2 x 2.4 MHz of Jawwal's spectrum is partially available to us.
We were also allocated two additional bands of spectrum: 2 x 10 MHz of UMTS/HSDPA third generation in the 2100 MHz frequency band. We operate GSM 900 MHz band base transceiver stations that enhance the capacity of our network's quality. In May 2012, we shifted 5MHz of our 900MHz spectrum from the 2G GSM network to the 3G HSPA+ network. In July 2014, we shifted 10MHz of our 1800MHz spectrum from the 2G GSM network to the 4G LTE network. In March 2015, the Minister of Communications approved the results of the tender bid process in which we won an additional 5 MHz in the 1800 spectrum. Hot Mobile was also awarded two bandwidths of 5 MHz of frequencies in the 1800 band, both of which are expected to be used for the limited partnership created by the companies. Now that we have been allocated these frequencies, and have successfully refarmed our existing frequency bands and successful implemented the Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile, our total spectrum available for 4G is 20 MHz, which allows us to offer full 4G services. See "Item 4B.9a Overview – Cellular Network Sharing Agreement". We have amended the technical annex to our license in order to allow us to refarm some of our existing spectrum (in the 2100 MHz band) for the implementation of LTE Advanced and carrier aggregation technologies. In February 2017, the MoC approved the refarming (the conversion of existing frequencies to a different technology) of these frequencies.
For a discussion of the risks associated with regulatory developments in spectrum allocation, see "Item 3D.1m The MoC might require us to terminate the use of certain spectrum ranges which have been allocated to us, limit our use of such spectrum or fail to respond to our demands for the allocation of additional spectrum. Such eventualities may adversely affect our business and results of operations."
Once a new coverage area has been identified, professional staff determines the optimal base station location and the required coverage characteristics. The area is then surveyed to identify network sites. In urban areas, typical sites are building rooftops. In rural areas, masts are usually constructed. Professional staffs also identify the best means of connecting the base station to the network, for example, via leased or owned and operated microwave or fiber links or wired links leased from Bezeq. Once a preferred site has been identified and the exact equipment configuration for that site decided, the process of obtaining necessary approvals begins.
The erection of most of these network sites requires building permits from local or regional authorities, as well as a number of additional permits from governmental and regulatory The erection of most of these network sites requires building permits from local or regional authorities, as well as a number of additional permits from governmental and regulatoryauthorities, such as:
See "Item 4B.13h Network Site Permits" for a description of the approvals that are required for the erection and operation of network sites and the requirement to provide indemnification undertakings to local committees.
Suppliers for our cellular network. For a number of years, we purchased our network equipment, such as switching equipment, base station controllers and base transceiver stations and network software, from Ericsson and Nokia. Starting in January 2008, we purchase all our UMTS network equipment from Ericsson, and in 2010 we entered into an agreement with Ericsson, for the upgrade of our existing cellular networks and the deployment of our fourth generation network. The initial term of the inclusive agreement with Ericsson ended on December 31, 2014. Following the expiration of the initial term, we extended the initial period for the provision of support and maintenance services, first by an additional period of one year (that ended on December 31, 2015) then, by an additional period of one year ending on December 31, 2016 and recently we have ordered maintenance services for the years 2017 and 2018. Ericsson has gradually become our sole supplier of cellular core equipment and systems. See "Item 10C Material Contracts". See also "Item 3D.2j We depend on a limited number of suppliers. Our results of operations could be adversely affected if our suppliers fail to provide us with adequate supplies of network equipment and handsets and other devices or maintenance support on a timely basis."
We continue to purchase certain network components, for our cellular, fixed and ISP services, from various other key suppliers. For example, Alcatel-Lucent provides the Company with a pre-paid system that allows subscribers to pay set amounts in advance and thereby allows subscribers to manage their expenses for services. Alcatel-Lucent also provides an Intelligent-Network system, which implements Value Added voice Services such as VPN and Funtone (Music Ring-back Tone).
Handset and other equipment suppliers. Following the expiration of our previous agreement in 2016, in June 2016 we entered into a non-exclusive agreement with Apple for the purchase and resale of iPhone handsets in Israel for a three-year period. See "Item 10C Material Contracts". During 2016, Apple was a major supplier of the Company's iPhone handsets. We also purchase handsets and other equipment, including tablets and laptops, from Samsung, LG and other vendors.
Suppliers for our fixed-line network. Only the Bezeq and HOT Groups own fixed-line telecommunications infrastructures in Israel. As a result, we rely on interconnection with the Bezeq and HOT Groups' infrastructure. Bezeq supplies the Company with fixed-line transmission services for connecting traffic between approximately 30% of the Company's sites. The HOT Group supplies the Company with interconnect lines between the broadband backbone and the ISP backbone. See "Item 3D.1b If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations." In addition, for hardline connection to all major Western European countries and the United States, Med Nautilus supplies the Company with transmission services through its submarine infrastructure. See "Item 10C Material Contracts".
Sonus Networks Inc. and Broadsoft Inc. supply us with switches for the fixed-line telephony services based on Internet Protocol ("VoIP"). As part of the mentioned above with Ericsson, these services will gradually shift to equipment supplied by Ericsson.
All telecommunications providers with general licenses in Israel have provisions in their licenses requiring them to connect their networks with all other telecommunications networks in Israel. Currently, our network is connected directly with all other telecommunications networks operating in Israel.
We are currently operating without any formal interconnect agreements with Bezeq. Day-to-day arrangements with Bezeq substantially conform to a draft interconnect agreement negotiated with Bezeq. Bezeq is required by law not to discriminate against any licensed telecommunications operator in Israel with respect to the provision of interconnect services. We currently pay Bezeq an interconnection fee based on a tariff structure set forth in the Interconnection Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasts) (Fees for Interconnection) (2000) ("Interconnection Regulations").
We have formal interconnect agreements with all Israeli cellular and with the other fixed-line and voice over cellular companies. The interconnect tariffs are set forth in the Interconnection Regulations that impose a uniform call interconnect tariff for all cellular operators.
Our network is connected directly to Paltel, the Palestinian fixed-line operator, Wataniya, a Palestinian cellular operator, and indirectly to Jawwal, the cellular operator of Paltel. The interconnect tariffs are set out in commercial agreements.
Two of our subsidiaries have a domestic fixed-line license. One of our subsidiaries- Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions LP is connected directly with other telecommunication networks operating in Israel and the other is indirectly connected to other telecommunication networks, through said entity. The interconnection fees are set by the Interconnection Regulations.
An overview of our principal competitors and of some aspects of the competitive environment for telecommunications services is set forth below. For further information regarding the impact of regulation and regulatory changes on competition, including measures to enable new service providers to enter the market, and the competitive pressures arising from the development of fullservice telecommunications providers and new technologies, see "Item 3D.1 Risks Relating To The Regulation Of Our Industry." and "Item 3D.2a As a result of substantial and continuing changes in our regulatory and business environment, our operating results and profitability have decreased significantly in the past five years, with a loss for 2015. We managed to earn a profit of NIS 52 million (US\$ 14 million) for 2016, but our operating results may again decline in 2017 and beyond, which may adversely affect our financial condition."

Within the Israeli telecommunications market there are 4 major communication groups: Bezeq, HOT, Cellcom and Partner, as well as a number of smaller operators. See Item "3D.2f Competition resulting from the full service offers by telecommunications groups and additional entrants into the mobile telecommunications market, as well as other actual and potential changes in the competitive environment and communications technologies, may continue to cause a further decrease in tariffs, an increase in subscriber acquisition and retention costs, and may continue to reduce our subscriber base and increase our churn rate, each of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations."
There are currently five cellular telephone network operators in Israel: Partner, Cellcom, Pelephone, HOT Mobile, and Golan Telecom. Except for Golan Telecom, these cellular operators are part of the four main telecommunications groups. In addition, there are four active MVNO operators – Hashikma Communications Marketing Ltd., ("Rami Levy"), Home Cellular Ltd. ("Home Cellular"), Telzar 019 International Telecommunications Services Ltd. ("Telzar") and Cellact Communications Ltd. ("Cellact").
We compete principally on the basis of telecommunications service quality, brand identity, variety of handsets and other equipment, tariffs, value-added services and the quality of customer services.
The table below sets forth an estimate of each operator's share of total subscribers in the Israeli cellular market at year-end for the years 2012 to 2016.
| Estimated Market Shares* | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | 29% | 29% | 28% | 27% | 26% |
| Cellcom | 32% | 31% | 29% | 28% | 28% |
| Pelephone | 28% | 26% | 25% | 26% | 23% |
| HOT Mobile | 8% | 8% | 10% | 11% | 14% |
| Golan Telecom and others | 3% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
* Based on Partner subscriber data, as well as information contained in published reports, and public statements issued by other operators.
Cellcom. Cellcom is an Israeli corporation founded in 1994 that is traded both on the Tel Aviv stock exchange as well as NYSE. Cellcom's major beneficial shareholder is Discount Investment Corporation Ltd., a majority-owned subsidiary of IDB Development Corporation Ltd. ("IDBD") which is controlled by Mr. Eduardo Elzstain. In August 2011, Cellcom acquired Netvision, an Israeli fixed-line operator. Cellcom operates nationwide cellular telephone networks as well as fixed-line telephony, transmission and data services and has partially deployed LTE. In 2014, Cellcom launched OTT television services. In January 2017, Cellcom announced that it had entered into a mediation agreement with Golan Telecom and a 3G and 4G networking sharing and 2G hosting services agreement with Electra, which simultaneously entered into an agreement with Golan Telecom and Golan Telecom's shareholders to purchase Golan Telecom's share capital. See "Item 3D.1d The Network Sharing Agreement we entered into with HOT Mobile may be terminated earlier than we expected due to regulatory intervention. In such case we will be required to split the shared network with Hot Mobile, and the resources, time and expense it may take us to have our own network on a nation-wide coverage may be substantial and could also materially harm our business and the results of operations at such time. Network sharing and similar agreements entered into by our competitors may place us at a competitive disadvantage."
Pelephone. Pelephone is an Israeli corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bezeq, Israel's largest telecommunications provider and the primary fixed-line operator that is controlled by B Communications Ltd. B Communications Ltd. is indirectly controlled by Shaul Elovitz, the controlling shareholder of Eurocom Communications Ltd. Bezeq and its subsidiaries offer fixed-line telephony services, cellular telephony services, PRI, internet broadband access, ISP services, transmission and data communications services, ILD services and multi- channel television services. In July 2015, Pelephone entered into an agreement to acquire the business operations of Alon Cellular Ltd., an MVNO that entered the cellular market in 2012.
Bezeq – Yes merger. In March 2014, the Antitrust Commissioner approved a merger between Bezeq and its subsidiary, DBS Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. ("Yes"), a multi-channel pay television provider, subject to certain conditions, including, among other things, the following: (1) Bezeq shall not impose any limitations on subscriber internet infrastructure consumption, deriving from subscriber aggregated internet capacity; (2) Bezeq shall deduct sums for providing multi-channel television servicing from payments made to ISPs for connecting it to its network, in accordance with a formula that was set in the decision; (3) Bezeq and Yes shall cancel all exclusivity arrangements in regards to productions they are a party to, and shall not be a party to other exclusivity arrangements for other productions; and (4) for a period of two years from the merger approval, Bezeq shall not prevent any person, excluding a holder of a broadcast license at the time of the decision, from obtaining rights in original productions, not including new productions. The Commissioner's decision allows the same entity to control both Bezeq and Yes. In July 2015, the Ministry of Communications approved the merger. In December 2016, the MoC provided Bezeq with a letter in which it announced it would promote the removal of corporate separation provisions which currently apply to the Bezeq group.
Hot Mobile. HOT mobile is held indirectly by the Altice Group, a French media group, controlled by Mr. Patrick Drahi, who also holds control of HOT Telecommunications Systems Ltd. ("HOT Telecommunications"), a multi-channel television operator in Israel, which was delisted from the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange in December 2012. The HOT Group's main areas of activity are multi-channel television services, fixed-line telephony services, PRI, internet broadband access, transmission and data communications services as well as ISP services through its subsidiary HOT-NET. HOT Mobile's cellular license was amended to include UMTS frequencies allocated subsequent to winning a Ministry of Communications' tender offer for frequencies in the 2100 MHz spectrum.
Partner and HOT Mobile entered into a Right of Use agreement, which took effect in November 2013, and was valid until April 1, 2016. Under the Right of Use agreement, Partner provided services to HOT Mobile in the form of a right of use of Partner's radio cellular network in order to supplement HOT Mobile's current network coverage. According to the Right of Use agreement, HOT Mobile paid Partner fixed base payments with additional variable payments, based, among other things, on traffic volume exceeding a defined threshold. See "Item 4B.9 Our Network- Cellular Network Sharing Agreement".
Golan Telecom. Golan Telecom, is a privately owned company, currently owned by Michael Golan, Xavier Niel and the Parienti family. Golan Telecom began operations in early 2012 after winning a Ministry of Communications' tender offer for frequencies in the 2100 MHz spectrum. Golan Telecom signed a national roaming agreement with Cellcom. According to media reports, the MoC imposed a fine of NIS 31 million on Golan Telecom for breaching its obligation to establish its network. Recently, it was published that Electra entered into an agreement with Golan Telecom and Golan Telecom's shareholders to purchase Golan Telecom's share capital and that Golan Telecom and Cellcom signed a network sharing agreement.
Hot Mobile and Golan Telecom license terms. Under the terms of HOT Mobile and Golan Telecom's licenses, the companies which won the UMTS frequency tender offer were required to pay a minimal fee as well as a guarantee for the balance to the Ministry of Communications before starting operations and to pay the balance of the fee to ensure compliance with the terms of the license after 5 years. However, as an incentive for these companies to rapidly build and expand their customer base, the final total amount of their fees and guarantees is calculated according to the level of the coverage of their services and will be reduced as the level of coverage increases. This incentive has been a significant factor in the aggressive marketing strategies and pricing of the additional entrants in order to gain market share, which, in light of the current saturation of the Israeli cellular market, has resulted in loss of market share by existing companies, including Partner, and substantial downward pressure on tariffs. In November 2013, the Ministry of Communications reduced HOT Mobile's license guarantee since it achieved the market share goal of 7%. In March 2014, the Ministry of Communications reduced Golan Telecom's license guarantee since it achieved the market share goal of 7%.
HOT Mobile and Golan Telecom received additional leniencies as part of the 4G tender. See "Item 3D.2f Competition resulting from the full service offers by telecommunications groups and additional entrants into the mobile telecommunications market, as well as other actual and potential changes in the competitive environment and communications technologies, may continue to cause a further decrease in tariffs, an increase in subscriber acquisition and retention costs, and may continue to reduce our subscriber base and increase our churn rate, each of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations."
Xphone. Xphone is a privately owned company that currently operates as an ISP and ILD operator. However it was awarded a 5MHz frequency band in the 1800 spectrum following which it may become the sixth facility-based cellular operator if it is granted a license.
MVNOs. The Ministry of Communications has granted MVNO licenses to eleven companies, some of which have entered into hosting agreements with cellular operators. The major MVNOs are Rami Levy, which is a subsidiary of a major Israeli discount supermarket chain; Home Cellular which is a subsidiary of a leading group that owns, among others, hardware and home furnishing stores, which was acquired by Cellcom in July 2015, subject to regulatory approval, Telzar, an ILD operator and Cellact which is owned by Cellact Ltd., a communications group active also in the content field.
In May 2013, we signed a hosting agreement with Telzar with respect to their use of Partner's network as an MVNO.
Following a hearing published by the Ministry of Communications, in November 2014, the Ministry published an administrative decision, regarding the pricing of MVNO hosting by cellular operators. The MoC has decided that the reference point for whether a hosting price is considered reasonable will be the most favorable business proposals each cellular operator has offered to its commercial subscribers. An MVNO that claims that the hosting conditions prevent it from competing and does not reach an agreement with a cellular operator to change them, particularly as regards the price, may request the Minister of Communications to evaluate whether they are reasonable. As a result, the pricing we charge to host MVNOs on our network may be affected causing an adverse impact on our revenues.
In addition, Paltel operates a GSM mobile telephone network under the name "Jawwal" in the Palestinian Administered Areas. Paltel also operates a fixed-line network. Paltel's GSM network competes with our network in some border coverage overlap areas. A second Palestinian operator, Wataniya launched its GSM network during 2009.
Several service providers offer competitive roaming solutions. The service is offered, among others, by the International Long Distance vendors as well as by specialized enterprises. See also "Item 3D.1h Potential future regulation of roaming services may decrease our roaming revenues and negatively affect our income."
Market Saturation. Because the Israeli cellular market has reached a level of full saturation, except for natural market growth through the growth of population, any acquisition of new subscribers by any service provider results in a loss of market share for its competitors.
In the fixed-line market, our main competitors are Bezeq, Israel's largest telecommunications provider and the primary fixed-line operator, HOT Telecom, and other telecommunication services providers, including Cellcom who operate in the fixed-line market. The Bezeq Group, the HOT Group and Cellcom provide cellular telephony services, ILD services, PRI, internet broadband access, ISP services, transmission and data communications services and multi-channel television services.
The Bezeq Group. The Bezeq Group is under structural separation rules which apply to management, employees, assets, marketing and finance and data systems. Starting in 2010, the Ministry of Communications has allowed the Bezeq Group to market bundled telecommunications services to the private sector, subject to certain conditions and limitations, including provisions which prevent Bezeq from discounting the price of bundled services from their unbundled prices and from including its fixed-line telephony service within bundles. See "Item 4B.2 Broadband and Internet services." Following implementation of the broadband wholesale market, the requirement for structural separation may be removed, which would allow Bezeq to take advantage of its nationwide presence and cross-subsidization to market and sell more competitive and attractive offers than we will be able to offer, including cellular services. Bundled offerings have become more frequent in Israel and have caused price erosion in the services included. See "Item 3D.1b If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations."
The HOT Group. The HOT Group may offer a bundle of services only including fixed-line telephony, broadband infrastructure and multi-channel television ("Triple"). The bundle of services currently offered by the HOT Group does not include cellular services (other than a bundle of cellular services with ISP services offered by its subsidiaries HOT Mobile and Hot-Net Internet Services Ltd. ("HOT-NET")).
The Ministry of Communications allowed HOT Telecom LLP, HOT Telecommunication and HOT Mobile to sell and market each other's services and exchange information regarding such marketing activities.
Once an effective wholesale fixed-line market is operating, the Ministry of Communications may cancel the structural separation imposed on the Bezeq and HOT Groups. This will allow the groups to offer attractive bundles that include all of the above services that may result in a loss of market share by Partner in all relevant telecom markets. See "Item 3D.1b If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations."
The Cellcom Group. Cellcom provides landline telephony, transmission, PRI, ISP and data services through inland fiber optic transmission and complementary microwave links to business customers and private sectors. Since February 2015, Cellcom began marketing an ADSL infrastructure product (wholesale Bit Stream Access service provided over Bezeq's network). During 2015, Cellcom entered the television market using hybrid OTT-DTT television services which may be bundled with additional IP TV or over the top (OTT) offerings.
In the ILD services market, we compete with Netvision from the Cellcom Group, Bezeq International, Xphone, Hashikma Communications Marketing Ltd., Telzar 019 International Telecommunication Service Ltd, Golan Telecom International Ltd. and HOT Mobile International Telecommunications Ltd.
See also "Item 4B.2 Special characteristics of the Fixed-Line Telecommunications Industry in Israel".
Israel Broadband Company (IBC). IBC received a general license for the provision of fixed-line telecom services (infrastructure) and for the establishment of a nationwide optic fiber network using the Israeli Electric Company's infrastructure in August 2013. IBC is owned by Israel Electric Corporation (40%) and a consortium of companies elected as the winning bidder in the election process, which is comprised of the following companies: ViaEuropa Israel Ltd., RAPAC Communication & Infrastructure Ltd., BATM advanced Communication Ltd., Tamares Holdings Sweden AB and Zisapel Properties (1992) Ltd. and Cisco Systems Finance International (60%). Although IBC is in principle permitted to provide its services only to other telecommunications licensees on a wholesale basis, IBC has introduced a new business model which enables it to reach the retail market through the services of ISPs who sign agreements with them. Currently, IBC has agreements with the relatively small ISPs while the three major ISPs in Israel (Bezeq International, Netvision and Partner) have no distribution agreements with IBC. IBC has recently retained Rothschild Bank in its attempt to find a strategic investor. Partner is examining the feasibility of such investment, as are other entities.
We depend upon a wide range of information technology systems to support network management, subscriber registration and billing, customer service, marketing and management functions. These systems execute critical tasks for our business, from rating and billing of calls, to monitoring our points of sale and network sites, to managing highly segmented marketing campaigns. We have devoted resources to expanding and enhancing our information technology systems, including Customer Relations Management ("CRM") systems, which have contributed to our customers' satisfaction with our service, as well as updating our financial management and accounting system. We believe these systems are an important factor in our business success.
While many of our systems have been developed by third-party vendors, all of them have been modified and refined to suit our particular needs. In certain instances, we have developed critical information technology capabilities internally to meet our specific requirements. In connection with our transformation into a diversified multi-service communications provider, we have completed significant milestones in our CRM upgrade project. In addition, the Company invested resources to improve the quality of the IT processes and billing accuracy.
We are the registered owners of the trademark "Partner" in Israel with respect to telecommunications-related devices and services, as well as additional trademarks. We have also registered several internet Web domain names, including, among others: www.partner.co.il. 012 Smile is the registered owner of several trademarks in Israel with respect to telecommunicationsrelated services that include the numbers "012". In addition, 012 Smile has registered several internet Web domain names, including, among others, www.012.net and www.012.net.il. Partner is the assignee in a patent application filed in March 2012 that claims a method for delivering short messages originated by roaming prepaid subscribers. A Notice of Allowance was issued for the application in September 2013 and a patent was issued on January 14, 2014.
In addition, we are a full member of the GSMA Association. In conjunction with the promotion and operation of our GSM network, we have the right to use their relevant intellectual property, such as the GSM trademark and logo, security algorithms, roaming agreement templates, and billing transfer information file formats. We are eligible to remain a member of the GSMA Association for as long as we are licensed to provide GSM service.
We operate within Israel primarily under the Telecommunications Law, the Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance (New Version), 1972 (the "Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance"), the regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Communications and our license. The Ministry of Communications issues the licenses which grant the right to establish and operate mobile telephone and other telecommunication services in Israel, and sets the terms by which such services are provided. The regulatory framework under which we operate consists also of the Planning and Building Law, the Consumer Protection Law, 1981, and the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law. Additional areas of Israeli law may be relevant to our operations, including antitrust law, specifically the Restrictive Trade Practices Law, the Class Actions Law, 2006, the Centralization Law, 2013 and administrative law.
The principal law governing telecommunications in Israel is the Telecommunications Law and related regulations. The Telecommunications Law prohibits any person, other than the State of Israel, from providing public telecommunications services without a license issued by the Ministry of Communications.
General licenses, which relate to telecommunications activities over a public network or for the granting of nationwide services or international telecommunications services, have been awarded to the Bezeq Group, to the HOT Group, to four other cellular operators besides Partner and to the international operators. In addition, the Ministry of Communications has granted MVNO licenses to a number of companies. During 2015 and 2016, the Ministry of Communications substituted almost of the MVNO licenses and all general licenses for ILD services and uniquegeneral licenses for fixed line services, with a single type of general unified license which governs all the services regulated under all of such licenses.
The Ministry of Communications has the authority to amend the terms of any license. The grounds to be considered in connection with such an amendment are government telecommunications policy, public interest, the suitability of the licensee to perform the relevant services, the promotion of competition in the telecommunications market, the level of service and changes in technology. The Ministry of Communications may also make the award of certain benefits, such as new spectrum, conditional upon the licensee's consent to a license amendment. The Ministry of Communications also has the authority to revoke, limit or suspend a license at the request of the licensee or when the licensee is in breach of a fundamental condition of the license, when the licensee is not granting services under the license or is not granting services at the appropriate grade of service or when the licensee has been declared bankrupt or an order of liquidation has been issued with respect to the licensee. Public interest may also be grounds for the rescission or suspension of a license.
The Ministry of Communications, with the consent of the Ministry of Finance, may also promulgate regulations to determine interconnect tariffs, or formulae for calculating such tariffs. Moreover, the Ministry of Communications may, if interconnecting parties fail to agree on tariffs, or if regulations have not been promulgated, set the interconnect tariff based on cost plus a reasonable profit, or based on each of the interconnecting networks bearing its own costs.
The Telecommunications Law also includes certain provisions which may be applied by the Ministry of Communications to general licensees, including rights of way which may be accorded to general licensees to facilitate the building of telecommunications networks or systems and a partial immunity against civil liability which may be granted to a general licensee, exempting the licensee, among others, from tort liability with the exception of direct damage caused by the suspension of a telecommunications service and damage stemming from intentional or grossly negligent acts or omissions of the licensee. The Ministry of Communications has applied the partial immunity provisions to us, including immunity in the event that we cause a mistake or change in a telecommunication message, unless resulting from our intentional act or gross negligence. The Ministry of Communications initiated a review to re-evaluate the scope of the immunity provisions.
The Ministry of Communications is authorized to impose significant monetary sanctions on a license holder that breaches a provision of the Telecommunications Law or of its license.
Frequency Fees. Under the Telegraph Regulations, the Company is committed to pay an annual fixed fee for each frequency used. For the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Company paid a total amount of approximately NIS 60 million, NIS 65 million and NIS 64 respectively. See also Note 17(1) to the consolidated financial statements. Under the above Regulations should the Company choose to return a frequency, such payment is no longer due. Commencing August 2016, the total amount of frequency fees of both the Company and Hot Mobile under the regulations is split between the Company and Hot Mobile, through PHI ,according to the OPEX-CAPEX mechanism (see also note 9 to the consolidated financial statements).
Royalties. Pursuant to the Communications Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Royalties), 2001, we pay royalties to the State of Israel every quarter based on our chargeable revenues, as defined in the regulation, from mobile telephone services, fixed-line services and ILD services, on a cumulative basis, excluding value-added tax. Revenues for purposes of royalty calculation also exclude different payments as in the regulations for each of the above services. The rate of these royalties has decreased in recent years. The royalty rate for 2012 was set at 1.3% and since 2013 the rate has been set at 0%.
Provisions prohibiting Partner from engaging in anti-competitive practices can be found in our license and in the licenses of the other telecommunications operators, in the various telecommunications regulations and in the Restrictive Trade Practices Law. Our license emphasizes the principle of granting users equal access to the systems of each of the operators upon equitable terms. The Telecommunications Law also provides certain protection against disruption of telecommunications services.
The Restrictive Trade Practices Law is the principal statute concerning restrictive practices, mergers and monopolies. This law prohibits a monopoly from abusing its market position in a manner that might reduce competition in the market or negatively affect the public. The law empowers the Commissioner of Restrictive Trade Practices to instruct a monopoly abusing its market power to perform certain acts or to refrain from certain acts in order to prevent the abuse. Bezeq has been declared a monopoly in certain markets, a ruling it failed to challenge successfully.
An amendment to the Israeli Securities laws, which came into force in January 2011, established administrative enforcement measures for handling certain violations of certain securities and securities-related laws supervised by the Israeli Securities Authority, or ISA. This amendment allows the ISA to impose various civil enforcement measures, including financial sanctions, payment to the harmed party, prohibition of the violator from serving as an executive officer for a certain period of time, annulment or suspension of licenses, approvals and permits granted under such laws and an agreed settlement mechanism as an alternative for a criminal or administrative proceeding. In case of a violation by a corporation, the amendment provides for additional responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer in some cases, unless certain conditions have been met, including the existence of procedures for the prevention of the violation, as part of an internal enforcement plan. The Company is prohibited from insuring, paying or indemnifying directors or senior officers for financial sanctions imposed on them in accordance with this amendment subject to certain exemptions set forth in the law. The Company has implemented an internal enforcement plan in accordance with this amendment and has implemented an internal antitrust enforcement plan intended to ensure that all relevant parties in the Company comply with antitrust laws and regulations. The Company provides ongoing guidance and training to the Company's directors, office holders and relevant employees.
See also "Item 3D.1RISKS RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF OUR INDUSTRY" for a discussion of how recent regulatory developments create risks for our financial condition, business and results of operations.
The Ministry of Communications has conducted a number of hearings to address various alleged consumer issues. In January 2017, the MoC published its decision with respect to these hearings, in which it decided to carry out, among others, amendments regarding the following issues: addition of details on the main page of the terms sent to subscribers; provision of alerts to subscribers regarding the volume of services consumed; limitation on the provision of internet services to subscribers; limitations on certain tariffs charged from subscribers; provision of alerts to subscribers regarding an upcoming change in tariffs; imposing increased obligations for the documentation and safekeeping of information and recording of telephone calls; provisions regarding temporary suspension of services; provisions regarding the format of the invoice sent to subscribers; provisions regarding engagement in a "remote sales" transaction; regulation regarding credit of overcharges; and determination of provisions regarding international roaming services. The amendments in the hearings may have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
4B.13e - ii The Economics Program Law (Legislative Amendments for the Implementation of the Economic Policy for the Budget Years 2017 and 2018), 2016 ("The Economic Program Law")
The Economic Program Law was enacted in December 2016, and set out three major reforms:
· Multi- Channel Broadcast Distribution through Idan plus System – this reform aims to transform the Digital Terrestrial Television distribution system ("Idan plus") into a multi-channel TV subscription platform, in order to introduce additional competition into the TV market. In this context, it was determined, among others, that the operation of the system in terms of logistics and content, will be conducted by a private operator chosen by a tender. Such an operator may have competitive advantages over OTT TV services, such as those Partner plans to launch.
Following a hearing published in July 2014, the Ministry of Communications published in February 2017, its decision regarding MRT licensees' network coverage. The Ministry's decision states the standards set in its decision reflect the current deployment and service levels of the 3G MRT networks in order to ensure that such levels are preserved.
Although the initial hearing was aimed at setting service and coverage standards for both 2G and 3G networks, the Ministry's decision set requirements for 3G in population coverage terms only and, at this stage, no parameters have been determined for 3G roads and railroad track coverage (as was originally contemplated).
4B.13e - iv Committee for the Regulation of the Broadcasting Market
In October 2015, the Minister of Communications appointed a committee, headed by the Director General of the Ministry of Communications, (the "Broadcasting Market Committee") to advise on the future regulation of the broadcasting and content market. According to the letter of appointment, the Committee has been requested to formulate recommendations and to suggest that a bill should be introduced for its implementation regarding the following issues: encouragement for new entry into the broadcast market and encouragement of market competition (including by new entrant protections); application of regulation on new content bodies in the market; encouraging Israeli original productions; the implications of the increase in content services provided over broadband and the supervisory and enforcement arrangements, if required.
In June 2016, the Committee published its report which included, among others, the following recommendations:
With respect to the recommendations set forth in sections 2 and 3 above, the Ministry of Communications held another hearing. See "Item 4B.13e - vi Hearings and Examinations- Regulation in the broadcasting area". Also see "Item3D.1f The State may impose regulations on TV content services provided over the Internet, which may negatively affect our business and results of operation."
On March 6, 2017, the Acting Minister of Communications decided to partially adopt the Committee's recommendations. However, the major issues that are relevant for us (for example, point 2 above) are still pending an additional hearing before a professional designated team that will submit their recommendations regarding implementation of the "must sell" obligation to the Minister.
The Israeli Ministry of Communications published a 4G frequencies tender in July 2014. In connection with the tender, the Company provided the government with a bank guarantee in the amount of NIS 10 million. Operators who were allocated with frequencies as part of the tender will be allowed to provide 4G services in the 1800 MHz spectrum.
In March 2015, the acting Minister of Communications approved the results of the tender bid process in which we won an additional 5 MHz in the 1800 spectrum (in addition to our 10 MHz frequency bands in the 1800 spectrum). Golan Telecom, Hot Mobile and Xphone were also each awarded a bandwidth of 2x5 MHz of frequencies in the 1800 band, Cellcom was awarded a bandwidth of 2x3 MHz of frequencies in the 1800 band and Pelephone was awarded three bandwidths of 2x5 MHz each of frequencies in the 1800 band. In August 2015, the Ministry of Communications allocated the frequency bandwidth of 5MHz in the 1800MHz spectrum to the Company, which the Company was awarded, as part of the 4G frequencies tender.
This frequency allocation, in addition to the 10 MHz which are in the Company's use, together with the 5 MHz band allocated to Hot Mobile which is a party to the limited partnership, has allowed the Company to realize a 20 MHz band for its 4G services and offer its customers a significantly improved data experience through a national deployment of its 1,850 4G sites that are already active. See "4B.9a Overview".
Hot Mobile, Golan Telecom, and Xphone, will be entitled to a discount at a rate of up to 50% of the amount that they will have to pay for the 4G frequencies (each addition of 1% market share will grant a discount at a rate of 10%, up to a maximum discount at a rate of 50%, during a period of 5 years).
See also "Item 3D.1m The MoC might require us to terminate the use of certain spectrum ranges which have been allocated to us, limit our use of such spectrum or fail to respond to our demands for the allocation of additional spectrum. Such eventualities may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The Ministry of Communications and other regulators have also conducted hearings and examinations on various matters related to our business, such as:


· Communication facilities in residential buildings. In May 2015, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing with respect to the installation of telecom cables in residential buildings. According to the hearing, the Ministry received several complaints from the IBC - Israel Broadband Company, which indicates that in many residential buildings, all telecom cabinets and ducts are fully occupied by infrastructure deployed by Bezeq and Hot, in a manner that prevents deployment of other infrastructure, including telecom cables, by another company. Accordingly, the Ministry proposed that several orders should apply to HOT and Bezeq in order to remove the barriers for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure by other telecom providers. The Company submitted its response to this hearing. The Company may be positively affected by the results of the hearing.
· Licensing of commerce and import of terminal equipment. In February 2016, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing in which it was proposed to amend regulations that apply to the import of terminal equipment that uses the cellular method, for example, Handsets, tablets, routers etc. As part of the hearing, the Ministry proposes, among others, to expand the technologies to which the exemption from receiving a type approval and commerce license applies, to expand the scope of the exemption also to equipment that is not new and to determine a full exemption from licensing for dealers and store owners in Israel that are not importers. At the same time, it is proposed in the hearing to determine a reporting obligation for cellular equipment importers, to condition the granting of the exemption on the existence of Cell Broadcast technology used for disseminating messages and to confer various authorities to the Ministry of Communications with respect to importers and dealers of cellular equipment, for example the authority to request information, delivery of equipment and temporary suspension of commerce. These amendments may have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
· Prohibition of discrimination between subscribers. In August 2016, the Ministry sent a request for information to telecommunication operators, regarding the conditions of the existing licenses that require the provision of services on equal terms and prohibit discrimination between subscribers. In accordance with the request, these provisions should be considered, among others, in light of the reforms that have been executed in the broadcasting market, reduction of transition barriers between operators and transferring to "all inclusive" packages. In this context, the Ministry requested responses to a number of matters including whether it is required to approve deals for new subscribers, whether it is necessary to determine provisions regarding the transparency of deals, whether it is required to confirm the grant of leniencies to new entrants and should the option to collect "transition fees" between plans be terminated. The Company submitted its response to the hearing in September 2016. Some of the suggested changes in this request for information, such as leniencies to new entrants and the ban on transition fees may have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
· Regulation in the broadcasting area. In June 2016, a recommendations report of the advisory committee regarding the regulation of the broadcasting sector ("Broadcasting Market Committee") was published. See "Item 4B.13e - iv Committee for the Regulation of the Broadcasting Market ". With respect to some of the recommendations in the report, it was decided in September 2016 on the formation of an inter-office team, that would submit to the Minister of Communications specific recommendations for implementation, after holding a hearing that would allow relevant entities that are interested, in submitting their position. This pertains to two main issues: (1) the "must sell" obligation for the sale of sports channels and content to content providers that operate under a license and the sale of rights to broadcast original productions and (2) an arrangement to terminate the base packages that Yes and HOT are currently obligated to and to expand the base package that they market to a core package. The core package will include, besides the channels that licensees are legally obligated to provide to their subscribers, two additional channels produced in Israel-a sports channel and a kids channel and will also include access to original productions through Video on Demand (VOD) of significant providers.
In May 2012, the Ministry of Communications published the final policy document with respect to increasing competition in the fixed-line telecommunications market. The document adopted the main recommendations of the Hayek Committee, a committee formed by the MoC to study and make recommendations regarding the Israeli telecommunications market. The main points were as follows:
i. Within 9 months of a signed agreement between said parties, the structural separation between the fixed-line infrastructure owner and its international call provider and internet service provider (ISP) affiliates shall be abolished and replaced by an accounting separation.
Within 6 months from the date such an agreement is signed between the said parties, the Ministry of Communications shall act to change the manner of supervision over Bezeq tariffs so that the supervision shall be done by setting a maximum tariff.
In June 2013, since no agreement had been achieved according to clause a(iii) above, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing regarding a basic offering of wholesale services and their prices, that an infrastructure owner shall be required to offer on the same terms, without discrimination, to all providers. After a long process involving several hearings (regarding the texts of the relevant service portfolios and the prices of said wholesale services), in November 2014, the Ministry of Communications published the decision of the Minister of Communications regarding regulation of the wholesale market for broadband fixed-line telecommunications services - defining a format for the supply of wholesale services and setting a tariff for the supply of these services.
Within this framework, the Minister of Communications decided to amend the licenses of the infrastructure owners - Bezeq and HOT - and to prescribe the service portfolio - managed broadband access and wholesale telephony service. The regulations attached to the Minister of Communications' decision prescribe the obligation to supply the wholesale services, including ancillary services, as well as maximum tariffs (requiring the approval of the Minister of Finance) for the said wholesale services. The tariffs set at this stage, relate solely to services to be provided by Bezeq. The Ministry of Communications initiated a separate regulation process addressing the tariffs for the wholesale services to be provided by HOT, a cable infrastructure owner, as described hereinafter.
In December 2014, Bezeq submitted a petition to the High Court of Justice against the MoC and the Minister regarding said decision. In the petition Bezeq claims, among others, that the hearing procedure conducted by the MoC did not comply with the administrative law requirements and that both the wholesale telephony service and the tariffs that were set for the wholesale market services deviate from the Minister's authority under the Law. The Company was nominated as a respondent to the petition. If changes are made to the Minister's decision that cause an increase in the wholesale tariffs or a worsening of the technical and operational standards set by the MoC, this could negatively affect our results of operations. In October 2015, the Court published a decision, in which the Court rejected Bezeq claims with respect to the feasibility of implementation of a telephony wholesale market. The MoC has since published a consultation with respect to the resale of Bezeq's telephony services during an interim period of approximately one year.
Margin Squeeze - In November 17, 2014, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing to examine the format for preventing a "margin squeeze" by the fixed-line infrastructure owners - Bezeq and HOT - which occurs when an infrastructure owner lowers its retail prices and narrows the margin between its retail prices and the wholesale price of those infrastructure inputs being purchased by service-providers to a level that erodes the service-providers' margin to the point of eradicating the economic feasibility of continuing their operations, the objective being to push service-providers out of the market. The Company submitted its response to the hearing in December 2014. Should the Ministry of Communications' decision with regard to the margin squeeze mechanism not prove effective in ensuring the effectiveness of the wholesale market, our profitability and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

In December 2015, the MoC issued an administrative instruction regarding the use of terminal equipment, as part of the wholesale market services, in order to ensure continuity of the service for the end users. As part of its decision, the MoC established the following arrangements:
In July 2015, one day before the date of entry into force of the wholesale service of access to passive infrastructure of infrastructure owners, the Ministry of Communications published new instructions regarding the compliance with security requirements in relation to the use of HOT and Bezeq's passive infrastructure, valid until November 1, 2015. According to the instructions, during such period, the performance of the work required for the grant of access to HOT and Bezeq's infrastructure will be made only by the infrastructures owners (Bezeq or HOT) and not by the service providers. In addition, the instructions set restrictions regarding the access to the infrastructure owner's information, concerning the deployment of infrastructure. Although the abovementioned interim period has since passed, the MoC failed to effectively enforce its abovementioned decision on Bezeq.
As part of the Economic Program Law for the years 2017-2018, that was published at the end of December 2016 it was determined, among others, that Bezeq and HOT Telecom will be required to allow other domestic operators including Partner, access to passive infrastructures. Following the enactment of this legislation, Bezeq has begun to observe its duty to provide access to its passive infrastructures.
In December 2015, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing with respect to the resale of Bezeq's telephony services in the wholesale market. In the hearing, the Ministry proposed to allow Bezeq to offer telephony services in a resale format, instead of the wholesale telephony service, for a period of 12 months; this, by amendment of Bezeq's general license and adding the said services to the list of services that Bezeq may provide. Respectively, the Ministry is considering amending Bezeq's license so that during this interim period, Bezeq will not be obliged to offer wholesale telephony services. According to the hearing, the payment offered by Bezeq for the resale of services will be derived from the retail prices of Bezeq's attractive minute bundles which are reduced at a rate of 40%, and said reduction should be derived from the average rates for the first and second year tariffs of these bundles. The Company submitted its response to this hearing in the beginning of 2016 in which it argued against the interim arrangement and the MoC authority to set wholesale prices in a license (such regulation requires the setting of regulations to be co-signed by the Minister of Finance). Alternatively, the Company argued that the suggested price for the resale telephony service is too high and does not leave any margin for competition and market entry.
In order to provide an incentive for Bezeq to implement the wholesale market, the MoC has announced that it intends to cancel the regulations requiring Bezeq to maintain a "structural separation" between its fixed-line and mobile telecommunications operations, and to change the current retail fixed-price tariff control mechanism to a "maximum tariff" one. In 2016, the MoC has published official announcements which indicate its satisfaction with the implementation of the wholesale market reform. We have strongly opposed the factual descriptions and the conclusions in the announcement. Furthermore, in December 2016, the MoC also declared its intention to promote the cancelation of "corporate separation" in the Bezeq Group, subject to a hearing, and to publish a hearing in 2017 suggesting canceling the "structural separation" in the Bezeq Group. The Ministry of Finance, the Anti-Trust Commissioner and the State Comptroller have stated their objection to the implementation of the MoC's intent at this stage. If the MoC removes the structural separation provisions based on its above-mentioned announcements before we have firmly established ourselves in the fixed-line telecommunications services market (in both fixed-line telephony and broadband), Bezeq may be able to propose bundled services more effectively than us, and thereby gain a competitive advantage which would negatively affect our results of operations. Also see "Item 3D.1b If the structural separation provisions (which apply to Bezeq and HOT) are not enforced or are removed before we have established ourselves in the fixed-line and TV markets, this would adversely affect our business and results of operations."
In January 2016, The MoC published a consultation regarding the maximum prices HOT may charge for its wholesale BSA product. The Company submitted its response to the hearing in April 2016. During February 2017, HOT filed an administrative appeal against the MoC stating, among other claims, that the Ministry is obliged to carry out a secondary consultation regarding the prices it plans to set.
Service Level in the Wholesale Market. In May 2016, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing in which it was proposed to amend the service file of Bezeq and HOT Telecom for the provision of wholesale market services (BSA and Telephony), regarding the service levels (SLA) for the provision of the services. In this context, it was proposed to determine, among others, that the service level that will apply to the services will be identical to the service level that applies to the retail services, in order to create a match between the wholesale and retail markets. In addition, it was proposed to determine that insofar as there will be a deterioration in the level of the service actually provided by the Bezeq company, the deterioration will be examined against the relative increase in the scope of the subscribers that are using the company's infrastructure. It was also proposed in the hearing to impose an obligation on the infrastructure owners to publish on their websites information regarding the installations, equipment shifting, repairs and response times of the infrastructure owners. The Company submitted its response to the hearing in June 2016. The suggested changes to the service file may have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
Use of Terminal Equipment on the HOT Telecom Network. In December 2016, the Ministry of Communications published a hearing regarding the use of terminal equipment on the HOT Mobile network as part of the wholesale market services. As part of the hearing, the Ministry proposed to establish a director's instruction according to which a service provider in the wholesale market will be required to allow a subscriber to make use of its terminal equipment for 21 days, after the transfer date of the subscriber to another provider. In addition, the Ministry proposed in the hearing to determine provisions regarding the obligation to inform a subscriber transferring to another provider of his obligation to return the terminal equipment after the end of said period and of the obligation to give to the transferring subscriber a confirmation regarding the return of the equipment to the provider that the subscriber is leaving. The Company submitted its response to the hearing in December 2016. The proposed amendments may have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
Payment to Bezeq for Technician Visits. In January 2017, the MoC published a hearing in which the Ministry expressed its opinion that service providers should be required as of February 2017 to pay Bezeq for the costs of technician visits while installing infrastructure as part of the BSA service at a cost of NIS 158 (not including VAT). The Company submitted its response to the hearing in January 2017. These changes may have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations. See "Item 3D.1a If the Ministry of Communications continues to fail to enforce its fixed-line wholesale market reforms on Bezeq and HOT Telecom, this may negatively affect our business and results of operations."
Pursuant to the Israeli Restrictive Trade Practices Law, if the Anti-Trust Commissioner decides that the Israeli cellular market is oligopolistic, the Director General will have the authority to give instructions to all or some of the participants in our market, in order to, among other objectives, maintain or increase the competition level among the participants, the Director General's authority would include the ability to issue orders to remove or to ease entry or transfer barriers, to terminate a participant's activity, or otherwise to regulate the activities of the market.
On April 7, 1998, the Ministry of Communications granted to us a general license to establish and operate a mobile telephone network in Israel as well as offer roaming services outside the State of Israel.
Under the terms of the license, we have provided a \$10 million guarantee to the State of Israel to secure the Company's adherence to the terms of the license.
Our license allocates to us specified frequencies and telephone numbers.
Term. Our license was originally valid for a period of ten years (until April 2008), but has been extended until 2022. At the end of this period, the license may be extended for additional six-year periods upon our request to the Ministry of Communications, and a confirmation from the Ministry of Communications that we have met the following performance requirements:
We believe that we will be able to receive an extension to the license upon request.
Our license may also be revoked, limited or altered by the Ministry of Communications if we have failed to uphold our obligations under the Telecommunications Law, the Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance or the regulations, or have committed a substantial breach of the license conditions. Examples of the principal undertakings identified in our license in this connection are:
Our license authorizes us on a non-exclusive basis to establish and operate a mobile telephone network in Israel. The Ministry of Communications amended our license in August 2015 to include the provision of 4G services in the 1800 MHZ spectrum and to allow us access network sharing with Hot Mobile, another cellular operator at a bandwidth of up to 25 MHZ in the 1880 MHZ spectrum. See "Item 4B.9d Spectrum Allocation and Capacity".
License Conditions. Our license imposes many conditions on our conduct.
· Our founding shareholders and their approved substitutes must hold, in the aggregate, at least 26% of each of our means of control. Furthermore, the maintenance of at least 26% of our means of control by our founding shareholders and their approved substitutes allows Partner to be protected from a license breach that would result from a transfer of shares for which the authorization of the Ministry of Communications was required, but not obtained.
· Israeli entities from among our founding shareholders and their approved substitutes must hold at least 5% of our issued and outstanding share capital and of each of our means of control. "Israeli entities" are defined as individuals who are citizens and residents of Israel and entities formed in Israel and controlled, directly or indirectly, by individuals who are citizens and residents of Israel, provided that indirect control is only through entities formed in Israel, unless otherwise approved by the Israeli Prime Minister or Minister of Communications.
Contracting with Customers. Pursuant to our license, we have submitted our standard agreement with customers to the Ministry of Communications for their examination. To date, we have not received any comments from the Ministry of Communications regarding this agreement.
Tariffs. Our license requires us to submit to the Ministry of Communications our tariffs (and any changes in our tariffs) before they enter into effect. Our license allows us to set and change our tariffs for outgoing calls and any other service without approval of the Ministry of Communications. However, the Ministry of Communications may intervene in our tariffs if it finds that our tariffs unreasonably harm consumers or competition.
Payments. Our license specifies the payments we may charge our subscribers. These include one-time installation fees, fixed monthly payments, airtime fees, payments for the use of other telecommunication systems, payments for handset maintenance and payments for additional services. In some of our tariff plans we have chosen to charge only for airtime and use of services. See "Item 4B.6c Tariff Plans."
Interconnection. Like the licenses of Pelephone, Cellcom and HOT Mobile, our license requires that we interconnect our mobile telephone network to other telecommunications networks operating in Israel, including that of Bezeq and other domestic fixed-line operators, the other mobile telephone operators and the international operators.
Conversely, we must allow other network operators to interconnect to our network. See "Item 4B.9g Interconnection".
Service Approval. The Ministry of Communications has the authority to require us to submit for approval details of any of our services (including details concerning tariffs). In addition, we are required to inform the Ministry of Communications prior to the activation of any service on a specified list of services.
Access to Infrastructure. The Ministry of Communications has the power to require us, like the other telephone operators in Israel, to offer access to our network infrastructure to other operators. We may also be required to permit other operators to provide value-added services using our network.
Universal Service. We are required to provide any service with the same coverage as our existing network. According to our license, we are required to meet certain coverage requirements for our 3G and 4G services. See "Item 4B.13e - iii Cellular Network Coverage Amendments".
Territory of License. In May 2000, we were also granted a license from the Israeli Civil Administration, to provide mobile services to the Israeli populated areas in the West Bank. The license is effective until February 1, 2022. The provisions of the general license described above, including as to its extension, generally apply to this license, subject to certain modifications. We believe that that we will be able to receive an extension to this license upon request.
Transfer of license, assets and means of control. Our license may not be transferred, mortgaged or attached without the prior approval of the Ministry of Communications.
We may not sell, lease or mortgage any of the assets which serve for the implementation of our license without the prior approval of the Ministry of Communications, other than in favor of a banking corporation which is legally active in Israel, and in accordance with the conditions of our license.
Our license provides that no direct or indirect control of Partner may be acquired, at one time or through a series of transactions, and no means of control may be transferred in a manner which results in a transfer of control, without the consent of the Ministry of Communications. Furthermore, no direct or indirect holding of 10% or more of any means of control may be transferred or acquired at one time or through a series of transactions, without the consent of the Ministry of Communications. In addition, no shareholder of Partner may permit a lien to be placed on shares of Partner if the foreclosure on such lien would cause a change in the ownership of 10% or more of any of Partner's means of control unless such foreclosure is made subject to the consent of the Ministry of Communications. For purposes of our license, "means of control" means any of:
Each of our ordinary shares and ADSs is considered a means of control in Partner.
In addition, Partner, any entity in which Partner is an Interested Party, as defined below, an Office Holder, as defined below, in Partner or an Interested Party in Partner or an Office Holder in an Interested Party in Partner may not be a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding which may reduce or harm competition in the area of mobile telephone services or any other telecommunications services.
In connection with our initial public offering, our license was amended to provide that our entering into an underwriting agreement for the offering and sale of shares to the public, listing the shares for trading, and depositing shares with the depositary or custodian will not be considered a transfer of any means of control, as defined below. Pursuant to the amendment, if the ADSs (or other "traded means of control," that is, means of control which have been listed for trade or offered through a prospectus and are held by the public) are transferred or acquired in breach of the restrictions imposed by the license with respect to transfer or acquisition of 10% or more of any means of control, we must notify the Ministry of Communications and request the Ministry's consent within 21 days of learning of the breach. In addition, should a shareholder, other than a founding shareholder, breach these ownership restrictions, or provisions regarding acquisition of control or cross-ownership or cross-control with other mobile telephone operators or shareholdings or agreements which may reduce or harm competition, its shareholdings will be marked as exceptional shares and will be converted into dormant shares, as long as the Ministry's consent is required but not obtained, with no rights other than the right to receive dividends and other distributions to shareholders, and to participate in rights offerings.
The dormant shares must be registered as dormant shares in our share registry. Any shareholder seeking to vote at a general meeting of our shareholders must notify us prior to the vote, or, if the vote is by deed of vote, must so indicate on the deed of vote, whether or not the shareholder's holdings in Partner or the shareholder's vote requires the consent of the Ministry of Communications due to the restrictions on transfer or acquisition of means of control, or provisions regarding cross-ownership or cross-control with other mobile telephone operators or shareholders. If the shareholder does not provide such certification, his instructions shall be invalid and his vote not counted.

The existence of shareholdings which breach the restrictions of our license in a manner which could cause them to be converted into dormant shares and may otherwise provide grounds for the revocation of our license will not serve in and of themselves as the basis for the revocation of our license so long as:
The dormant share mechanism does not apply to our founding shareholders.
The provisions contained in our license are also contained in our Articles of Association. In addition, our Articles of Association contain similar provisions in the event the holdings of shares by a shareholder breaches ownership limits contained in our license.
Revoking, limiting or altering our license. Our license contains several qualifications that we are required to meet. These conditions are designed primarily to ensure that we maintain at least a specified minimum connection to Israel. Other eligibility requirements address potential conflicts of interest and cross-ownership with other Israeli telecommunications operators. The major eligibility requirements are set forth below. A failure to meet these eligibility requirements may lead the Ministry of Communications to revoke, limit or alter our license, after we have been given an opportunity and have failed to remedy it.
• Partner, an Office Holder or Interested Party in Partner, or an Office Holder in an Interested Party in Partner does not control a competing mobile radio telephone operator, is not controlled by a competing mobile radio telephone operator, by an Office Holder or an Interested Party in a competing mobile radio telephone operator, by an Office Holder in an Interested Party in a competing mobile radio telephone operator, or by a person or corporation that controls a competing mobile radio telephone operator.
Change in license conditions. Under our license, the Ministry of Communications may change, add to, or remove conditions of our license if certain conditions exist, including:
During an emergency period, control of Partner's mobile radio telephone system may be assumed by any lawfully authorized person for the security of the State of Israel to ensure the provisions of necessary service to the public, and some of the spectrum granted to us may be withdrawn. In addition, our license requires us to supply certain services to the Israeli defense and security forces. Furthermore, certain of our senior officers are required to obtain security clearance from Israeli authorities.
For the purposes of this discussion, the following definitions apply:
Our license generally prohibits cross-control or cross-ownership among competing mobile telephone operators without a permit from the Ministry of Communications. In particular, Partner, an Office Holder or an Interested Party in Partner, as well as an Office Holder in an Interested Party in Partner may not control or hold, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of any means of control of a competing mobile radio telephone operator. Our license also prohibits any competing mobile radio telephone operator or an Office Holder or an Interested Party in a competing mobile radio telephone operator, or an Office Holder in an Interested Party in a competing mobile radio telephone operator or a person or corporation that controls a competing mobile radio telephone operator from either controlling, or being an Interested Party in us.
However, our license, also provides that the Ministry of Communications may permit an Interested Party in Partner to hold, either directly or indirectly, 5% or more in any of the means of control of a competing mobile radio telephone operator if the Ministry of Communications is satisfied that competition will not be harmed, and on the condition that the Interested Party is an Interested Party in Partner only by virtue of a special calculation described in the license and relating to attributed holdings of shareholders deemed to be in control of a corporation.
Domestic Fixed-line License. In January, 2007, the Ministry of Communications granted Partner Land-Line Communication Solutions Limited Partnership, which is fully owned by the Company, a license for the provision of domestic fixed-line telecommunications services, including VoB services using the infrastructure of Bezeq and HOT Telecom to access customers. In February 2016, this license was replaced by the MoC with a general-unified license. In June and December 2016, this license was amended by the MoC to allow, in addition to domestic fixed-line telecommunications services, the provision of ILD services, ISP services and end-point services. See Exhibit 4.(a).2.1, which is incorporated herein by reference. The term of the new license is similar to the term of the previous fixed-line license which expires in twenty years from the original grant date in January 2007 but may be extended by the Ministry of Communications for successive periods of ten years provided that the licensee has complied with the terms of the license and has acted consistently for the enhancement of telecom services and their enhancement. The general conditions of the mobile telephone license described above, generally apply to this license, subject to certain modifications.
In March 2009, we were also granted a domestic fixed-line license to provide fixed-line services to the Israeli populated areas in the West Bank. In July 2016, this license was replaced by a general-unified license. The general conditions of the general-unified license granted to Partner Land-Line Communication Solutions Limited Partnership by the MoC, generally apply to this license, subject to certain modifications.
012 Telecom was also granted a similar domestic fixed-line license by the Ministry of Communications in December 2005 for 20 years. In February 2016, this license was replaced by the MoC with a general-unified license. The term of the new license is similar to the term of the previous fixed-line license.
012 Telecom was also granted a license to provide domestic fixed-line services to the Israeli populated areas in the West Bank which was valid until February 2018. This license was replaced in July 2016 with a general-unified license. The general conditions of the general-unified license granted to 012 Telecom by the MoC, generally apply to this license, subject to certain modifications.
ISP License. In March 2001, we received a special license granted by the Ministry of Communications, allowing us through our own facilities to provide internet access to fixed-line network customers. The license is valid until April 2018. We began supplying commercial ISP services beginning in January 2009. We were also granted a special license to provide ISP services to the Israeli populated areas in the West Bank which is valid until April 2018.
012 Smile was also granted a similar ISP license by the Ministry of Communications in December 2009 that is valid until June 2020 and a special license to provide ISP services to the Israeli populated areas in the West Bank which is valid until June 2020.
ILD License. In December 2009, the Ministry of Communications granted 012 Smile, a license for the provision of ILD services. The license expires in twenty years but may be extended by the Ministry of Communications for successive periods of ten years provided that the licensee has complied with the terms of the license and has acted consistently for the enhancement of telecom services and their enhancement. In February 2016, this license was replaced by the MoC with a general-unified license. The term of the new license is similar to the term of the previous ILD License.

012 Smile was also granted a license for the provision of International Long Distance services to the Israeli populated areas in the West Bank which is valid until February 2018. This license was replaced in July 2016 with a general-unified license. The general conditions of the general-unified license granted to 012 Smile by the MoC, generally apply to this license, subject to certain modifications.
NTP License. In February 2007 we received a special license granted by the Ministry of Communications allowing us to provide certain telecom services, including providing and installing equipment and cabling, representing the subscriber with local fixed operators, and establishing and operating control facilities within a subscriber's premises. The license was valid until February 2017. We are permitted to provide NTP services under the general-unified license granted to Partner Land-Line Communication Solutions Limited Partnership in February 2016.
012 Smile was also granted a similar NTP license by the Ministry of Communications in December 2009 that is valid until December 2020.
Other Licenses. The Ministry of Communications has granted us a trade license pursuant to the Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance. This license regulates issues of servicing and trading in equipment, infrastructure and auxiliary equipment for our network. We have also been granted a number of encryption licenses that permit us to deal with means of encryption, as provided in the aforementioned licenses, within the framework of providing mobile radio telephone services to the public.
On January 1, 2006, the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law (5766-2006), which replaced the Pharmacists (Radioactive Elements and Products) Regulations, 1980 regarding matters that pertain to radiation from cellular sites, was enacted. This law defines the various powers of the Ministry of Environmental Protection as they relate, among others, to the grant of permits for network sites and sets standards for permitted levels of non-ionizing radiation emissions and reporting procedures. Pursuant to this law, most of which entered into effect on January 1, 2007, a request for an operating permit from the Ministry of Environmental Protection with respect to either new sites or existing sites would require a building permit for such site(s). The Ministry of Environmental Protection has adopted the International Radiation Protection Agency's standard as a basis for the consents it gives for the erection and operation of our antennas. This standard is an international standard based upon a number of years of scientific study.
If we continue to face difficulties in obtaining building permits from the local planning and building committee, we may fail to obtain also operation permits from the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Operation of a network site without a permit from the Ministry of Environmental Protection may result in criminal and civil liability to us or to our officers and directors.
The Planning and Building Law requires that we receive a building permit for the construction of most of our antennas. The local committee or local licensing authority in each local authority is authorized to grant building permits, provided such permits are in accordance with National Building Plan No. 36 which came into effect on June 15, 2002. The local committee is made up of members of the local municipal council. The local committee is authorized to delegate certain of its powers to subcommittees on which senior members of the local authority may sit.
The local committee examines the manner in which an application for a building permit conforms to the plans applying to the parcel of land that is the subject of the application, and the extent to which the applicant meets the requirements set forth in the Planning and Building Law. The local committee is authorized to employ technical, vista, and aesthetic considerations in its decision-making process. The local committee may grant building permits that are conditioned upon the quality of the construction of the structure, the safety of flight over the structure, and the external appearance of the structure. Every structure located on a certain parcel of land must satisfy the requirements and definitions set forth in the building plan applicable to such parcel.
On January 3, 2006, the National Council for Planning and Building added a new requirement for obtaining a building permit for network sites: the submission of an undertaking to indemnify the local committee for claims relating to the depreciation of the surrounding property value as a result of the construction or existence of the antenna.
A decision by a local committee not to grant a building permit may be appealed to the District Appeals Committee. A person harmed by the ruling of the District Appeals Committee may have such ruling examined judicially by means of an administrative petition to the District Court sitting as an Administrative Affairs Tribunal.
National Building Plan No. 36 which came into effect on June 15, 2002 regulates the growth of telecommunications infrastructure in Israel. Chapter A of National Building Plan No. 36 sets forth the licensing requirements for the construction of mobile radio telephone infrastructure. National Building Plan No. 36 also adopts the radiation emission standards set by the International Radiation Protection Agency which were also previously adopted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. We believe that we currently comply with these standards regarding our sites. National Building Plan No. 36 is in the process of being changed. On June 1, 2010, the National Council for Planning and Building approved the National Building Plan No. 36/A/1 version that incorporates all of the amendments to National Building Plan No. 36 ("the Amended Plan").
Current proposed changes impose additional restrictions and/or requirements on the construction and operation of network sites and could, if adopted, harm our ability to construct new network sites, make the process of obtaining building permits for the construction and operation of network sites more cumbersome and costly, and may delay the future deployment of our network.
Under the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law, the National Council for Planning and Building was granted the power to determine the level of indemnification for reduction of property value to be undertaken as a precondition for a cellular company to obtain a building permit for a new or existing network site. As a result, the National Council for Planning and Building has decided that until National Building Plan 36 is amended to reflect a different indemnification amount, cellular companies will be required to undertake to indemnify the building and planning committee for 100% of all losses resulting from claims against the committee. Thus, at present, in order to obtain a building permit for a new or existing network site, we must provide full indemnification for the reduction of property value.
The Amended Plan sets forth the indemnification amounts as a percentage of the value of the depreciated property claims in accordance with the manner in which the licenses were granted as follows: If the license was granted in an expedited licensing route, which is intended for installations that are relatively small in accordance with the Amended Plan criteria, then the cellular companies will be required to compensate the local planning committees in an amount of 100% of the value of the depreciated property claim. If the license was granted in a regular licensing route, which is intended for larger installations in accordance with the Amended Plan criteria, then the cellular companies will be required to compensate the local planning committees in an amount of 80% of the value of the depreciated property claim. The Amended Plan is subject to governmental approval, in accordance with the Planning and Building Law. It is unknown when the government intends to approve the Amended Plan.
These recent developments may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as plans to expand and enhance network coverage. For more information, see "Item 3D.1l In connection with some building permits, we may also be required to indemnify planning committees in respect of claims against them relating to the depreciation of property values that result from the granting of permits for network sites."
We have set up several hundred small communications devices, called wireless access devices, pursuant to a provision in the Telecommunications Law which we and other participants in cellular telecommunications, believe exempts such devices from the need to obtain a building permit. Beginning in 2008, following the filing of a claim that the exemption does not apply to cellular communications devices, the Attorney General filed an opinion regarding this matter stating that the exemption does apply to wireless radio access devices under certain conditions and instructed the Ministry of Interior to prepare regulations setting conditions that would limit the exemption to extraordinary circumstances. Following the instruction of the Attorney General, several inter-ministerial discussions and hearings have taken place without agreement being reached as to the final version of the regulations. The approval of the regulations was brought to the Economic Committee where the regulations were not approved. Following two petitions that were filed with the High Court of Justice opposing the Attorney General's recommendation that the exemption apply under certain conditions, in September 2010, the Supreme Court issued an interim order prohibiting further construction of wireless access devices in cellular networks in reliance on the exemption from the requirement to obtain a building permit. In February 2011, and in July 2012, the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the interim injunction so that repair or replacement of existing wireless access devices is permitted under certain conditions that will be determined in a judgment. In March 2016, the Supreme Court further narrowed the scope of the interim injunction that allowed us to make modifications to the existing wireless access devices, including a change to their transmission power and allowed us to change the location of 10% of PHI's wireless access devices to alternative locations without the need for a building permit. If a definitive court judgment holds that the exemption does not apply to cellular devices at all or if the regulations finally approved do not apply the exemption to wireless access devices, this could adversely affect the Company's existing network. As a result, we may be required to remove existing devices and would not be able to install new devices on the basis of the exemption. Our network capacity and coverage would then be negatively impacted, which could have an adverse effect on our revenue and results of operations.
The construction of our antennas may be subject to the approval of the Civil Aviation Administration which is authorized to ensure that the construction of our antennas does not interfere with air traffic, depending on the height and location of such antennas. The approval of the Israeli Defense Forces is required in order to coordinate site frequencies so that our transmissions do not interfere with the communications of the Israel Defense Forces.
We, like other cellular operators in Israel, provide repeaters, also known as bi-directional amplifiers, to subscribers seeking an interim solution to weak signal reception within specific indoor locations. In light of the lack of a clear policy of the local planning and building authorities, and in light of the practice of the other cellular operators, we have not requested permits under the Planning and Building Law for the repeaters. However, we have received from the Ministry of Communications an approval to connect the repeaters to our communications network. We have also received from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the permits that are necessary for the repeaters.
In addition, we construct and operate microwave links as part of our transmission network. The various types of microwave links receive permits from the Ministry of Environmental Protection in respect of their radiation level. Based on an exemption in the Telecommunications Law, we believe that building permits are not required for the installation of most of these microwave links on rooftops, but if in the future the courts or the relevant regulator determine that building permits are necessary for the installation of these sites, it could have a negative impact on our ability to deploy additional microwave links, and could hinder the coverage, quality and capacity of our transmission network and our ability to continue to market our Fixed-Line Services effectively.
We have received approval from the Ministry of Communications for selling and distributing all of the handsets and other terminal equipment we sell. The Ministry of Environmental Protection also has authority to regulate the sale of handsets in Israel, and under the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law, certain types of devices, which are radiation sources, including cellular handsets, have been exempted from requiring an approval from the Ministry of Environmental Protection so long as the radiation level emitted during the use of such handsets does not exceed the radiation level permitted under the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law. Since June 2002, we have been required to provide information to purchasers of handsets on the Specific Absorption Rate ("SAR") levels of the handsets as well as its compliance with certain standards pursuant to a regulation under the Consumer Protection Law. We attach a brochure to each handset that is sold that includes the SAR level of the specific handset. Such brochures are also available at our service centers and the information is also available on the Company's website. SAR levels are a measurement of non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by a hand-held cellular telephone at its specific rate of absorption by living tissue. While, to the best of our knowledge, the handsets that we market comply with the applicable laws that relate to acceptable SAR levels, we rely on the SAR published by the manufacturer of these handsets and do not perform independent inspections of the SAR levels of these handsets. As the manufacturers' approvals refer to a prototype handset and not for each and every handset, we have no information as to the actual SAR level of each specific handset and throughout its lifecycle, including in the case of equipment repair.

Under a December 2005 amendment to this procedure, in the event that the SAR level is not measured after the repair of a handset, the repairing entity is required to notify the customer by means of a label affixed to the handset that the SAR may have been altered following the repair, in accordance with the provisions relating to the form of such label set forth in the procedure. A consultant had been retained by the Ministry of Communications to formulate a recommendation regarding the appropriate manner to implement the procedure for repairing handsets but to date the Ministry of Communications has not yet issued any guidelines and given the continued delay we are informing our customers that there may be changes in the SAR levels.
In November 2005, a new procedure was adopted by the Ministry of Communications with regard to the importation, marketing, and approval for 2G and 2.5G handsets. Prior to the implementation of the new procedure, suppliers of 2G and 2.5G handsets in Israel were required to obtain an interim, non-binding approval of the handset type from the relevant cellular operators before receiving final approval from the Ministry of Communications to supply such handsets in Israel to such operators. Under the new procedure, handsets that have already received the internationally recognized Global Certification Forum approval prior to their importation into Israel are now exempt from the requirement of receiving an interim, non-binding approval from the relevant cellular operators in Israel. This could expose us to the risk that handsets not reviewed and approved by us may interfere with the operation of our network. The new procedures described above do not apply to 3G handsets, which still require cellular operators to grant an interim, non-binding approval to the Ministry of Communications before the MoC grants its final approval in all circumstances.
In addition, this procedure also called for repaired handsets to comply with all applicable standards required for obtaining handset type approval, including standards relating to the safety, electromagnetic levels, and SAR levels.
We currently have five wholly-owned subsidiaries, Partner Future Communications 2000 Ltd., an Israeli corporation; Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions LP, an Israeli limited partnership; Partner Business Communications Solutions, LP, an Israeli limited partnership; Partner Communication Products 2016 LP and 012 Smile. 012 Smile has a wholly-owned subsidiary, 012 Telecom Ltd., an Israeli corporation. Partner Future Communications 2000 Ltd. serves as the general partner and the Company serves as the limited partner of each of the limited partnerships.
In November 2013, the Company entered into a 15-year Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile. Pursuant to the Network Sharing Agreement, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership - P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership, which will operate and develop a cellular network to be shared by both parties, starting with a pooling of both parties' radio access network infrastructures to create a single shared radio access network. The parties have also established a 50-50 company limited by shares under the name Net 4 P.H.I Ltd. to be the general partner of the limited partnership. See "Item 4B.9 Our Network".
We lease our headquarter facilities in Rosh Ha-ayin, Israel, with a total of approximately 51,177 gross square meters (including parking lots). In the beginning of 2014, an amendment to the lease agreements for its headquarters facility in Rosh Ha'ayin was signed, according to which the lease term is extended until the end of 2024. The rental payments are linked to the Israeli CPI. We also lease call centers in several cities. The leases for each site have different lengths and specific terms. We believe that our current call center facilities are adequate for the foreseeable future, and that we will be able to extend the leases or obtain alternate or additional facilities, if needed, on acceptable commercial terms.
For a description of our telecommunications network, see "Item 4B.9 Our Network" above.
We lease most of the sites where our mobile telecommunications network equipment is installed throughout Israel. At December 31, 2016, we had 2,959 network sites (including microsites). The lease agreements relating to our network sites are generally for periods of two to ten years. We have the option to extend the lease periods up to ten years (including the original lease period).
The erection and operation of most of these network sites requires building permits from local or regional zoning authorities, as well as a number of additional permits from governmental and regulatory authorities, and we have had difficulties in obtaining some of these permits.
Difficulties obtaining required permits could continue and therefore affect our ability to maintain cell network sites. In addition, as we grow our subscriber base and seek to improve the range and quality of our services, we need to further expand our network, and difficulties in obtaining required permits may delay, increase the costs or prevent us from achieving these goals in full. See "Item 3D.1k We have had difficulties obtaining some of the building and environmental permits required for the erection and operation of our network sites, and some building permits have not been applied for or may not be fully complied with. These difficulties could have an adverse effect on the coverage, quality and capacity of our network. Operating network sites without building or other required permits, or in a manner that deviates from the applicable permit, may result in criminal or civil liability to us or to our officers and directors." and "Item 4B.13 Regulation".
In November 2013, the Company entered into a 15-year Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile. Pursuant to the Network Sharing Agreement, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership, which is intended to operate and develop a cellular network to be shared by both companies, starting with a pooling of both companies' radio access network infrastructures to create a single shared pooled radio access network. See "Item 4B.9 Our Network".
Lease agreements for our retail stores and service centers are for periods of two to ten years. We have the option to extend the lease agreements for different periods of up to ten additional years (including the original lease period). The average size of our retail stores and service center is approximately 250 square meters. See also Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.
Not applicable.
The following operating and financial review and prospects are based upon and should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and selected financial data, which appear elsewhere in this report. You should also read the risk factors appearing in Item 3D of this annual report for a discussion of a number of factors that affect and could affect our financial condition and results of operations.
The table below sets forth a summary of selected financial and operating data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
| Year ended December 31, | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| Revenues (NIS million) | 4,440 | 4,111 | 3,544 | |
| Operating profit (NIS million) | 400 | 107 | 193 | |
| Income (loss) before taxes (NIS million) | 241 | (36) | 88 | |
| Profit (loss) for the Year (NIS million) | 162 | (40) | 52 | |
| Capital expenditures (NIS million) | 434 | 271 | 202 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities (NIS million) | 951 | 922 | 945 | |
| Cash flows from investing activities (NIS million) | (431) | (356) | (639) | |
| Cellular Subscribers (end of period, thousands) | 2,837 | 2,718 | 2,686 | |
| Annual cellular churn rate (%) | 47% | 46% | 40% | |
| Average monthly revenue per cellular subscriber (ARPU) (NIS) | 75 | 69 | 65 |
The following non-GAAP measures are used in this report. These measures are not financial measures under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies. Further, the measures may not be indicative of the Company's historic operating results nor are meant to be predictive of potential future results.
| Non-GAAP Measure | Calculation | Most Comparable IFRS Financial Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EBITDA | Adjusted EBITDA: | Profit (Loss) |
| Profit (Loss) | ||
| add | ||
| Income tax expenses, | ||
| Finance costs, net, | ||
| Depreciation and amortization expenses (including amortization of intangible assets, deferred | ||
| expenses-right of use and impairment charges), Other expenses (mainly amortization of share | ||
| based compensation). | ||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin (%) | Adjusted EBITDA margin (%): | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||
| divided by | ||
| Total revenues | ||
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow* | Adjusted Free Cash Flow: | Cash flows from operating activities |
| Cash flows from operating activities | deduct | |
| deduct | Cash flows from investing activities | |
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||
| add | ||
| Short-term investment in deposits | ||
| Total Operating Expenses (OPEX) | Total Operating Expenses: | Sum of: Cost of service revenues, |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of service revenues | ||||
| add | Selling and marketing expenses, | |||
| Selling and marketing expenses | General and administrative expenses | |||
| add | ||||
| General and administrative expenses | ||||
| deduct | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization expenses, | ||||
| Other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation) | ||||
| Net Debt | Net Debt: | Sum of: | ||
| Current maturities of notes payable and borrowings | Current maturities of notes payable and | |||
| add | borrowings, | |||
| Notes payable | Notes payable, | |||
| add | Borrowings from banks and others | |||
| Borrowings from banks and others | ||||
| deduct | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | ||||
| deduct | ||||
| Short-term deposits |
* Adjusted Free Cash Flow measure is fully equivalent to Free Cash Flow measure which was provided in reports for prior periods.
In 2016, competition in the Israeli telecommunications market remained intense, although cellular price erosion and churn rates were lower than in the previous two years. As a result, the continued substantial price erosion in the market had a further significant negative impact on the Company's business results, with operating profit for 2016 decreasing by 6% compared with operating profit for 2015 (excluding the impact of the impairment charges recorded for 2015).
As an illustration of the level of competition in the cellular market, approximately 2.3 million cellular subscribers are estimated to have switched operators within the Israeli market (with number porting) in 2016 compared with 2.5 million subscribers that switched in 2014 and 2015. Significant price erosion continued to be caused by the amount of cellular subscribers who moved between different rateplans or airtime packages (generally with a lower monthly fee) within the Company.
At the end of December 2016, the Company's active cellular subscriber base (including cellular data and 012 Mobile subscribers) was approximately 2.69 million, including approximately 2.2 million post-paid subscribers or 83% of the base, and approximately 445,000 pre-paid subscribers, or 17% of the subscriber base. Total cellular market share in Israel (based on the number of subscribers) at the end of 2016 was estimated to be approximately 26%, compared with 27% in 2015 and 28% in 2014.
Over 2016, the cellular subscriber base declined by approximately 32,000. The pre-paid subscriber base decreased by approximately 117,000, while the post-paid subscriber base increased by approximately 85,000. The decrease in the pre-paid subscriber base was largely attributed to the pre-paid subscribers moving to post-paid subscriber packages as a result of the significant price erosion (and hence increasing attractiveness) in these products, as well to increased competition for pre-paid subscribers.
The annual churn rate for cellular subscribers in 2016 was 40%, compared with 46% in 2015 and 47% in 2014, mainly reflecting the lower, yet continued intense competition in the cellular subscriber market.
The monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for cellular subscribers for the year 2016 was NIS 65 (US\$ 17), a decrease of approximately 6% from NIS 69 in 2015. The decrease mainly reflected the continued price erosion in the key cellular services including airtime, content, data and browsing, due to the persistent fierce competition in the cellular market, as well as a decrease in revenues from wholesale services provided to other operators hosted on the Company's network and in particular as a result of termination of the Right of Use Agreement with HOT Mobile from the second quarter of 2016. See "Item 5A.1e Right of Use Agreement with HOT Mobile". Overall, cellular service revenues decreased by 9% in 2016 compared with 2015 and fixed line segment revenues decreased by 4% over the same period, also as a result of significant competition in a number of fixed line services offered by the Company.
In addition to a decrease in service revenues, revenues and gross profit from equipment sales decreased significantly in 2016, by 29% and 40% respectively. The decrease in revenues from equipment sales largely reflected a decline in sales volume, while the decrease in gross profit from equipment sales also reflected lower profit margins. Both the decrease in the amount of equipment sales and in profit margins were mainly related to the tightening of the Company's customer credit policy, whereby stricter requirements were imposed for customers to be accepted for long-term financing plans. The decrease in profit margins also reflected a change in product mix.
See also "Item 5D.2 Outlook" and "Item 3D.2b Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our business, profits and liquidity. Furthermore, difficulties in generating sustainable cash flow may impair our ability to repay our debt and reduce the level of indebtedness."
In order to mitigate the impact of the competition on the price erosion and decreases in service revenues and in gross profits from equipment sales, the Company continued to adjust its cost structure and to implement operational efficiency measures through 2016, which was reflected in a decrease in 2016 in total operating expenses of NIS 139 million (including cost of service revenues (NIS 2,276 million in 2016) and selling, marketing and administrative expenses (NIS 689 million in 2016), and excluding depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation) (NIS 641 million in 2016); this measure is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies). This decrease followed a decrease in total operating expenses in 2015 of NIS 127 million compared with 2014. The decrease in total operating expenses in 2016, mainly reflected decreases in cellular network and cable maintenance expenses following the implementation of the cost sharing mechanism under the Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile, in expenses related to payments to transmission, communication and content providers, and in other expense items reflecting the impact of various efficiency measures undertaken including a reduction in payroll and related expenses resulting from the reduction in the size of the Company workforce by approximately 14% on an average basis (average of workforce at beginning and end of year). These decreases were partially offset by increases in expenses related to the rebranding of the Company, and an increase in bad debts and allowance for doubtful accounts expenses.
In June 2015, the Company announced that it had entered into a settlement agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd ("Orange") which created a new framework for their relationship and provided both Partner and Orange the right to terminate the brand license agreement which had been in force since 1998. In accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company received advance payments in a total of €90 million during 2015: €40 million of which was received between the signing of the agreement and the completion of a market study to assess the Company's position within the dynamics of the Israeli telecommunications services market; and €50 million of which was received in the fourth quarter of 2015, following the Company's notice to Orange of its decision to terminate the brand license agreement.
As set forth in the settlement agreement, the advance payments are to be recognized and reconciled evenly on a quarterly basis over a period until the second quarter of 2017, against contingent marketing, sales, customer services and other expenses to be incurred over this period. The income is to be recorded in the Company's income statement under "Income with respect to settlement agreement with Orange". For 2015, the Company recognized income with respect to the settlement agreement in an amount of NIS 61 million, and for 2016, the Company recognized income with respect to the settlement agreement in an amount of NIS 217 million (US\$ 56 million). Based on a legal opinion obtained by the Company, the advance payments are considered compensation payments and are therefore not subject to VAT charges.
In November 2013, the Company entered into a 15-year Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile. Pursuant to the Network Sharing Agreement, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership - P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership, which operates and develops a radio access network shared by both parties, starting with a pooling of both parties' radio access network infrastructures creating a single shared pooled radio access network. See "Item 4B.9 Our Network."
In February 2016, HOT Mobile exercised its option under the Network Sharing Agreement ("NSA") to advance the payment date of a onetime amount of NIS 250 million ("Lump Sum"), which was received in 2016. Therefore according to the NSA from April 2016 onward (i) each party bears half of the expenditures relating to the Shared Network, and (ii) the operating costs of the Shared Network are borne according to a pre-determined apportionment mechanism, according to which one half of the operating costs is shared equally by the parties, and one half is divided between the parties according to the relative volume of their respective traffic consumption in the Shared Network ("Capex-Opex Mechanism").
The Lump Sum is recognized as deferred revenue amortized quarterly in the income statement over a period of eight years, starting with the second quarter of 2016. Eight years has been determined to be the shorter of the expected period of the arrangement or the expected life of the related assets. Accordingly, approximately NIS 23 million (US\$ 6 million) was amortized to revenues in the income statement during 2016.
The Network Sharing Agreement provides material financial benefits to Partner in terms of both the Lump Sum payments and savings in operational expenses and capital investments; however, such financial benefits are dependent on factors set forth in the related risk factor. See "Item3D.2e If the network sharing agreement entered into with HOT Mobile is unilaterally terminated by HOT Mobile earlier than we expected, we will be required to split the shared network with Hot Mobile and the resources, time and expense it may take us to have our own network in a nationwide coverage, may be substantial and could also materially harm our business and the results of operations at such time."
Partner and HOT Mobile entered into a separate Right of Use agreement which took effect in November 2013 and was originally valid until January 4, 2017. Under the Right of Use agreement, Partner provided services to HOT Mobile in the form of a right of use of Partner's cellular network. According to the Right of Use agreement, HOT Mobile paid Partner fixed base payments with additional variable payments, based, among other things, on traffic volume exceeding a defined threshold. Since Hot Mobile exercised the Option referred to in the Network Sharing Agreement, and Hot Mobile paid the relevant portion of the Lump Sum earlier than January 1, 2017, the Capex-Opex Mechanism became effective as of April 2016 and Hot Mobile ceased making payments under the Right of Use agreement at such time.
Cellular segment revenues recorded relating to the Right of Use agreement totaled approximately NIS 120 million and NIS 51 million for the years 2015 and 2016 respectively.
On March 3, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. ("012 Smile"), from Merhav-Ampal Energy Ltd. ("Ampal"). 012 Smile is an Israeli private company, which provides international long distance services, internet services and local telecommunication fixed-line services (including telephony services using VoB). 012 Smile had revenues of approximately NIS 1,112 million during the 11 months starting February 1, 2010, the date on which 012 Smile's business activities began to operate under a new company.
The purchase price for the acquisition of 012 Smile was NIS 650 million, which included the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of 012 Smile and a loan from the previous shareholder to 012 Smile. As part of the acquisition, we also guaranteed the bank loans and other bank guarantees, which were provided to 012 Smile, in a total amount of approximately NIS 800 million. According to the purchase agreement, 012 Smile assigned to Ampal the right to receive payments due from a third party in an amount of approximately NIS 40 million.
At the time of the acquisition, the purchase assumed an enterprise value for 012 Smile of approximately NIS 1.45 billion. This included fixed assets, intangible assets of customer relations, brand name, Right of Use ("ROU") of international transmission cables and goodwill. 012 Smile was financed principally through long term bank loans totaling approximately NIS 500 million that have an index (Israeli consumer price index ("CPI")) linked rate of 3.42% with a final maturity at the end 2019.
During December 2011, Bezeq International Ltd. completed the installation of an underwater cable between Israel and Italy and began commercial use thereafter. In addition, Tamares Telecom Ltd. was in the final stages of laying another underwater cable which was completed in January 2012, allowing new communication channels between Israel and Western Europe. The additional capacity significantly increased the level of competition in the market for international connectivity services that, until December 2011, had been comprised of a sole monopoly supplier. The increased competition in the market for international connectivity services during the fourth quarter of 2011 that lead to a sharp decline in prices and the Company's expectations for increased competition in the retail ISP market, that would lead to a decrease in prices and market share, indicated the need to perform an impairment test on certain assets of the fixed-line segment. The impairment test as of December 31, 2011, was performed by management with the assistance of an external independent assessor, Giza Singer Even Ltd., with the recoverability of the relevant assets being assessed based on value-in-use calculations. As a result of the testing, impairment charges in a total amount of NIS 235 million were recognized for the fixed-line business in 2011:
In addition, the Company's management performed, as required, its annual impairment review of goodwill, with the assistance of Giza Singer Even Ltd., again assessing recoverability of fixed-line segment assets based on value-in-use calculations. As a result of the impairment test, the Company recorded an impairment charge to goodwill in respect of the fixed-line business units in the amount of NIS 87 million in 2011.The total impact of the impairment charges on operating profit in 2011 was a reduction of NIS 322 million. The total impact on profit, including the resulting increase in deferred tax assets, net, of NIS 11 million, was a reduction of NIS 311 million.
In addition, the Company recorded an impairment of fixed-line subscriber acquisition costs in the total amount of NIS 27 million in the second half of 2011, following an amendment to the Telecommunications Law which limits subscriber exit fines in the fixed-line market.
In 2015, the Group decided to cease using the "012 Smile" trade name in 2017. This change in business induced the Group to determine that an indicator of impairment exists for the fixedline segment. See also information with respect to change in estimate of useful life of the intangible asset trade name in Note 4(a)(2) and 4(a)(3) to our consolidated financial statements.
For the purpose of the impairment test, the assets were grouped to the lowest level for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (CGU).
(i) The Group reviewed the recoverability of the VOB/ISP assets. As a result, an impairment charge in a total amount of NIS 98 million was recognized. The impairment charge was allocated to the assets of the CGU pro rata, on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset, provided that the impairment did not reduce the carrying amount of an asset below the highest of its fair value less costs to sell and its value-in-use, and zero. Accordingly, the following impairment charges were recorded in the assets of the above CGU (see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements):
The recoverable amount of the VOB/ISP CGU as of December 31, 2015 was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert ("Giza Singer Even. Ltd") based on value-in-use calculations, which was NIS 250 million. The value in use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period and using extrapolation with specific adjustments expected until 2027, which is the economic life of the main asset of the CGU: the deferred expenses – Right of Use, and a pre-tax discount rate of 12.9%. The value-in-use calculations included all factors in real terms.
The impairment test was based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts in future periods. See also Note 2(i) and Note 4(a)(3).
(ii) The Group reviewed the recoverability of the ILD CGU in the fixed line segment and determined that no impairment exists as of December 31, 2015.
Goodwill is allocated to a single group of CGUs which constitute all the operations of the fixed-line segment, in an amount of NIS 407 million.
For the purpose of the goodwill impairment tests as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the recoverable amount was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert (2014, 2015:"Giza Singer Even. Ltd", 2016: "BDO Ziv Haft Consulting & Management Ltd.") based on value-in-use calculations. The value-in-use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the five-year period to be generated from continuing use are extrapolated using estimated growth rates. The growth rate represents the long-term average growth rate of the fixed-line communications services business. The key assumptions used are as follows:
| As of December 31, | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2016 | |||
| Terminal growth rate | (negative 0.2%) | (negative 0.09%) | 0.5% | |
| After-tax discount rate | 10.5% | 10.3% | 9.8% | |
| Pre-tax discount rate | 14.3% | 13.4% | 11.9% |
The impairment tests as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts. As a result of the impairment tests, the Group determined that no goodwill impairment existed as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016. See also Note 4(a)(4) and Note 2(h) to our consolidated financial statements.
Sensitivity Analysis:
The headroom of the fixed line segment recoverable amount over the carrying amount as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 was approximately 15%, 9% and 23% respectively. Sensitivity analysis was performed for the recoverable amount as of December 31, 2016 for a change of the after-tax discount rate within the range of ± 10% multiplied by the variable 9.8% (8.8% to 10.8%), assuming all other variables constant. Sensitivity analysis was also performed for a change of the terminal permanent growth rate within the range of ± 1% of the variable 0.5% (minus 0.5% to 1.5%), assuming all other variables constant. Results showed that no impairment charge is required for both analyses.

On October 25, 2010, the Company signed an agreement with LM Ericsson Israel Ltd. ("Ericsson") for the upgrade of its then existing networks and the deployment of a fourth generation network in Israel (the "Agreement") for approximately US \$100 million. The Agreement includes the upgrade, replacement and the expansion of certain parts of the Company's existing cellular and fixed-line networks and the maintenance of its networks, including enhancement of the Company's abilities with respect to the cellular and fixed-line ISP services it provides. The initial term of the all-inclusive agreement with Ericsson ended on December 31, 2014. Towards the end of the initial term, we began an examination process to determine the scope of the deliverables and services which have actually been provided by Ericsson under the agreement. We extended the initial period by an additional period of one year for the provision of support and maintenance services until the end of 2015 and renewed it with certain modifications until the end of 2018.
In April 2012, the Company entered into a five-year agreement with Bezeq, the Israel Telecommunication Corp., Ltd., effective from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016, for the supply of transmission services for use in Partner's mobile network. According to the agreement, the minimum annual commitment was NIS 55 million for the year 2012 and gradually increased to NIS 71 million for the year 2016 due to the increase in the scope of the capacity to be purchased in accordance with the layout agreed upon by the parties. Commencing April 2015, Hot Mobile undertakes its share in these expenses through PHI (the limited partnership created with HOT Mobile pursuant to the network sharing agreement) according to the OPEX-CAPEX mechanism; see also Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
For information regarding developments which have had and may have a significant impact on our operating results, see "Item 3D.1 RISKS RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF OUR INDUSTRY" and "Item 4B.13 Regulation".
We derive revenues from both rendering services and selling equipment.
Our principal source of revenues is from the sale of cellular network services to subscribers, primarily network airtime and internet browsing fees, and content and data fees (including SMS) as well as interconnect fees from other operators, fees for roaming, services, fees for extended handset warranty and fees from other operators (virtual and network) for rights to use our network to provide services to their customers.
The fixed-line business segment derives revenues from a variety of services provided over fixed-line networks including transmission services, international long distance services, PRI lines, VoB telephony services, SIP trunks for business sector customers, ISP services (including infrastructure and access services), value-added services and advanced business solutions for business customers.
Equipment revenues are derived from the sale and leasing of a variety of communications and digital audio-visual equipment including cellular handsets, tablets, laptops, datacards and modems, car kits, accessories, spare parts, televisions, digital cameras, game consoles, earphones, landline phones, routers, servers, smartboxes and other fixed-line service equipment. See also "Item 4B.6 SERVICES AND PRODUCTS".

We recognize revenues from network and other services at the time we provide the service to the subscriber. We recognize revenues from equipment sales only upon delivery and the transfer of ownership to the subscriber.
The principal components of our cost of revenues are:
The principal components of our selling and marketing expenses are:
The principal components of our general and administrative expenses are:
Income with respect to the Settlement Agreement with Orange consists of recognized payments received by Partner thereunder (see Item "5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd."). The recognition of such payments will terminate after the second quarter of 2017.
The principal components of our other income, net, are:
The principal component of our finance expenses is:
● Interest expenses
The principal components of our finance income are:
Our primary key cellular business indicators are described below. These indicators are widely used in the cellular telephone service industry to evaluate performance.
Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below. See also Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.
The Company recognizes service revenues based upon minutes, seconds and packages used, net of credits and adjustments for service discounts. Because the Company's billing cycles use cut-off dates, which for the most part do not coincide with the Company's reporting periods, the Company is required to make estimates for service revenues earned but not yet billed at the end of each reporting period. These estimates are based primarily upon actual unbilled usage of the Company's network by the customers, and also on historical data and trends. Actual billing cycle results may differ from the results estimated at the end of each period depending on subscriber usage and rate plan mix.
(2) Assessing the useful lives of assets
The useful economic lives of the Company's assets are an estimate determined by management. The Group defines useful economic life of its assets in terms of the assets' expected utility to the Group. This estimation is based on assumptions of future changes in technology or changes in the Group's intended use of these assets, and experience of the Group with similar assets, and legal or contract periods where relevant. The assets estimated economic useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at least annually. See also Note 2(e) and Note 2(f) to the consolidated financial statements. See also information with respect to the change in estimate of the useful life of the "012 Smile" trade name in (3) below.
(3) Assessing the recoverable amount for impairment tests of assets with finite useful lives
The Group is required to determine at the end of each reporting period whether there is any indication that an asset may be impaired. If indicators for impairment are identified the Group estimates the assets' recoverable amount, which is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and value in use. The value-in-use calculations require management to make estimates of the projected future cash flows. Determining the estimates of the future cash flows is based on management past experience and best estimate for the economic conditions that will exist over the remaining useful economic life of the Cash Generating Unit ("CGU"). See also Note 2(i) to the consolidated financial statements.
No indicators for an impairment or reversal of impairment of assets with finite useful lives were indicated in 2016.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Group decided to cease using the "012 Smile" trade name in 2017. This change in business induced the Group to determine that an indicator of impairment exists for the fixed-line segment. See Note 13(2) to the consolidated financial statements.
An Impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2015 for the VOB/ISP CGU of the fixed line segment resulted in an impairment charge to certain assets in a total amount of NIS 98 million, based on the key assumptions described in Note 13(2) to the consolidated financial statements. The recoverable amount of the VOB/ISP CGU assets as of December 31, 2015 was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert ("Giza Singer Even. Ltd") based on value-in-use calculations, which was NIS 250 million. The value in use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period and using extrapolation with specific adjustments expected until 2027, which is the economic life of the main asset of the CGU: the deferred expenses – Right of Use, and a pre-tax discount rate of 12.9%. The value-in-use calculations included all factors in real terms. The value-in-use of the assets of the CGU was estimated to exceed the fair value less costs to sale.
The impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2015 was based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts in future periods.
As a result of the decision in 2015 to cease the usage of the "012 Smile" trade name the Group revised its expected useful life to end in 2017 as a change in accounting estimate. As a result the amortization expenses of the trade name increased in 2015 by NIS 1 million, and are expected to increase in 2016 and 2017 by approximately NIS 16 million and NIS 6 million respectively.
Further increase in the level of competition that will continue to push downward prices may require the Group to perform further impairment tests of assets. Such impairment tests may lead to recording significant impairment charges, which could have a material negative impact on the Group's operating and net profit.
Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and value in use. The recoverable amount of the fixed line segment to which goodwill has been allocated to have been determined based on value-in-use calculations. For the purpose of the goodwill impairment tests as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the recoverable amount was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert (2014, 2015: "Giza Singer Even. Ltd", 2016: "BDO Ziv Haft Consulting & Management Ltd.") based on value-in-use calculations. The value-in-use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the five-year period to be generated from continuing use are extrapolated using estimated growth rates. The growth rate represents the long-term average growth rate of the fixed-line communications services business.
The key assumptions used in the December, 31, 2016 test were as follows:
| Terminal growth rate | 0.5% |
|---|---|
| After-tax discount rate | 9.8% |
| Pre-tax discount rate | 11.9% |
The impairment test as of December 31, 2016 was based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts. See also Note 13 and Note 2(h) to the consolidated financial statements. No impairment charges were recognized in with respect to goodwill in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The headroom of the fixed line segment recoverable amount over the carrying amount as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 was approximately 15%, 9% and 23% respectively. Sensitivity analysis was performed for the recoverable amount as of December 31, 2016 for a change of the after-tax discount rate within the range of ± 10% multiplied by the variable 9.8% (8.8% to 10.8%), assuming all other variables constant. Sensitivity analysis was also performed for a change of the terminal permanent growth rate within the range of ± 1% of the variable 0.5% (minus 0.5% to 1.5%), assuming all other variables constant. Results showed that no impairment charge is required for both analyses.
The allowance is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganization, or delinquency or default in debtor payments are considered indicators that a trade receivable is impaired. Individual receivables which are known to be uncollectable are written off by reducing the carrying amount directly. The other receivables are assessed collectively. For these receivables the allowance is determined based on percentage of doubtful debts in collection, considering the likelihood of recoverability based on the age of the balances, the historical write-off experience net of recoveries, changes in the credit worthiness, and collection trends. The trade receivables are periodically reviewed for impairment.
The assessment of amounts of current and deferred taxes requires the Group's management to take into consideration uncertainties that its tax position will be accepted and of incurring any additional tax expenses. This assessment is based on estimates and assumptions based on interpretation of tax laws and regulations, and the Group's past experience. It is possible that new information will become known in future periods that will cause the final tax outcome to be different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities in the period in which such determination is made. See also Notes 2(q) and Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements.
(1) Considering the likelihood of contingent losses and quantifying possible settlements:
Provisions are recorded when a loss is considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Judgment is necessary in assessing the likelihood that a pending claim or litigation against the Group will succeed, or a liability will arise, quantifying the possible range of final settlement. These judgments are made by management with the support of internal specialists, or with the support of outside consultants such as legal counsel. Because of the inherent uncertainties in this evaluation process, actual results may be different from these estimates.
The Group made judgments to determine that certain sales of equipment with accompanying services constitute an arrangement with multiple deliverables that are linked in such a way that the commercial effect cannot be understood without reference to the series of transactions as a whole, and accordingly, consideration received is allocated to each deliverable based on the relative fair value of the individual element. See also Note 2(n)(2) to the consolidated financial statements.
The Board of Directors of Net 4 P.H.I Ltd., consists of three directors nominated by the Company, three directors nominated by Hot Mobile and one independent director who will act as a chairman. Net 4 P.H.I Ltd. controls PHI. This governance provides that the Company does not control PHI nor does it have joint control over it, and the Company accounts for its investment in PHI according to the equity method, see also Note 2(c)(2) and Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, 2016 In millions |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular segment | Fixed-line segment | Elimination | Consolidated | ||
| Segment revenue – Services | 2,080 | 672 | 2,752 | ||
| Inter-segment revenue – Services | 19 | 194 | (213) | ||
| Segment revenue – Equipment | 729 | 63 | 792 | ||
| Total revenues | 2,828 | 929 | (213) | 3,544 | |
| Segment cost of revenues – Services | 1,659 | 617 | 2,276 | ||
| Inter-segment cost of revenues - Services | 192 | 21 | (213) | ||
| Segment cost of revenues – Equipment | 596 | 52 | 648 | ||
| Cost of revenues | 2,447 | 690 | (213) | 2,924 | |
| Gross profit | 381 | 239 | 620 | ||
| Operating expenses (1) | 571 | 118 | 689 | ||
| Income with respect to settlement | |||||
| agreement with Orange | 217 | 217 | |||
| Other income, net | 41 | 4 | 45 | ||
| Operating profit | 68 | 125 | 193 | ||
| Adjustments to presentation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
|||||
| –Depreciation and amortization | 447 | 148 | 595 | ||
| –Other (2) | 47 | (1) | 46 | ||
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 562 | 272 | 834 | ||
| Reconciliation of profit for the year to Adjusted EBITDA | |||||
| Profit for the year | 52 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 595 | ||||
| Finance costs, net | 105 | ||||
| Income tax expenses | 36 | ||||
| Other (2) | 46 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 834 |

| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, 2015 In millions |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular segment | Fixed-line segment | Elimination | Consolidated | ||
| Segment revenue – Services | 2,275 | 717 | 2,992 | ||
| Inter-segment revenue – Services | 22 | 189 | (211) | ||
| Segment revenue – Equipment | 1,051 | 68 | 1,119 | ||
| Total revenues | 3,348 | 974 | (211) | 4,111 | |
| Segment cost of revenues – Services | 1,856 | 736(*) | 2,592 | ||
| Inter-segment cost of revenues – Services | 187 | 24 | (211) | ||
| Segment cost of revenues – Equipment | 832 | 48 | 880 | ||
| Cost of revenues | 2,875 | 808 | (211) | 3,472 | |
| Gross profit | 473 | 166 | 639 | ||
| Operating expenses (1) | 506 | 134(*) | 640 | ||
| Income with respect to settlement agreement with Orange | 61 | 61 | |||
| Other income, net | 44 | 3 | 47 | ||
| Operating profit | 72 | 35 | 107 | ||
| Adjustments to presentation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
|||||
| –Depreciation and amortization (including impairment charges) | 510 | 243 | 753 | ||
| –Other (2) | 15 | 1 | 16 | ||
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 597 | 279 | 876 | ||
| Reconciliation of loss for the year to Adjusted EBITDA | |||||
| Loss for the year | (40) | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization (including impairment charges) | 753 | ||||
| Finance costs, net | 143 | ||||
| Income tax expenses | 4 | ||||
| Other (2) | 16 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 876 |
(*) Includes impairment charges in the fixed-line segment, see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements.
(1) Operating expenses include selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses.
(2) Mainly amortization of employee share based compensation.
(3) Adjusted EBITDA as reviewed by the CODM represents Earnings Before Interest (finance costs, net), Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (including amortization of intangible assets, deferred expenses-right of use and impairment charges) and Other expenses (mainly amortization of share based compensation). Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies. Adjusted EBITDA may not be indicative of the Group's historic operating results nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. The usage of the term "Adjusted EBITDA" is to highlight the fact that the Amortization includes amortization of deferred expenses – right of use and amortization of employee share based compensation and impairment charges; it is fully comparable to EBITDA information which has been previously provided for prior periods.
Total revenues. In 2016, total revenues were NIS 3,544 million (US\$ 922 million), a decrease of 14% from NIS 4,111 million in 2015.
Revenues from services. Service revenues in 2016 totaled NIS 2,752 million (US\$ 716 million), a decrease of 8% from NIS 2,992 million in 2015.
Revenues from equipment. Equipment revenues in 2016 totaled NIS 792 million (US\$ 206 million), a decrease of 29% from NIS 1,119 million in 2015, largely reflecting a decrease in the volume of equipment sales. This decrease was mainly related to the tightening of the Company's customer credit policy, whereby stricter requirements were imposed for customers to be accepted for long term financing plans under which the customer pays for the equipment through monthly payments (generally over 12 to 36 months).
Gross profit from service revenues. The gross profit from service revenues in 2016 was NIS 476 million (US\$ 124 million), compared with NIS 400 million in 2015, an increase of 19%. The trend in gross profit from service revenues was positively affected by expenses of NIS 88 million recorded in 2015 due to the impairment charge on the right of use on international fiber optic cables (NIS 76 million), on computers and information systems (NIS 7 million) and on the communication network (NIS 5 million). Compared with gross profit from service revenues excluding the impact of these impairment charges in 2015, gross profit from service revenues in 2016 decreased by 2%, largely reflecting the decrease in service revenues, partially offset by the decrease in the cost of service revenues. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Gross profit from equipment sales. Gross profit from equipment sales in 2016 was NIS 144 million (US\$ 37 million), compared with NIS 239 million in 2015, a decrease of 40%, mainly reflecting both the decrease in the volume of equipment sales, as described above, and lower profit margins from sales which resulted largely from the tightening of the Company's customer credit policy (since profit margins are higher for sales with long term financing plans), as well as a change in product mix towards products with lower profit margins. See also "Item 5D.2 Outlook".
Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses. Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses totaled NIS 689 million (US\$ 179 million) in 2016, an increase of 8% from 2015. Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses for 2015 included expenses in the amount of NIS 10 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on customer relationships (NIS 8 million) and on the trade name (NIS 2 million). Compared with selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses excluding the impact of these impairment charges in 2015, selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses increased by 9%. This increase mainly reflected an increase in advertising and marketing expenses related, in part, due to the marketing activities related to the rebranding of the Company, and an increase in bad debts and allowance for doubtful accounts expenses which was mainly related to historical transactions. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Total operating expenses ("OPEX"). Total operating expenses amounted to NIS 2,324 million (US\$ 604 million) in 2016, a decrease of 6% or NIS 139 million from 2015. Total operating expenses ("Opex") (not a financial measure under IFRS and not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures for other companies) includes cost of service revenues (NIS 2,276 million in 2016) and selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses (NIS 689 million in 2016), and excludes depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation) (NIS 641 million in 2016).
Including depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation), total operating expenses in 2016 decreased by 8% compared with 2015. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Income with respect to settlement with Orange. In 2016, the Company recorded income with respect to the settlement agreement of the Orange brand agreement in an amount of NIS 217 million (US\$ 56 million) compared with NIS 61 million recorded in 2015. As set forth in the settlement agreement, the advance payments received from Orange will continued to be recognized and reconciled evenly on a quarterly basis over a period until the second quarter of 2017, against contingent marketing, sales, customer services and other expenses to be incurred over this period. See also "Item 5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd.","5D.2 Outlook" and Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.
Other income, net. Other income, net, totaled NIS 45 million (US\$ 12 million) in 2016, compared to NIS 47 million in 2015, a decrease of 4%, mainly reflecting a decrease in income from the unwinding of trade receivables. See also Note 23 to our consolidated financial statements.
Operating profit. Reported operating profit for 2016 was NIS 193 million (US\$ 50 million), an increase of 80% compared with reported operating profit of NIS 107 million in 2015. Compared with operating profit for 2015 before the impairment charges described above (NIS 98 million), operating profit decreased by 6%.
Finance costs, net. Finance costs, net in 2016 were NIS 105 million (US\$ 27 million), a decrease of 27% compared with NIS 143 million in 2015. The decrease reflected lower interest payment expenses due to the lower average level of debt, as well as gains from foreign exchange movements in 2016 compared with losses from foreign exchange in 2015 and lower early debt repayment expenses. This decrease in finance costs was partially offset by higher linkage expenses due to the higher CPI level. See also "Item 5B Liquidity and Capital Resources."
Profit (loss) before income tax. Profit before income taxes for 2016 was NIS 88 million (US\$ 23 million), compared with loss before income tax of NIS 36 million in 2015. Compared with profit before income tax in 2015 excluding the impact of the impairment charges described above (NIS 98 million), profit before income tax in 2016 increased by 42%, reflecting principally the decrease in finance costs, net which more than offset the decrease in operating profit excluding impairment charges.
Income taxes on profit. Income taxes on profit for 2016 were NIS 36 million (US\$ 9 million), compared to income taxes on loss of NIS 4 million in 2015.
In January 2016, the Law for the Amendment of the Income Tax Ordinance (No. 216) was published, enacting a reduction of corporate tax rate, from 26.5% to 25%, for the year 2016 and thereafter. In addition, in December 2016, the Economic Efficiency Law (Legislative Amendments for Implementing the Economic Policy for the 2017 and 2018 Budget Year), 2016 was published, enacting that the corporate tax rate will be 24% in 2017 and 23% in 2018 and thereafter. These reductions of the corporate tax rate resulted in a reduction of NIS 7 million in the Group's deferred tax assets in 2016, which was recognized as an income tax expense.
The Company's effective tax rate is expected to continue to be higher than the corporate tax rate mainly due to nondeductible expenses. See also Note 25 to our consolidated financial statements.
Profit (Loss). Reported profit in 2016 was NIS 52 million (US\$ 14 million), compared with loss of NIS 40 million in 2015. Compared with profit in 2015 before impairment charges (NIS 72 million after income tax), profit in 2016 increased by 62%. Based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during 2016, basic earnings per share or ADS was NIS 0.33 (US\$ 0.09), compared to basic loss per share of NIS 0.26 in 2015.

For information regarding potential downward impacts on profits in 2017, see "Item 5D.2 Outlook."
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA in 2016 totaled NIS 834 million (US\$ 217 million), a decrease of 5% from NIS 876 million in 2015. As a percentage of total revenues, Adjusted EBITDA in 2016 was 24%, compared with 21% in 2015.
The impairment charge on fixed-line assets in 2015 did not have any impact on the results for the cellular services segment.
Total revenues. Total revenues for the cellular segment in 2016 were NIS 2,828 million (US\$ 735 million), a decrease of 16% from NIS 3,348 million in 2015.
Revenues from services. Service revenues for the cellular segment in 2016 totaled NIS 2,099 million (US\$ 546 million), a decrease of 9% from NIS 2,297 million in 2015. The decrease was mainly a result of the continued downward pressures on the prices of post-paid and pre-paid cellular services as a result of the continued competition in the cellular market. As an illustration of the level of competition in the cellular market, approximately 2.3 million cellular subscribers are estimated to have switched operators within the Israeli market (with number porting) in 2016, only slightly fewer than the estimated 2.5 million switchers in 2014 and 2015.
Significant price erosion continued to be caused by the amount of cellular subscribers who moved between different rateplans or airtime packages (generally to obtain a lower monthly fee) within the Company.
In addition, cellular segment service revenues were negatively affected by a decrease in revenues from wholesale services provided to other operators hosted on the Company's network, and in particular as a result of the termination of the Right of Use Agreement with HOT Mobile from the second quarter of 2016, as a result of which revenues recorded related to the Right of Use Agreement decreased from approximately NIS 120 million in 2015 to approximately NIS 51 million in 2016. See "Item 5A.1e Right of Use Agreement with HOT Mobile". This decrease was partially offset by the amortization to revenues of the Lump Sum payment from HOT Mobile under the Network Sharing Agreement in an amount of approximately NIS 23 million (US\$ 6 million) in 2016.
Pre-paid cellular subscribers contributed service revenues in a total amount of approximately NIS 180 million (US\$ 47 million) in 2016, a decrease of 22% from approximately NIS 230 million in 2015, as a result of the price erosion in pre-paid services and the decrease in the number of pre-paid subscribers, which was largely attributed to pre-paid subscribers moving to postpaid subscriber packages due to the significant price declines (and hence increased attractiveness) for these products.
Revenues from equipment. Revenues from equipment sales for the cellular segment in 2016 totaled NIS 729 million (US\$ 190 million), a decrease of 31% from NIS 1,051 million in 2015, reflecting a decrease in the volume of sales, mainly related to the tightening of the Company's customer credit policy, whereby stricter requirements were imposed for customers to be accepted for long term financing plans, whereby the customer pays for the equipment through monthly payments (generally over 12 to 36 months).
Gross profit from equipment sales. The gross profit from equipment sales for the cellular segment in 2016 was NIS 133 million (US\$ 34 million), compared with NIS 219 million in 2015, a decrease of 39%. This decrease reflected both the decrease in the volume of equipment sales, as described above, and lower profit margins from sales which was also a result of the tightening of the Company's customer credit policy (since profit margins are higher for sales with long term financing plans), as well as a change in product mix towards products with lower profit margins. See also "Item 5D.2 Outlook".
Cost of service revenues. The cost of service revenues for the cellular segment (excluding inter-segment costs) decreased by 11% from NIS 1,856 million in 2015 to NIS 1,659 million (US\$ 431 million) in 2016, mainly reflecting decreases in cellular network and cable maintenance expenses, in part related to the implementation of the cost sharing mechanism under the Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile, and decreases in expenses related to lower payments to transmission, communication and content providers.
Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses. Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses for the cellular segment in 2016 amounted to NIS 571 million (US\$ 149 million), an increase of 13% from NIS 506 million in 2015. The increase mainly reflected an increase in advertising and marketing expenses related, in part, to the marketing activities connected to the rebranding of the Company, and an increase in bad debts and allowances for doubtful accounts expenses which was mainly related to historical transactions. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Total operating expenses ("OPEX"). Total operating expenses for the cellular segment totaled NIS 1,928 million (US\$ 501 million) in 2016, a decrease of 5% or NIS 96 million from 2015. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements. Including depreciation and amortization expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation), total operating expenses decreased by 5%.
Income with respect to settlement with Orange. In 2016, the Company recorded income with respect to the settlement agreement of the Orange brand agreement in an amount of NIS 217 million (US\$ 56 million) compared with NIS 61 million recorded in 2015. As set forth in the settlement agreement, the advance payments received from Orange will continued to be recognized and reconciled evenly on a quarterly basis over a period until the second quarter of 2017, against contingent marketing, sales, customer services and other expenses to be incurred over this period. See also Item 5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd." above and Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.
Operating profit. Overall, operating profit for the cellular segment in 2016 was NIS 68 million (US\$ 18 million), a decrease of 6% or NIS 4 million compared with NIS 72 million in 2015, reflecting the impact of the decreases in service revenues and gross profits from cellular segment equipment sales, which were partially offset by the reduction in total operating expenses and the increase in income with respect to settlement with Orange.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA for the cellular segment was NIS 562 million (US\$ 146 million) in 2016, decreasing by 6% from NIS 597 million in 2015, for the same reasons as the decrease in operating profit. As a percentage of total cellular revenues, Adjusted EBITDA for the cellular segment in 2016 was 20%, compared with 18% in 2015.
Total revenues. Total revenues in 2016 for the fixed-line segment were NIS 929 million (US\$ 242 million), a decrease of 5% compared with NIS 974 million in 2015.
Revenues from services. Service revenues for the fixed-line segment totaled NIS 866 million (US\$ 225 million) in 2016, a decrease of 4% compared with NIS 906 million in 2015. The decrease mainly reflected a decrease in revenues from international calls (including in the market for wholesale international traffic) as well as decreases in revenues from other fixed line services including local lines and ISP services. Our subscriber market share in the ISP segment continues to be eroded as a result of the strong competition in the market from both existing and new service providers.
Revenues from equipment. Revenues from equipment sales for the fixed-line segment in 2016 totaled NIS 63 million (US\$ 17 million), a decrease of 7% compared with NIS 68 million in 2015. The decrease mainly reflected a decrease in the sale of non-core fixed line equipment, including tablets, televisions, streamers and other audio visual devices, which was partially offset by an increase in fixed line equipment for business customers including sales of advanced business solutions.
Gross profit from equipment sales. The gross profit from equipment sales for the fixed-line segment in 2016 was NIS 11 million (US\$ 3 million), compared with NIS 20 million in 2015, a decrease of 45%, mainly reflecting the decrease in the sale of non-core fixed line equipment, as described above.
Cost of service revenues. The cost of service revenues (excluding inter-segment costs) for the fixed-line segment decreased by 16% from NIS 736 million in 2015 to NIS 617 million (US\$ 160 million) in 2016. The cost of service revenues in 2015 was negatively affected by expenses in the amount of NIS 88 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on the right of use on international fiber optic cables (NIS 76 million), on computers and information systems (NIS 7 million) and on the communication network (NIS 5 million). Compared with the cost of service revenues in 2015, excluding the impact of the impairment charges taken for that year, the cost of service revenues in 2016 decreased by 5%, reflecting decreases in transmission and communication provider expenses, salaries and related expenses, and in depreciation expenses, partially offset by increases in expenses related to payments to internet infrastructure and service providers. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses. Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses for the fixed-line segment in 2016 amounted to NIS 118 million (US\$ 31 million), a decrease of 12% from NIS 134 million in 2015. Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses for 2015 included expenses in the amount of NIS 10 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on customer relationships (NIS 8 million) and on the trade name (NIS 2 million). Compared with selling, marketing, general and administration expenses excluding the impact of these impairment charges in 2015, the decrease in selling, marketing, general and administration expenses in 2016 was 5%. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Total operating expenses ("OPEX"). Total operating expenses for the fixed-line segment totaled NIS 609 million (US\$ 158 million) in 2016, a decrease of 6% or NIS 41 million from 2015. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements. Including depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation), total operating expenses decreased by 15%.
Operating profit. Operating profit for the fixed-line segment was NIS 125 million (US\$ 33 million) in 2016, an increase of 257% compared to NIS 35 million in 2015. Operating profit for 2015 included impairment charges, as described above, in the amount of NIS 98 million. Compared with operating profit excluding the impairment charges in 2015, operating profit in 2016 decreased by 6%, mainly reflecting the impact of the decreases in service revenues and in gross profit from equipment sales, partially offset by the reduction in total operating expenses, as explained above.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA for the fixed-line segment decreased by 3% from NIS 279 million in 2015 to NIS 272 million (US\$ 71 million) in 2016, for the same reasons as the decrease in operating profit. As a percentage of total fixed-line revenues, Adjusted EBITDA for the fixed-line segment in 2016 was 29%, unchanged from 2015.
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, 2014 In millions |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular segment | Fixed-line segment | Elimination | Consolidated | ||
| Segment revenue – Services | 2,592 | 816 | 3,408 | ||
| Inter-segment revenue – Services | 26 | 188 | (214) | ||
| Segment revenue – Equipment | 938 | 54 | 992 | ||
| Total revenues | 3,556 | 1,058 | (214) | 4,400 | |
| Segment cost of revenues – Services | 1,963 | 692 | 2,655 | ||
| Inter-segment cost of revenues – Services | 185 | 29 | (214) | ||
| Segment cost of revenues – Equipment | 727 | 37 | 764 | ||
| Cost of revenues | 2,875 | 758 | (214) | 3,419 | |
| Gross profit | 681 | 300 | 981 | ||
| Operating expenses (1) | 509 | 122 | 631 | ||
| Other income, net | 49 | 1 | 50 | ||
| Operating profit | 221 | 179 | 400 | ||
| Adjustments to presentation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA |
|||||
| –Depreciation and amortization | 534 | 155 | 689 | ||
| –Other (2) | 7 | * | 7 | ||
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 762 | 334 | 1,096 | ||
| Reconciliation of profit for the year to Adjusted EBITDA | |||||
| Profit for the year | 162 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 689 | ||||
| Finance costs, net | 159 | ||||
| Income tax expenses | 79 | ||||
| Other (2) | 7 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (3) | 1,096 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
(1) Operating expenses include selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses.
(2) Mainly amortization of employee share based compensation.
(3) Adjusted EBITDA as reviewed by the CODM represents Earnings Before Interest (finance costs, net), Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (including amortization of intangible assets, deferred expenses-right of use and impairment charges) and Other expenses (mainly amortization of share based compensation). Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies. Adjusted EBITDA may not be indicative of the Group's historic operating results nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. The usage of the term "Adjusted EBITDA" is to highlight the fact that the Amortization includes amortization of deferred expenses – right of use and amortization of employee share based compensation and impairment charges; it is fully comparable to EBITDA information which has been previously provided for prior periods.
Total revenues. In 2015, total revenues were NIS 4,111 million, a decrease of 7% from NIS 4,400 million in 2014.
Revenues from services. Service revenues in 2015 totaled NIS 2,992 million, a decrease of 12% from NIS 3,408 million in 2014.
Revenues from equipment. Equipment revenues in 2015 totaled NIS 1,119 million, an increase of 13% from NIS 992 million in 2014. The increase largely reflected higher average prices per device sold due to a change in product mix. (See also the comment regarding gross profit from equipment sales below).
Gross profit from service revenues. The gross profit from service revenues in 2015 was NIS 400 million, compared with NIS 753 million in 2014, a decrease of 47%. Gross profit from service revenues was negatively affected by expenses in the amount of NIS 88 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on the rights of use on international fiber optic cables, on computers and information systems (NIS 7 million) and on the communication network (NIS 5 million). Excluding the impact of these impairment charges, gross profit from service revenues was NIS 488 million in 2015, a decrease of 35% compared with 2014, largely reflecting the decrease in service revenues, partially offset by the decrease in the cost of service revenues. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Gross profit from equipment sales. Gross profit from equipment sales in 2015 was NIS 239 million, compared with NIS 228 million in 2014, an increase of 5%, mainly reflecting a change in product mix, with the Company devoting greater attention in 2015 on products with higher profit margins.
Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses. Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses totaled NIS 640 million in 2015, an increase of 1% from 2014. Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses included expenses in the amount of NIS 10 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on customer relationships (NIS 8 million) and on the trade name (NIS 2 million). Excluding the impact of these impairment charges, selling, marketing, general and administration expenses were NIS 630 million in 2015, no significant change compared to NIS 631 million in 2014. Within the total, increases in salaries and related workforce expenses and bad debts and allowance for doubtful accounts expenses were offset by decreases in advertising and marketing expenses, in selling commissions, net, and in other expenses. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Total operating expenses ("OPEX"). Total operating expenses including cost of service revenues (NIS 2,592 million in 2015) and selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses (NIS 640 million in 2015), and excluding depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation) (NIS 769 million in 2015); this measure is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies) totaled NIS 2,463 million in 2015, a decrease of 5% or NIS 127 million from 2014, largely a result of a decrease in expenses related to payments to transmission, communication and content providers and the impact of efficiency measures, including the reduction in the Company workforce by approximately 15% on an average basis (average of workforce at beginning and end of year). This included the impact of a retirement plan during 2015, as a result of which the Company recorded onetime expenses of approximately NIS 35 million in the third quarter of 2015, which were partially offset by a resulting reduction in salaries and related expenses in 2015.
Including depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation), total operating expenses in 2015 decreased by 2% compared with 2014. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Income with respect to settlement with Orange. In 2015, the Company recorded income with respect to the settlement agreement of the Orange brand agreement in an amount of NIS 61 million. See also Item 5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd." above and Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.
Other income, net. Other income, net, totaled NIS 47 million in 2015, compared to NIS 50 million in 2014, a decrease of 6%, mainly reflecting a decrease in income from the unwinding of trade receivables. See also Note 23 to our consolidated financial statements.
Operating profit. Reported operating profit for 2015 was NIS 107 million, a decrease of 73% compared with operating profit of NIS 400 million in 2014. Operating profit for 2015 before the total impact of the impairment charges described above in the amount of NIS 98 million, was NIS 205 million, a decrease of 49% compared with operating profit of NIS 400 million in 2014.
Finance costs, net. Finance costs, net in 2015 were NIS 143 million, a decrease of 10% compared with NIS 159 million in 2014. The decrease was mainly due to lower losses from foreign exchange movements in 2015 compared with foreign exchange gains in 2014. See also "Item 5B Liquidity and Capital Resources."
Profit (loss) before income tax. Loss before income taxes for 2015 was NIS 36 million, compared with profit before income tax of NIS 241 million in 2014. Before the total impact of the impairment charges described above in the amount of NIS 98 million, profit before income tax was NIS 62 million in 2015, a decrease of 74% from 2014.
Income taxes on profit. Income taxes on loss for 2015 were NIS 4 million, compared to NIS 79 million in 2014.
Profit (Loss). Reported loss in 2015 was NIS 40 million, a decrease of NIS 202 million compared with profit of NIS 162 million in 2014. Profit before the impact of the impairment in the amount of NIS 72 million (after income tax), was NIS 32 million in 2015, a decrease of 80% from NIS 162 million in 2014. Based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during 2015, basic loss per share or ADS, was NIS 0.26, compared to basic earnings per share of NIS 1.04 in 2014.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA in 2015 totaled NIS 876 million, a decrease of 20% from NIS 1,096 million in 2014. As a percentage of total revenues, Adjusted EBITDA in 2015 was 21%, compared with 25% in 2014.
The impairment charge on fixed-line assets in 2015 did not have any impact on the results for the cellular services segment.
Total revenues. Total revenues for the cellular segment in 2015 were NIS 3,348 million, a decrease of 6% from NIS 3,556 million in 2014.
Revenues from services. Service revenues for the cellular segment in 2015 totaled NIS 2,297 million, a decrease of 12% from NIS 2,618 million in 2014. The decrease was mainly a result of the continued downward pressures on the prices of post-paid and pre-paid cellular services as a result of the continuing competition in the cellular market. As an illustration of the level of competition in the cellular market, approximately 2.5 million cellular subscribers switched operators within the Israeli market (with number porting) in 2015, largely unchanged from the number of switchers in 2014, compared with approximately 1.8 million in 2013.
Significant price erosion continued to be caused by the amount of cellular subscribers who moved between different rateplans or airtime packages (generally with a lower monthly fee) within the Company. As in 2014, in 2015 subscribers switched rateplans or packages over one million times (including subscribers who switched more than once) within the Company, signifying a significant increase in the number of switches compared with 2013.
The decrease in service revenues from our subscribers was partially offset by an increase in revenues from wholesale services provided to other operators hosted on the Company's network, particularly as a result of the Right of Use agreement with Hot Mobile. See Item 5A.1e Right of Use Agreement with HOT Mobile."
Pre-paid cellular subscribers contributed service revenues in a total amount of approximately NIS 230 million in 2015, a decrease of 23% from approximately NIS 300 million in 2014, as a result of the price erosion in pre-paid services and the decrease in the number of pre-paid subscribers, which was largely attributed to pre-paid subscribers moving to post-paid subscriber packages as a result of the significant price erosion (and hence increasing attractiveness) in these products.
Revenues from equipment. Revenues from equipment sales for the cellular segment (including cellular handsets, WI-FI-only tablets, 3G/LTE tablets, laptops, datacards and modems, related equipment, car kits and accessories, and digital audio visual equipment) in 2015 totaled NIS 1,051 million, increasing by 12% from NIS 938 million in 2014. The increase largely reflected higher average prices per device sold due to a change in product mix (see also the comment regarding gross profit from equipment sales below). As in 2014, a significant majority of sales of equipment in 2015 were offered together with long term financing plans, whereby the customer pays for the equipment through monthly payments (generally over 12 to 36 months).
Gross profit from equipment sales. The gross profit from equipment sales for the cellular segment in 2015 was NIS 219 million, compared with NIS 211 million in 2014, an increase of 4%, mainly reflecting a change in product mix, with the Company devoting greater attention in 2015 on products with higher profit margins, as explained above.
Cost of service revenues. The cost of service revenues for the cellular segment (excluding inter-segment costs) decreased by 5% from NIS 1,963 million in 2014 to NIS 1,856 million in 2015. This decrease largely reflected decreases in expenses related to payments to communication and content providers and salaries and related expenses, partially offset by increases in network and cable maintenance expenses. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses for the cellular segment in 2015 amounted to NIS 506 million, a decrease of 1% from NIS 509 million in 2014. The decrease mainly reflected decreases in advertising and marketing expenses and in selling commissions, net, partially offset by increases in bad debts and allowance for doubtful accounts expenses and in salaries and related expenses. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Total operating expenses ("OPEX"). Total operating expenses for the cellular segment totaled NIS 2,024 million in 2015, a decrease of 4% or NIS 92 million from 2014. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements. Including depreciation and amortization expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation), total operating expenses also decreased by 4%.
Operating profit. Overall, operating profit for the cellular segment in 2015 was NIS 72 million, decreasing by 67% compared with NIS 221 million in 2014, largely reflecting the impact of the decrease in service revenues, partially offset by the reduction of total operating expenses and the increase in gross profits from equipment sales, as described above.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA for the cellular segment was NIS 597 million in 2015, decreasing by 22% from NIS 762 million in 2014, for the same reasons as the decrease in operating profit. As a percentage of total cellular revenues, Adjusted EBITDA for the cellular segment in 2015 was 18%, compared with 21% in 2014.
Total revenues. Total revenues in 2015 for the fixed-line segment were NIS 974 million, a decrease of 8% compared with NIS 1,058 million in 2014.
Revenues from services. Service revenues for the fixed-line segment totaled NIS 906 million in 2015, a decrease of 10% compared with NIS 1,004 million in 2014. The decrease mainly reflected lower revenues from international calls and from local lines and ISP services. Our market share in the ISP segment continues to be eroded as a result of the strong competition in the market from both existing and new service providers.
Revenues from equipment. Revenues from equipment sales for the fixed-line segment in 2015 totaled NIS 68 million, an increase of 26% compared with NIS 54 million in 2014. The increase mainly reflected an increase in the sale of non-core fixed line equipment, including tablets, televisions, streamers and other audio visual devices, as well as in fixed line equipment for business customers.
Gross profit from equipment sales. The gross profit from equipment sales for the fixed-line segment in 2015 was NIS 20 million, compared with NIS 17 million in 2014, an increase of 18%, reflecting the increase in sales, as described above.
Cost of service revenues. The cost of service revenues (excluding inter-segment costs) for the fixed-line segment increased by 6% from NIS 692 million in 2014, to NIS 736 million in 2015. The cost of service revenues was negatively affected by expenses in the amount of NIS 88 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on the rights of use on international fiber optic cables (NIS 76 million), on computers and information systems (NIS 7 million) and on the communication network (NIS 5 million). Excluding the impact of these impairment charges, the cost of service revenues was NIS 648 million in 2015, a decrease of 6% compared with 2014, largely reflecting decreases in expenses related to payments to communication providers and in salaries and related expenses, partially offset by increases in expenses related to payments to internet infrastructure and service providers. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses. Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses for the fixed-line segment in 2015 amounted to NIS 134 million, an increase of 10% from NIS 122 million in 2014. Selling, marketing, general and administration expenses included expenses in the amount of NIS 10 million that were recorded following the impairment charge on customer relationships (NIS 8 million) and on the trade name (NIS 2 million). Excluding the impact of these impairment charges, selling, marketing, general and administration expenses were NIS 124 million in 2015, a slight increase of 2% from 2014. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
Total operating expenses ("OPEX"). Total operating expenses for the fixed-line segment totaled NIS 650 million in 2015, a decrease of 6% or NIS 38 million from 2014. See also Note 22 to our consolidated financial statements. Including depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses and other expenses (mainly amortization of employee share based compensation), total operating expenses increased by 6%.
Operating profit. Operating profit for the fixed-line segment was NIS 35 million in 2015, a decrease of 80% compared to NIS 179 million in 2014. Operating profit for 2015 before the total impact of the impairment charges described above in the amount of NIS 98 million, was NIS 133 million, a decrease of 26% compared with 2014, reflecting the impact of the decrease in service revenues, partially offset by the reduction in total operating expenses and the increase in gross profit from equipment sales, explained above.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA for the fixed-line segment decreased by 16% from NIS 334 million in 2014 to NIS 279 million in 2015, for the same reasons as the decrease in operating profit. As a percentage of total fixed-line revenues, Adjusted EBITDA for the fixed-line segment in 2015 was 29%, compared with 32% in 2014.
Our service revenues and profitability show some seasonal trends over the year, resulting mainly from revenues from roaming services which tend to increase during Jewish holiday periods and during the summer months.
Whilst most of our post-paid cellular tariff plans for private customers are bundles including unlimited amounts of call minutes and SMS, for other cellular subscribers in plans which charge according to usage, airtime minutes and consequently airtime revenues are affected by the number of monthly work days and daylight hours in the day, which varies throughout the year. In addition, airtime revenues for such subscribers are lower in February, which is a shorter than average month. However, due to the increased penetration of bundled plans which offer unlimited or fixed amounts of airtime and SMS usage, the impact of such effects has significantly decreased over the last two years. There is no assurance that these trends will continue in the future.
| Three months ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIS in millions | March 31 | June 30 | Sept. 30 | Dec. 31 |
| (Unaudited) | ||||
| Service Revenues | ||||
| 2014 | 876 | 862 | 862 | 808 |
| 2015 | 759 | 757 | 760 | 716 |
| 2016 | 710 | 692 | 698 | 652 |
Substantially all of our revenues and a majority of our operating expenses are denominated in shekels. However, in recent years, approximately one quarter of our operating expenses (excluding depreciation), including a substantial majority of our handset purchases, were linked to non-NIS currencies, mainly the US dollar. These expenses related principally to the acquisition of handsets, where the price paid by us is based mainly on US dollars. In addition, a substantial amount of our capital expenditures (including with respect to our networks) are incurred in, or linked to, non-NIS currencies, mainly the US dollar. See "ITEM 11 QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK".
Our Note payable series C and our borrowings in a total principal amount of NIS 621 million as of December 31, 2016, are currently in NIS and are linked to the CPI. If the CPI increases, we may not be permitted to raise our tariffs in a manner that would fully compensate for any increase in our finance expenses. In 2016, the CPI decreased 0.3 %, which reduced our finance costs, net, by NIS 2 million, compared to a CPI decrease of 0.9% in 2015, which reduced our finance costs, net, by NIS 9 million. The CPI for each month is published on the 15th day of the following month; references above to the annual change in CPI for a given year is the change from the CPI published on the 15th day of December of the preceding year to the CPI published on the 15th day of December of the relevant year, which for the purposes of this annual report, covers the twelve months beginning January 1 through December 31 of the relevant year.
The discussion below first describes our financial indebtedness (Notes payable, long-term borrowings and total financial debt) and capital expenditures, then our dividend payments, and finally our main sources of liquidity.
The notes payable are unsecured non-convertible and listed for trade on the TASE.
The notes payable have been rated ilA+, on a local scale, by Standard & Poor's Maalot.
Members of our Board of Directors and senior management may have purchased a portion of the various Series Notes through stock exchange transactions.
The table below sets forth the composition and terms of the notes payable issued by the Company and outstanding at December 31, 2016:
| Linkage terms | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (principal and | ||||||
| interest) | Annual interest rate | Interest payment terms | Original issuance date | |||
| Notes payable series C | CPI | 3.35% CPI adj. | Semi-annual | April 2010 | ||
| Notes payable series D | 'Makam'(*) plus 1.2% | Quarterly | April 2010 | |||
| Notes payable series E | 5.5% fixed | Semi-annual | April 2010 |
(*) 'Makam' is a variable interest that is based on the yield of 12 month government bonds issued by the government of Israel. The interest is updated on a quarterly basis. The interest rates paid (in annual terms, and including the additional interest of 1.2%) during 2016 are set forth in the table below:
| Period | Interest rate |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2016 to December 30, 2016 | 1.29% |
| July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016 | 1.29% |
| March 31, 2016 to June 30, 2016 | 1.31% |
| December 31, 2015 to March 30, 2016 | 1.34% |
The table below sets forth the payments of principal to be made on our notes payable at December 31, 2016 (for payments including interest payments, see "Item 5F Aggregate Contractual Obligations"):
| 2020 | Less offering expenses |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | to 2021 |
Total undiscounted |
and discounts |
Total discounted | |
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | |||||||
| Notes payable series C (*) | 212 | 212 | 424 | (1) | 423 | ||
| Notes payable series D | 109 | 109 | 109 | 219 | 546 | (3) | 543 |
| Notes payable series E | 121 | 121 | ** | 121 | |||
| 442 | 321 | 109 | 219 | 1,091 | (4) | 1,087 |
(*) Linked to the CPI as of December 31, 2016.
(**) Representing an amount of less than NIS 1 million.
The Company has received borrowings from leading Israeli commercial banks and other institutions. The Company may, at its discretion prepay the borrowings, subject to certain conditions, including that the Company shall reimburse the lenders for losses sustained by the lenders as a result of the prepayment. The reimbursement is mainly based on the difference between the interest rate that the Company would otherwise pay and the current market interest rate on the prepayment date.
The Israeli Prime interest rate is determined by the Bank of Israel and updated on a monthly basis. The Israeli Prime interest rate as of December 31, 2015 and 2016 was 1.6%.
Borrowings as of December 31, 2016 are set forth below:
| Linkage terms (principal and interest) |
Annual interest rate | Interest payment terms | Original reception date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowing C | 5.7% fixed | Annual | June 2010 | |
| Borrowing D | 5.7% fixed | Annual | June 2010 | |
| Borrowing E | Prime minus 0.025% | Quarterly | May 2011 | |
| Borrowing F | CPI | 3.42% CPI adj. | Quarterly | April 2011 |
| Borrowing G | 3.08% fixed | Quarterly | November 2014 | |
| Borrowing H | 2.93% fixed | Quarterly | November 2014 | |
| Borrowing I | 3.17% fixed | Quarterly | January 2015 | |
| Borrowing J | 2.75% fixed | Quarterly | January 2015 | |
| Borrowing K | 3.71% fixed | Quarterly | March 2015 | |
| Borrowing L | 4.25% fixed | Semi-annual | March 2015 | |
| Borrowing M | 3.884% fixed | Quarterly | July 2015 | |
| Borrowing N | 4.95% fixed | Quarterly | December 2016 |
The table below sets forth the payments of principal to be made on our borrowings, as of December 31, 2016 (for payments including interest payments see Item "5F Aggregate Contractual Obligations"):
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 to 2021 |
2022 to 2023 |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowing C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 75 | ||
| Borrowing D | 25 | 25 | 25 | 75 | ||
| Borrowing E | 152 | 152 | ||||
| Borrowing F (*) | 197 | 197 | ||||
| Borrowing G | 20 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 100 | |
| Borrowing H | 20 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 100 | |
| Borrowing I | 30 | 40 | 50 | 120 | ||
| Borrowing J | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 62 | |
| Borrowing K | 23 | 30 | 23 | 76 | ||
| Borrowing L | 33 | 33 | 67 | 67 | 200 | |
| Borrowing M | 17 | 33 | 33 | 67 | 50 | 200 |
| Borrowing N | 25 | 25 | 67 | 133 | 250 | |
| 57 | 249 | 657 | 487 | 157 | 1,607 |
(*) Linked to the CPI as of December 31, 2016
Buy-back of Notes payable by the Company during 2016:
Following the Board of Directors' resolution in October 2015, to approve a notes buy-back plan of the Company's series B, C and E notes, which are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the repurchases of the following notes were executed (these notes are considered legally extinguished):
In March 2016, the Company repurchased approximately NIS 43 million par value of notes payable series B, at an average transaction price of approximately 1.104 NIS par value. The total amount paid was approximately NIS 48 million.
In March 2016, the Company repurchased approximately NIS 131 million par value of notes payable series E, at an average transaction price of approximately 1.073 NIS par value. The total amount paid was approximately NIS 141 million.
In April 2016, the Company repurchased approximately NIS 54 million par value of notes payable series C, at an average transaction price of approximately 1.136 NIS par value. The total amount paid was approximately NIS 61.5 million.
The buy-back costs of the aforementioned repurchases were recorded in finance expenses in an amount of NIS 12 million.
Borrowing N: On December 28, 2016, the Company received a long-term loan from a group of institutional corporations in the principal amount of NIS 250 million. The Loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.95% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2017.
On November 27, 2014, the Company engaged in a loan agreement with a group of institutional corporations ("Lenders"), according to which on December 26, 2017 the Lenders will provide the Company a loan in the principal amount of NIS 100 million. The loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.44% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2018.
On November 30, 2014, the Company engaged in a loan agreement with a group of institutional corporations ("Lenders"), according to which on December 26, 2017 the Lenders will provide the Company a loan in the principal amount of NIS 100 million. The loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.34% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2018.
All of the off-balance sheet deferred loan commitments include provisions which allow the lenders to not provide the loans should any of the events of default defined for our existing loans occur prior to the date for providing the deferred loans. These events of default include a material adverse change in the Company's business and non-compliance with the financial covenants set forth below, as well as other customary terms. See "Item 3D.2b Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our business, profits and liquidity. Furthermore, difficulties in generating sustainable cash flow may impair our ability to repay our debt and reduce the level of indebtedness."
Financial covenants. The terms of borrowings require the Company to comply with financial covenants on a consolidated basis. The main provisions are the following two ratios:
"EBITDA" is defined as the sum of (a) the net income before extraordinary items, (b) the amount of tax expenses set against the profit including, without double counting, any provisions for tax expenses, (c) amortization and depreciation expenses, and (d) any finance costs net.
Capital Expenditures are defined as any expenditure classified as fixed and intangible asset in the financial statements.
The Group was in compliance with all covenants stipulated for the years 2015 and 2016. The covenants are measured every six months (on June 30, and December 31) on an annualized basis of twelve months and are based on the financial results for the preceding period of twelve months.
The existing loan agreements allow the lenders to demand an immediate repayment of the loans in certain events (events of default), including, among others, a material adverse change in the Company's business and non-compliance with the financial covenants set forth in those agreements.
Negative pledge. The Company provided a negative pledge undertaking (including, among others, not to pledge any of its assets to a third party), except for a number of exceptions that were agreed upon, including pledges (other than by way of floating charge) in favor of a third party over specific assets or rights of the Company, securing obligations no greater than NIS 100 million in aggregate.
At December 31, 2016, total net financial debt (the sum total of current notes payable and borrowings (NIS 498 million) and non-current borrowings and notes payable (NIS 2,196 million) less cash and cash equivalents (NIS 716 million) and less short-term deposits (NIS 452 million)) amounted to NIS 1,526 million, compared to NIS 2,175 million (the sum total of current notes payable (NIS 554 million) and non-current borrowings and notes payable (NIS 2,547 million) less cash and cash equivalents (NIS 926 million)) at December 31, 2015. The decrease in net financial debt compared with 2015 principally reflected the reduction in borrowings and notes payable, as well as the increase in cash and cash equivalents together with short-term deposits, whereby the increase in cash and cash equivalents together with short-term deposits mainly reflected the increase in adjusted free cash flow (cash flows from operating activities, net of cash flows used for investment activities less short-term investments in deposits, see reconciliation to cash flows below; adjusted free cash flow is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies) generated during 2016. The decrease in financial debt compared with 2015 also reflected the buy-back of notes payable made during 2016. See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements (see also "Item 5B.2 Long-term Borrowings" above).
| 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| NIS in millions | ||
| Cash flows from operating activities | 922 | 945 |
| Cash flows from investing activities | (356) | (639) |
| Short-term investment in deposits | 452 | |
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow | 566 | 758 |
At December 31, 2016, the current portion of our total financial debt (including future interest payments during 2017) amounted to NIS 587 million, as compared to NIS 659 million at December 31, 2015, and was composed of the amounts set forth in the table below. We intend to fund the repayment of the current portion of our Notes payable, borrowings and interest in 2017, through available cash or operational cash flow, new borrowings, issuance or sale of corporate notes, or a combination of one or more of these resources.
| Current Portion Payable in 2017 as of December 31, 2016 | NIS in millions |
|---|---|
| Principal on notes payable | 442 |
| Principal on borrowings | 57 |
| Accrued interest on notes payables | 28 |
| Accrued interest on long term borrowings | 60 |
| Total | 587 |
Capital Expenditures. The cellular telephone business is highly capital intensive, requiring significant capital to acquire a license and to construct and maintain a mobile telecommunications network. The capital requirements of our network are determined by the coverage desired, the expected call and data traffic and the desired quality and variety of services. Cellular network construction costs are mainly related to the number of cells in the service area, the number of radio channels in the cell and the switching equipment required.
In the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, our capital expenditures as represented by additions to property and equipment and intangible assets, amounted to NIS 434 million, NIS 271 million and NIS 202 million, respectively, and were principally related to our cellular network. The decrease in capital expenditures from 2015 to 2016 partly reflected the fact that amounts expended to improve PHI's network are (since PHI began operations) recorded as deferred expenses – right of use, whereas prior to that date, these outflows were recorded as capital expenditures. Deferred expenses of the right to use PHI's assets increased from NIS 4 million in 2015 to NIS 41 million in 2016. In addition, the decrease in capital expenditures reflected the onetime payment to the Ministry of Communications for 4G frequencies of NIS 34 million in 2015.
At December 31, 2016, our capital expenditure commitments totaled NIS 20 million. For further information regarding our capital expenditure commitments at December 31, 2016, see "Item 5F Aggregate Contractual Obligations".
Dividend payments. For the year ending December 31, 2016, the Company did not distribute any dividends.
Cash on hand. At December 31, 2016, we had NIS 716 million in cash on hand, compared to NIS 926 million at December 31, 2015.
Short-term deposits. At December 31, 2016, we had NIS 452 million in short-term deposits, compared to none at December 31, 2015.
Cash generated from operations. Cash generated from operations increased by 2% from NIS 922 million in 2015 to NIS 945 million (US\$ 245 million) in 2016. The increase mainly reflected the significant decrease in operating assets, which was mainly explained by the significant decrease in the volume of equipment sales under long-term payment plans in 2016 compared with in 2015. In addition, the increase reflected the payment by HOT Mobile in 2016 of the lump sum of NIS 250 million under the Network Sharing Agreement. These two factors were partially offset by the payment in 2015 of €90 million received from Orange as part of the settlement agreement of the Orange brand license agreement, and by the decrease in Adjusted EBITDA excluding the recorded income with respect to the settlement agreement of the Orange brand agreement. The adjusted free cash flow for 2016 was NIS 758 million compared to NIS 566 million for 2015, representing an increase of 34% (adjusted free cash flow is calculated as cash flows from operating activities, net of cash flows from investment activities less short-term investment in deposits; adjusted free cash flow is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies).
Existing credit facilities. During 2016 and at December 31, 2016, we did not have any active credit facilities with banks.
Off balance sheet loan commitments. On November 27, 2014, the Company engaged in a loan agreement with a group of institutional corporations, according to which on December 26, 2017, they will provide the Company a loan in the principal amount of NIS 100 million. The loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.44% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2018. On November 30, 2014, the Company engaged in a loan agreement with a group of institutional corporations, according to which on December 26, 2017, they will provide the Company a loan in the principal amount of NIS 100 million. The loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.34% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2018.
We believe that cash flows from our operations, together with our cash on hand, our short-term deposits and the two loan commitments described in the preceding paragraph, will provide us with enough liquidity and resources to fund our on-going operations, expected capital expenditure needs, payment of amounts due on our notes, as well as under our financing agreements, our license payments, and our other material commitments, at least for the next 12 months. However, the actual amount and timing of our future requirements may differ materially from our estimates.
As noted in "Item 3D.1o Our mobile telephone license imposes certain obligations on our shareholders and restrictions on who can own our shares. Ensuring compliance with these obligations and restrictions may be outside our control, and may limit our ability to raise new equity capital. If the obligations or restrictions are not respected by our shareholders, we could lose our license.", if the Company decides to raise capital, it may face significant difficulties, since the current holdings of Israeli entities (as defined in the license) are approximately 5% and any equity offering to the public or to the Company's employees and office holders will require an equivalent equity offering of shares to Israeli entities, in a manner in which the total Israeli entities founding shareholders' holdings will not be less than 5% of the total issued share capital. Since these Israeli entity shares require pre-approval of the MoC to determine that the receiving shareholder is eligible to be an Israeli entity, they are limited in their capability of transfer to another shareholder. The Company may need to grant a significant discount in an equity offering of these Israeli entity shares. If the Company would be required to raise capital and this issue would prevent it, there could be an adverse impact on our business (e.g. reduction in sales with long term credit arrangements and/or reduction in capital investments). See also "Item 5D.2 Outlook".
We are primarily a user rather than a developer of technology. Accordingly, we did not engage in any significant research and development activities during the past three years.
See "Item 5D.2 Outlook". See also recent regulatory developments in "Item 4B.13e Regulatory Developments" and "Item 3D.1 RISKS RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF OUR INDUSTRY".
In 2016, competition in the Israeli telecommunications market remained intense, although cellular price erosion and churn rates were lower than in the previous two years. This was reflected in further substantial price erosion in both cellular and fixed line services following the substantial price erosion already experienced in previous years. As a result, there was a further significant negative impact on the Company's service revenues and operating profitability.
Depending on regulatory and other developments in the market, our operating results may continue to decline in 2017 and beyond, which may adversely affect our financial condition. See also "Item 3D.2a As a result of substantial and continuing changes in our regulatory and business environment, our operating results and profitability have decreased significantly in the past five years, with a loss for 2015. We managed to earn a profit of NIS 52 million (US\$ 14 million) for 2016, but our operating results may again decline in 2017 and beyond, which may adversely affect our financial condition."
In addition to the decrease in service revenues, revenues and gross profit from equipment sales decreased significantly in 2016, by 29% and 40% respectively. Both the decrease in the amount of equipment sales and in profit margins were mainly related to the tightening of the Company's customer credit policy, whereby stricter requirements were imposed for customers to be accepted for long-term financing plans. The decrease in profit margins also reflected a change in product mix.
In order to mitigate the impact of the competition on the price erosion and decreases in service revenues and in gross profits from equipment sales, the Company continued to adjust its cost structure and to implement operational efficiency measures through 2016, which was reflected in a decrease in 2016 in total operating expenses of NIS 139 million (including cost of service revenues (NIS 2,276 million in 2016) and selling, marketing and administrative expenses (NIS 689 million in 2016), and excluding depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses (NIS 641 million in 2016); this measure is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies). A significant proportion of the decrease in total operating expenses was related to the implementation of the cost sharing mechanism under the Network Sharing Agreement with HOT Mobile from the second quarter of 2016.
With regards to income from the settlement agreement with Orange, whilst in 2016 the Company recorded income from the settlement agreement in an amount of NIS 217 million (US\$ 56 million) (compared with NIS 61 million recorded in 2015), the recognition of the advance payments received from Orange will cease from the third quarter of 2017. Therefore the recognition of the advance payments in 2017 will be limited to an amount of NIS 108 million. See also "Item 5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd." above and Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.
Partner's expected entry into the television market during the first half of 2017 will also require significant investment and incremental operating expenses and is expected to provide a negative contribution to our results of operation for 2017. See "Item 3D.2c Entry into the television services market entails costs, without expectations of profitability in the short term."
The statements above under this section regarding trends are "forward-looking" statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current knowledge and our present beliefs and expectations regarding possible future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Partner, consumer habits and preferences in mobile telephone usage, trends in the Israeli telecommunications industry in general, possible regulatory and legal developments and trends in general economic conditions. For a description of some of the risks we face, see "Item 3D. Key Information – Risk Factors", "Item 4. Information on the Company", "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and "Item 8A. Consolidated Financial Statements and Other Financial Information – Legal and Administrative Proceedings". In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed above might not occur, and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated.
As of December 31, 2016, the Company provided bank guarantees in a total amount of NIS 171 million. For further details see Note 17 (6) to the consolidated financial statements.
During 2014, the Company engaged in several future loan agreements with a group of institutional corporations according to which the lenders will provide the Company with loans in the amount of NIS 200 million on December 2017. See "5B.2 Long-term Borrowings".
Other than the aforementioned guarantees and deferred loans, there are no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors. See also "Item 5F Aggregate Contractual Obligations".
Set forth below are our contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2016:
| Payments due by period (NIS in millions) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractual Obligations | Total | 2017 | 2018-2019 | 2020-2021 | 2022 and thereafter |
|
| Notes Series C* | 445 | 226 | 219 | |||
| Notes Series D* | 567 | 116 | 228 | 223 | ||
| Notes Series E* | 128 | 128 | ||||
| Long term borrowings* | 1,805 | 117 | 1,005 | 519 | 164 | |
| Operating Leases | 630 | 137 | 193 | 132 | 168 | |
| Trade payables | 681 | 681 | ||||
| Payables in respect of employees | 81 | 81 | ||||
| Other payables | 18 | 18 | ||||
| Contribution to defined benefit plan | 12 | 12 | ||||
| Commitments to pay for inventory purchases** | 1,128 | 648 | 480 | |||
| Commitments to pay for property, equipment purchases and software | ||||||
| elements purchases (capital expenditures)** | 20 | 20 | ||||
| Commitments to pay for rights of use** | 273 | 46 | 92 | 91 | 44 | |
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | 5,788 | 2,230 | 2,217 | 965 | 376 |
* The figures include expected payments of interest on our long-term debt (borrowings and notes payable).
** See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
Below is a list of the directors of the Company as of the date of this annual report.
| Name of Director | Age | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Chesnoff* | 51 | Chairman of the Board of Directors | |
| Elon Shalev* | 65 | Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors | |
| Dr. Michael J. Anghel (1)(2)(3)(4) | 78 | Director | |
| Barry Ben Zeev (1)(2)(3)(4) | 65 | Director | |
| Fred Gluckman* | 46 | Director | |
| Barak Pridor* | 51 | Director | |
| Osnat Ronen (5) (6) | 54 | Director | |
| Yoav Rubinstein* | 43 | Director | |
| Arieh Saban* | 70 | Director | |
| Yehuda Saban | 37 | Director | |
| Arik Steinberg (1)(2)(4) | 52 | Director | |
| Ori Yaron* | 51 | Director | |
| (1) Member of the Audit Committee | |||
| (2) Member of the Compensation Committee | |||
| (3) External Director under the Israeli Companies Law (See "Item 6C Board Practices") | |||
| (4) Independent Director under NASDAQ rules and under the Israeli Companies Law | |||
| (5) Independent Director under NASDAQ rules | |||
| (6) Appointed by the Israeli founding shareholders |
* Nominated by S.B. Israel Telecom
Adam Chesnoff was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner effective as of January 29, 2013 and was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors on November 20, 2013. Mr. Chesnoff serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Saban Capital Group, Inc., responsible for overseeing its investment and business activities, including private equity and public market investments. Mr. Chesnoff is a member of the Board of Directors of Univision Communications Inc., the largest Spanish-language media company in the United States; a member of the Board of Directors of Celestial Tiger Entertainment Ltd., an owner and operator of pay television channels across Asia. Mr. Chesnoff is also a member of the Board of Commissioners of MNC Ltd., an Indonesian media company. In addition, Mr. Chesnoff served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG from 2003 until 2007. From 2005 to 2010, Mr. Chesnoff served on the Board of Directors of Bezeq Israel Telecommunication Company Ltd. Mr. Chesnoff holds a B.A. in economics and management from Tel-Aviv University and an M.B.A from UCLA's Anderson School of Business.
Elon Shalev was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner effective as of January 29, 2013 and was appointed to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors on November 20, 2013. Mr. Shalev serves as a senior advisor to Saban Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Shalev was the founder of Channel 2 news and from 1993 to1995 served as its Chief Executive Officer. From 1996-1999, he served as Editor in Chief of "Yediot Aharonot", and from 2000 to 2001 he served as Executive Vice President of Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. of the IDB Group. Mr. Shalev was the cofounder of SHL Telemedicine Ltd. and still serves as a director in the company. Mr. Shalev served in the past on the Board of Directors of Bezeq Israel Telecommunication Company Ltd., DBS Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. (Yes) and Bezeq International Company Ltd. Mr. Shalev holds a B.A. in political science from Tel Aviv University.
Dr. Michael J. Anghel was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in March 2006. From 1977 to 1999, he led the Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. (of the IDB Group) activities in the fields of technology and communications. Dr. Anghel was instrumental in founding Tevel, one of the first Israeli cable television operators and later in founding Cellcom. In 1999 he founded CAP Ventures, an advanced technology investment company. From 2004 to 2005, Dr. Anghel served as CEO of DCM, the investment banking arm of the Israel Discount Bank. He has been involved in various technology enterprises and has served on the Board of Directors of various major Israeli corporations and financial institutions including Elron, Elbit, Nice, Gilat, American Israeli Paper Mills, Maalot (the Israeli affiliate of Standard and Poor's) and Hapoalim Capital Markets and served as the Chairman of the Center for Educational Technology. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Syneron Medical Ltd., Dan Hotels Ltd, Orbotech Ltd., BiolineRx Ltd. and the Strauss-Group Ltd. Prior to launching his business career, Dr. Anghel served as a full-time member of the Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration of the Tel Aviv University, where he taught finance and corporate strategy. He currently serves as Chairman of the Tel Aviv University's Executive Program. Dr. Anghel holds a B.A. in economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in finance both from Columbia University in New York.
Barry Ben Zeev (Woolfson) was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in October 2009. He has been providing strategic business consulting services since 2009. Mr. Ben Zeev served as the Deputy-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer of Bank Hapoalim in 2008. He joined the bank in 1976 and served in a variety of senior positions in the branch system and the international division including New York. Mr. Ben Zeev served in the following executive positions prior to becoming Deputy-Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer of Bank Hapoalim: Executive Vice President & Head of International Operations during the years 2001-2002, Deputy-Chief Executive Officer & Head of International Private Banking during the years 2002- 2006, Chairman of Poalim Asset Management during the years 2001-2006, Chairman of Bank Hapoalim Switzerland during the years 2002-2006, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Signature Bank in New York during the years 2001-2002 and Deputy-Chief Executive Officer and Head of Client Asset Management during the years 2006-2007. Mr. Ben Zeev serves on the Board of Directors of the following companies: Ellomay Capital Ltd., Poalim Asset Management UK Ltd., Ben Zeev (Woolfson) Consultants Ltd., Hiron-Commerce Investments & Mivnei Ta'asiya Ltd., Kali Pension Administration Management Ltd. and Altshuler Shaham Provident and Pension Ltd. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange during the years 2006-2007. Mr. Ben Zeev holds a B.A. in economics and an M.B.A both from Tel-Aviv University.
Fred Gluckman was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner effective as of January 29, 2013. Mr. Gluckman serves as the Chief Financial Officer and executive vice president of Saban Capital Group, Inc. ("SCG"). In this position, Mr. Gluckman is responsible for all financial, accounting, tax, HR and IT functions of the firm, and has been an active member of the firm's investment team since joining the firm in 2003. Mr. Gluckman is a member of the Board of Directors of Celestial Tiger Entertainment and serves on its Audit Committee. Mr. Gluckman's experience, prior to joining SCG, includes international and domestic advisory work in the London and Southern California practices of Deloitte. Mr. Gluckman is actively engaged in the community, serving on multiple boards of national and local charitable organizations including on the national executive committee of the Friends of the IDF. Mr. Gluckman is a CPA and holds a B.S. in economics from Wharton Business School and studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Barak Pridor was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in February 2016. Mr. Pridor served from 2000 until 2011 as CEO of ClearForest, a software startup that was acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2007. Following the acquisition, Mr. Pridor continued to serve as CEO of ClearForest as well as an Executive Vice President at Thomson Reuters until 2011. Mr. Pridor serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Applicaster Ltd. from 2015 and as a director on the Board of Directors of: Playbuzz Ltd. from 2016, Leadspace Ltd. from 2013, and of Sosa Tlv Ltd. from 2013. Mr. Pridor holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Tel Aviv University and a M.B.A. from INSEAD Business School.
Ms. Osnat Ronen was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in December 2009. Ms. Ronen founded FireWind 01 GP in 2015 and has since served as its general partner. Ms. Ronen has also served as an advisor to Liquidnet, Inc. from 2013 to 2015. She previously served as a General Partner of Viola Private Equity from 2008 until 2013. From 1994 to 2007, Ms. Ronen served in various positions at Bank Leumi Le Israel BM, including as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Leumi Partners Ltd. from 2001 to 2007 and as Deputy Head of the Subsidiaries Division of the Leumi Group from 1999 to 2001. Between 2004 and 2007, Ms. Ronen also led the strategic planning, deployment and execution of the Bachar Reform, one of Israel's largest financial reforms, at Leumi Group. As part of the implementation, Ms. Ronen managed the sale of Leumi's holdings in mutual, provident and training funds. Ms. Ronen currently serves on the Board of Directors of Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank Ltd., Fox-Wizel Ltd. and Perion Network Ltd. She also volunteers as a director of the College for Management (Michlala Le-Minhal) and Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ms. Ronen served on the Board of Directors of several portfolio companies of Viola including: Amiad Water Systems Ltd., Orad Hi-tech Ltd., Aeronautics Ltd., Degania Medical Ltd., and Matomy Media Group Ltd. Ms. Ronen holds a B.Sc. in mathematics and computer science from Tel Aviv University and an M.B.A. from the Recanati School of Business Administration at Tel Aviv University.
Yoav Rubinstein was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner effective as of January 29, 2013. Mr. Rubinstein joined SHL Telemedicine Ltd. as Senior Vice President, Head of Global Business Development in March 2012. Previously, Mr. Rubinstein served as an investment professional at Apax Partners for nine years and as Senior Advisor to Saban Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Rubinstein holds a B.A. in business administration from the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.
Arieh Saban was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner effective as of January 29, 2013. Mr. Saban has served since 2010 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saban Brands Israel Ltd. From 1983 until 2002 Mr. Saban served as the CEO of Israel Audio-Visual Corporation, a media distribution, licensing and merchandising agency that he founded. From 2000 until 2002 he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fox Kids Israel, a joint venture with Fox Kids Europe. From 2005 until 2012, Mr. Saban served on the Board of Directors of the following companies: Keshet Broadcasting Ltd., Pelephone Communications Ltd., DBS Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. (Yes) Bezeq Israel Telecommunication Company Ltd. and Bezeq International Company Ltd.
Yehuda Saban was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in April 2015. Mr. Saban served between 2011- mid 2015 as Vice President Economics & Regulation and FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas) manager at Delek Drilling & Avner oil exploration. Previously, Mr. Saban served over 6 years in various capacities with the budget department of the Ministry of Finance as Manager of the Telecommunications and Tourism Unit, Manager of the Budget and Macroeconomics unit and as an economist in the Energy unit. During those years, Mr. Saban was also an active partner in a number of committees and authorities in the energy, telecommunications and infrastructure fields. Mr. Saban holds a B.A. in Economics & Business Management (graduated with honors) and an M.B.A specializing in Financing, both from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Arie (Arik) Steinberg was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in January 2012. Mr. Steinberg served from 2006-2010 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Psagot Investment House, Ltd., as well as other companies in the Psagot Group, leading and overseeing the business strategies of the Psagot Group. Mr. Steinberg served as Chairman on behalf of York Capital. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. Mr. Steinberg also served between 1999-2003 as Chief Executive Officer of Ilanot Batucha Investment House from the IDB Group, as well as a director of Maalot (the Israeli affiliate of Standard and Poor's).Prior to that, Mr. Steinberg served as Managing Director of Etgar- Portfolio Management Trust Co. owned by Bank Mizrahi. He also served on the Advisory Boards of Mobileye Technologies and Novotrans Group SA. Mr. Steinberg serves on the Board of Directors of Leumi Partners Ltd and as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yaffo. Mr. Steinberg studied economics at Tel-Aviv University.
Ori Yaron was appointed to the Board of Directors of Partner in May 2014. Mr. Yaron practices law and manages Ilan Yaron Law Offices that specializes in the areas of insurance and torts. Mr. Yaron served from 2010 until 2016 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Geophysics Institute and served from 2006 until 2007 as a member of the Board of Directors of Mekorot Development & Enterprise and from 2011 until 2014 as a member of the Board of Directors of Hozei Israel Ltd. Mr. Yaron holds a B.A. in economics and an LL.B. both from Tel-Aviv University and is a member of the Israeli Bar Association.
Below is a list of the Senior Management of the Company as of the date of this annual report:
| Name of Officer | Age | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Benbenisti | 52 | Chief Executive Officer |
| Yuval Keinan | 42 | Deputy Chief Executive Officer |
| Ziv Leitman* | 58 | Chief Financial Officer |
| Hadar Vismunski-Weinberg** | 43 | Vice President, Chief Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary |
| Einat Rom | 51 | Vice President, Human Resources & Administration |
| Zvika Shenfeld | 44 | Vice President, Private & Retail Division |
| Atara Litvak Shacham | 45 | Vice President Marketing & Growth Engines Division |
| Liran Dan | 38 | Vice President Strategy & Business Development |
| Raz Bartov | 39 | Vice President Technologies & IT Division |
| Noach Hacker | 35 | Vice President Regulations Division |
*Effective April 2, 2017, David (Dudu) Mizrahi will be replacing Ziv Leitman as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
** Effective March 16, 2017, Hadar Vismunski-Weinberg replaced Nomi Sandhaus as the Company's Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Isaac Benbenisti was appointed as Chief Executive Officer effective July 1, 2015 after having served as the Deputy CEO of Partner from November 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Benbenisti served from 2007 until 2014, as the CEO of Bezeq International Ltd. From 2003 through 2006, Mr. Benbenisti served as a director and C.E.O of the System Group and Distribution Channels Division at Hewlett-Packard (HP). Prior to that, he held a variety of managerial positions, including as the CEO of CMS Compucenter Ltd. Mr. Benbenisti holds a B.A. in economics and an M.B.A specializing in finance and marketing, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Yuval Keinan was appointed as Deputy CEO effective January 1, 2016, after having served from 2008 until 2015 as the Vice President and CTO of Bezeq, the Israel Telecommunications Corp., Ltd. Prior to that, he served for three years as Vice President technology division, engineering & IT and CTO of Bezeq International Ltd. Mr. Keinan holds a B.Sc. in computer science from Mercy College.
Ziv Leitman was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Partner in 2011. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Leitman served as the Deputy CEO and CFO of Paz Oil Company Ltd., the largest energy and convenience retailer company in Israel traded on the Tel Aviv stock exchange. Previously, Mr. Leitman served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Comverse Inc., global leading provider of systems to telecommunication companies and as Executive Vice President and CFO of Discount Investments Corporation Ltd. and, Lucent Technology –EIS, Prior to this, Mr. Leitman served as CFO of Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. and Optrotech Ltd (Orbotech). Mr. Leitman is a CPA and holds a B.A in economics and accounting and an M.B.A in finance and information systems all from Tel Aviv University.
David (Dudu) Mizrahi was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Partner effective April 2, 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Mizrahi served from 2012 until 2016 as the Deputy CEO and CFO of Bezeq-The Israel Telecommunication Corp., Ltd. ("Bezeq"). Between 2007 and 2012, Mr. Mizrahi served as the Vice President Economics and Budget at Bezeq and between 2001-2007 he served as the Regulatory and Government Relations Department Manager at Bezeq. Mr. Mizrahi holds a B.A. in Economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Hadar Vismunski-Weinberg was appointed as Vice President, Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary effective March 16, 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Vismunski-Weinberg served since 2013 as Vice President and General Counsel- global R&D of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ("Teva"). Between 2007 and 2013. Ms. Vismunski-Weinberg served in other senior positions at Teva. Ms. Vismunski-Weinberg holds an LL.B from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Einat Rom, was appointed as Vice President of Human Resources effective November 1, 2012 after having served as Vice President of Private Customers Division since December 1, 2010. Prior to joining Partner, Mrs. Rom served as Vice President of Service in Better Place Company and prior to that, she served as Vice President of Private Division in Bezeq The Israel Telecommunication Corp. and as Vice President of Service in Pelephone Communications Ltd. Mrs. Rom holds a B.A. in social science from Haifa University.
Zvika Shenfeld was appointed as Vice President, Private & Retail Division after having served prior to that as the Vice President of Marketing and Content Division, the Acting Head of Marketing, Content and Growth Engines Division and as the deputy of the head of the division since joining the Company in March 2012. From 2009 to 2012 he served as the marketing, strategy and business development at Newpan, an electronic home and small appliances distributor and retail chain. From 2006 until 2009, Mr. Shenfeld held various positions at the Eurocom Group including VP marketing and Business development at Internet Gold and Deputy CEO of MSN Israel. From 2003 until 2006 he served as Marketing Manager of AIG Israel. From 1999 until 2003 he held various economic and marketing positions at 013 Barak ILD. Mr. Shenfeld holds a B.A. in economics and logistics from Bar Ilan University and an M.B.A. from the ONO academic center.
Atara Litvak Shacham was appointed as Vice President of Marketing in December 2014 and joined Partner on February 10, 2015. Before joining Partner, Ms. Litvak Shacham served during 2014 as the Chief Marketing Officer at Colmobil Group, Carter Venture and prior to that as the Vice President of Marketing at Bezeq International Inc. from 2005-2013. Prior to that, Ms. Litvak Shacham served in various management positions. Ms. Litvak Shacham holds a B.A. with honors in behavioral sciences and HR management and industrial management from Ben-Gurion University, an M.B.A. specializing in marketing from the Hebrew University and attended the Management Acceleration Program (MAP) at INSEAD.
Liran Dan was appointed as Vice President Strategy and Business Development in October 2015, after having served from 2012 until 2015 as the Director of the Public Diplomacy and Media at the Prime Minister's office. Prior to that, he held a series of executive positions at Channel 2 News. In his last position, as the V.P. Digital Media, he established the digital desk of Channel 2 News. Mr. Dan holds an Executive M.B.A. degree from Tel-Aviv University, and a B.A. in political science and history from Bar-Ilan University.
Raz Bartov was appointed as Vice President Technologies and IT in May 2016 after have served in the Company over the years in various managerial positions and performed a broad spectrum of roles in the various technological units in the IT and engineering departments. Within the scope of his positions, Mr. Bartov took part in leading significant business and technological courses of action in the Company. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bartov was employed by Amdocs. Mr. Bartov holds a B.Sc. in computer science from Tel-Aviv University, and an M.B.A. from Ben-Gurion University.
Noach Hacker was appointed as Vice President, Regulation effective September 2016. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hacker served for over nine years in various capacities with the budget department of the Ministry of Finance as Senior Deputy to the Head of Budgets-Security Affairs, Security Budget Coordinator, Coordinator on the Infrastructure Team and as the Liaison of the Water Sector. Mr. Hacker holds a combined B.A in political science, economics and interdisciplinary studies from Bar Ilan University and an M.A. in political science from Haifa University.
None of the above directors, except for Mr. Arieh Saban, who is the brother of Mr. Haim Saban, the owner and CEO of Saban Capital Group, has any family relationship with any other director or senior manager of the Company. None of the above members of senior management has any family relationship with any other director or senior manager of the Company.
The terms of employment of the CEO are approved by the compensation committee, the Board of Directors and the general meeting of shareholders (by a special majority) and must comply with the Company's Compensation Policy for Office Holders (as this term is defined in Item 6C.8 below) (except for certain exceptions, as set by the Israeli Companies Law). The "special majority" requires the approval of a majority of the Company's shareholders participating at the general meeting and voting on the matter and at least one of the following conditions: (i) such majority includes a majority of the votes cast by shareholders who are not controlling parties (as defined in the Israeli Companies Law) in the Company and who do not have a personal interest in the resolution, and who are present and voting (abstentions are disregarded), or (ii) the votes cast against the resolution by shareholders who are not controlling parties and who do not have a personal interest in the resolution, who are present and voting, constitute two percent or less of the outstanding voting power in the Company). The terms of employment of other senior management (Office Holders) are approved by the compensation committee and the Board of Directors, and must comply with the Company's Compensation Policy (except for certain exceptions, as set by the Israeli Companies Law). See "Item 6C.6b COMPENSATION COMMITTEE". Senior management is generally appointed by the CEO with the approval of the Board of Directors for an indefinite term of office and may be removed by the CEO with the approval of the Board of Directors at any time.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law, the compensation policy of a company shall be submitted for the approval of the general meeting of shareholders, at least once every three years. We first adopted a compensation policy that sets forth the guidelines and framework for the mode of compensation of the Company's Office Holders following the approval of the Company's shareholders, at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, held on October 17, 2013 (the "Former Compensation Policy"). A new Compensation Policy was approved by the Company's shareholders at the annual general meeting of shareholders held on September 28, 2016 (the "Compensation Policy"). The Compensation Policy sets forth the principles and procedures for determining Office Holders' compensation, including ongoing remuneration, bonuses (including annual bonuses, severance bonuses and special bonuses), equity compensation, indemnification, insurance and release. The recently adopted Compensation Policy revises the Former Compensation Policy with respect to various matters and issues that needed to be updated and amended since the adoption of the Former Compensation Policy, due to changes in market practices since then, as well as adaption to legislative changes. See Exhibit 15.(b).1.
According to the Compensation Policy, annual bonus payments for our senior management are determined with respect to a given year based on targets set for the Company as a whole, targets set for each of the Company divisions as well as on personal evaluations. The targets for the CEO and the senior management are set by the compensation committee and the Board of Directors generally in accordance with the overall Company objectives. Upon the approval of the Company's annual results, bonus payments are determined based on the extent to which the Company and division targets have been met, as well as on the personal evaluation of each Office Holder at the discretion of the compensation committee and the Board of Directors, in light of the recommendations made by the Chairman of the Board of Directors with respect to the CEO, and, in light of recommendations made by the CEO, with respect to senior management reporting to the CEO.
Compensation for senior management may also be provided in the form of equity based compensation which includes stock options to purchase our ordinary shares and restricted shares. In 2016 options were granted to our senior management under the 2004 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan to purchase up to 559,480 of our ordinary shares at a weighted average exercise price of NIS 18.17 per option with some of the options vesting at the earliest in January 2017. These options will expire at the latest by November 2022. In addition, in 2016, 230,929 restricted shares were granted to our senior management under the 2004 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, with some of the restricted shares vesting at the earliest in January 2017. For more information, see "Item 6E.2 Equity Incentive Plan".
The aggregate compensation paid, and benefits in kind granted to or accrued on behalf of all our directors and senior management for their services in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries during the year ended December 31, 2016, was approximately NIS 42 million (US\$ 11 million). This amount included approximately NIS 3 million (US\$ 0.8 million) set aside or accrued to provide pension and retirement benefits on behalf of all our senior management during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Mr. Isaac Benbenisti has served as the CEO of the Company since July 1, 2015. The terms of his employment were approved by the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors and the general meeting of shareholders of the Company. Until December 1, 2015, the CEO was employed though an agreement with a private company, fully owned by him, for the provision of management services to the Company. Following a resolution of the compensation committee to make an immaterial change to the CEO's terms of employment, the CEO's employment format was changed to that of a company employee ("Employment Agreement"). The engagement in the Employment Agreement is for an unlimited time period with the right of each party to terminate upon 6 months prior written notice. In addition to the advance notice period, upon termination, the CEO will be entitled to a 6 month period during which he will receive a salary without being required to provide services.
The CEO's monthly salary (gross) will be an amount of NIS 150 thousand, linked to the CPI as of the index June 2015 (at the end of 2016 the monthly salary (gross) was NIS 150.3 thousand). In addition, the CEO will be entitled to reimbursement for the cost of vehicle use and maintenance as well as accepted related terms that are usually granted to the other office holders in the Company including telephone, food, cellular phone and other benefits in accordance with the Company's compensation policy and procedures (including indemnification, release and insurance arrangements as customary in the Company) and social benefits including sick days, vacation and allocations to plans and funds.
The annual bonus of the CEO is based on two elements: (a) 90% - Company targets (see below) while using the main performance indices determined by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors after approval of the Company's annual budget, and (b) 10% - CEO performance evaluation for that year by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, based on qualitative and quantitative criteria.
The minimum criterion for receiving the annual financial bonus with respect to the CEO, as of the beginning of his said tenure as CEO, is that the Company achieved as least 80% of the Company's targets for the relevant year and in addition, that the total EBITDA shall not have decreased by more than 40% of the EBITDA for the year preceding the year in respect of which the bonus is payable.
With respect to the amount of the annual financial bonus, tiers were set to calculate the amount of the bonus according to the CEO's global achievement rate with respect to all of the elements of the annual bonus (a weighted score of the company targets and an evaluation of the CEO's performances), as follows: achievement at a rate lower than 80% will not entitle the CEO to an annual bonus; achievement at a rate between 80%-120% will entitle the CEO to 80%-120% of the annual bonus budget; achievement at a rate that exceed 120% will entitle the CEO to 120% of the annual bonus budget. For the year ending December 31, 2016, the annual bonus budget (100%) for the period during Mr. Benbenisti's tenure as CEO was approximately NIS 1,503 thousand. These sums are linked to the CPI.
The CEO's Company targets for the year 2016 were determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in March 2016 based on the annual work plan of the Company for the year. They include seven individual targets: (1) Company EBITDA target with a weight of 30% of the Company's targets (the 2016 achievement rate: 107%); (2) Cash flow target from the ongoing business with a weight of 20% of the Company's targets (2016 achievement rate: 200%); (3) Net subscriber target (combined cellular, fixed, activation and subscriber churn index) with a weight of 10% of the Company's targets (2016 achievement rate: 74%); (4) Cellular ARPU Base target with a weight of 10% of the Company's targets (2016 achievement rate: 106%); (5) Branding target (including brand awareness, budget and annual branding work plan) with a weight of 10% of the Company's targets (2016 achievement rate: 117%); (6) Digital service and sales target with a weight of 10% of the Company's targets (2016 achievement rate: 51%) and (7) Fixed-line service target (meet quality of service targets and other operational index targets that were determined) with a weight of 10% of the Company's targets (2016 achievement rate: 91%).
With respect to the above Company targets, a threshold and upper limit for achieving the target were determined as follows: achievement at a rate lower than 20% of the target will not allow eligibility for a bonus for that criteria; achievement at a rate between 20% - 200% of the target will allow eligibility at a rate of 20% - 200% for that criteria; achievement at a rate above 200% will allow eligibility of 200% for that criteria. With regard to the Company EBITDA target, an achievement at a rate lower than 80% of the target will not allow eligibility for a bonus for that criteria.
The global achievement rate of the CEO of all of the elements of the annual bonus for 2016 was 120%.
On March 29, 2017, the Board of Directors examined the CEO's achievement of targets and in accordance with the achievement of the said targets, the bonus that will be granted to the CEO for 2016, is in the amount of NIS 1,804 thousand.
In accordance with the resolutions of the Compensation Committee, Board of Directors and annual meeting of shareholders, Mr. Benbenisti was granted in 2015, in accordance with the Company's equity incentive plan, 1,471,971 options (non-tradeable) of the Company, at an exercise price of NIS 18.08, that constitutes a premium of 5% on the average share price of the Company, during the 30 days preceding the grant date. Mr. Benbenisti's granted options vest in three tranches: 33% of the entire amount of the options as of October 28, 2016, 33% of the entire amount of options as of October 28, 2017 and the balance of the options as of October 28, 2018. Mr. Benbenisti's eligibility to exercise each of the above detailed tranches will be available to him until October 27, 2021. The fair value of the options as of the grant date according to Black-Scholes model was NIS 8 million.

The table below sets forth information regarding compensation on an individual basis for the five Office Holders with the highest compensation for the year 2016.
| Details of the Compensation Recipient | Compensation for services (the compensation amounts are displayed in terms of cost for the Company) (NIS thousands) |
Other compensation & vehicle (the compensation amounts are displayed in terms of cost for the Company) (NIS thousands) |
Total (NIS thousands) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Payroll & Related expenses |
Annual Bonus |
Share based payments |
Other | |
| Isaac Benbenisti | Chief Executive Officer | 2,339 | 4,680(1)(11) 1,804 |
665(2) | 9,488(3) | |
| Yuval Keinan | Deputy Chief Executive Officer | 1,737 | 1,938(4)(11) 1,284 |
1,595(5) | 6,554 | |
| Ziv Leitman | Chief Financial Officer | 1,316 | 1,677(6)(11) 534 |
114(7) | 3,641 | |
| Zvika Shenfeld | Vice President, Private & Retail Division | 1,083 | 1,677(8)(11) 435 |
222(9) | 3,417 | |
| Einat Rom | Vice President, Human Resources & Administration | 1,132 | 473 | 1,677(10) (11) 121(7) |
3,403 |
(1) In 2014, 137,200 share options were granted to Mr. Isaac Benbenisti in his capacity as Deputy CEO at the time, with a vesting period of up to four years. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured on the day of the grant was approximately NIS 0.8 million. Mr. Isaac Benbenisti waived these options and they were cancelled when the terms of service and employment of Mr. Benbenisti as the Company's CEO were approved.
In 2015, 1,471,971 share options were granted to Mr. Isaac Benbenisti, in his capacity as the Company's CEO with a vesting period of up to three years at an exercise price of NIS 18.08 that constitutes a premium of 5% on the average share price of the Company, during the 30 days preceding the grant date. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured on the day of the grant was approximately NIS 8 million. Mr. Benbenisti's granted options vest in three tranches: 33% of the entire amount of the options as of October 28, 2016, 33% of the entire amount of options as of October 28, 2017 and the balance of the options as of October 28, 2018. Mr. Benbenisti's eligibility to exercise each of the above detailed tranches will be available to him until October 27, 2021.
(2) "Other compensation" includes: expenses for retirement that were accumulated during the reporting period of this Annual Report and will be paid only upon retirement and vehicle expenses.
(3) For further information regarding the CEO's compensation see above under CEO Compensation.
(4) In 2016, 269,000 share options and 114,000 restricted shares were granted to Mr. Yuval Keinan with a vesting period of up to three years. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured on the day of the grant was approximately NIS 1.3 million and the fair value of the restricted shares was approximately NIS 2 million.
(5) "Other compensation" includes: expenses for retirement that were accumulated during the reporting period of this Annual Report and will be paid only upon retirement; vehicle expenses and a special signing grant in a total of NIS 550 thousand, which was approved by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors in September 2015, according to article 5.5.3 of the Company's Compensation Policy.

(6) In 2014, 68,600 share options and 29,130 restricted shares were granted to Mr. Ziv Leitman with a vesting period of up to four years. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured on the day of the grant was approximately NIS 0.4 million and the fair value of the restricted shares was approximately NIS 0.7 million. As of March 23, 2017, the share price was NIS 20.25 whereas the option exercise price (dividend adjusted) is NIS 25.95. As long as the option exercise price is higher than the market share price, the grant of the options has no actual value for Mr. Ziv Leitman; however a restricted share has the value of the share price.
In 2015, an additional 161,369 share options and 76,378 restricted shares were granted to Mr. Ziv Leitman with a vesting period of up to three years. In accordance with a resolution of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors in January 2017, those share options and restricted shares that are due to vest or be earned on November 2018, will vest or be earned in accordance with the vesting or earning schedule after the termination date of Mr. Leitman's employment and could be exercised within three months from their vesting or earning date. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured on the day of the grant was approximately NIS 0.9 million and the fair value of the restricted shares was approximately NIS 1.4 million.
In 2015, an additional 161,369 share options and 76,378 restricted shares were granted to Mr. Shenfeld with a vesting period of up to three years. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured on the day of the grant was approximately NIS 0.9 million and the fair value of the restricted shares was approximately NIS 1.4 million.
In 2015, an additional 161,369 share options and 76,378 restricted shares were granted to Ms. Rom with a vesting period of up to three years. The theoretical fair value of the share options (according to Black-Scholes model) as measured of the grant was approximately NIS 0.9 million and the fair value of the restricted shares was approximately NIS 1.4 million.
(11) These sums represent the relative portion of the expenses of all option and restricted share allocations recorded during the reported period and include expenses for the 2016 vesting period of options and restricted shares (including those which have not fully vested yet).
All options and restricted shares noted above were granted pursuant to the terms of the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, among others, with respect to the exercise or earning periods and the expiration date of the options. See "Item 6E.2 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN ".
References in this annual report to "external directors" are to those directors who meet the definition of external directors under the Israeli Companies Law ("dahatz"), and references in this annual report to "US independent directors" are to those directors who meet the definition of independence under applicable listing requirements of NASDAQ. References in this annual report to "Israeli independent directors" are to any director who meets the definition of independence under the Israeli Companies Law ("bilty taluy").
Directors are generally elected by the annual general meeting of shareholders to serve (i) for three years, in the case of external directors under the Israeli Companies Law, or (ii) until the next annual general meeting of the shareholders (unless their office becomes vacant earlier, in accordance with the provisions of our Articles of Association). An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may elect any person as a director, to fill an office which became vacant, or to serve as an additional member to the then existing Board of Directors, or to serve as an external director, or in any event in which the number of the members of the Board of Directors is less than the minimum set in the Articles of Association (seven directors), provided that the maximum number of seventeen directors is not exceeded. Any director elected in such manner (excluding an external director) shall serve in office until the coming annual general meeting of shareholders. The Articles of Association also provide that the Board of Directors, with the approval of a simple majority of the directors, may appoint an additional director to fill a vacancy or to serve as an additional member to the then existing Board of Directors, provided that the maximum number of seventeen directors is not exceeded. Any director elected in such manner shall serve in office until the coming annual general meeting of shareholders and may be re-elected.
Israeli directors are appointed by the Israeli founding shareholders, generally upon a written notice signed by at least two of the Israeli founding shareholders who are the record holders of (i) at least 50% of minimum Israeli holding shares or (ii), who hold in the aggregate the highest number of minimum Israeli holding shares among the Israeli founding shareholders. Any Israeli founding shareholders who have specified connections to a competing mobile radio telephone operator (as defined in the license) of the Company are prohibited from participation in any such appointment. The notice is addressed to our company secretary indicating the appointment until the appointee's successor is elected by a similar notice. See "10B.3 Rights Attached to Shares". In 2009, Ms. Osnat Ronen was appointed as a director on behalf of the Israeli founding shareholders.
No director has a service contract with the company or its wholly-owned subsidiaries providing for benefits upon termination of employment.
Our Office Holders (generally senior managers) serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors or until their successors are appointed. See "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License" for a description of additional requirements of the composition of our Board of Directors and the appointment of its members.
Our Articles of Association provide that a director may appoint an individual to serve as an alternate director. An alternate director may not serve as such unless such person is qualified to serve as a director. In addition, no person who already serves as a director or an alternate director on the Company's Board of Directors may serve as an alternate director of another director on the Company's Board of Directors. Under the Israeli Companies Law, an alternate director is generally treated as a director. Under our Articles of Association, an alternate director shall have all the authorities of the director appointing him. The alternate director may not vote at any meeting at which the director appointing him is present. Unless the time period or scope of any such appointment is limited by the appointing director, such appointment shall be effective for all purposes and for an indefinite time, but will expire upon the expiration of the appointing director's term.

The Israeli Companies Law generally requires that Partner shall have at least two external directors on its Board of Directors who meet the independence criteria set by the Israeli Companies Law. The appointment of an external director (for the initial term of three years) under the Israeli Companies Law must be approved by the general meeting of shareholders provided that either: (a) the majority of votes in favor of the appointment shall include at least a majority of the votes of shareholders not constituting controlling parties (as stated in the Israeli Companies Law) in the Company, or those having a personal interest (as defined in the Israeli Companies Law) (other than a personal interest not resulting from their relations with the controlling parties) in the approval of the appointment participating in the vote, which votes shall not include abstaining votes; or (b) the total number of objecting votes of the shareholders mentioned in clause (a) does not exceed 2% of the total voting rights in the company.
Dr. Michael Anghel and Mr. Barry Ben-Zeev serve as our external directors under the Israeli Companies Law.
In general, external directors may be re-appointed for two additional three-year terms by one of the following mechanisms:
(i) the Board of Directors proposed the nominee and his appointment is approved by the shareholders in the manner required to appoint external directors for their initial term (described above);
(ii) one or more shareholders that hold at least 1% or more of the company's voting rights proposed the external director for re-appointment, and the nominee is approved by a majority of the votes cast at the shareholders meeting, provided that: (A) the total number of shareholders' votes at the shareholders meeting shall not include the votes of shareholders who are controlling parties and those having a personal interest in the appointment approval (other than a personal interest not resulting from their relations with the controlling parties) and abstaining votes; (B) the aggregate votes cast by shareholders who are not excluded under clause (A) above in favor of the appointment exceed 2% of the voting rights in the company; and (B) the external director (a) is not a related or competing shareholder, or the relative of such a shareholder, at the time of the appointment and (b) is not affiliated with a related or competing shareholder at the time of the appointment or the two years preceding the appointment (the term "related or competing shareholder" is defined as a shareholder who nominated the external director for reappointment or a material shareholder (a shareholder that holds more than 5% of the shares or voting rights in the company), if at the date of such appointment, any of either such shareholder, the controlling shareholder of such shareholder, or a company controlled by either of them, has business with the company or is a competitor of the company); and
(iii) the external director proposed himself or herself and is approved by the process under clause (ii) above.
Under regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law, certain companies, including dual listed companies, like Partner, may re-appoint external directors for additional threeyear terms (beyond the three terms of three years each), provided that all of the following conditions are fulfilled: (1) the Audit Committee and, subsequently, the Board of Directors, approves that, considering the external director's expertise and special contribution to the work of the Board of Directors and its committees, his re-appointment for an additional term of office is in the best interest of the Company; (2) the re-appointment for the additional term of office is done in conformity with one of the mechanisms described above; (3) prior to approving the re-appointment, the general meeting of shareholders is informed of the duration of the external director's service as an external director and is presented with the rationale of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors for extending the external director's term of office.
The Israeli Companies Law requires that at least one external director has accounting and financial expertise, and that the other external director(s) have professional competence, as determined by the company's Board of Directors. Under promulgated regulations, a director having accounting and financial expertise is a person who, due to his education, experience and talents, is highly skilled in respect of, and understands, business-accounting matters and financial reports in a manner that enables him to understand in depth the company's financial statements and to stimulate discussion regarding the manner in which the financial data is presented. Under the regulations, a director having professional competence is a person who has an academic degree in either economics, business administration, accounting, law or public administration or has another academic degree or has other higher education, all in the main business sector of the company or in a relevant area for the Board of Directors position, or has at least five years' experience in one or more of the following (or a combined five years' experience in at least two or more of the following): a senior position in the business management of a corporation with a substantial scope of business, a senior public officer or a senior position in the public service or a senior position in the field of the company's business.
In accordance with the Israeli Companies Law, Partner's Board of Directors has determined that the minimum number of directors with "accounting and financial expertise" that Partner believes is appropriate, in light of the particulars of Partner and its activities, is three. Under the Israeli Companies Law, only one of such "experts" is required to be an external director. The Board of Directors has determined that eight of our current directors have "accounting and financial expertise": Mr. Adam Chesnoff, Mr. Fred Gluckman, Mr. Yoav Rubinstein, Dr. Michael Anghel, Mr. Barry Ben-Zeev (Woolfson), Ms. Osnat Ronen, Mr. Arie Steinberg and Mr. Yehuda Saban.
Under NASDAQ Rule 5615(a)(3), a foreign private issuer such as the Company may follow its home country practice in lieu of the requirements of the NASDAQ Rule 5600 Series ("Corporate Governance Requirements"), with certain exceptions, provided that it discloses each requirement that it does not follow and describes the home country practice followed in lieu of such requirement. We describe below the areas where we follow our home country practice rather than the NASDAQ Corporate Governance Requirements:

The Company's Articles of Association provide that the Board of Directors may delegate its authorities or any part of them to committees of the Board of Directors as it deems appropriate, subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law. Our Board of Directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a security committee.
Pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Global Select Market, as a foreign private issuer, we are required to establish an audit committee consisting only of members who are U.S. "independent" directors as defined by SEC rules. In accordance with the Company's Audit Committee Charter, our audit committee is responsible among other things, for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process and the audits of the Company's financial statements, including monitoring the integrity of the Company's financial statements and the independence and performance of the Company's internal and external auditors. Our audit committee is also directly responsible for the appointment, remuneration and oversight of our independent auditor and for establishing procedures for receiving and handling complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal controls and audit matters.
The Israeli Companies Law requires public companies, including Partner, to appoint an audit committee comprised of at least three Board of Directors members, including all the company's external directors, the majority of whom must be Israeli independent directors and the chairman of the audit committee is required to be an external director. Under the Israeli Companies Law neither the controlling party or his relative, the chairman of the Board of Directors, any director employed by the company or by its controlling party or by an entity controlled by the controlling party, any director who regularly provides services to the company, to its controlling party or to an entity controlled by the controlling party, nor any director who derives most of its income from the controlling party, may be eligible to serve as a member of the audit committee.
The responsibilities of our audit committee under the Israeli Companies Law include, among others, identifying irregularities in the management of the company's business and approving related party transactions as required by law, determining whether certain related party actions and transactions are "material" or "extraordinary" in connection with their approval procedures (See 6C.9 APPROVAL OF RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND COMPENSATION), assessing the scope of work and remuneration of the company's independent auditor, assessing the company's internal audit system and the performance of its internal auditor and making arrangements regarding the handling of complaints by employees about company's business management deficiencies and regarding the protection given to employees who have made complaints.
The Company's audit committee was appointed by our Board of Directors to review our financial statements, in compliance with U.S. legal requirements (as described above) and in compliance with Israeli regulations (from which we are exempt).
Our audit committee is comprised of three Board of Directors members: Dr. Michael Anghel (external director), Mr. Barry Ben Zeev (committee chairman; external director), and Mr. Arik Steinberg (Israeli independent director). All of the audit committee members meet the SEC's definition of independent directors for the purpose of serving as audit committee members as well as the Israeli Companies Law's definition of Israeli independent directors. In accordance with the SEC definition of "independent" director, none of them is an affiliated person of Partner or any subsidiary of Partner.
The Board of Directors has determined that all three audit committee members are "audit committee financial experts" as defined by applicable SEC regulations. See "Item 16A Audit Committee Financial Expert" below.
The Israeli Companies Law requires public companies, including Partner, to appoint a compensation committee comprised of at least three Board of Directors members, including all the company's external directors who must constitute the majority of its members. Other members of the committee should be directors whose terms of compensation are the same as external directors and the chairman of the compensation committee is required to be an external director.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the compensation committee's responsibilities include, among others, recommending to the Board of Directors, a compensation policy for office-holders to be approved by the shareholders of the Company, see "6B Compensation". The compensation committee also makes recommendations to the Board of Directors once every three years regarding the continuing effectiveness of the compensation policy, reviews modifications to the compensation policy from time to time and its implementation and approves the actual compensation terms of Office Holders which require the compensation committee's approval according to the relevant provisions of the Israeli Companies Law.
Our compensation committee is comprised of three Board of Directors members: Dr. Michael Anghel (external director), Mr. Barry Ben Zeev (committee chairman; external director) and Mr. Arik Steinberg (Israeli independent director). All of the compensation committee members meet the SEC's definition of independent directors for the purpose of serving as the compensation committee members as well as the Israeli Companies Law's definition of Israeli independent directors. In accordance with the SEC definition of "independent" director, none of them is an affiliated person of Partner or any subsidiary of Partner.
Pursuant to an amendment to our license from April 2005, a Board of Directors committee has been formed to deal with security matters. Only directors with the required clearance and those deemed appropriate by Israel's General Security Service may be members of this committee. The committee must consist of at least four members, who are subject to the clearance required from the Israeli General Security Service and at least one external director. Where any matter requires a Board of Directors' resolution and it is a security matter, then the committee should be authorized to discuss and to resolve such security matter and the resolution should bind the Company. However, in cases where the security matter concerned requires review by the Board of Directors or the audit committee according to the Israeli Companies Law or other applicable law, such as a transaction with a related party, it should be submitted for approval in accordance with the requirements of the applicable U.S. law, the Israeli Companies Law and any other applicable laws, provided that, in any case, only directors with security clearance can participate in any forum which will deal with security matters. In April 2005, our Board of Directors approved the formation of the security committee to consist of four Israeli directors, who are subject to Israeli security clearance and security compatibility to be determined by the General Security Service. Currently, Mr. Elon Shalev, Dr. Michael Anghel, Ms. Osnat Ronen and Mr. Arieh Saban are members of the security committee.
The Israeli Companies Law requires the Board of Directors of a public company to appoint an internal auditor nominated by the audit committee. A person who does not satisfy certain independence requirements may not be appointed as an internal auditor. The role of the internal auditor is to examine, among other things, the compliance of the company's conduct with applicable law and orderly business procedures. Our internal auditor is Mr. Yehuda Motro, formerly the internal auditor of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
The Israeli Companies Law governs the duty of care and duty of loyalty which an Office Holder owes to the company. An "Office Holder" is defined in the Israeli Companies Law as a director, general manager, chief executive officer, executive vice president, vice president, or any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of the foregoing positions without regard to such person's title and other managers directly subordinated to the general manager.
The duty of loyalty requires the Office Holder to act in good faith and in the company's favor and to avoid any conflict of interest between the Office Holder's position in the company and personal affairs, and proscribes any competition with the company or the exploitation of any business opportunity of the company in order to receive personal advantages for him or others. This duty also requires him to reveal to the company any information or documents relating to the company's affairs that the Office Holder has received due to his position as an Office Holder. The duty of care requires an Office Holder to act in a way that a reasonable Office Holder would have acted in the same position and under the same circumstances. This includes the duty to utilize reasonable means to obtain information regarding the advisability of a given action submitted for his approval or performed by virtue of his position and all other relevant information.
The Israeli Companies Law requires that a transaction between the company and its Office Holder, and also a transaction between the company and another person in which an Office Holder has a personal interest, requires the approval of the Board of Directors if such a transaction is not an "extraordinary transaction", although, as permitted by law and subject to any relevant stock exchange rule, our Articles of Association allow our audit committee to approve such a transaction, without the need for approval from the Board of Directors. If such a transaction is an extraordinary transaction (that is, a transaction not in the ordinary course of business, not on market terms, or that is likely to have a material impact on the company's profitability, assets or liabilities), generally in addition to audit committee approval, the transaction also must be approved by our Board of Directors, and, in certain circumstances, also by the general meeting of shareholders. Under the Israeli Companies Law, an extraordinary transaction between a public company and a controlling party of the company or an extraordinary transaction between a public company and another person, in which the controlling party has a personal interest (including a private placement), and a transaction between a public company and a controlling party or his relative, directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, via an entity controlled by the controlling party, for receiving services by the company (and if the controlling party is also an Office Holder in the company for his terms of service, and if he is an employee of the company (but not an Office Holder in it) his employment in the company) must be approved by the audit committee or the compensation committee if relates to terms of employment (as the case may be), the Board of Directors and the general meeting of shareholders, provided that either: (a) the majority of votes in favor of the transaction shall include at least a majority of the votes of shareholders who do not have a personal interest in approval of the transaction, who participate in the voting, or (b) the total number of objecting votes of the shareholders mentioned in clause (a) does not exceed 2% of the total voting rights in the company.
The audit committee is also authorized to determine, with respect to related party transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which the controlling shareholder has a personal interest, even if they are not extraordinary transactions, an obligation to conduct a competitive process (to be supervised by the audit committee, or any person authorized on its behalf or via any other method approved by the audit committee) or to determine that other processes will be conducted prior to the engagement in such transactions and all in accordance with the type of transaction. The specific criteria for such a process may be determined by the audit committee annually in advance. In addition, the audit committee is authorized to determine the approval process for transactions that are not negligible, as well as determine which types of said transactions would require the approval of the audit committee. "Non-negligible transactions" are defined as related party transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which the controlling shareholder has a personal interest, that the audit committee has deemed not to be an extraordinary transaction, but which have also been classified by the audit committee as a non-negligible transaction. Additionally, the audit committee may decide on such classifications for these types of transactions, based on criteria set annually in advance.
The Israeli Companies Law requires that an Office Holder or a controlling party promptly disclose any personal interest that he has and all related material information known to him, in connection with any existing or proposed transaction by the company. The company may then approve the transaction in accordance with the provisions of its Articles of Association and the Israeli Companies Law. Under the Israeli Companies Law, if the Office Holder or a controlling party has a personal interest in the transaction, an approval that the transaction is in the best interest of the company is required.
In most circumstances, the Israeli Companies Law restricts Office Holders who have a personal interest in a matter which is considered at a meeting of the Board of Directors or the audit committee from being present at such meeting, participating in the discussions or voting on any such matter. An exemption exists in the event that a majority of the directors in the meeting have a personal interest in the matter provided, that in case a majority of the Board of Directors has a personal interest in the matter, the transaction will require the approval of the general meeting of shareholders.
For information concerning the direct and indirect personal interests of certain of our Office Holders and principal shareholders in certain transactions, see "ITEM 7 MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS".
The terms of employment of Office Holders including compensation, equity awards, severance and other benefits, exemption from liability and indemnification require the approval of the compensation committee and the Board of Directors. The terms of employment of directors and the Chief Executive Officer must also be approved at the general meeting of shareholders by a majority of the Company's shareholders, provided that (i) such majority includes at least a majority of the shareholders who are not controlling shareholders and who do not have a personal interest in the matter, who participate in the voting (abstentions are disregarded), or (ii) the total number of objecting votes of the shareholders mentioned in clause (i) does not exceed 2% of the total voting rights in the company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a company may be exempted from receiving shareholder approval with respect to the terms of employment of a candidate for a Chief Executive Officer position, if such candidate meets certain independence criteria, the terms are in line with the Compensation Policy and the compensation committee has determined for specified reasons that shareholder approval would prevent the engagement. See "6C.6b COMPENSATION COMMITTEE".
Changes to existing terms of employment of Office Holders (other than directors) can be made with the approval of the compensation committee only (following adoption of the Compensation Policy), if the committee determines that the change is not substantially different from the existing terms.
Under the Israeli Companies Law and related regulations, the compensation payable to external directors and Israeli independent directors is subject to certain further limitations.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, a shareholder has a general duty to act in good faith and in a customary manner towards the company and the other shareholders and to refrain from improperly exploiting his power in the company, particularly when voting in the general meeting of shareholders on (a) any amendment to the articles of association, (b) an increase of the company's authorized share capital, (c) a merger, or (d) approval of related party transactions which require shareholder approval. A shareholder should also avoid deprivation of other shareholders. In addition, any controlling party, any shareholder who knows that it possesses power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder that, pursuant to the provisions of the articles of association, has the power to appoint or prevent an appointment of an Office Holder in the company or any other power towards the company, is under a duty to act in fairness towards the company under the Israeli Companies Law.
As permitted by the Israeli Companies Law, our Articles of Association provide that Partner may indemnify an Office Holder of Partner to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Without derogating from the foregoing, and subject to limitations set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, our Articles of Association specifically provide that Partner may indemnify an Office Holder of Partner for liability or expense he incurs or that is imposed upon him as a result of an action or inaction by him (or together with other Office Holders of Partner) in his capacity as an Office Holder of Partner including (subject to specified conditions) also in advance, as follows:
Our Articles of Association also permit us to indemnify any Office Holders of Partner for any other liability or expense in respect of which it is permitted or will be permitted under applicable law to indemnify an Office Holder of Partner.
The Israeli Companies Law and our Articles of Association also permit us to undertake in advance to indemnify an Office Holder with respect for items (2), (3) and (4) above, or any other matter permitted by law. The Israeli Companies Law and our Articles of Association also permit us to undertake in advance to indemnify an Office Holder with respect to item (1) above, provided however, that the undertaking to indemnify is restricted to events which in the opinion of the Board of Directors are anticipated in light of Partner's activities at the time of granting the undertaking to indemnify, and is limited to a sum or measurement determined by the Board of Directors to be reasonable under the circumstances. The undertaking to indemnify shall specify the events that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors are expected in light of the Company's actual activity at the time of grant of the undertaking and the sum or measurement which the Board of Directors determined to be reasonable under the circumstances.
The Israeli Companies Law combined with our Articles of Association also permits us to indemnify an Office Holder retroactively for all kinds of events, subject to any applicable law.
In no event may we indemnify an Office Holder for any of the following:
a breach of the duty of loyalty toward us, unless the Office Holder acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to assume that the action would not harm Partner's interest;
We have undertaken to indemnify our Office Holders, subject to certain conditions as aforesaid. We consider from time to time the indemnification of our Office Holders, which indemnification will be subject to approval of our compensation committee, Board of Directors and in certain cases, such as indemnification of directors and the CEO, also of our shareholders.
Under the indemnification letters granted to Office Holders prior to the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on October 17, 2013 ("October 2013 EGM"), the aggregate indemnification amount payable by us to Office Holders and other indemnified persons pursuant to all letters of indemnification issued to them by us will not exceed the higher of (i) 25% of shareholders equity and (ii) 25% of market capitalization, each measured at the time of indemnification (the "Combined Maximum Indemnity Amount", and "the Original Indemnification Letter").
Under the indemnification letters granted to Office Holders after the October 2013 EGM, the aggregate indemnification amount payable by us to Office Holders (including, among others, Office Holders nominated on behalf of Partner in subsidiaries) pursuant to all letters of indemnification issued or that may be issued to them by Partner on or after the October 2013 EGM, for any occurrence of an event set out in such a letter (including an attachment thereto) will not exceed 25% of shareholders equity (according to the latest reviewed or audited financial statements approved by Partner's Board of Directors prior to approval of the indemnification payment) ("the Revised Indemnification Letter"). However, under the circumstances where indemnification for the same event is to be made in parallel under the Revised Indemnification Letter and to one or more indemnified persons under the Original Indemnification Letter, the maximum indemnity amount for the indemnified persons that received the Revised Indemnification Letter shall be adjusted so it does not exceed the Combined Maximum Indemnity Amount to which any other indemnified person is entitled under the Original Indemnification Letter.
The Companies Law and our Articles of Association authorize the Company, subject to obtaining the required approvals (of our compensation committee, Board of Directors and in certain cases, such as release of directors and the CEO, also of our shareholders), to release our Office Holders, in advance, from such persons' liability, entirely or partially, for damage in consequence of the breach of the duty of care toward us as set forth in accordance with any law, including the liabilities and expenses for which the Company may indemnify Office Holders as set forth above, see Item 6C.11a Indemnification. Furthermore, the Company may release Office Holders that are controlling shareholders or their relatives, subject to the receipt of the approvals in accordance with any law. Said release will not apply to a resolution or transaction in which the controlling shareholder or any Office Holder in the Company (including other Office Holders than the Office Holder being granted the release) has a personal interest.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may not release such person from such person's liability, resulting from any of the following events: (i) the breach of duty of loyalty towards us; (ii) the breach of duty of care made intentionally or recklessly ("pzizut"), other than if made only by negligence; (iii) an act intended to unlawfully yield a personal profit; (iv) a fine ("knass"), a civil fine ("knass ezrahi"), a financial sanction ("itzum caspi") or a penalty ("kofer") imposed upon such person; and (v) the breach of duty of care in a distribution ("haluka").
In addition to the Original Indemnification Letter and the Revised Indemnification Letter, the Company granted new indemnification and release letters to our Office Holders at the annual general meeting of shareholders held on September 28, 2016.

The Israeli Companies Law and the Company's Articles of Association authorize the Company (subject to certain exceptions) to enter into an insurance contract, and to arrange and pay all premiums in respect of an insurance contract, for the insurance of the liability of our Office Holders for liabilities the Office Holder incurs as a result of a direct or indirect action or inaction undertaken by such person (or together with other Office Holders of the Company) in his capacity as an Office Holder of the Company for any of the following:
At December 31, 2016, we had 2,686 employees on a full time equivalent basis, compared with 2,882 employees at December 31, 2015, and 3,575 at December 31, 2014. The number of fulltime equivalent employees at year-end 2014, 2015 and 2016, according to their activity, was as follows:
| At December 31, | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014** | 2015** | 2016 | ||
| Customer service* | 1,835 | 1,655 | 1,463 | |
| Sales and sales support* | 605 | 434 | 457 | |
| Information technology (including Engineering) | 633 | 365 | 337 | |
| Marketing and Content | 65 | 53 | 56 | |
| Finance | 87 | 71 | 71 | |
| Human Resources, Administration & Security | 119 | 96 | 94 | |
| Operations & Logistics | 157 | 134 | 132 | |
| Remaining operations | 74 | 73 | 76 | |
| TOTAL | 3,575 | 2,882 | 2,686 |
*Many positions in Customer service and Sales and sales support are filled by more than one part-time employee so that the employee headcount for those activities is about 12% greater than the number of full-time equivalents set forth above.
** Due to organizational structure changes during 2016, that included consolidation of certain divisions and the shifting of manpower between divisions, we have revised the 2014 and 2015 numbers to provide comparable information between the years 2014-2016.
On March 13, 2016, we signed a collective employment agreement with the employees' representatives and the Histadrut, the employees' union. The agreement includes an organizational chapter that is for a period of three years (2016-2018) and includes, among others, provisions regarding manning and changing of positions, termination of employment tenure and a dispute resolution mechanism. The agreement includes an economic chapter that was valid until December 31, 2016 and on December 12, 2016 we signed a new economic chapter that is valid for the years 2017-2018. The economic chapter includes, among others, provisions regarding terms of employment, benefits and welfare. In addition, the economic chapter provides for annual bonuses to employees and a profit sharing mechanism provision under certain conditions. The agreement applies to the Company's employees, excluding certain managerial and specific positions. The estimated cost of the 2017 economic chapter is approximately NIS 7 million in addition to the implementation of all of the sections of the 2016 economic chapter (which is estimated at approximately NIS 10 million). The total estimated amount of the expense in 2017, for the collective employment agreement, is therefore expected to be higher than 2016 by approximately NIS 17 million. The cost of the 2018 economic chapter is estimated at approximately NIS 23 million, in addition to the estimated expense for the Company for 2017 for the collective employment agreement. The collective employment agreement also refers to the participation of employees in the Company's profits and regulates the eligibility conditions for receipt of these awards for the years 2017- 2018. See also "Item 3D.2h The unionization of our employees has negatively affected and may continue to negatively affect our financial results. "
In addition, we are subject to various Israeli labor laws and practices, as well as orders extending certain provisions of collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut and the Coordinating Bureau of Economic Organizations, the federation of employers' organizations. Such laws, agreements and orders cover a wide range of areas and impose minimum employment standards including, working hours, minimum wages, vacation and severance pay, and special issues, such as equal pay for equal work, equal opportunity in employment, and employment of women, youth, disabled persons and army veterans.
Our employees are entitled to a pension insurance, in the amounts as follows (amounts vary according to choice of a pension fund or a manager's insurance fund): employer provision for pension and compensation: 12.5% - 17.33% of the employee's salary and employee provision for pension: 6% -7% of the employee's salary.
We also offer some of our employees the opportunity to participate in a "Continuing Education Fund," which also functions as a savings plan. Each of the participating employees contributes an amount equal to 2.5% of their salary and we contribute between 5% - 7.5% of such employee's salary. In addition, in accordance with the collective employment agreement, employees that have been employed for 36 months or more by the Company are entitled to participate in a "Continuing Education Fund," by contributing an amount equal to 2.5% of their salary and we contribute 7.5% of such employee's salary.
According to the National Insurance Law, Israeli employers and employees are required to pay predetermined sums to the National Insurance Institute. These contributions entitle the employees to health insurance and benefits in periods of unemployment, work injury, maternity leave, disability, reserve military service, and bankruptcy or winding-up of the employer. We have never experienced a strike or work stoppage. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.
Most of our employees participate in a Health Insurance Program which provides additional benefits and coverage which the public health system does not provide. Eligibility to participate in the policy does not depend on seniority or position.
Israeli labor law subjects employers to increased liability, including monetary sanctions and criminal liability, in cases of violations of certain labor laws and certain violations by contractors providing maintenance, security and cleaning services.
In January 2015, the Minimum Wage Law was amended to increase the minimum wage paid to employees in Israel in four installments, from April 2015 to January 2017. The increase may adversely affect our results of operations.
In November 2016 we launched, together with the employees' representatives of the labor union, a retirement plan for employees, in which approximately 90 employees have retired.
As of March 1, 2017, to the best of the Company's knowledge, none of our directors or senior management held more than 1% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, except as may be set forth under Item 7A. Directors and senior management do not have different voting rights than other shareholders of the Company.
As of March 1, 2017, our senior management held, in the aggregate, outstanding options to purchase up to 4,074,567 of our ordinary shares, of which 1,389,266 options were vested and exercisable as of that date, in addition to 811,501 "restricted shares" of which 57,420 restricted shares were vested as of that date (as described in "Item 6E.2 Equity Incentive Plan" below). No individual senior manager holds options to purchase 1% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares. No options or restricted shares have been granted to our directors.
The table below sets forth the number of outstanding options held by our senior management of the Company according to exercise price and expiration date as of March 1, 2017:
| Weighted average exercise price | Number of outstanding options | |
|---|---|---|
| (NIS) | held | Option expiration Year |
| 43.93 | 373,970 | 2020 |
| 19.61 | 3,065,413 | 2021 |
| 17.83 | 340,480 | 2022 |
| 20.75 | 294,704 | 2023 |
| 21.78 | 4,074,567 | TOTAL |
The Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan) (the "Plan") is intended to promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing employees, directors, officers and advisors of the Company with appropriate incentives and rewards to encourage them to enter into and continue in the employ of, or service to, the Company and to acquire a proprietary interest in the long-term success of the Company.
Exercise price determination. The compensation committee shall determine the option and restricted share unit ("RSU") (as further explained below) exercise price per ordinary share, subject to applicable law, regulations and guidelines. Unless otherwise provided in the grant instrument, the option exercise price shall be paid in NIS and the RSU exercise price shall be zero.
Exercise price adjustment. The exercise price of options shall be reduced in the following events: (1) dividend distribution other than in the ordinary course: by the gross dividend amount so distributed per share, and (2) dividend distribution in the ordinary course: With respect to certain options (depending on the date of the granting of the options), the exercise price shall be reduced by the amount of a dividend in excess of 40% of the Company's net income for the relevant period per share, or else by the gross dividend amount so distributed per share.
Cashless exercise. Most of the options may be exercised only through a cashless exercise procedure; while holders of other options may choose between cashless exercise and the regular option exercise procedure. In accordance with such cashless exercise, the option holder would receive from the Company, without payment of the exercise price, only the number of shares whose aggregate market value equals the economic gain which the option holder would have realized by selling all the shares purchased at their market price, net of the option exercise. Unless otherwise determined by the committee in the grant instrument, the Company at its sole and absolution discretion may obligate the grantee to pay the nominal value of the ordinary shares issued and in such event the ordinary shares will not be issued (and the options and RSUs will not be exercised) prior to the payment of such nominal value.
Exercise Period. The option holder may exercise all or part of his options at any time after the date of vesting but no later than the expiration of the exercise period, which will not exceed ten years from the date of option grant (considering, if applicable, among others, the provisions of the Compensation Policy) unless shortened pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
Vesting. The vesting schedule of granted securities will be determined by the compensation committee and Board of Directors at their sole discretion and will be detailed in the grant instrument. The committee may set performance targets as a vesting criterion (independently or in combination with other criteria).
Acceleration of vesting and adjustment. In the event of termination of employment following a change of control, vesting of granted securities and exercisability of outstanding granted securities shall be accelerated. Upon the occurrence of any merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event or transaction (e.g., subdivision or consolidation), equitable changes or adjustments to the number of shares subject to each outstanding option and RSU will be made in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the option and RSU holders' rights and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and other pertinent elements of any outstanding restricted shares, with respect to which restrictions have not yet lapsed prior to any such change.
Restricted Shares. The Company may grant "restricted shares" to beneficiaries of the Plan. Restricted shares awarded to a grantee are held by the Plan's trustee in custody for the benefit of the grantee generally until the restrictions thereon have lapsed (e.g., earning period and the other applicable conditions and restrictions under the Plan and the grant instrument under which these restricted shares were awarded). In accordance with the Plan, as long as the restricted shares are held by the trustee, the trustee shall not exercise the voting rights of the underlying ordinary shares at the general meetings of shareholders unless requested to do so by the Company. In such event, the trustee shall vote the underlying ordinary shares proportionally to the shareholders vote and if the vote of public shareholders is counted separately, proportionally to the public shareholders vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company has reserved the right, upon recommendation of legal counsel, to request the grantee to exercise individually his or her voting rights. In addition, any dividend distributed during the period in which the restricted shares are held by the trustee, is accumulated and transferred to the grantee when the shares have been earned (i.e. when the restrictions lapse).
Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph and in the Plan and subject to the terms of the grantee's relevant grant instrument, the grantee shall have, with respect to his or her restricted shares, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the ordinary shares (endorsed to the trustee as long as the restricted shares are held by the trustee), and the right to receive any dividend thereon (accumulated together with the underlying restricted shares).
Restricted Share Units. The Company may grant "restricted share units" to beneficiaries of the Plan. Restricted share units are options, bearing an exercise price of no more than the underlying share's nominal value. Upon the lapse of the vesting period of a RSU, such RSU shall automatically become an issued and outstanding share of the Company, subject to certain applicable conditions and restrictions under the Plan and the grant instrument and unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the grantee shall pay to the Company its nominal value as a precondition to the issuance of such share.
Change in Control and other certain events. Upon a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) transaction of the Company as well as other certain events including a merger, reorganization and consolidation, granted securities shall, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors, either solely or in any combination: be substituted for similar granted securities to purchase shares of a successor entity, be assumed by a successor entity, be substituted for similar "phantom" granted securities of the Company or the successor entity, or each non-vested granted securities shall become fully exercisable. In the event that the ordinary shares will no longer be traded on any stock exchange, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors, either solely or in any combination: each granted securities shall be substituted for a similar phantom granted securities, or each non-vested granted securities shall become fully exercisable.

Amendment and termination of the Plan. The Plan may generally be altered or amended in any respect by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the Plan, applicable law and the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable from time to time to the Company, by reason of their applicability to its shareholders or otherwise. The Board of Directors may, at any time and from time to time, terminate the Plan in any respect, subject to any applicable approvals or consents that may be otherwise required by law, regulation or agreement, including by reason of their applicability to the shareholders or otherwise, and provided that no termination of the Plan shall adversely affect the terms of any granted security which has already been granted.
Administration of the Plan. The Plan is administered by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors. Subject to the restrictions of the Companies Law, the compensation committee is authorized, among other things, to exercise all the powers and authorities, either specifically granted to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
The description of the Plan above is only a summary and is qualified by reference to the full text thereof which has been included as an annex to this Annual Report. See Exhibit 15.(a).1 incorporated by reference in this annual report.
On November 10, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved the increase in the number of shares which may be granted under the Plan by three million shares, which represented approximately 1.87% of the Company's issued share capital as of November 10, 2015, up to a total of 22,917,000 ordinary shares.
On March 13, 2016, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the Plan. The main amendments to the Plan include: (a) amendment to the cashless exercise formula; (b) the ability to allocate restricted share units to the Company's employees and office holders; (c) automatic extension of the exercise period due to black-out periods; (d) adjustments to the grantee's rights under any granted securities due to the occurrence of certain events, including a rights offering; (e) a provision allowing the Company's management bodies to decide to pay a grantee the financial benefit embedded in his equity compensation in cash compensation instead of equity compensation, in certain events in which the Company is unable to issue shares resulting from exercise of options or RSUs or to release any restricted share to a grantee; (f) extension of the exercise period as a result of a change of control event; (g) a provision that allows the Company to limit a grantee from making transactions in the granted securities in connection with any underwritten public offering of the Company and (h) certain exercise restrictions in accordance with the Tel Aviv stock exchange rules.
Share options and restricted shares (collectively, "granted securities") have been granted to employees in accordance with the Plan. The total number of Company shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of all options granted and for earning of all restricted shares granted under the Plan is 22,917,000 shares. Upon exercise each option provides the right to acquire one ordinary share that confers the same rights as the other ordinary shares of the Company. As of December 31, 2016, options to acquire a total of 11,285,901 ordinary shares and 1,955,414 restricted shares are outstanding.
Information in respect of options and restricted shares granted under the Plan is set forth below:
| Through December 31, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of | ||
| Number of options | RSAs2 | |
| Granted | 30,102,849 | 3,791,622 |
| Shares issued upon exercises and vesting | (6,111,330) | (864,412) |
| Cancelled upon net exercises, expiration and forfeitures | (12,705,618) | (971,796) |
| Outstanding | 11,285,901 | 1,955,414 |
| Of which: | ||
| Exercisable | 5,912,904 | - |
| Vest in 2017 | 2,535,575 | 916,070 |
| Vest in 2018 | 2,481,751 | 890,588 |
| Vest in 2019 | 355,671 | 148,756 |
2 See Note 21 (a) to our consolidated financial statements
In 2016, following the approval of the Company's Board of Directors, 998,433 share options and 417,176 restricted shares were granted to senior officers, managers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiary, compared to 5,519,031 share options and 1,779,596 restricted shares granted during 2015. The vesting of the options and the earning of the restricted shares granted after June 2014 are subject to vesting or restriction periods and are also subject to performance conditions set by the Company's organs.
In January 2017, the Company approved the allocation of 458,478 options and 200,845 restricted shares for some of the Company's office holders and other managers, all in accordance with the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, as amended. The vesting of these options and the earning of these restricted shares are subject to vesting / restriction period of three years from the grant date (one third will vest or be earned in each year), as well as performance conditions set by the Company's organs.
The following table sets forth certain information as of March 1, 2017, with respect to each person whom we believe to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our ordinary shares. Except where otherwise indicated, we believe, based on information publicly filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or furnished to us by the principal shareholders, that the beneficial owners of the ordinary shares listed below have sole investment and voting power with respect to such ordinary shares. None of our major shareholders has any different voting rights than any other shareholder. See "Item 10B.3 Rights Attached to Shares".
| Issued and | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Shares beneficially | Issued Shares | Outstanding | |
| Name | owned | (1)% | Shares (1)% |
| S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd.(2) | 48,050,000 | 29.92 | 30.18 |
| Phoenix-Excellence Group (3) | 13,118,690 | 8.17 | 8.24 |
| Meitav Dash Group (4) | 7,986,967 | 4.97 | 5.02 |
| Psagot Investment House Ltd. (5) | 15,879,724 | 9.89 | 9.97 |
| Menora Mivtachim Holdings Ltd. (6) | 8,179,476 | 5.09 | 5.14 |
| Treasury shares (7) | 1,394,511 | 0.87 | - |
| Public (8) | 66,000,873 | 41.09 | 41.45 |
| Total | 160,610,241 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
(1) As shown above and used throughout this annual report, the term "Issued and Outstanding Shares" does not include any treasury shares held by the Company. Treasury shares, which are included in "Issued Shares", have no voting, dividend or other rights under the Israeli Companies Law, as long as they are held by the Company ("dormant shares").
(5) Psagot Investment House Ltd., an Israeli corporation listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, holds shares in the Company directly and through its wholly owned subsidiaries (Psagot Investment House and their subsidiaries collectively, the "Psagot Investment House"). These holdings are held according to the following segmentation: 4,107,244 ordinary shares are held by portfolio accounts managed by Psagot Securities Ltd.; 7,571,496 ordinary shares are held by Psagot Provident and Pension funds; 2,403,971 ordinary shares are held by Psagot Mutual Funds; 1,764,643 ordinary shares are held by Psagot ETFs ; 32,370 ordinary shares are held by Psagot Insurance.
(6) Menora Mivtachim Holdings Ltd., ("Menora"), an Israeli corporation listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, holds shares in the Company directly and through its wholly owned subsidiaries. On January 11, 2017, Menora filed a Schedule 13G, reporting holdings of 8,021,993 shares of Partner. On March 16, 2017, Menora informed us that their holdings as of such date were 8,179,476 shares of Partner held as follows: 6,366,690 ordinary shares are held by Menora Mivtachim Provident and Pension funds; 165,216 ordinary shares are held by Menora Mivtachim Vehistadrut Hamehandesim Nihul Kupot Gemel Ltd.; 17,411 ordinary shares are held by Shomera Insurance Company Ltd.; 1,630,159 ordinary shares are held by Menora Mivtachim Insurance Ltd.
As of March 1, 2017, to the best of the Company's knowledge, none of our directors and senior management held more than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares, except as may be otherwise set forth above; their holdings have been included under "Public" in the table above. For information regarding options held by our senior management to purchase ordinary shares, see "6E- Share Ownership".
We are not aware of any arrangements that might result in a change in control of our Company.
On March 1, 2017, 5,758,071 ADSs (equivalent to 5,758,071 ordinary shares) or approximately 3.62% of our total Issued and Outstanding ordinary shares, were held of record by 37 registered holders in the United States. There were 4 registered holder accounts of the 37 with registered addresses outside of the United States. Certain accounts of record with registered addresses other than in the United States may hold our ordinary shares, in whole or in part, beneficially for United States persons. We are aware that many ADSs and ordinary shares are held of record by brokers and other nominees and accordingly the above numbers are not necessarily representative of the actual number of persons who are beneficial holders of ADSs and ordinary shares, or the number of ADSs and ordinary shares beneficially held by such persons.

Our Israeli founding shareholders are parties to a Relationship Agreement with S.B. Israel Telecom in relation to its direct holdings of our shares and the rights associated with such holdings. See Exhibit 4.(a).1.2 incorporated by reference in this annual report.
The parties to the Relationship Agreement have agreed that they shall at all times comply with the terms of our license requiring that our founding shareholders or their approved substitutes hold in aggregate at least 26% of our means of control, and that our Israeli founding shareholders or their approved substitutes (from among the founding shareholders and their approved substitutes) hold at least 5% of our means of control. See "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License."
If a party to the Relationship Agreement commits certain events of default described in the agreement, it may be required to offer its shares to the other parties on a pre-emptive basis. Events of default for this purpose include a breach of the Relationship Agreement which has a material adverse effect on Partner, and in the case of such breach, the purchase price at which the shares are to be sold will be market value less a 17.5% discount.
The Relationship Agreement continues in full force and effect until we are wound up or cease to exist unless terminated earlier by the parties. The Relationship Agreement will terminate in relation to any individual party after it ceases to hold any share beneficially if it is required to comply with the minimum holding requirements for founding shareholders or Israeli founding shareholders, as applicable, and the transfer of the shares was not made in breach of the Relationship Agreement.
A shareholders agreement among the Israeli founding shareholders, or their approved substitutes, purports to establish the procedures, rights and obligations with respect to the appointment of the Israeli director. The Company's position, which is based among others upon a legal opinion from outside counsel, is that the arrangement set in this agreement with respect to the procedures, rights and obligations pertaining to the appointment of the Israeli director is not valid and the Company does not give effect to that arrangement and it acts according to the provision of its license and Articles of Association in connection with the appointment of the Israeli director. In November 2014, the agreement was amended and among other things, Israeli founding shareholders were removed from the Shareholders Agreement, leaving only Scailex (whose shares in the Company that constitute the holdings of Israeli founding shareholders are controlled by a court appointed receiver in light of Scailex's failure to comply with its obligations to its noteholders for the benefit of Scailex's noteholders) and Suny Electronics Ltd. (whose shares in the Company are mortgaged to a trustee on behalf of Suny's noteholders and constitute part of the holdings of Israeli founding shareholders) as parties to the Shareholders Agreement.
On October 17, 2013, following approval of our general meeting of shareholders, we have entered into a registration rights agreement with S.B. Israel Telecom, our principal shareholder, in which we granted S.B. Israel Telecom:
(1) the right to require us to register ordinary shares held by them under the US Securities Act and to freely dispose of their shares in the U.S. public market. We have agreed that, upon request from S.B. Israel Telecom, we will file a registration statement under the US Securities Act to register ordinary shares held by them, subject to a maximum of one request in any 6-month period and to certain other limitations. There is no limit to the number of registrations that can be requested under the registration rights agreement. The minimum amount of shares that must be included in any registration requested under the registration rights agreement is 2.65% of our outstanding shares.

(2) the right to include their ordinary shares in any registration statement covering offerings of ordinary shares by us.
The registration rights agreement will terminate upon the earlier of October 16, 2018, and such time as the holder can sell its ordinary shares into the United States public market pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act without regard to holding period, volume or manner-of-sale limitations.
Pursuant to the Network Sharing Agreement between the Company and the limited partnership PHI, the Company has transactions during the normal course of business with PHI. See "Item 4B.9a Overview- cellular network sharing", "Item 5B.3 TOTAL NET FINANCIAL DEBT" and also note 26(d) to the consolidated financial statements.
Not applicable.
Audited financial statements for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, are included under "Item 18. Financial Statements."
In addition to the legal proceedings discussed below, we are party to a number of legal and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We do not currently expect the outcome of such matters individually or in the aggregate to have a material adverse effect upon our business and financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We have been named as defendants in a number of civil and criminal proceedings related to our network infrastructure and consumer claims regarding, for example, our tariff plans and billing methods, which may result in civil liabilities or criminal penalties against us or our officers and directors. Plaintiffs in some of these proceedings have successfully sought or are seeking certification as class actions. The costs that may result from these lawsuits are only accrued for when it is more likely than not that a liability, resulting from past events, will be incurred and the amount of that liability can be quantified or estimated within a reasonable range. The amount of the provisions recorded is based on a case-by-case assessment of the risk level, and events arising during the course of legal proceedings may require a reassessment of this risk. The Company's assessment of risk is based both on the advice of counsel and on the Company's estimate of the probable settlement amounts that are expected to be incurred, if such settlements are agreed by both parties. See Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding litigation and proceedings of which we are currently aware. See also "Item 3D.2p We are exposed to, and currently engaged in, a variety of legal proceedings, including requests to approve lawsuits as class actions related primarily to our network infrastructure and consumer claims."
The litigations described below involve claims for which requests for certification as class actions were filed and which specify an amount of damages, and which we consider may have a potentially material effect on the Company. The total amount of pending claims (claims which have not been dismissed by the Court or settled) made by plaintiffs in the litigations described below is NIS 1.36 billion.
On September 7, 2010, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class action were filed against the Company. The claim alleges that the Company unlawfully charges its customers for services of various content providers, which are sent through text messages (SMS). The total amount claimed from the Company was estimated by the plaintiffs to be approximately NIS 405 million. The claim was certified as a class action in December 2016. In February 2017, the plaintiffs filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, regarding the definition of the group of customers.
With respect to the following claims which totaled an amount of NIS 14.3 billion, claims totaling NIS 13.4 billion have been dismissed. With regards to the remaining claims, the Company has reached settlement agreements (as noted below, some settlement agreements are still subject to Court approval) and the Company does not believe that they will have a material adverse effect on the Company individually or in the aggregate.
On April 22, 2009, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class action were filed against the Company. The claim alleged that the Company charged certain customers for certain calls not according to their rate plan. The total amount claimed from the Company was estimated by the plaintiffs to be approximately NIS 187 million. The Parties filed a number of settlement agreements which were submitted for the Court's approval and the latest revised settlement agreement was filed on June 12, 2014 and approved in July 2016.
The litigations described below involve claims for which requests for certification as class actions were filed and which do not claim any specific amount of damages. Based on its best judgment of the merits or lack thereof of the class actions described below, the likely range of damages which may be involved, and any provisions made in respect thereof in the Company's balance sheet, the Company does not currently believe that the outcome of these class actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material negative effect on its financial situation.
On July 14, 2010, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class action were filed against the Company. The claim alleges that Partner is breaching its contractual and/or legal obligation and/or is acting negligently by charging V.A.T for roaming services that are consumed abroad. The plaintiff demands to return the total amount of V.A.T that was charged by Partner for roaming services that were consumed abroad. The plaintiff also pursued an injunction that will order Partner to stop charging VA.T for roaming services that are consumed abroad. In August 2014, the claim was dismissed and in October 2014, the plaintiff filed an appeal with the Supreme Court. The hearing was held in May 2016 before an expanded panel of seven judges and the parties are waiting for the Court's decision.
With respect to the following claims, we have begun to assess the risk involved for the Company but at this stage in our analysis we are unable to evaluate, with any degree of certainty, the probability of success of the lawsuit or the range of potential exposure, if any.
During 2016, no new criminal proceedings were brought against us concerning the erection of network sites without building permits. As of December 31, 2016, two criminal proceedings were pending against us concerning the erection of network sites without building permits, none of which was pending against our officers and directors. We are currently negotiating with the relevant local authorities to reach a settlement regarding the relocation of affected sites or obtaining building permits for those sites. Settlements of previous criminal proceedings brought against us resulted in Partner, but not its officers or directors, admitting guilt and paying a fine, and also resulted in the imposition of demolition orders for the relevant sites, the execution of which have been stayed for a period of time to allow us to obtain the necessary permits or to relocate the relevant network site.
Our Articles of Association allow for our Board of Directors to approve all future dividend distributions, without the need for shareholder approval, subject to the provisions governing dividends under the Israeli Companies Law.
The Board of Directors resolved on September 19, 2012, to assess dividend distributions (and their scope) from time to time, by reference to, among other factors, the Company's cash flow, profitability, debt level, debt coverage ratios and the business environment in general. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, no dividend was declared by the Company. For risks relating to future payments of dividends see "Item 3D.2v Based on a decision of the Board of Directors in 2012, dividend distributions are assessed from time to time on the basis of various factors. There can be no assurance that dividends will be declared or, if they are, at what level. No dividends have been distributed since 2013.
We intend to pay any dividends which may be declared in shekels. Under current Israeli regulations, any dividends or other distributions paid in respect of ordinary shares may be freely repatriated in non-Israeli currencies at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of conversion, provided that Israeli income tax has been paid on or withheld from such dividends. Because exchange rates between the shekel and the US dollar fluctuate continuously, a holder of ADSs will be subject to currency fluctuation generally and, particularly, between the date when dividends are declared and the date dividends are paid.
No significant change has occurred since December 31, 2016, except as otherwise disclosed in this annual report. See also "Item 5D.2 Outlook".
Our capital consists of ordinary shares, which are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol "PTNR". American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each representing one of the Company's ordinary shares, are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "PTNR". The ADSs are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") originally issued by JPMorgan Chase, as depositary under a Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1999, among the Company, JPMorgan Chase and registered holders from time to time of ADRs. ADSs were first issued in October 1999. From March 2006 until November 27, 2011, the Bank of New York served as our depositary for ADSs. Since November 28, 2011, Citibank serves as our depositary for ADSs.
The tables below set forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low closing quotations, not adjusted for dividends, based on information supplied by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and information supplied by the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
| NASDAQ (\$ per ADS) |
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NIS per ordinary share) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Low | High | Low | |
| 9.23 | 3.12 | 35.35 | 12.37 | |
| 9.75 | 5.46 | 35.00 | 20.30 | |
| 9.57 | 5.05 | 33.10 | 20.14 | |
| 4.99 | 2.72 | 19.54 | 11.05 | |
| 2.82 | 2.18 | 11.43 | 8.50 | |
| 5.00 | 2.52 | 19.65 | 10.01 | |
| 4.95 | 3.70 | 19.40 | 14.58 | |
| 4.84 | 4.07 | 19.16 | 16.20 | |
| 5.48 | 4.03 | 20.80 | 15.9 | |
| 5.02 | 4.44 | 19.66 | 17.14 | |
| 5.08 | 4.33 | 19.50 | 16.94 | |
| 5.02 | 4.46 | 19.01 | 17.14 | |
| 4.64 | 4.33 | 18.00 | 17.17 | |
| 4.85 | 4.36 | 18.98 | 16.94 | |
| 5.08 | 4.65 | 19.50 | 18.13 | |
| 5.87 | 5.09 | 22.34 | 18.44 | |
| 6.25 | 5.51 | 23.60 | 20.95 | |
| 6.28 | 5.53 | 23.67 | 20.12 | |
Not applicable.
Our ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "PTNR". Our ordinary shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol "PTNR".
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
We are a public company registered under the Israeli Companies Law as Partner Communications Company Ltd., registration number 52-004431-4.
Pursuant to our Articles of Association, we were formed for the purpose of participating in the auction for the granting of a license to operate cellular radio telephone services in Israel, to provide such services, and without derogating from the above, we are also empowered to hold any right, obligation or legal action and to operate in any business or matter approved by the Company.
Pursuant to section three of our Articles of Association, our purpose is to operate in accordance with business considerations to generate profits; provided, however, that the Board of Directors is entitled to donate reasonable amounts to worthy causes, even if such donation is not within the frame of these business considerations.
Pursuant to section four of our Articles of Association, our objective is to engage in any legal business.
The power of our directors to vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which the director is personally interested is limited by the relevant provisions of the Israeli Companies Law and our Articles of Association. In addition, the power of our directors to vote compensation to themselves or any members of their body, requires the approval of the compensation committee, the Board of Directors and the general meeting of shareholders. Generally, the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders must be convened to elect directors and a shareholders meeting could terminate the term of office of directors. In addition, our Articles of Association provide that, in certain circumstances relating to our compliance with the license, our Board of Directors may remove any director from the Board of Directors by a resolution passed by 75% or more of the directors present and voting at the relevant meeting. See also "Item 6C Board Practices".
Our registered share capital consists of a single class of 235 million ordinary shares, par value NIS 0.01 per share, of which 160,610,241 ordinary shares were issued and 159,215,730 were issued and outstanding as of March 1, 2017. All outstanding ordinary shares are validly issued and registered. The rights attached to our ordinary shares are described below.
Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to the full amount of any cash or share dividend subsequently declared. The Board of Directors may propose and approve distribution of a dividend with respect to any fiscal year or quarter only out of profits, subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law. See "Item 10E Taxation."
Shares which are treated as dormant under section 44.6 of our Articles of Association (under circumstances relating to compliance with our license) retain the rights to receive dividends or other distributions to shareholders, and to participate in rights offerings, but no other rights. See "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License".
One year after a dividend has been declared and is still unclaimed, the Board of Directors is entitled to invest or utilize the unclaimed amount of the dividend in any manner to the benefit of the Company until it is claimed. We are not obligated to pay interest or linkage on an unclaimed dividend.
Holders of issued and outstanding ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders either in person or by proxy. Such voting rights may be affected by the grant of any special voting rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future. The quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy who hold or represent, in the aggregate, at least one third of the voting rights of the issued share capital. In the event that a quorum is not present within thirty minutes of the scheduled time, the shareholders' meeting will be adjourned to the same day of the following week, or the next business day thereafter, at the same time and place, or such time and place as the Board of Directors may determine. If at such reconvened meeting a quorum is not present after the lapsing of 30 minutes from the time appointed for holding the meeting, one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy holding or representing in the aggregate at least 10% of the voting rights in the Company will generally constitute a quorum. Any shareholder seeking to vote at a general meeting of our shareholders must first notify us if any of the shareholder's holdings in the Company requires the consent of the Ministry of Communications. The instructions of a shareholder will not be valid unless accompanied by a declaration by the shareholder as to whether or not the shareholder's holdings in the Company or the shareholder's vote requires the consent of the Ministry of Communications due to a breach by the shareholder of the restrictions on transfer or acquisition of means of control, or provisions regarding cross-ownership with other mobile telephone operators or shareholdings or agreements which may reduce or harm competition. If the shareholder does not provide such certification declaration, his instructions will be invalid and his vote not counted.
An ordinary resolution, such as a resolution for the election of directors (excluding external directors), or the appointment of auditors, requires approval by the holders of a majority of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon. Under our Articles of Association, resolutions such as a resolution amending our Articles of Association or approving any change in the share capital, liquidation, changes in the objectives of the company, or the name of the company, or other changes as specified in our Articles of Association, requires approval of a special majority, representing the holders of no less than 75% of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting thereon.
Under our Articles of Association our directors are generally elected by an ordinary majority of the shareholders at each duly convened annual meeting, and serve until the next annual meeting, and our external directors are elected in accordance with applicable law and/or relevant stock exchange rules applicable to us; or until their respective successors are elected and qualified, whichever occurs first, or in the case of Israeli directors who are appointed by the founding Israeli shareholders, generally upon a written notice signed by at least two of the founding Israeli shareholders who are the record holders of (i) at least 50% of minimum Israeli holding shares or (ii), who hold in the aggregate the highest number of minimum Israeli holding shares among the Israeli founding shareholders. Any Israeli founding shareholders who have specified connections to a competing mobile radio telephone operator (as defined in the license) of the Company are prohibited from participation in any such appointment. The notice is addressed to the Company's company secretary indicating his appointment, until their respective successors are elected upon such notice. In each annual meeting the directors that were elected at the previous annual meeting are deemed to have resigned from their office, excluding the external directors, who according to the Israeli Companies Law, are elected for a period of three years and the Israeli director whose appointment is terminated generally by a written notice by himself or by the founding Israeli shareholders. A resigning director may be reelected. Each ordinary share represents one vote. No director may be elected or removed on the basis of a vote by dormant shares. The ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

Under our Articles of Association our shareholders discuss our annual consolidated financial statements, at the annual general meeting of shareholders.
Directors may be appointed also in certain circumstances by an extraordinary general meeting and by the Board of Directors upon approval of a simple majority of the directors. Such director, excluding the external directors, shall serve for a term ending at the next annual general meeting.
Our shareholders have the rights to share in our profits distributed as a dividend and any other permitted distribution. See "Item 10B.3 Rights Attached to Shares-–Dividend Rights."
All of our ordinary shares confer equal rights among them with respect to amounts distributed to shareholders in case of liquidation.
Upon the sale of the property of the Company, the Board of Directors or the liquidators (in case of a liquidation) may receive and, if the Company's profits so permit, distribute among the shareholders fully or partially paid up shares, bonds or securities of another company or any other property of the Company without selling them or depositing them with trustees on behalf of the shareholders, provided, however, that they have received the prior authorization adopted by a special majority of the shareholders of the Company (representing at least 75% of the votes of shareholders participating and voting in the relevant general meeting). Such special majority may also decide on the valuation of such securities or property, unless the Company is in or beginning a liquidation process.
Ownership and control of our ordinary shares are limited by the terms of our licenses and our Articles of Association. See "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License-License Conditions" and "Revoking, limiting or altering our license."
In order to comply with the conditions and restrictions imposed on us by the Ministry of Communications or under our licenses in relation to ownership or control over us, under certain events specified in our Articles of Association, the Board of Directors may determine that certain ordinary shares are dormant shares. According to our Articles of Association, dormant shares bear no rights as long as they are dormant shares, except for the right to receive dividends and other distributions to shareholders. Consequently, we have received an exemption from the requirement set out in NASDAQ's Marketplace Rule 4351 that voting rights of existing shareholders of publicly traded common stock registered under Section 12 of the US Securities Exchange Act cannot be disparately reduced or restricted through any corporate action or issuance. In addition, the Board of Directors shall not register a person as a holder of a share before receipt of their declaration that they are not a "relevant person" as defined in our Articles of Association.
Our Compensation Policy allows us to allocate in addition to shares, restricted shares. For rights attached to restricted shares see "Item 6E.2 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN".
According to our Articles of Association, in order to change the rights attached to any class of shares, the general meeting of the shareholders must adopt a resolution to change such rights by a special majority, representing at least 75% of the votes of shareholders participating and voting in the general meeting, and in case of changing the rights attached to certain class of shares, the approval by special majority of each class meeting, is required.
The Board of Directors must convene an annual general meeting of shareholders at least once every calendar year, within fifteen months of the last annual general meeting. In accordance with our Articles of Association, notice of a general meeting must be sent to each registered shareholder no later than five days after the record date set by the Board of Directors for that meeting, unless a different notice time is required under applicable law. An extraordinary meeting may be convened by the Board of Directors, as it decides or upon a demand of any two directors or 25% of the directors, whichever is lower, or of one or more shareholders holding in the aggregate at least 5% of our issued capital and at least 1% of the voting rights of the Company; or (ii) at least 5% of the voting right of the Company, can seek to convene a shareholders meeting or as otherwise permitted by the Israeli Companies Law. See "Item 10B.3 RIGHTS ATTACHED TO SHARES–Voting Rights."
One or more shareholders holding (alone or in the aggregate), 1% or more of the share capital of the Company may request that the Board of Directors include an issue on the agenda of a general meeting of shareholders (including the nomination of a candidate to the board of directors), provided that such issue is suitable to be discussed in the general meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to an amendment to regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law, effective from July 2014, said shareholder request should be submitted to the company within three or seven days (depending on the type of resolution dealt with in the convened meeting) following publication of the Company's notice with respect to its general meeting of shareholders, or, if the Company publishes a preliminary notice stating its intention to convene such meeting and the agenda thereof, within fourteen days of such preliminary notice. Any such proposal must further comply with the information requirements and time frames under Israeli law.
For limitations on the rights to own our securities see "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License– License Conditions," " – Our Permit Regarding Cross Ownership" and "Item 10B.3 Rights Attached to Shares – Limitations on Ownership and Control."
For limitations on change in control see "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License– License Conditions" and "– Our Permit Regarding Cross Ownership".
Changes in our share capital are subject to the approval of the shareholders at a general meeting of shareholders by a special majority of 75% of the votes of shareholders participating and voting in the general meeting of shareholders.
If any article of our Articles of Association is found to be inconsistent with the terms of our mobile telephone license granted by the Ministry of Communications (see "Item 4B.13f Our Mobile Telephone License") or of any other telecommunications license we hold, the provisions of such Article shall be deemed null and void.
Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd. In June 2015, we entered into a settlement agreement with Orange regarding the brand license agreement between the parties, according to which each of the parties had the right to terminate the brand license agreement under certain conditions. The settlement agreement also provided for payments to Partner in the event that Partner chose to terminate the brand license agreement. –see "Item 5A.1c Settlement Agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd."
Network sharing agreement. In April 2015, the Ministry of Communications approved the 15- year Network Sharing Agreement that we entered into with HOT Mobile. Pursuant to the Network Sharing Agreement, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership, the purpose of which is to operate and develop a cellular network to be shared by both parties, starting with a pooling of both parties' radio access network infrastructures to create a single shared radio access network. The limited partnership began operations in August 2015. See "Item 4B.9 OUR NETWORK".
Right of Use Agreement with HOT Mobile. Partner and HOT Mobile entered into a Right of Use agreement, which took effect on November 8, 2013, and was valid until April 1, 2016. Under the Right of Use agreement, Partner provided services to HOT Mobile in the form of a right of use of Partner's radio cellular network. According to the Right of Use agreement, HOT Mobile paid Partner fixed base payments with additional variable payments based, among other things, on traffic volume exceeding a defined threshold. See "Item 4B.9 OUR NETWORK".
i-Phone Agreement. Following the expiration of a previous agreement, in June 2016, we entered into a non-exclusive agreement with Apple Distribution International for the purchase and resale of iPhone handsets in Israel. Pursuant to the agreement, we agreed to purchase a minimum quantity of iPhone handsets per year, for a period of three years. These purchases will represent a significant portion of our expected handset purchases and sales over that period.
Fixed-line transmission services. In April 2012, we signed a five- year agreement with Bezeq effective as of January 1, 2012, for the supply of transmission services for use in Partner's mobile network. The agreement replaced an earlier transmission agreement between the parties from 2008. The transmission services to be purchased in accordance with this agreement, together with the use of the Company's own transmission network, will allow Partner to meet all its transmission requirements, at an improved cost during the next five years. Partner's minimum annual commitment was NIS 57 million for the year 2013 and gradually increased to NIS 71 million for the year 2016 due to the increase in the scope of the capacity purchased in accordance with the layout agreed upon by the parties. Commencing April 2015, Hot Mobile undertakes its share in these expenses through PHI according to the OPEX-CAPEX mechanism, see Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.
Registration Rights Agreement. We have entered into registration rights agreements with S.B, Israel Telecom, our principal shareholder, in which we granted our principal shareholders the right to require us to register ordinary shares held by them under the US Securities Act. See "Item 7B.2 REGISTRATION RIGHTS".
Network upgrade and deployment of fourth generation network. On October 25, 2010, we entered into an agreement with Ericsson for the upgrade of our existing networks and the deployment of our fourth generation network in Israel for an initial term that ended at the end of 2014. We extended the initial period by an additional period of one year for the provision of support and maintenance services until the end of 2015 and again until the end of 2016 and recently we have ordered maintenance services for the years 2017 and 2018. See "Item 4B.9f Suppliers" and "Item 5A.1g Agreement for the Upgrade of Our Existing Networks and the Deployment of Fourth Generation Network in Israel".
Med Nautilus Agreement. We have an agreement with Med Nautilus for the provision of international capacity services through submarine infrastructure, which connects countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea to all major Western European countries and from there to the rest of the world until 2023 with an option to extend the agreement until 2030.
There are no Israeli government laws, decrees or regulations that restrict or that affect our export or import of capital or the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to nonresident holders of our securities, including the availability of cash and cash equivalents for use by us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, except or otherwise as set forth under "Item 10E Taxation."
Under Israeli law (and our Memorandum and Articles of Association), persons who are neither residents nor nationals of Israel may freely hold, vote and transfer ordinary shares in the same manner as Israeli residents or nationals.
The following discussion is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal or professional tax advice and should not be relied on any specific case since it does not exhaust all possible tax considerations.
The following is a summary of the current tax laws of the State of Israel as they relate to us and to our shareholders and also includes a discussion of the material Israeli tax consequences for persons purchasing our ordinary shares or ADSs, both referred to below as the "Shares". To the extent that the discussion is based on legislation yet to be subject to judicial or administrative interpretation, there can be no assurance that the views expressed herein will accord with any such interpretation in the future. This discussion is not intended and should not be construed as legal or professional tax advice and does not cover all possible tax considerations.
Potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the Israeli or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Shares, including, in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local taxes.
On July 24, 2002, the Israeli Parliament enacted income tax reform legislation, commonly referred to as the "2003 Tax Reform". The 2003 Tax Reform has introduced fundamental and comprehensive changes into Israeli tax laws. Most of the legislative changes took effect on January 1, 2003. The 2003 Tax Reform has introduced a transition from a primarily territorial-based tax system to a personal-based system of taxation with respect to Israeli residents. The 2003 Tax Reform has also resulted in significant amendment of the international taxation provisions, and new provisions concerning the taxation of capital markets including the abolishment of currently "exempt investment routes" (e.g., capital gains generated by Israeli individuals from the sale of securities traded on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange). Under the 2003 Tax Reform legislation the Shares are no longer regarded and defined as "foreign traded securities" and thus certain associated Israeli tax aspects will accordingly be subject to change as discussed below.
A relatively short time after the 2003 Tax Reform, the Israeli Parliament approved on July 25, 2005 an additional income tax reform legislation (the "2006 Tax Reform") pursuant to the recommendations of a committee appointed by the Israeli Minister of Finance, which incorporated additional fundamental changes to Israeli tax law. The 2006 Tax Reform outlines a path towards uniformity in the taxation of interest, dividend and capital gains derived from securities. The "Tax Burden Distribution Law" legislation amendments (2011) that were published in December 2011, which became effective on January 1, 2012, abolished the reduction of income tax rates for corporations and individuals and increased, amongst other things, the corporate tax rate and the tax rates on individual's dividend income. On July 27, 2013 following the Tax Burden Distribution Law, the Israeli Parliament approved The Law For the Change in National Priorities (Legislation Amendment to Achieving Budget Goals for years 2013 and 2014), 2013 (the "2013 Amendment"). On January 4, 2016, the Israeli Parliament approved an amendment for the Israeli tax Ordinance (Number 216), according to which corporate tax rate will be updated for 2016 (the "2016 Amendment"). It should be noted that the 2016 amendment was considered an event after the reporting period which influenced the Company's deferred taxes as of the tax year 2016. Would the law have been approved at December 31, 2015, the deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2015 would have decreased in the amount of approximately NIS 4 million, with corresponding decrease in deferred tax expenses in the income statement. On December 29, 2016, the Israeli Parliament passed the Israeli Economic Recuperation Law (legislated amendments to achieve implementation of the Economic Policy for the budget years 2017-2018) ("The New Amendment"), which, amongst other things, reduces the regular corporate tax rate, and changes the requirement regarding surplus tax.
Various issues related to the above legislations remain unclear in view of the legislative language utilized and the lack of authoritative interpretations at this stage. The analysis below is therefore based on our current understanding of the new legislation.
Israeli companies are generally subject to corporate tax on their taxable income (including capital gains). In general, the regular corporate tax rate in Israel for 2014 and 2015 was 26.5%, and for 2016 was 25%. According to the New Amendment, the regular corporate tax for 2017 will decrease to a rate of 24% and, as of 2018, there will be a further reduction to 23%.
Until 2008, our taxable income was determined under the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustment) Law 1985 (the "Inflationary Adjustments Law"), which attempts to overcome some of the problems presented to a traditional tax system by inflation.
In February 2008, the Israeli Parliament approved Amendment No. 20 to the Inflationary Adjustments Law ("the Amendment"). The Amendment repealed the Inflationary Adjustments Law as of January 1, 2008 and set certain transitionary rules.
• General. Israeli law generally imposes a capital gains tax on the sale of capital assets by residents of Israel as defined for Israeli tax purposes, and on the sale of capital assets located in Israel or the sale of direct or indirect rights to assets located in Israel, including on the sale of our Shares by some of our shareholders (see discussion below). The Israeli Income Tax Ordinance distinguishes between "Real Capital Gain" and "Inflationary Surplus". Real Capital Gain is the excess of the total capital gain over Inflationary Surplus computed on the basis of the increase in the CPI between the date of purchase and the date of sale. In 2016, the real capital gain accrued on the sale of our Shares was generally taxed at a rate of 25% for corporations (26.5% for 2014 and 2015, and 24% for 2017) and a rate of up to 25% for individuals. Additionally, if such individual shareholder is considered a "Significant Shareholder" at any time during the 12-month period preceding such sale (i.e., if such individual shareholder holds directly or indirectly, along with others, at least 10% of any means of control in the company, including, among other things, the right to receive profits of the company, voting rights, the right to receive the company's liquidation proceeds and the right to appoint a director), the tax rate will be up to 30%.
However, the foregoing tax rates will not apply to (i) dealers in securities; and (ii) shareholders who have acquired their shares prior to an initial public offering (that may be subject to a different tax arrangement). Inflationary surplus that accrued after December 31, 1993, is exempt from tax.
Generally, a semi-annual detailed return, including a computation of the tax due should be submitted to the Israeli Tax Authorities and a tax advance amounting to the tax liability arising from the capital gain is payable. At the sale of traded securities, the aforementioned detailed return may not be submitted and the tax advance should not be paid, if all tax due was withheld at the source according to applicable provisions of the Israeli Tax Ordinance and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Capital gains are also reportable on annual income tax returns.
The following is a summary of the most significant Israeli capital gains tax implications arising with respect to the sale of our Shares by shareholders who are not engaged in the business of trading in securities.

As of January 1, 2012, a shareholder will generally be subject to tax at up to 25% rate on realized real capital gain (if the shareholder is a Significant Shareholder, as defined above, the tax rate will be up to 30%). To the extent that the shareholder claims a deduction of financing expenses, the gain will be subject to tax at a rate of 30% (until otherwise stipulated in bylaws that may be published in the future).
Please note that an individual Israeli tax resident may be required to pay up to 48% on his yearly taxable income, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, as of January 1, 2013, an individual Israeli tax resident is required to pay an additional tax at the rate of 2% on his yearly taxable combined income from any source exceeding NIS 811,560 for 2014 and NIS 810,720 for 2015 and 2016. According to the New Amendment, from 2017 the additional tax rate will be 3% and the amount will be updated to NIS 640,000.
Shareholders who are corporations will be generally subject to tax at the corporate tax rate on the realized capital gain as described in "General Corporate Tax Structure" in Item 10E above.
Different taxation rules may apply to shareholders who purchased the Shares prior to January 1, 2009, or prior to the listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market. Such Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors for the tax consequences upon sale.
In general, a partnership will be a transparent entity for Israeli tax purposes and its partners will be subject to tax with respect to their share in accordance with each of their applicable tax status and rates.
In general, under the Israel Tax Ordinance, public institutions are exempt from tax.
As mentioned above, Israeli law generally imposes a capital gains tax on sales of capital assets, including securities and any other direct or indirect rights to capital assets located in Israel. This tax is also applicable to non-Israeli residents of Israel as follows:
Under Israeli law, the capital gain from the sale of shares by non-Israeli residents is tax exempt in Israel as long as our Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market or any other stock exchange recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Finance (this condition shall not apply to shares purchased on or after January 1, 2009) and provided that certain other conditions are met, the most relevant of which are: (A) the capital gain is not attributed to the foreign resident's permanent establishment in Israel, (B) the shares were acquired by the foreign resident after the company's shares had been listed for trading on the foreign exchange, and (C) if the seller is a corporation, less than 25% of its means of control are held by Israeli residents. It should be noted that with respect to shares which are listed on the Israeli stock exchange market, a tax exemption may apply under certain different conditions.
In addition, the sale of shares may be exempt from Israeli capital gains tax under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty (for example, please refer to the discussion below with respect to the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel with Respect to Taxes on Income).
Different taxation rules may apply to shareholders who purchased their shares prior to the listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Such shareholders should consult with their tax advisors for the precise treatment upon sale.
Individual and corporate dealers in securities in Israel are taxed at tax rates applicable to business income.
The purchaser, the Israeli stockbrokers and any financial institution through which the sold securities are held, are obliged, subject to certain exemptions, to withhold tax on the amount of consideration paid with respect to such sale (or on the capital gain realized on the sale, if known) at the Israeli corporate tax rate as described in "General Corporate Tax Structure" in Item 10E above.
Where the seller is an individual, the applicable withholding tax rate would be 25%, or 30% where the seller is a significant shareholder.
The following Israeli tax consequences shall apply in the event of actual payment of any dividends on the Shares.
As of January 1, 2012, dividends, other than bonus shares (stock dividends), paid to Israeli resident individuals who purchased our Shares will generally be subject to income tax at a rate of 25% for individuals, or 30% if the dividend recipient is a Significant Shareholder (as defined above) at any time during the 12-month period preceding such distribution. Dividends paid to Israeli resident companies will not be included in their tax liability computation.
Non-residents of Israel (both individuals and corporations) are subject to income tax on income accrued or derived from sources in Israel, including dividends from Israeli corporations. The distribution of dividend income, other than bonus shares (stock dividends), to non-residents of Israel will generally be subject to income tax at a rate of 25% (or 30% for a shareholder that is considered a Significant Shareholder (as defined above) at any time during the 12-month period preceding such distribution), unless a lower rate is stipulated by a double tax treaty between the State of Israel and the shareholder's country of residence.
In the event of actual payment of any dividends on our Shares the following withholding rates will be applied: (i) Israeli resident corporations – 0%, (ii) Israeli resident individuals – 25% (iii) non-Israeli residents – 25%, subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty; (iv) Israeli resident individual who is a Significant Shareholder – 30%; and (v) non -Israeli resident who is a Significant Shareholder – 30%, subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty. Nevertheless, if the Shares are held through a Nominee Company, as defined in the Israel Securities Act, the withholding tax rate for shareholders under (iv) and (v) above shall be 25% (subject to a reduced tax rate under an applicable double tax treaty for non-Israeli residents).
A non-resident of Israel that has received a dividend income derived from an Israeli corporation, from which tax was withheld at the source, is generally exempt from the duty to file tax returns in Israel in respect of such income, provided that such income was not connected to or derived from a trade or business conducted in Israel by such person.
Non-residents of Israel who acquire any of the Shares of the Company will be able to repatriate dividends, liquidation distributions and the proceeds from the sale of such shares in non-Israeli currencies at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of repatriation provided that any applicable Israel income tax has been paid, or withheld, on such amounts. US holders should refer to the "United States Federal Income Considerations" section below with respect to the US federal income tax treatment of foreign currency gain or loss.
The foregoing discussion is intended only as a summary and does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential Israeli tax effects of holding of our shares. We recommend that shareholders consult their tax advisors concerning the Israeli and non-Israeli tax consequences to them of holding our shares.
Residents of the United States generally will be subject to withholding tax in Israel on dividends paid, if any, on Shares (including ADSs). Generally, under the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel with Respect to Taxes on Income (the "US Treaty"), the maximum rate of withholding tax on dividends paid to a holder of Shares (including ADSs) who is a resident of the United States (as defined in the US Treaty) will be 25%. Under the US Treaty, the withholding tax rate on dividends will be reduced to 12.5% if (i) the shareholder is a U.S. resident corporation which holds during the portion of the taxable year which precedes the date of payment of the dividend, and during the whole of its prior taxable year, at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Israeli resident paying corporation and (ii) not more than 25% of the gross income of the Israeli resident paying corporation for such prior taxable year consists of certain types of interest or dividends.
The US Treaty exempts from taxation in Israel any capital gains realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of Shares (including ADSs) provided that the following cumulative conditions are met: (a) the seller is a resident of the United States for purposes of the US Treaty; (b) the seller owns, directly or indirectly, less than 10% of our voting stock at all times during the 12-month period preceding such sale, exchange or other disposition; (c) the seller, being an individual, is present in Israel for a period or periods of less than 183 days during the taxable year; and (d) the capital gain from the sale was not generated through a permanent establishment of the seller in Israel.
Subject to the exemptions from capital gains prescribed in the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (as described above), purchasers of Shares (including ADSs) who are residents of the United States and who hold 10% or more of the outstanding Shares at any time during such 12-month period will be subject to Israeli capital gains tax. However, under the US Treaty, residents of the United States (as defined in the US Treaty) generally would be permitted to claim a credit for this tax against US federal income tax imposed on the sale, exchange or other disposition, subject to the limitations in US laws applicable to the utilization of foreign tax credits generally.
The application of the US Treaty provisions to dividends and capital gains described above is conditioned upon the fact that such income is not effectively connected with a permanent establishment (as defined in the US Treaty) maintained by the non-Israeli resident in Israel.
The following discussion is a summary of certain material US federal income tax considerations applicable to a US holder (as defined below) regarding the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Shares or ADSs. This summary is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), existing and proposed US Treasury regulations, administrative pronouncements, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date of this annual report. All of these authorities are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and to change or changes in interpretation. In addition, this summary does not discuss all aspects of US federal income taxation that may be applicable to investors in light of their particular circumstances or to investors who are subject to special treatment under US federal income tax law, including US expatriates, insurance companies, banks, regulated investment companies, securities broker-dealers, financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, persons holding Shares or ADSs as part of a straddle, hedging or conversion transaction, persons subject to the foreign tax credit splitting events rules, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons who acquired their Shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, US holders having a functional currency other than the US dollar, persons owning (directly, indirectly or by attribution) 10% or more of our outstanding share capital or voting stock and persons not holding the Shares or ADSs as capital assets. This discussion also does not address the consequences of the Medicare tax on net investment income or any aspect of state, local or non-US tax law or any other aspect of US federal taxation other than income taxation.
As used herein, the term "US holder" means a beneficial owner of an ordinary share or an ADS who is eligible for benefits as a US resident under the limitation on benefits article of the US Treaty (as defined above in "–Taxation of Residents of the United States under the US Treaty"), and is:
If a partnership, or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for US federal income tax purposes, holds Shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partnership or a partner in a partnership that holds Shares or ADSs is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences of owning and disposing of Shares or ADSs.
For US federal income tax purposes, US holders of ADRs will be treated as owners of the ADSs evidenced by the ADRs and the Shares represented by the ADSs. Furthermore, deposits or withdrawals by a US holder of Shares for ADSs, or of ADSs for Shares, will not be subject to US federal income tax. The statement of US federal income tax law set forth below assumes that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.
US holders should review the summary above under "Israeli Tax Considerations" and "Taxation of Residents of the United States under the US Treaty" for a discussion of the Israeli taxes which may be applicable to them.
Holders of Shares or ADSs should consult their own tax advisors concerning the specific Israeli, US federal, state and local tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Shares or ADSs in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. In particular, US holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning whether they will be eligible for benefits under the US Treaty.
A US holder generally will be required to include in gross income as ordinary dividend income the amount of any distributions paid on the Shares and ADSs, including the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld in respect of such dividend. Dividends paid by us will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction applicable in certain cases to US corporations.
The amount of any distribution paid in NIS, including the amount of any Israeli withholding tax thereon, will be included in the gross income of a US holder of Shares in an amount equal to the US dollar value of the NIS calculated by reference to the spot rate of exchange in effect on the date the distribution is received by the US holder or, in the case of ADSs, by the Depositary. If a US holder converts dividends paid in NIS into US dollars on the day such dividends are received, the US holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss with respect to such conversion. If the NIS received in the distribution are not converted into US dollars on the date of receipt, any foreign currency gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the NIS will be treated as US source ordinary income or loss. Special rules govern and special elections are available to accrual method taxpayers to determine the US dollar amount includible in income in the case of taxes withheld in a foreign currency. Accrual basis taxpayers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the requirements and the elections applicable in this regard. Dividends paid with respect to Shares may be subject to rules applicable where US persons own 50% or more (by vote or value) of a foreign corporation, and such rules could adversely affect the US shareholders' ability to use US foreign tax credits.
Any dividends paid by us to a US holder on the Shares or ADSs will be treated as foreign source income and generally will be categorized as "passive income" for US foreign tax credit purposes. Subject to the limitations in the Code, as modified by the US Treaty, a US holder may elect to claim a foreign tax credit against its US federal income tax liability for Israeli income tax withheld from dividends received in respect of Shares or ADSs. US holders who do not elect to claim the foreign tax credit may instead claim a deduction for Israeli income tax withheld, but only for a year in which the US holder elects to do so with respect to all foreign income taxes. A deduction does not reduce US tax on a dollar-for-dollar basis like a tax credit. The deduction, however, is not subject to the limitations applicable to foreign tax credits. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex. Accordingly, if you are a US holder of Shares or ADSs, you should consult your own tax advisor to determine whether and to what extent you would be entitled to the credit.
Certain US holders (including individuals) are eligible for reduced rates of US federal income tax in respect of "qualified dividend income". For this purpose, qualified dividend income generally includes dividends paid by a non-US corporation if, among other things, the US holders meet certain minimum holding period requirements and the non-US corporation satisfies certain requirements, including that either (i) the shares (or ADSs) with respect to which the dividend has been paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or (ii) the non-US corporation is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive US income tax treaty (such as the US Treaty) which provides for the exchange of information. We currently believe that dividends paid with respect to our Shares and ADSs should constitute qualified dividend income for US federal income tax purposes. We anticipate that our dividends will be reported as qualified dividends on Forms 1099-DIV delivered to US holders. In computing foreign tax credit limitations, non-corporate US Holders may take into account only a portion of a qualified dividend to reflect the reduced US tax rate applicable to such dividend. Individual US holders of Shares or ADSs are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in light of their own particular situation and regarding the computations of their foreign tax credit limitation with respect to any qualified dividend income paid by us, as applicable.

Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Shares or ADSs, a US holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the US dollar value of the amount realized on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition and the US holder's adjusted tax basis, determined in US dollars, in the Shares or ADSs. Any gain or loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the Shares or ADSs will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition, the holding period of the Shares or ADSs exceeds one year. In the case of individual US holders, capital gains generally are subject to US federal income tax at preferential rates if specified minimum holding periods are met. The deductibility of capital losses by a US holder is subject to significant limitations. US holders should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.
In general, gain or loss recognized by a US holder on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Shares or ADSs will be US source income or loss for US foreign tax credit purposes. Pursuant to the US Treaty, however, gain from the sale or other taxable disposition of Shares or ADSs by a holder who is a US resident, for US Treaty purposes, and who sells the Shares or ADSs within Israel may be treated as foreign source income for US foreign tax credit purposes.
US holders who hold Shares or ADSs through an Israeli stockbroker or other Israeli intermediary may be subject to an Israeli withholding tax on any capital gains recognized if the US holder does not obtain approval of an exemption from the Israeli Tax Authorities. See "Israeli Tax Considerations" above. US holders are advised that any Israeli tax paid under circumstances in which an exemption from such tax was available will not give rise to a deduction or credit for foreign taxes paid for US federal income tax purposes. US holders are advised to consult their Israeli stockbroker or intermediary regarding the procedures for obtaining an exemption.
If a US holder receives NIS upon the sale of Shares, that US holder may recognize ordinary income or loss as a result of currency fluctuations between the date of the sale of the Shares and the date the sales proceeds are converted into US dollars.
A non-US corporation will be classified as a Passive Foreign Investment Company (a "PFIC") for any taxable year if (i) at least 75% of its gross income consists of passive income, (such as dividends, interest, rents, royalties (other than rents or royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and received from an unrelated person) and gains on the disposition of certain minority interests or (ii) at least 50% of the average value of its assets consist of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. We currently believe that we were not a PFIC for the year ended December 31, 2016. However, this conclusion is a factual determination that must be made at the close of each year and is based on, among other things, a valuation of our Shares, ADSs and assets, which will likely change from time to time. If we were characterized as a PFIC for any taxable year, a US holder would suffer adverse tax consequences. These consequences may include having the gains that are realized on the disposition of Shares or ADSs treated as ordinary income rather than capital gains and being subject to punitive interest charges with respect to certain dividends and gains and on the sale or other disposition of the Shares or ADSs. Furthermore, dividends paid by a PFIC are not eligible to be treated as "qualified dividend income" (as discussed above). In addition, if a US holder holds Shares or ADSs in any year in which we are treated as a PFIC, such US holder will be subject to additional tax form filing and reporting requirements.
Application of the PFIC rules is complex. US holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of the PFIC rules to the ownership of our Shares or ADSs.
Dividend payments with respect to Shares or ADSs and proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of Shares or ADSs may be subject to information reporting to the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") and possible US backup withholding at a current rate of 28%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number or certificate of foreign status and makes any other required certification or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. US persons who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification). Non-US holders generally will not be subject to US information reporting or backup withholding. However, such holders may be required to provide certification of non-US status (generally on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS W-8BEN-E) in connection with payments received in the United States or through certain US-related financial intermediaries.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a holder's US federal income tax liability, and a holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information in a timely fashion.
In addition, certain US holders who are individuals that hold certain foreign financial assets as defined in the Code (which may include Shares or ADSs) are required to report information relating to such assets, subject to certain exceptions.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Reports and other information of Partner filed electronically with the US Securities and Exchange Commission may be found at www.sec.gov. They can also be inspected without charge and copied at prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC in Room 1024, 450 Fifth Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Not applicable.
We are exposed to market risk, including movements in foreign currency exchange and inflation-indexed interest rates. Since May 2013, we have not entered into any derivative transactions to hedge underlying exposure to foreign currencies. As a matter of policy, we do not enter into transactions of a speculative or trading nature. Interest rate and foreign exchange exposures are monitored by tracking actual and projected commitments and through the use of sensitivity analysis.
We have liabilities in NIS linked to the CPI and in foreign currencies. The following table provides information derived from the financial statements about these liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2016.
| As of December 31, (NIS equivalent in millions, except percentages) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | |||
| Fair Value | Book Value | Fair Value | Book Value | |
| NIS-denominated debt linked to the CPI (1) | ||||
| Long-term fixed Notes payable series B due 2016 | 123 | 121 | ||
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3.4% | |||
| Long-term fixed Notes payable series C due 2018 | 440 | 423 | 724 | 695 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3.35% | 3.35% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 199 | 197 | 210 | 198 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3.42% | 3.42% | ||
| Other payables (2) | 1 | 1 | ||
| NIS-denominated debt not linked to the CPI | ||||
| Long-term variable interest Notes payable series D due 2021 | 548 | 543 | 548 | 543 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 1.30% | 1.34% | ||
| Long-term fixed Notes payable series E due 2017 | 127 | 121 | 399 | 371 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 5.5% | 5.5% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing variable interest (2) | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 1.6% | 1.63% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 162 | 150 | 170 | 150 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 5.7% | 5.7% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 195 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3% | 3% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 182 | 182 | 198 | 196 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3% | 3% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 76 | 76 | 75 | 75 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3.71% | 3.71% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 204 | 200 | 203 | 200 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 4.25% | 4.25% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 201 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 3.884% | 3.884% | ||
| Long-term borrowing bearing fixed interest | 260 | 250 | ||
| Weighted average interest rate payable | 4.95% | |||
| Trade payables and others (2) | 630 | 630 | 630 | 630 |
| Debt denominated in foreign currencies (2) | ||||
| Trade payables denominated in USD | 132 | 132 | 117 | 117 |
| Trade payables denominated in other foreign currencies (mainly Euro) | 19 | 19 | 46 | 46 |
| Total | 3,527 | 3,475 | 3,995 | 3,894 |
(1) Amounts due for payment of principal and interest are adjusted according to the CPI. See "Item 5B Liquidity and Capital Resources".
(2) Book value approximates fair value.
Substantially all of our revenues and a majority of our operating expenses are denominated in NIS. However, in 2016, approximately one quarter of our operating expenses were linked or denominated to non-NIS currencies, mainly the US dollar. These expenses related mainly to the acquisition of handsets and other equipment where the price paid by us is based on various foreign currencies, mainly the US dollar. Since May 2013, we do not enter into derivative transactions and thus we are exposed to the aforementioned foreign currency fluctuations. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. In addition, a substantial amount of our capital expenditures are incurred in, or linked to, non-NIS currencies, mainly the US dollar. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for description of the market risks.
Our Note payable series C and our borrowings in a total principal amount of NIS 621 million as of December 31, 2016, are currently in NIS and are linked to the CPI. We may not be able to raise our tariffs pursuant to our license in a manner that would fully compensate for any increase in the CPI. Therefore, an increase in the rate of inflation may also have a material adverse impact upon us by increasing our finance expenses without an offsetting increase in revenue. In 2016, the CPI effective as of December 31, 2016, decreased 0.3%, compared to the CPI effective as of December 31, 2015, causing income of NIS 2 million in our finance costs, net, compared to a decrease of 0.9% in 2015, which caused income of NIS 9 million in finance costs, net. See Note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.
A change of the CPI as at December 31, 2016, would increase (decrease) equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below. This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant.
| Change | Equity | Profit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels in millions |
|||
| December 31, 2016 | |||
| Increase in the CPI of | 2% | (9) | (9) |
| Decrease in the CPI of | (2)% | 9 | 9 |
A change of the USD exchange rate as at December 31, 2016, would increase (decrease) equity and profit in 2016 by the amounts shown below as regards assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2016, and expected capital expenditure purchases in 2017. The analysis below does not take into account the effect of any change in USD with respect to possible future commitments and other future expected purchases in US dollars, since the Company believes that it will be able to adjust NIS prices for goods and services it sells in the Israeli market to reflect any significant increases in cost resulting from changes in the NIS-USD exchange rate. This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant.
| Change | Equity | Profit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels in millions |
|||
| December 31, 2016 Increase in the USD of |
10% | (8) | (8) |
| Decrease in the USD of | (10)% | 8 | 8 |
Since one of our notes payable and one of our non-current borrowings bear variable interest rate, changes in interest rates cause cash flow risks. As of December 31, 2016, our Notes payable series D in a principal amount of NIS 543 million, and our borrowing in a principal amount of NIS 152 million bear variable rates of interest.
An increase (decrease) of 1% interest rates during 2016 in respect of our notes payable and non-current borrowing bearing variable interest would have resulted in an annual increase (decrease) in interest expenses (income) of NIS 7 million. This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant.

Citibank serves as the depositary (the "Depositary") for our American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") program. Pursuant to the deposit agreement between the Company, the Depositary and owners and holders of ADRs (the "Deposit Agreement"), ADR holders may be required to pay various fees to the Depositary. In particular, the Depositary, under the terms of the Deposit Agreement, may charge the following fees: (i) Issuance Fee: to any person depositing shares or to whom ADSs are issued upon the deposit of shares, a fee not in excess of \$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) (excluding issuances as a result of distributions described in paragraph (iv) below); (ii) Cancellation Fee: to any person surrendering ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of deposited securities or to any person to whom deposited securities are delivered, a fee not in excess of \$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) surrendered;(iii) Cash Distribution Fee: to any holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of \$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (i.e., sale of rights and other entitlements); (iv) Stock Distribution/Rights Exercise Fee: to any holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of \$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for (a)stock dividends or other free stock distributions or (b)exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs; (v) Other Distribution Fee: to any holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of \$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held for the distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (i.e., spin-off shares); and (vi) Depositary Services Fee: to any holder of ADS(s), a fee not in excess of \$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof) held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary. The parties agreed to allow Citibank to charge an additional \$1.00 per 100 ADSs (a fee not in excess of \$6.00 in aggregate) in the event that the Company does not pay cash or stock dividends.
Owners, beneficial owners, persons depositing shares and persons surrendering ADSs for cancellation and for the purpose of withdrawing deposited securities shall be responsible for the following charges: (a) taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges; (b) such registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of shares or other deposited securities on the share register and applicable to transfers of shares or other deposited securities to or from the name of the custodian, the Depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively; (c) such cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of the person depositing or withdrawing shares or owners and beneficial owners of ADSs; (d) the expenses and charges incurred by the Depositary in the conversion of foreign currency; (e) such fees and expenses as are incurred by the Depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to Shares, deposited securities, ADSs and receipts; and (f) the fees and expenses incurred by the Depositary, the Custodian, or any nominee in connection with the delivery or servicing of deposited securities.
During 2016, the Company received from Citibank payments in the amount of approximately \$541,292.
| ITEM 13. | DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES |
|---|---|
| None. | |
| ITEM 14. | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
| None. | |
| ITEM 15. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2016. Disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Nevertheless, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based upon our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures in place as of December 31, 2016, were effective.
(b) Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:
that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Due to its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the framework for Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) set forth by The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016.
Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, has been audited by Kesselman & Kesselman, an independent registered public accounting firm in Israel and a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as stated in their report which is included under Item 18.
(c) Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm. The attestation report of Kesselman & Kesselman, an independent registered public accounting firm in Israel and a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, regarding the Company's internal control over financial reporting is included under Item 18.
(d) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
The Board of Directors has determined that Dr. Michael Anghel, Mr. Barry Ben-Zeev and Mr. Arik Steinberg are "audit committee financial experts" as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F. All the members of the audit committee are "independent directors" as defined in the SEC requirements applicable to us.
In 2016, we reviewed and updated our Code of Ethics. As previously, the revised Code of Ethics applies to our directors, officers and employees. The principal modifications to our Code of Ethics adopted in 2016 include: an updated statement setting forth the values underlying the Code of Ethics following the rebranding of our products and services and an updated detailed guide to appropriate behavior toward interested parties, including customers, suppliers, employees, directors, shareholders, franchisers and the community in which the Company operates.
A copy of our Code of Ethics is posted on our website at www.partner.co.il under "Investor Relations-Corporate Governance-Code of Ethics".
Kesselman & Kesselman, our independent registered public accounting firm in Israel and a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited ("PwC"), have served as our independent public accountants for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, for which audited financial statements appear in this annual report on Form 20-F.
The following table presents the aggregate fees for professional services rendered by PwC to Partner in 2015 and 2016.
| 2015 (NIS thousands) |
2016 (NIS thousands) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Audit Fees (1) | 2,265 | 2,251 |
| Audit-related Fees (2) | 441 | 349 |
| Tax Fees (3) | 436 | 551 |
| TOTAL | 3,142 | 3,151 |
(1) Audit Fees consist of fees billed for the annual audit services engagement and other audit services, which are those services that only the external auditor can reasonably provide, and include the group audit; statutory audits; comfort letters and consents; and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.
(2) Audit-related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and include consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards, as well as the purchase of an accounting data base.
(3) Tax Fees include fees billed for tax compliance services, including the preparation of tax returns and claims for tax refund; tax consultations, such as assistance and representation in connection with tax audits and appeals, and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authority.
Our audit committee's specific responsibilities in carrying out its oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and reporting practices of the Company include the approval of audit and non-audit services to be provided by the external auditor. The audit committee approves in advance the particular services or categories of services to be provided to the Company during the following yearly period and also sets forth a specific budget for such audit and non-audit services. Additional non-audit services may be pre-approved by the audit committee.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
See "Item 6C.5 NASDAQ Corporate Governance Rules and Our Practices", and also "Item 10B Memorandum and Articles of Association".
The company has responded to "Item 18. Financial Statements" in lieu of responding to this item.
The following financial statements are filed as part of this annual report.
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have filed certain agreements as exhibits to this annual report on Form 20-F. These agreements may contain representations and warranties by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may have been qualified by disclosures made to such other party or parties, (ii) were made only as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreements and are subject to more recent developments, which may not be fully reflected in our public disclosure, (iii) may reflect the allocation of risk among the parties to such agreements and (iv) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe our actual state of affairs at the date hereof and should not be relied upon.
| Exhibit No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 1.1 | Articles of Association last updated and approved on September 28, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Annex D from the Company's Report on Form 6-K filed on |
| August 17, 2016) | |
| **1.2 | Partner's Certificate of Incorporation |
| **1.3 | Partner's Memorandum of Association |
| **2.(a).1 | Form of Share Certificate |
| ^^2.(a).2 | [Reserved] |
| ^^^^2.(a)3 | Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement Between Partner and Citibank N.A. |
| ^2.(b).1 | Form of Indenture between Partner and the Trust Company of Union Bank Ltd. |
| >>>>2.(b).2 | Trust Deed |
| >>>>2.(b).3 | Amendment no. 1 to the Trust Deed of November 26, 2009 |
| ^4.(a).1 | Restatement of the Relationship Agreement dated April 20, 2005 |
| >>>>4.(a).1.1 | Letter of Undertaking by which Scailex entered into the Restated Relationship Agreement with the Company, October 28, 2009 |
| +>>4.(a).1.2 | Letter of Undertaking by which S.B. Israel Telecom entered into the Restated Relationship Agreement with the Company, January 29, 2013 |
|---|---|
| 4.(a).2 | Integrated version of the General License for the Provision of Mobile Radio Telephone Services using the Cellular Method (MRT) in Israel issued by the Ministry of Communications on April 8, 1998. |
| 4.(a).2.1 | General Unified License of Partner Land-Line Communication Solutions Limited Partnership dated February 11, 2016 as amended through January 11, 2017. |
| **4.(a).4 | License Agreement for use of the Orange Brand in Israel dated September 14, 1998 |
| #+>4.(a).4.1 | Restated Amendment, dated as of January 31, 2012,to the Brand License Agreement dated 14 September 1998 |
| #4.(a).4.2 | Settlement Agreement with Orange dated June 26, 2015 |
| **4.(a).5 | Brand Support/Technology Transfer Agreement dated July 18, 1999 |
| **4.(a).6 | Agreement with Ericsson Radio Systems AB dated May 28, 1998 |
| #++4.(a).7 | Agreement with LM Ericsson Israel Ltd. dated November 25, 2002 |
| **4.(a).9 | Lease Agreement with Mivnei Taasia dated July 2, 1998 |
| ^^^4.(a).13 | Asset Purchase Agreement with Med-1 dated as of January 22, 2006 |
| 4.(a).14-60 | [reserved] |
| #+++4.(a).65 | Purchase Agreement with Nortel Networks Israel (Sales and Marketing) Ltd. dated November 12, 2003. |
| #>>4.(a).67 | Swap Agreement with LM Ericsson Israel Ltd. dated December 20, 2007 |
| #4.(a).68 | [reserved] |
| #>>>>4.(a).69 | Facility Agreement dated November 24, 2009 |
| 4.(a).70 | [reserved] |
| 4.(a).71 | [reserved] |
| >>>>>4.(a) 72 | 012 Smile Share Purchase Agreement |
| >>>>>4.(a) 73 | English translation of the original Hebrew language 012 Smile Credit Facility, dated January 31, 2010 |
| 4.(a).74-97 | [reserved] |
| #>>>>4.(b).1 | Addendum to Lease Agreements from November 1, 2002 and Lease Agreements in Beit Ofek |
| >>>>4.(b).2 | Registration Rights Agreement with Scailex |
| +>>>4.(b).3 | Registration Rights Agreement with S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd. |
| +>>6. | See Note 2x to the consolidated financial statements for information explaining how earnings (loss) per share information was calculated. |
|---|---|
| 8. | List of Subsidiaries (see "Item 4C – Organizational Structure"). |
| 10.1 | Consent of Kesselman & Kesselman |
| 10.2 | Consent of Giza Singer Even Ltd. |
| 10.3 | Consent of BDO Ziv Haft Consulting &Management Ltd. |
| 12.(a).1 | Certification by CEO pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 12.(a).2 | Certification by CFO pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 13.(a).1 | Certification of CEO and CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| +>>>>>15.(a).1 | Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan as approved by the Board of Directors on March 13, 2016 |
| 15.(b).1 | Compensation Policy adopted on September 28, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Annex G from the Company's Report on Form 6-K filed on August 17, 2016) |
| ** | Incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-10992). |
| ++ | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. |
| +++ | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. |
| ^ | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. |
| ^^ | Incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form F-6 (No. 333-132680). |
| ^^^ | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. |
| ^^^^ | Incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form F-6 (No. 333-177621). |
| > | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. |
| >> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. |
| >>>> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. |
| >>>>> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. |
| +> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. |
| +>> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. |
| +>>> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. |
| +>>>> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. |
| +>>>>> | Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. |
| # | Confidential treatment requested. |
Confidential material has been redacted and has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange
The Company hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
Partner Communications Company Ltd.
By: /s/ Isaac Benbenisti Isaac Benbenisti
Chief Executive Officer
March 30, 2017
By: /s/ Ziv Leitman
Ziv Leitman Chief Financial Officer
March 30, 2017
(An Israeli Corporation)
2016 ANNUAL REPORT
(An Israeli Corporation)
| Page | |
|---|---|
| REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | F-3 |
| CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: | |
| Statements of Financial Position | F-4 - F-5 |
| Statements of Income | F-6 |
| Statements of Comprehensive Income | F-7 |
| Statements of Changes in Equity | F-8 |
| Statements of Cash Flows | F-9 - F-10 |
| Notes to financial statements | F-11 - F-82 |
The amounts are stated in New Israeli Shekels (NIS) in millions.

To the shareholders of PARTNER COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LTD.
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Partner Communications Company Ltd and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"). Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management and Board of Directors are responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Appearing under item 15(b). Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management and Board of Directors and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Tel-Aviv, Israel March 29, 2017 /s/ Kesselman & Kesselman Certified Public Accountants (Isr.) A member firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers International Limited
| Convenience translation into U.S. dollars |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels December 31, |
(note 2b3) | |||
| 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | ||
| Note | In millions | |||
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 926 | 716 | 186 | |
| Short-term deposits | 452 | 118 | ||
| Trade receivables | 7 | 1,057 | 990 | 257 |
| Income tax receivable | 2 | |||
| Other receivables and prepaid expenses | 47 | 57 | 15 | |
| Deferred expenses – right of use | 12 | 33 | 28 | 7 |
| Inventories | 8 | 120 | 96 | 25 |
| 2,185 | 2,339 | 608 | ||
| NON CURRENT ASSETS | ||||
| Trade receivables | 7 | 492 | 333 | 87 |
| Prepaid expenses and other | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Deferred expenses – right of use | 12 | 20 | 75 | 20 |
| Property and equipment | 10 | 1,414 | 1,207 | 314 |
| Licenses and other intangible assets | 11 | 956 | 793 | 206 |
| Goodwill | 13 | 407 | 407 | 106 |
| Deferred income tax asset | 25 | 49 | 41 | 10 |
| 3,341 | 2,858 | 744 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 5,526 | 5,197 | 1,352 |
The financial statements were authorized for issue by the board of directors on March 29, 2017.
Isaac Benbenishti Ziv Leitman Barry Ben-Zeev (Woolfson) Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Director
| Convenience translation into U.S. dollars (note 2b3) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels December 31, |
||||
| 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | ||
| Note | In millions | |||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||
| Current maturities of notes payable and borrowings | 6,15 | 554 | 498 | 130 |
| Trade payables | 715 | 681 | 177 | |
| Payables in respect of employees | 77 | 101 | 26 | |
| Other payables (mainly institutions) | 45 | 28 | 7 | |
| Income tax payable | 52 | 45 | 12 | |
| Deferred income with respect to settlement | ||||
| agreement with Orange | 18 | 217 | 108 | 28 |
| Deferred revenues from HOT mobile | 9 | 31 | 8 | |
| Other deferred revenues | 28 | 38 | 10 | |
| Provisions | 14 | 77 | 77 | 20 |
| 1,765 | 1,607 | 418 | ||
| NON CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||
| Notes payable | 6,15 | 1,190 | 646 | 168 |
| Borrowings from banks and others | 6,15 | 1,357 | 1,550 | 403 |
| Liability for employee rights upon retirement, net | 16 | 34 | 39 | 10 |
| Dismantling and restoring sites obligation | 14 | 36 | 35 | 9 |
| Deferred income with respect to settlement | ||||
| agreement with Orange | 18 | 108 | ||
| Deferred revenues from HOT mobile | 9 | 195 | 51 | |
| Other non-current liabilities | 16 | 14 | 4 | |
| 2,741 | 2,479 | 645 | ||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 4,506 | 4,086 | 1,063 | |
| EQUITY | 21 | |||
| Share capital – ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value: | ||||
| authorized – December 31, 2015 and 2016 – 235,000,000 | ||||
| shares; issued and outstanding - | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| December 31, 2015 – *156,087,456 shares | ||||
| December 31, 2016 – *156,993,337 shares | ||||
| Capital surplus | 1,102 | 1,034 | 269 | |
| Accumulated retained earnings | 267 | 358 | 93 | |
| Treasury shares, at cost – | ||||
| December 31, 2015 – **4,461,975 shares | ||||
| December 31, 2016 – **3,603,578 shares | (351) | (283) | (74) | |
| TOTAL EQUITY | 1,020 | 1,111 | 289 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | 5,526 | 5,197 | 1,352 |
* Net of treasury shares.
** Including shares held by trustee under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan, see note 21(a), such shares will become outstanding upon completion of vesting conditions, see note 21(b)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| New Israeli Shekels | Convenience translation into U.S. dollars (note 2b3) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 | |||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | ||
| Note | In millions (except earnings per share) | ||||
| Revenues, net | 5 | 4,400 | 4,111 | 3,544 | 922 |
| Cost of revenues | 5, 22 | 3,419 | 3,472 | 2,924 | 760 |
| Gross profit | 981 | 639 | 620 | 162 | |
| Selling and marketing expenses | 22 | 438 | 417 | 426 | 111 |
| General and administrative expenses | 22 | 193 | 223 | 263 | 68 |
| Income with respect to settlement | |||||
| agreement with Orange | 18 | 61 | 217 | 56 | |
| Other income, net | 23 | 50 | 47 | 45 | 12 |
| Operating profit | 400 | 107 | 193 | 51 | |
| Finance income | 24 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 3 |
| Finance expenses | 24 | 162 | 156 | 118 | 31 |
| Finance costs, net | 24 | 159 | 143 | 105 | 28 |
| Profit (loss) before income tax | 241 | (36) | 88 | 23 | |
| Income tax expenses | 25 | 79 | 4 | 36 | 9 |
| Profit (loss) for the year | 162 | (40) | 52 | 14 | |
| Earnings (loss) per share | |||||
| Basic | 27 | 1.04 | (0.26) | 0.33 | 0.09 |
| Diluted | 27 | 1.04 | (0.26) | 0.33 | 0.09 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| New Israeli Shekels | Convenience translation into U.S. dollars (note 2b3) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | |||
| Note | In millions | |||||
| Profit (loss) for the year | 162 | (40) | 52 | 14 | ||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss |
||||||
| Remeasurements of post-employment benefit | ||||||
| obligations | 16 | (9) | 5 | (8) | (2) | |
| Income taxes relating to remeasurements of post-employment benefit obligations |
25 | 2 | (1) | 2 | * | |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) for the year, net of income taxes |
(7) | 4 | (6) | (2) | ||
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR |
155 | (36) | 46 | 12 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| Share capital | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Shares** |
Amount | Capital surplus |
Accumulated earnings I n m i l l i o n s |
Treasury shares |
Total | |
| New Israeli Shekels: | ||||||
| BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 2014 | 155,687,002 | 2 | 1,100 | 123 | (351) | 874 |
| CHANGES DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 | ||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 155 | 155 | ||||
| Exercise of options granted to employees | 385,943 | * | 2 | 2 | ||
| Employee share-based compensation expenses | 8 | 8 | ||||
| BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2014 | 156,072,945 | 2 | 1,102 | 286 | (351) | 1,039 |
| CHANGES DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 | ||||||
| Total comprehensive loss for the year | (36) | (36) | ||||
| Exercise of options and vesting of restricted shares granted to employees | 14,511 | * | * | * | * | |
| Employee share-based compensation expenses | 17 | 17 | ||||
| BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2015 | 156,087,456 | 2 | 1,102 | 267 | (351) | 1,020 |
| CHANGES DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 | ||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 46 | 46 | ||||
| Exercise of options and vesting of restricted shares granted to employees | 905,881 | * | (68) | 68 | * | |
| Employee share-based compensation expenses | 45 | 45 | ||||
| BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2016 | 156,993,337 | 2 | 1,034 | 358 | (283) | 1,111 |
| Convenience translation into U.S. Dollars (note 2b3): | ||||||
| BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 2016 | 156,087,456 | 1 | 287 | 69 | (92) | 265 |
| CHANGES DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 | ||||||
| Total comprehensive income for the year | 12 | 12 | ||||
| Exercise of options and vesting of restricted shares granted to employees | 905,881 | * | (18) | 18 | * | |
| Employee share-based compensation expenses | 12 | 12 | ||||
| BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2016 | 156,993,337 | 1 | 269 | 93 | (74) | 289 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
** Net of treasury shares.
| Convenience translation into U.S. dollars |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels | (note 2b3) | ||||
| Year ended December 31 | |||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | ||
| Note | In millions | ||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||
| Cash generated from operations (Appendix) | 1,017 | 955 | 975 | 253 | |
| Income tax paid | 25 | (66) | (33) | (30) | (8) |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 951 | 922 | 945 | 245 | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||
| Acquisition of property and equipment | 10 | (287) | (216) | (127) | (33) |
| Acquisition of intangible assets | 11 | (145) | (143) | (69) | (18) |
| Short-term investment in deposits | (452) | (118) | |||
| Interest received | 24 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | 23 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| Investment in PHI | 9 | (1) | |||
| Proceeds from (repayment of) derivative financial | |||||
| instruments, net | 6 | (4) | * | * | * |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (431) | (356) | (639) | (166) | |
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options granted to | |||||
| employees | 21 | 2 | * | * | * |
| Interest paid | 24 | (131) | (137) | (108) | (28) |
| Non-current borrowings received | 6,15 | 200 | 675 | 250 | 65 |
| Repayment of non-current borrowings | 6,15 | (100) | (533) | (15) | (4) |
| Repayment of notes payable | 6,15 | (309) | (308) | (643) | (167) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (338) | (303) | (516) | (134) | |
| INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
182 | 263 | (210) | (55) | |
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR |
481 | 663 | 926 | 241 | |
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF | |||||
| YEAR | 663 | 926 | 716 | 186 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Appendix – Cash generated from operations and supplementary information
| Convenience translation into U.S. dollars |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels | (note 2b3) | ||||
| Year ended December 31, | |||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2016 | ||
| Note | In millions | ||||
| Cash generated from operations: | |||||
| Profit (loss) for the year | 162 | (40) | 52 | 14 | |
| Adjustments for: | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization (including impairment) Amortization (including impairment) of deferred |
10, 11, 13 | 652 | 641 | 565 | 147 |
| expenses - Right of use | 12, 13 | 37 | 112 | 30 | 8 |
| Amortization of employee share based compensation | 21 | 8 | 17 | 45 | 12 |
| Liability for employee rights upon retirement, net | 16 | (3) | (12) | (3) | (1) |
| Finance costs, net | 24 | 4 | (8) | 1 | * |
| Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments | 6 | 7 | (2) | * | * |
| Interest paid | 24 | 131 | 137 | 108 | 28 |
| Interest received | 24 | (4) | (3) | (2) | (1) |
| Deferred income taxes | 25 | 4 | (40) | 10 | 3 |
| Income tax paid | 25 | 66 | 33 | 30 | 8 |
| Capital (gain) loss from property and equipment | (1) | * | * | * | |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||
| Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable: | |||||
| Trade | 7 | (26) | (183) | 226 | 58 |
| Other | 8 | (13) | (9) | (2) | |
| Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accruals: | |||||
| Trade | 44 | (5) | (38) | (10) | |
| Other payables | (4) | (12) | * | * | |
| Provisions | 14 | (9) | 19 | * | * |
| Deferred income with respect to settlement | |||||
| agreement with Orange | 18 | 325 | (217) | (56) | |
| Deferred revenues from HOT mobile | 9 | 227 | 59 | ||
| Other deferred revenues | (2) | (6) | 10 | 3 | |
| Increase in deferred expenses - Right of use | 12 | (22) | (34) | (80) | (22) |
| Current income tax | 25 | 10 | 11 | (4) | (1) |
| Decrease (increase) in inventories | 8 | (45) | 18 | 24 | 6 |
| Cash generated from operations: | 1,017 | 955 | 975 | 253 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
At December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, trade and other payables include NIS 214 million, NIS 126 million and NIS 134 million (\$35 million), respectively, in respect of acquisition of intangible assets and property and equipment; payments in respect thereof are presented in cash flows from investing activities.
These balances are recognized in the cash flow statements upon payment.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("the Company", "Partner") is a leading Israeli provider of telecommunications services (cellular and fixed-line telecommunications services) under the orange™ brand until February 15, 2016, and under the Partner brand thereafter, and under the 012 Smile brand. The Company is incorporated and domiciled in Israel and its principal executive office's address is 8 Amal Street, Afeq Industrial Park, Rosh-Ha'ayin 48103, Israel.
The Company's share capital consists of ordinary shares, which are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. ("TASE") under the symbol "PTNR". American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each representing one of the Company's ordinary shares, are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™, under the symbol "PTNR". See also note 21(a).
On January 29, 2013, S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd., an affiliate of Saban Capital Group Inc., became the Company's principal shareholder.
These consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2016, are comprised of the Company and its subsidiaries and consolidated partnerships (the "Group"). See the list of subsidiaries and consolidated partnerships and principles of consolidation in note 2(c)(1), see also 2(c)(2) with respect to investment in PHI.
The operating segments were determined based on the reports reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, and therefore is the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), and supported by budget and business plans structure, different regulations and licenses (see (d) below), as well as managerial responsibilities. The CEO considers the business from two operating segments, as follows (see also note 5):
The cellular segment includes cellular communication services such as airtime calls, international roaming services, text messaging, internet browsing, content services, roaming services, and services provided to other operators that use the Company's cellular network. Most of post-paid cellular tariff plans are bundles which include unlimited amounts of calls minutes and text messaging, as well as limited browsing packages. Value-added and content services offered include multimedia messaging and streaming broadcast content, data applications including ringtones, music, games, other informational content, and advanced business services.
International roaming services abroad for the Company's customers include airtime calls, text messaging and browsing services on networks with which the Company has a commercial roaming relationship. Partner also provides inbound roaming services to the customers of foreign operators with which the Company has a commercial roaming relationship.
Optional services such as equipment extended warranty plans are also provided for monthly fees and are either sold separately or included in tariff plans and bundles.
The fixed-line segment includes: (1) Internet services under which the Group provides access to the internet (both network infrastructure services using Bezeq's network as described in (c)(1) below, and access services ("ISP")) as well as home WiFi networks, including Value Added Services ("VAS") such as anti-virus and anti-spam filtering; and fixed-line voice communication services provided through Voice Over Broadband ("VOB"), SIP voice trunks and Network Termination Point Services ("NTP") – under which the Group supply, install operate and maintain all types of endpoint network equipment and solutions, including providing and installing equipment and cabling, within a subscriber's place of business or premises; (2) Transmission services, Primary Rate Interface ("PRI"); (3) International Long Distance call services ("ILD"): outgoing and incoming international telephony, hubbing, roaming and signaling and calling card services.
The cellular segment and the fixed-line segment also include sales and leasing of telecommunications, audio visual and related devices: mainly cellular handsets, tablets (handheld computers), laptops, landline phones, modems, datacards, domestic routers, servers, smartboxes and related equipment, and a variety of digital audio visual equipment including televisions, digital cameras, games consoles, audio accessories and related equipment.
Each segment is divided into services and equipment sales revenues, and the related cost of revenues. The operating segments include the following measures: revenues, cost of revenues, operating profit (loss), and segment Adjusted EBITDA (see note 5(2)). The CODM does not examine assets or liabilities for the segments separately for the purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments and they are not therefore presented in note 5 segment information.
(1) In February 2015 a regulation came into effect according to which each of the infrastructure owners - Bezeq and Hot are required to allow use of their broadband fixed-line infrastructure by telecommunication providers that do not have a broadband fixed-line infrastructure. This regulation allows telecommunication providers that do not have a broadband fixed-line infrastructure, including the Company and its subsidiaries, to offer internet access in one transaction (without requiring the subscriber to engage with both an internet access provider and an infrastructure provider). As a result, the Group commenced selling offers including both network infrastructure services using Bezeq's network and internet access service. As part of the Economic Program Law for the years 2017-2018, that was published at the end of December 2016 it was determined, among others: Bezeq and HOT Telecom will be required to allow other domestic operators including Partner, access to passive infrastructures; exemption from building permits – domestic operators are now allowed to deploy fixed-line infrastructure without requiring building permits (under certain conditions).
In January 2017, the Ministry of Communications published its decision with respect to various consumer issues, in which it decided to carry out, among others, amendments regarding the following issues: addition of details on the main page of the terms sent to subscribers; provision of alerts to subscribers regarding the volume of services consumed; limitation on the provision of internet services to subscribers; limitations on certain tariffs charged from subscribers; provision of alerts to subscribers regarding an upcoming change in tariffs; imposing increased obligations for the documentation and safekeeping of information and recording of telephone calls; provisions regarding temporary suspension of services; provisions regarding the format of the invoice sent to subscribers; provisions regarding engagement in a "remote sales" transaction; regulation regarding credit of overcharges; and determination of provisions regarding international roaming services.
The Group operates under the following licenses that were received from the Israeli Ministry of Communications ("MOC") and from the Israeli Civil Administration ("CA"):
| Type of services | Area of service | License owner | Granted by | Valid through | Guarantees made | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Cellular | Israel | Partner Communications Company Ltd. | MOC | Feb, 2022 | NIS 80 million |
| (2) | Cellular | West Bank | Partner Communications Company Ltd. | CA | Feb, 2022 | NIS 4 million |
| (3) | ISP | Israel | Partner Communications Company Ltd. | MOC | Mar, 2018 | |
| (4) | ISP | West Bank | Partner Communications Company Ltd. | CA | Mar, 2018 | |
| (5) | ISP | Israel | 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. | MOC | Jun, 2020 | |
| (6) | ISP | West Bank | 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. | CA | Jun, 2020 | |
| (7) | ILD (*) | Israel | 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. | MOC | Dec, 2029 | NIS 5 million |
| (8) | ILD (**) | West Bank | 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. | CA | Dec, 2029 | NIS 0.25 million |
| (9) | Fixed(*) | Israel | 012 Telecom Ltd. | MOC | Dec, 2025 | NIS 5 million |
| (10) | Fixed(**) | West Bank | 012 Telecom Ltd. | CA | Dec, 2025 | NIS 0.25 million |
| (11) | Fixed(*) | Israel | Partner Land-line Communication Solutions - Limited Partnership |
MOC | Jan, 2027 | NIS 5 million |
| (12) | Fixed(**) | West Bank | Partner Land-line Communication Solutions - Limited Partnership |
CA | Jan, 2027 | NIS 0.25 million |
| (13) | NTP(***) | Israel | Partner Land-line Communication Solutions - Limited Partnership |
MOC | Feb, 2017 | |
| (14) | NTP | Israel | 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. | MOC | Dec, 2020 |
With respect to license (1), the Company is entitled to request an extension of the license for an additional period of six years and then renewal for one or more additional 6 year periods, at the discretion of the MOC. Should the license not be renewed, the new license-holder is obliged to purchase the communications network and all the rights and obligations of the subscribers for a fair price, as agreed between the parties or as determined by an arbitrator.
Other licenses may be extended for various periods, at the discretion of the MOC or CA, respectively.
The Group believes that it will be able to receive extensions to the licenses upon request.
See also note 17(6) as to additional guarantees made to third parties.
(*) In February 2016, these licenses were replaced by the MoC with a general-unified license. The term of the new license is similar to the term of the previous license.
(**) In July 2016, these licenses were replaced with a general-unified license. The general conditions of the general-unified license granted by the MoC, generally apply to these licenses, subject to certain modifications.
(***) The Company is permitted to provide NTP services under the general-unified license granted to Partner Land-Line Communication Solutions Limited Partnership in February 2016. Therefor the Company did not renew the license.

(An Israeli Corporation)
(1) Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company ("the financial statements") have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
The principal accounting policies set out below have been consistently applied to all periods presented unless otherwise stated.
(2) Use of estimates and judgments
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates, and requires management to exercise its judgment in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies. Areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed in note 4.
(1) Functional and presentation currency
The consolidated financial statements are measured and presented in New Israeli Shekels ("NIS"), which is the Group's functional and presentation currency as it is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Group operates. The amounts presented in NIS millions are rounded to the nearest NIS million.
Foreign currency transactions are translated into NIS using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions or valuation where items are re-measured. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the income statement in finance costs, net.
(3) Convenience translation into U.S. Dollars (USD or \$ or dollar)
The NIS figures at December 31, 2016 and for the period then ended have been translated into dollars using the representative exchange rate of the dollar at December 31, 2016 (USD 1 = NIS 3.845). The translation was made solely for convenience, is supplementary information, and is distinguished from the financial statements. The translated dollar figures should not be construed as a representation that the Israeli currency amounts actually represent, or could be converted into, dollars.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company has the power over the investee; has exposure, or rights, to variable returns from involvement in the investee; and has the ability to use its power over the investee to affect its returns. Subsidiaries and partnerships are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company.
Inter-company transactions, balances, income and expenses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
List of wholly owned Subsidiaries and partnerships: 012 Smile Telecom Ltd. 012 Telecom Ltd. Partner Land-Line Communication Solutions - Limited Partnership Partner Future Communications 2000 Ltd. ("PFC") Partner Communication Products 2016 - Limited Partnership Partner Business Communications Solution - Limited Partnership – not active
(An Israeli Corporation)
In November 2013, the Company and Hot Mobile Ltd entered into a network sharing agreement ("NSA") and a right of use agreement. Pursuant to the NSA, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership - P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership ("PHI"), which operates and develops a radio access network shared by both parties, starting with a pooling of both parties' radio access network infrastructures creating a single shared pooled radio access network. PHI began its operations in July 2015, managing the networks. See also note 9.
As described in note 4(b)(3) the Company does not control PHI nor does it have joint control over it, and the Company accounts for its investment in PHI according to the equity method as PHI is considered an associate. An associate is an entity over which the group has significant influence but not control. Investment in associate is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the investment is initially recognized at cost, and adjusted thereafter to recognize the investor's share of the post-establishment profits or losses of the investee in profit or loss, and the group's share of movements in other comprehensive income of the investee in other comprehensive income.
Unrealized gains on transactions between the Group and the associate are eliminated to the extent of the Group's interest in these entities. Unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
See also note 26(d) for information about transactions and balances with respect to the investment in PHI.
Inventories of equipment: cellular handsets and fixed telephones, tablets, laptops, datacards, servers, spare parts, ISP modems, related equipment, accessories and other inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined on the "first-in, first-out" basis. The Group determines its allowance for inventory obsolescence and slow moving inventory based upon past experience, expected inventory turnover, inventory ageing and current and future expectations with respect to product offerings.
Property and equipment are initially stated at cost.
Costs are included in the assets' carrying amounts or recognized as separate assets, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance that do not meet the above criteria are charged to the statement of income during the financial period in which they are incurred.
Costs include expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The cost of self-constructed assets includes the cost of materials and direct labor, any other costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to a working condition for its intended use, and the costs of dismantling and removing the items and restoring the site on which they are located.
Changes in the obligation to dismantle and remove assets on sites and to restore the sites, on which they are located, other than changes deriving from the passing of time, are added or deducted from the cost of the assets in the period in which they occur. The amount deducted from the cost of the asset shall not exceed the balance of the carrying amount on the date of change, and any balance is recognized immediately in profit or loss, See (m)(2) below.
Purchased software that is integral to the functionality of the related equipment is capitalized as part of that equipment.
Property and equipment is presented less accumulated depreciation, and accumulated impairment losses. An asset's carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset's carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount (see (i) below).
Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
| years | |
|---|---|
| Communications network: | |
| Physical layer and infrastructure | 10 - 25 (mainly 15, 10) |
| Other Communication network | 3 - 15 (mainly 5, 10, 15) |
| Computers, software and hardware for | |
| information systems | 3-10 (mainly 3-5) |
| Office furniture and equipment | 7-15 |
| Optic fibers and related assets | 7-25 (mainly 20) |
| Property | 25 |
Leasehold improvements are depreciated by the straight-line method over the term of the lease (including reasonably assured option periods), or the estimated useful life (5‑10 years) of the improvements, whichever is shorter.
See note 13(2) with respect of impairment charges in 2015.
(b) Partner Land-line Communication solutions – limited partnership's license for providing fixed-line communication services is stated at cost.
(c) 012 Smile and its subsidiaries' licenses were recognized at fair value in a business combination as of the acquisition date of 012 Smile March 3, 2011.
The other licenses of the Group were received with no significant costs.
The licenses are amortized by the straight-line method over their useful lives (see note 1(d)) excluding any ungranted possible future extensions that are not under the Group's control. The amortization expenses are included in the cost of revenues.
(2) Computer software:
Acquired computer software licenses are capitalized on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and to bring to use the specified software.
Development costs, including employee costs, that are directly attributable to the design and testing of identifiable and unique software products controlled by the Group are recognized as intangible assets when the capitalization criteria under IAS 38 are met. Other development expenditures that do not meet the capitalization criteria, such as software maintenance, are recognized as an expenses as incurred.
Computer software costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives (3 to 10 years) using the straight-line method, see also note 11.
(3) Customer relationships:
The Company has recognized as intangible assets customer relationships that were acquired in a business combination and recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date. Customer relationships are amortized to selling and marketing expenses over their estimated useful economic lives (5 to 10 years) based on the straight line method. See note 13(2) with respect of impairment charges in 2015.
(4) 012 Smile trade name:
Trade name was acquired in a business combination. In 2015, the Group decided in 2015 to cease the usage of the "012 Smile" trade name in 2017.As a result the Group revised its expected useful life to end in 2017 as a change in accounting estimate. As a result the amortization expenses of the 012 Smile trade name increased in 2015 by NIS 1 million, in 2016 by NIS 16 million, and expected to increase in 2017 by NIS 6 million, see note 4(a)(3). See note 13(2) with respect of impairment charges to the 012 Smile trade name in 2015 in an amount of NIS 2 million.
(5) Subscriber Acquisition and Retention Costs (SARC):
Costs to acquire or retain postpaid mobile telecommunication subscribers, less the subscriber's payments towards the handset, pursuant to a contract with a commitment period and early termination penalties, are capitalized to intangible assets, if (1) such assets are identifiable and controlled; (2) it is probable that future economic benefits will flow from the subscribers to the Group; and (3) such costs can be measured reliably. If costs do not meet the aforementioned criteria they are recognized immediately as expenses.
In the event that a customer churns off the network or the arrangement is cancelled within the period, any unamortized subscriber acquisition or retention costs are written off in the period in which the subscriber churns. The amortization expenses are included in the cost of revenues.
Right of use (ROU) of international fiber optic cables was acquired in a business combination, subsequent additions and right of use in PHI's assets are recognized at cost. The ROU with respect of fiber optic cables is presented as deferred expenses (current and non-current) and is amortized on a straight line basis over a period beginning each acquisition of additional ROU in this framework and until 2030 (including expected contractual extension periods). See also notes 12 and 17(4). Other costs of right to use PHI's assets are presented as deferred expenses and amortized on a straight line basis over the assets useful lives. See note 13(2) with respect of impairment charges to ROU in 2015 in an amount of NIS 76 million.
Goodwill acquired in a business combination represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net fair value of the identifiable assets acquired, and identifiable liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed. The goodwill has an indefinite useful economic life and is not subject to amortization; rather is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to a group of CGUs under the fixed line segment that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. The group of CGUs represents the lowest level within the entity which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes.
Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Any impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of goodwill exceeded its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of valuein-use and the fair value less costs to sell. Value-in-use is determined by discounting expected future cash flows using a pre-tax discount rate. Any impairment is recognized immediately as an expense and is not subsequently reversed. See also note 13(1) in respect of impairment tests.
Assets that are subject to depreciation and amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If such indications exist an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. If this is the case, recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit (CGU) to which the asset belongs. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and value-in-use. Value-in-use is determined by discounting expected future cash flows using a pre-tax discount rate.
An impairment loss recognized in prior periods for an asset (or CGU) other than goodwill shall be reversed if, and only if, there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's (or CGU's) recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. If this is the case, the carrying amount of the asset (or CGU) shall be increased to its recoverable amount. The increased carrying amount of an asset (or CGU) other than goodwill attributable to a reversal of an impairment loss shall not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of amortization or depreciation) had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset (or CGU) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized immediately in the statement of income.
The Group recorded in 2015 impairment charges of intangible assets, deferred expenses – right of use, and fixed assets, see note 13(2) and note 4(a)(3)
The Group classifies its financial instruments in the following categories: (1) at fair value through profit or loss, (2) loans and receivables, and (3) liabilities at amortized cost. See note 6(c) as to classification of financial instruments to the categories.
Financial assets are classified as current if they are expected to mature within 12 months after the end of the reporting period; otherwise they are classified as non-current. Financial liabilities are included in current liabilities, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the end of the reporting period, which are classified as non-current liabilities.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the statement of financial position when the Group has currently a legal enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and has an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. The legal enforceable right must not be contingent on future events and must be enforceable in the normal course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the company or the counterparty.
Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are presented in the income statement within "finance costs, net" in the period in which they arise. These financial instruments are classified into 2 levels based on their valuation method (see also note 6(c)):
Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly (as prices) or indirectly (derived from prices).
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Loans and receivables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized costs using the effective interest method, less any impairment loss.
Cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid investments, which include short-term bank deposits (up to 3 months from date of deposit) that are not restricted as to withdrawal or use.
The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. The amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated cash flows discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced and the amount of the loss is recognized in the consolidated income statement. Trade receivables are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. Individual receivables which are known to be uncollectable are written off by reducing the carrying amount directly. The other receivables are assessed collectively. For these receivables the allowance is determined based on percentage of doubtful debts in collection, considering the likelihood of recoverability based on the age of the balances, the historical write-off experience net of recoveries, changes in the credit worthiness, and collection trends.
Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets have expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership of the assets. The Company factors trade receivables resulting from sales of equipment by credit cards. The factoring is on a non-recourse basis. The factoring of accounts receivable is recorded by the Company as a sales transaction. The results of the factoring transaction are charged to financial income and expenses on the settlement date.
Financial liabilities at amortized cost are non-derivative financial instruments with fixed or determinable payment, including trade payables. Financial liabilities at amortized cost are recognized initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and subsequently measured at amortized costs using the effective interest method.
According to Section 14 of the Israeli Severance Pay Law the Group's liability for some of the employee rights upon retirement is covered by regular contributions to various pension schemes. The schemes are generally funded through payments to insurance companies or trustee-administered funds. These plans are defined contribution plans, since the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate and independent entity. The Group has no legal or constructive obligations to pay further contribution if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefit relating to employee service in the current or prior periods. The amounts funded as above are not reflected in the statement of financial position. Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognized as an expense in the statement of income when they are due.
Labor laws, agreements and the practice of the Group, require paying retirement benefits to employees dismissed or retiring in certain other circumstances (except for those described in 1 above), measured by multiplying the years of employment by the last monthly salary of the employee (i.e. one monthly salary for each year of tenure), the obligation of the Group to pay retirement benefits is treated as a defined benefit plan.
The liability recognized in the statement of financial position in respect of the defined benefit plan is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at end of the reporting period less the fair values of plan assets.
The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. According to IAS 19 employee benefits, the present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of deep market for high-quality corporate bonds.
Remeasurement gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise. Interest costs in respect of the defined benefit plan are charged or credited to finance costs.
Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated by the Group before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Group recognizes termination benefits when it is demonstrably legally or constructively committed either: terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal; or providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy.
The employees are legally entitled to vacation and recreation benefits, both computed on an annual basis. This entitlement is based on the term of employment. This obligation is treated as a short term benefit under IAS 19. The Group charges a liability and expense due to vacation and recreation pay, based on the benefits that have been accumulated for each employee, on an undiscounted basis.
The Group recognizes a liability and an expense for bonuses based on consideration of individual performance and the Group's overall performance. The Group recognizes a provision where contractually obliged or where there is a past practice that has created a constructive obligation.
The Group recognized expenses for other short term benefits provided by the collective employment agreement (see note 28).
The Group operates an equity-settled share-based compensation plan, under which the Group receives services from employees as consideration for equity instruments of the Group. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the equity instruments is recognized as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted, at the grant date. Non-market vesting conditions are included among the assumptions used to estimate the number of options expected to vest. The total expense is recognized during the vesting period, which is the period over which all of the specified vesting conditions of the share-based payment are to be satisfied. At the end of each reporting period, the Group revises its estimates of the number of equity instruments that are expected to vest based on the vesting conditions, and recognizes the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in the statement of income, with corresponding adjustment to accumulated earnings.
The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transactions costs are credited to share capital and capital surplus when the equity instruments are exercised.
Provisions are recognized when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will require settling the obligation, and the amount has been reliably estimated. See also note 14.
The Group's revenues are measured at fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and services in the ordinary course of business. Revenue is presented net of Value-Added-Tax, returns, rebates and discounts, and intercompany revenues. The Group recognizes revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Group and when specific criteria have been met for each of the Group's activities as described herein.
Revenues from services, and from providing rights to use the Group's assets (see note 1(b)) are recognized when the services are rendered, and all other revenue recognition criteria are met.
Revenues from pre-paid calling cards sold to customers are recognized upon the earlier of customer's usage of the cards, or expiration.
The Group records payments received in advance for services and services to be provided under contractual agreements, such as transmission services, as deferred income until such related services are provided.
The Group determines whether it is acting as a principal or as an agent. The Group is acting as a principal if it has exposure to the significant risks and rewards associated with the rendering of services. Features that indicate that the Group is acting as a principal include: (a) the Group has the primary responsibility for providing the services to the customer or for fulfilling the order; (b) the Group has latitude in establishing prices, either directly or indirectly; and (c) the Group bears the customer's credit risk for the amount receivable from the customer. On the other hand, the Group is acting as an agent or an intermediary, if it does not have exposure to the significant risks and rewards associated with the rendering of services. One feature indicating that the Group is acting as an agent is that the amount the Group earns is predetermined, being either a fixed fee per transaction or a stated percentage of the amount billed to the customer. Based on the above considerations the Group determined that it is acting as an agent in respect of certain content services provided by third parties to customers, and therefore the revenues recognized from these services are presented on a net basis in the statement of income.
See also note 9 with respect to revenue recognition from proceeds from the network sharing agreement with Hot Mobile.
Revenue from sale of equipment includes revenue from sale of handsets, routers, phones, tablets, laptops, modems, data cards, servers, smartboxes, audio-visual devices, related accessories, integration projects, other devices and equipment. Revenue is recognized when the significant risks and reward of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, recovery of the consideration is probable, the associated costs and possible return of goods can be estimated reliably, there is no continuing management involvement in regards to the goods, and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably.
Some sales of equipment with accompanying services constitute a revenue arrangement with multiple deliverables. Accordingly, consideration received is allocated to each deliverable based on the relative fair value of the individual element. The revenue from sales of equipment is recognized as equipment revenues upon the delivery of the equipment to the subscriber when all revenue recognition criteria are met.
The Company subsidizes, in some cases, the sale of the handset to end subscribers by selling it at a price below its cost to secure a fixed-term service contract for the purpose of acquiring new subscribers or retaining existing subscribers. The handset sale is then treated as a non-revenue-generating transaction and accordingly, no revenue is recognized from these types of handset sales. The subsidy, and direct selling expenses are capitalized as elements of subscriber acquisition and retention costs in accordance with accounting policy set out in note (f)(5) above. The subsidy represents the difference between the cost of the handset and the payment received from the subscriber for the handset.
Revenues from non-current credit arrangements to customers in respect of sales of equipment are recognized on the basis of the present value of future cash flows, discounted at the prevailing rate for a similar instrument of an issuer with a similar credit rating. The difference between the original credit and its present value is recorded as other income over the credit period (see note 23 – unwinding of trade receivables and note 7(a)).
Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from lessor) are charged to income statements on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including extending options which are reasonably certain.
Advertising expenses are charged to the statement of income as incurred.
The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognized in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantially enacted as of the end of the reporting period. Management periodically evaluates positions taken with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.
Deferred income tax is recognized on temporary differences arising between that tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognized if they arise from initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred income tax is determined using the tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the end of the reporting period and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax is realized or the deferred income tax liability is settled. Deferred income tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized. Deferred income tax assets are presented as non-current, see also note 25.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on the same taxable entity where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.
Company's shares acquired by the Company (treasury shares) are presented as a reduction of equity, at the consideration paid, including any incremental attributable costs, net of tax. Treasury shares do not have a right to receive dividends or to vote. See also note 21(a)
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year excluding ordinary shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume exercise of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The instruments that are potential dilutive ordinary shares are equity instruments granted to employees. A calculation is done to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at fair value (determined as the average annual market share price of the company's shares) based on the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to outstanding share options. The number of shares calculated as above is compared with the number of shares that would have been issued assuming the exercise of the share options (see note 27).
(1) IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15). IFRS 15 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance. IFRS 15 is based on the principle that revenue is recognized when control of a good or service transfers to a customer – so the notion of control replaces the existing notion of risks and rewards. The new standard is effective retrospectively for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, according to its transition provisions. Earlier application is permitted.
The Group plans to apply the standard according to the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach entities will recognize transitional adjustments in retained earnings on the date of initial application, i.e. without restating the comparative period; and applying the new rules to contracts that are not completed as of the date of initial application.
Management is currently assessing the impact of the standard and has identified the following areas that are likely to be affected: sales commissions for which the new guidance is likely to result in their identification as contract cost assets which would affect the timing of the recognition of those costs, in place of capitalizing subscriber acquisition and retention costs (see note 2(f)(5) and note 2(n)); and allocation of revenues to performance obligations, which may affect the timing of revenue recognition. The Group has begun to implement the required adjustments to its information systems to support the implementation of the standard. However, at this stage the Group cannot quantify the impact of the implementation of the standard.
Upon implementation of IFRS 15, disclosures in the financial statements will be expanded to include required information such as movement schedules for recognized contract assets and contract liabilities, information about performance obligations and information on key judgments and estimates applied in recognition and measurement of revenues.
(2) IFRS 9, Financial instruments, addresses the classification, measurement and recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities. The complete version of IFRS 9 was issued in July 2014. It replaces the guidance in IAS 39 that relates to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. IFRS 9 retains but simplifies the mixed measurement model and establishes three primary measurement categories for financial assets: amortized cost, fair value through OCI and fair value through P&L. It introduces a new expected credit losses model that replaces the incurred loss impairment model used in IAS 39. For financial liabilities there were no changes to classification and measurement except for the recognition of changes in own credit risk in other comprehensive income, for liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss. The standard is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Management is currently assessing the impact of the standard; except for the new credit loss model the Company has not yet quantified, the Company does not expect other material effects on the financial statements.
(3) IFRS16, Leases, which replaces the current guidance in IAS 17. The standard requires lessees, with certain exceptions, to recognize a lease liability reflecting future lease payments and a 'right-of-use asset' for lease contracts. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, with earlier application permitted if IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, is also applied. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 16's full impact.
Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below.
The Company recognizes service revenues based upon minutes, seconds and packages used, net of credits and adjustments for service discounts. Because the Company's billing cycles use cut-off dates, which for the most part do not coincide with the Company's reporting periods, the Company is required to make estimates for service revenues earned but not yet billed at the end of each reporting period. These estimates are based primarily upon actual unbilled usage of the Company's network by the customers, and also on historical data and trends. Actual billing cycle results may differ from the results estimated at the end of each period depending on subscriber usage and rate plan mix.
The useful economic lives of the Group's assets are an estimate determined by management. The Group defines useful economic life of its assets in terms of the assets' expected utility to the Group. This estimation is based on assumptions of future changes in technology or changes in the Group's intended use of these assets, and experience of the Group with similar assets, and legal or contract periods where relevant. The assets estimated economic useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at least annually. See also note 2(e) and note 2(f). See also information with respect to the change in estimate of the useful life of the "012 Smile" trade name in (3) below.

(3) Assessing the recoverable amount for impairment tests of assets with finite useful lives:
The Group is required to determine at the end of each reporting period whether there is any indication that an asset may be impaired. If indicators for impairment are identified the Group estimates the assets' recoverable amount, which is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and value in use. The value-in-use calculations require management to make estimates of the projected future cash flows. Determining the estimates of the future cash flows is based on management past experience and best estimate for the economic conditions that will exist over the remaining useful economic life of the CGU. See also note 2(i).
No indicators for an impairment or reversal of impairment of assets with finite useful lives were identified in 2016.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Group decided to cease the usage of the "012 Smile" trade name in 2017, this change in business induced the Group to determine that an indicator of impairment exists for the fixed-line segment. See note 13(2).
An Impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2015 for the VOB/ISP CGU of the fixed line segment resulted in an impairment charge to certain assets in a total amount of NIS 98 million, based on the key assumptions described in note 13(2). The recoverable amount of the VOB/ISP CGU assets as of December 31, 2015 was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert ("Giza Singer Even. Ltd") based on value-in-use calculations, which was NIS 250 million. The value in use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period and using extrapolation with specific adjustments expected until 2027, which was the economic life of the main asset of the CGU: the deferred expenses – Right of Use, and a pre-tax discount rate of 12.9%. The value-in-use calculations included all factors in real terms. The value-in-use of the assets of the CGU was estimated to exceed the fair value less costs to sale.
The impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2015 was based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts in future periods. See also note 2(i).
(3) Assessing the recoverable amount for impairment tests of assets with finite useful lives (continued):
As a result of the decision to cease the usage of the "012 Smile" trade name the Group revised in 2015 its expected useful life to end in 2017 as a change in accounting estimate. As a result the amortization expenses of the trade name increased in 2015 and 2016 by NIS 1 million, and NIS 16 million respectively, and are expected to increase in 2017 by approximately NIS 6 million.
Further increase in the level of competition that might continue to push downward prices may require the Group to perform further impairment tests of assets. Such impairment tests may lead to recording significant impairment charges, which could have a material negative impact on the Group's operating and net profit.
Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and value in use. The recoverable amount of the fixed line segment to which goodwill has been allocated to have been determined based on value-in-use calculations. For the purpose of the goodwill impairment tests as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the recoverable amount was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert (2014, 2015: "Giza Singer Even. Ltd", 2016: BDO Ziv Haft Consulting & Management Ltd.) based on value-in-use calculations. The value-in-use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the five-year period to be generated from continuing use are extrapolated using estimated growth rates. The growth rate represents the long-term average growth rate of the fixed-line communications services business.
The key assumptions used in the December 31, 2016 test were as follows:
| Terminal growth rate | 0.5% |
|---|---|
| After-tax discount rate | 9.8% |
| Pre-tax discount rate | 11.9% |
The impairment test as of December 31, 2016 was based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts. See also note 13(1) and note 2(h). No impairment charges were recognized in with respect to goodwill in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The headroom of the fixed line segment recoverable amount over the carrying amount as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 was approximately 15%, 9% and 23% respectively. Sensitivity analysis was performed for the recoverable amount as of December 31, 2016 for a change of the after-tax discount rate within the range of ± 10% multiplied by the variable 9.8% (8.8% to 10.8%), assuming all other variables constant. Sensitivity analysis was also performed for a change of the terminal permanent growth rate within the range of ± 1% of the variable 0.5% (minus 0.5% to 1.5%), assuming all other variables constant. Results showed that no impairment charge is required for both analyses.
The allowance is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganization, or delinquency or default in debtor payments are considered indicators that a trade receivable is impaired. Individual receivables which are known to be uncollectable are written off by reducing the carrying amount directly. The other receivables are assessed collectively. For these receivables the allowance is determined based on percentage of doubtful debts in collection, considering the likelihood of recoverability based on the age of the balances, the historical write-off experience net of recoveries, changes in the credit worthiness, and collection trends. The trade receivables are periodically reviewed for impairment.
The assessment of amounts of current and deferred taxes requires the Group's management to take into consideration uncertainties that its tax position will be accepted and of incurring any additional tax expenses. This assessment is based on estimates and assumptions based on interpretation of tax laws and regulations, and the Group's past experience. It is possible that new information will become known in future periods that will cause the final tax outcome to be different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities in the period in which such determination is made. See also notes 2(q) and note 25.
Provisions are recorded when a loss is considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Judgment is necessary in assessing the likelihood that a pending claim or litigation against the Group will succeed, or a liability will arise, quantifying the possible range of final settlement. These judgments are made by management with the support of internal specialists, or with the support of outside consultants such as legal counsel. Because of the inherent uncertainties in this evaluation process, actual results may be different from these estimates.
The Group made judgments to determine that certain sales of equipment with accompanying services constitute an arrangement with multiple deliverables that are linked in such a way that the commercial effect cannot be understood without reference to the series of transactions as a whole, and accordingly, consideration received is allocated to each deliverable based on the relative fair value of the individual element. See also note 2(n)(2).
The board of directors of Net 4 P.H.I Ltd. Consists of 3 directors nominated by the Company, 3 directors nominated by Hot Mobile and one independent director who is acting as a chairman. Net 4 P.H.I Ltd controls PHI. This governance provides that the Company does not control PHI nor does it have joint control over it, and the Company accounts for its investment in PHI according to the equity method, see also note 2(c)(2) and note 9.
| New Israeli Shekels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31, 2016 | |||||
| In millions | |||||
| Cellular segment |
Fixed-line segment |
Elimination | Consolidated | ||
| Segment revenue - Services | 2,080 | 672 | 2,752 | ||
| Inter-segment revenue - Services | 19 | 194 | (213) | ||
| Segment revenue - Equipment | 729 | 63 | 792 | ||
| Total revenues | 2,828 | 929 | (213) | 3,544 | |
| Segment cost of revenues - Services | 1,659 | 617 | 2,276 | ||
| Inter-segment cost of revenues- Services | 192 | 21 | (213) | ||
| Segment cost of revenues - Equipment | 596 | 52 | 648 | ||
| Cost of revenues | 2,447 | 690 | (213) | 2,924 | |
| Gross profit | 381 | 239 | 620 | ||
| Operating expenses (3) | 571 | 118 | 689 | ||
| Income with respect to settlement | |||||
| agreement with Orange | 217 | 217 | |||
| Other income, net | 41 | 4 | 45 | ||
| Operating profit | 68 | 125 | 193 | ||
| Adjustments to presentation of segment | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | |||||
| –Depreciation and amortization | 447 | 148 | |||
| –Other (1) | 47 | (1) | |||
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 562 | 272 | |||
| New Israeli Shekels |
|||||
| Year ended |
| December 31, 2016 |
|
|---|---|
| In millions | |
| Reconciliation of segments subtotal Adjusted EBITDA to profit for the year | |
| Segments subtotal Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 834 |
| Depreciation and amortization | (595) |
| Other (1) | (46) |
| Finance costs, net | (105) |
| Income tax expenses | (36) |
| Profit for the year | 52 |
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, 2015 In millions |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular | Fixed-line | |||
| segment | segment | Elimination | Consolidated | |
| Segment revenue - Services | 2,275 | 717 | 2,992 | |
| Inter-segment revenue - Services | 22 | 189 | (211) | |
| Segment revenue - Equipment | 1,051 | 68 | 1,119 | |
| Total revenues | 3,348 | 974 | (211) | 4,111 |
| Segment cost of revenues - Services | 1,856 | 736(*) | 2,592 | |
| Inter-segment cost of revenues- Services | 187 | 24 | (211) | |
| Segment cost of revenues - Equipment | 832 | 48 | 880 | |
| Cost of revenues | 2,875 | 808 | (211) | 3,472 |
| Gross profit | 473 | 166 | 639 | |
| Operating expenses (3) | 506 | 134(*) | 640 | |
| Income with respect to settlement | ||||
| agreement with Orange | 61 | 61 | ||
| Other income, net | 44 | 3 | 47 | |
| Operating profit | 72 | 35 | 107 | |
| Adjustments to presentation of segment | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||||
| –Depreciation and amortization | ||||
| (including impairment charges, see | ||||
| note 13) | 510 | 243 | ||
| –Other (1) | 15 | 1 | ||
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 597 | 279 | ||
| New Israeli |
| Shekels | |
|---|---|
| Year ended | |
| December 31, 2015 |
|
| In millions | |
| Reconciliation of segments subtotal Adjusted EBITDA to loss for the year | |
| Segments subtotal Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 876 |
| Depreciation and amortization (including impairment | |
| charges, see note 13) | (753) |
| Other (1) | (16) |
| Finance costs, net | (143) |
| Income tax expenses | (4) |
| Loss for the year | (40) |
(*) Includes impairment charges in the fixed line segment, see note 13.
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, 2014 In millions |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular | Fixed-line | |||
| segment | segment | Elimination | Consolidated | |
| Segment revenue - Services | 2,592 | 816 | 3,408 | |
| Inter-segment revenue - Services | 26 | 188 | (214) | |
| Segment revenue - Equipment | 938 | 54 | 992 | |
| Total revenues | 3,556 | 1,058 | (214) | 4,400 |
| Segment cost of revenues - Services | 1,963 | 692 | 2,655 | |
| Inter-segment cost of revenues- Services | 185 | 29 | (214) | |
| Segment cost of revenues - Equipment | 727 | 37 | 764 | |
| Cost of revenues | 2,875 | 758 | (214) | 3,419 |
| Gross profit | 681 | 300 | 981 | |
| Operating expenses (3) | 509 | 122 | 631 | |
| Other income, net | 49 | 1 | 50 | |
| Operating profit | 221 | 179 | 400 | |
| Adjustments to presentation of segment | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||||
| –Depreciation and amortization | 534 | 155 | ||
| –Other (1) | 7 | * | ||
| Segment Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 762 | 334 | ||
| New Israeli |
| Shekels | |
|---|---|
| Year ended | |
| December 31, | |
| 2014 | |
| In millions | |
| Reconciliation of segments subtotal Adjusted EBITDA to profit for the year | |
| Segments subtotal Adjusted EBITDA (2) | 1,096 |
| Depreciation and amortization | (689) |
| Other (1) | (7) |
| Finance costs, net | (159) |
| Income tax expenses | (79) |
| Profit for the year | 162 |
| * Representing an amount of less than 1 million. |
(1) Mainly amortization of employee share based compensation.
(2) Adjusted EBITDA as reviewed by the CODM represents Earnings Before Interest (finance costs, net), Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (including amortization of intangible assets, deferred expenses-right of use and impairment charges) and Other expenses (mainly amortization of share based compensation). Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure under IFRS and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures for other companies. Adjusted EBITDA may not be indicative of the Group's historic operating results nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. The usage of the term "Adjusted EBITDA" is to highlight the fact that the Amortization includes amortization of deferred expenses – right of use and amortization of employee share based compensation and impairment charges; it is fully comparable to EBITDA information which has been previously provided for prior periods.
(3) Operating expenses include selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses.
The Group is exposed to a variety of financial risks: credit, liquidity and market risks as part of its normal course of business. The Group's risk management objective is to monitor risks and minimize the possible influence that results from this exposure, according to its evaluations and expectations of the parameters that affect the risks.
Risk management is carried out by the treasury department under policies and/or directions resolved and approved by the audit committee and the board of directors.
The Group is exposed to fluctuations in the Israeli Consumer Price index (CPI), as some of the Group's non-current borrowings and notes payable are linked to the CPI. The Group did not enter into CPI hedging transactions in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Furthermore, the Group's notes payable and non-current borrowings bearing variable interest rate cause cash flow risks. Based on simulations performed, an increase (decrease) of 1% interest rates during 2016 in respect of the abovementioned financial instruments would have resulted in an annual increase (decrease) in interest expenses of NIS 7 million. The Group does not enter into interest rate hedging transactions.
The Group's operating income and cash flows are exposed to currency risk, mainly due to trade receivables and trade payables denominated in USD. The Group did not enter into free standing forward transactions in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Data regarding the US Dollar and Euro exchange rate and the Israeli CPI:
| Exchange rate of one |
Exchange rate of one |
Israeli | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar | Euro | CPI* | |
| At December 31: | |||
| 2016 | NIS 3.845 | NIS 4.044 | 220.68 points |
| 2015 | NIS 3.902 | NIS 4.247 | 221.13 points |
| 2014 | NIS 3.889 | NIS 4.725 | 223.36 points |
| Increase (decrease) during the year: | |||
| 2016 | (1.5)% | (4.8)% | (0.2)% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | (10.1)% | (1.0)% |
| 2014 | 12.0% | (1.2)% | (0.2)% |
* Index for each reporting period's last month, on the basis of 1993 average = 100 points.
An increase (decrease) of 2% in the CPI as at December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 would have decreased (increased) equity and profit by NIS 34 million, NIS 20 million, and NIS 9 million, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016 respectively, assuming all other variables remain constant.
An increase (decrease) of 5% in the USD exchange rate as at December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 would have decreased (increased) equity and profit by NIS 8 million, NIS 5 million, and NIS 3 million, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016 respectively, assuming that all other variables remain constant.
2. Market risks (continued)
| December 31, 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In or linked to USD | In or linked to other foreign currencies (mainly EURO) |
NIS linked to CPI | NIS unlinked | Total | ||
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | ||||||
| Current assets | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2 | 1 | 713 | 716 | ||
| Short term deposits Trade receivables* |
58 | 35 | 452 897 |
452 990 |
||
| Other receivables | 39 | 39 | ||||
| Non- current assets | ||||||
| Trade receivables | 333 | 333 | ||||
| Total assets | 60 | 36 | 2,434 | 2,530 | ||
| Current liabilities Current maturities of notes payable and |
||||||
| borrowings | 212 | 287 | 499 | |||
| Trade payables* | 132 | 19 | 530 | 681 | ||
| Payables in respect of employees | 90 | 90 | ||||
| Other payables | 10 | 10 | ||||
| Non- current liabilities | ||||||
| Notes payable | 212 | 437 | 649 | |||
| Borrowings from banks and others | 197 | 1,353 | 1,550 | |||
| Total liabilities | 132 | 19 | 621 | 2,707 | 3,479 | |
| In or linked to foreign currencies New Israeli Shekels in millions |
||||||
| *Accounts that were set-off under enforceable netting arrangements | ||||||
| Trade receivables gross amounts Set-off |
267 (174) |
|||||
| Trade receivables, net | 93 | |||||
| Trade payables gross amounts | 325 | |||||
| Set-off | (174) | |||||
| Trade payables, net | 151 | |||||
| F - 41 |
| December 31, 2015 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In or linked to other foreign currencies |
||||||
| In or linked to USD | (mainly EURO) | NIS linked to CPI | NIS unlinked | Total | ||
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | ||||||
| Current assets Cash and cash equivalents |
1 | 925 | 926 | |||
| Trade receivables* | 50 | 50 | 957 | 1,057 | ||
| Other receivables | 31 | 31 | ||||
| Non- current assets | ||||||
| Trade receivables | 492 | 492 | ||||
| Total assets | 50 | 51 | 2,405 | 2,506 | ||
| Current liabilities | ||||||
| Current maturities of notes payable and | ||||||
| borrowings | 353 | 201 | 554 | |||
| Trade payables* | 117 | 46 | 552 | 715 | ||
| Payables in respect of employees Other payables |
68 10 |
68 10 |
||||
| Non- current liabilities | ||||||
| Notes payable | 463 | 727 | 1,190 | |||
| Borrowings from banks and others | 198 | 1,159 | 1,357 | |||
| Total liabilities | 117 | 46 | 1,014 | 2,717 | 3,894 | |
| In or linked to | ||||||
| foreign | ||||||
| currencies | ||||||
| New Israeli | ||||||
| Shekels in | ||||||
| millions | ||||||
| * Accounts that were set-off under enforceable netting arrangements | ||||||
| Trade receivables gross amounts | 248 | |||||
| Set-off | (148) | |||||
| Trade receivables, net | 100 | |||||
| Trade payables gross amounts | 311 | |||||
| Set-off Trade payables, net |
(148) 163 |
|||||
| F - 42 |
The notional amounts of derivatives as of December 31, 2015 and 2016 are as follows, based on the amounts of currencies to be received, translated into NIS at the exchange rates prevailing at each of the reporting dates, respectively:
| New Israeli Shekels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | |||
| 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | |||
| Embedded derivatives pay USD, receive NIS | 35 | 11 |
(An Israeli Corporation)
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, and arises principally from the Group's trade receivables, and also from cash and cash equivalents and other receivables. Management has a credit policy in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. The Group conducts credit evaluations on receivables of certain types over a certain amount, and requires collaterals against them. Accordingly, the financial statements include appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts. See also note 2(j)(2).
The face amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure, see note 6(c).
The cash and cash equivalents are held in leading Israeli commercial banks, rated by Standard & Poor's Maalot at between ilAA+/Stable to ilAAA/stable.
The trade receivables are significantly widespread, and include individuals and businesses, and therefore have no representing credit rating.
See also note 7 as to the assessment by aging of the trade receivables and related allowance for doubtful accounts.
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group's approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group's reputation. The Group's policy is to ensure that it has sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet expected operational expenses and financial obligations.
Maturities of financial liabilities as of December 31, 2016:
| 2020 to |
2022 to |
Total | Less offering expenses and |
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | undisco-unted | discounts | discounted | |
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | ||||||||
| Principal payments of long term indebtedness: |
||||||||
| Notes payable series C (*) | 212 | 212 | 424 | (1) | 423 | |||
| Notes payable series D | 109 | 109 | 109 | 219 | 546 | (3) | 543 | |
| Notes payable series E | 121 | 121 | ** | 121 | ||||
| Borrowing C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 75 | 75 | |||
| Borrowing D | 25 | 25 | 25 | 75 | 75 | |||
| Borrowing E | 152 | 152 | 152 | |||||
| Borrowing F (*) | 197 | 197 | 197 | |||||
| Borrowing G | 20 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 100 | 100 | ||
| Borrowing H | 20 | 20 | 40 | 20 | 100 | 100 | ||
| Borrowing I | 30 | 40 | 50 | 120 | 120 | |||
| Borrowing J | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 62 | 62 | ||
| Borrowing K | 23 | 30 | 23 | 76 | 76 | |||
| Borrowing L | 33 | 33 | 67 | 67 | 200 | 200 | ||
| Borrowing M | 17 | 33 | 33 | 67 | 50 | 200 | 200 | |
| Borrowing N | 25 | 25 | 67 | 133 | 250 | 250 | ||
| Expected interest payments of long term borrowings and notes |
||||||||
| payables (*) | 88 | 69 | 48 | 38 | 5 | 248 | ||
| Trade and other payables | 681 | 681 | ||||||
| 1,268 | 639 | 814 | 744 | 162 | 3,627 |
(*) Linked to the CPI as of December 31, 2016
(**) Representing an amount of less than NIS 1 million
See note 15 in respect of borrowings and notes payable.
Credit rating: According to Standard & Poor's Maalot ("S&P Maalot") credit rating, of July 26, 2016, the Company's ilA+/Stable credit rating was unchanged.
See note 15(5) regarding financial covenants.

As detailed in note 2(j) the financial instruments are categorized as following:
Fair Value Through Profit or Loss (FVTPL); Loans and Receivables (L&R); Amortized Cost (AC). The financial instruments that are categorized FVTPL are derivative financial instruments. Their fair values are calculated by discounting estimated future cash flows based on the terms and maturity of each contract and using forward rates for a similar instrument at the measurement date. All significant inputs in this technique are observable market data and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates – this method matches the "Level 2" fair value measurement level hierarchy. There were no transfers between fair value levels during the year. Carrying amounts and fair values of financial assets and liabilities, and their categories:
| December 31, 2015 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Carrying amount | Fair value | Interest rate used (**) |
Carrying amount | Fair value | Interest rate used (**) |
|
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | |||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | L&R | 926 | 926 | 716 | 716 | ||
| Short term deposits | L&R | 452 | 452 | ||||
| Trade receivables | L&R | 1,549 | 1,552 | 3.73% | 1,323 | 1,318 | 4.72% |
| Other receivables (*) | L&R | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | ||
| Liabilities | |||||||
| Notes payable series B | AC | 121 | 123 | Market quote | |||
| Notes payable series C | AC | 695 | 724 | Market quote | 423 | 440 | Market quote |
| Notes payable series D | AC | 543 | 548 | Market quote | 543 | 548 | Market quote |
| Notes payable series E | AC | 371 | 399 | Market quote | 121 | 127 | Market quote |
| Trade and other payables (*) | AC | 793 | 793 | 780 | 780 | ||
| Borrowing C | AC | 75 | 85 | 2.66% | 75 | 81 | 3.43% |
| Borrowing D | AC | 75 | 85 | 2.66% | 75 | 81 | 3.43% |
| Borrowing E (*) | AC | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | ||
| Borrowing F | AC | 198 | 210 | 1.79% | 197 | 199 | 3.17% |
| Borrowing G | AC | 100 | 100 | 3.08% | 100 | 98 | 3.85% |
| Borrowing H | AC | 100 | 100 | 2.93% | 100 | 97 | 3.85% |
| Borrowing I | AC | 120 | 121 | 3.17% | 120 | 120 | 3.43% |
| Borrowing J | AC | 76 | 77 | 2.75% | 62 | 62 | 3.23% |
| Borrowing K | AC | 75 | 75 | 3.71% | 76 | 76 | 3.43% |
| Borrowing L | AC | 200 | 203 | 4.25% | 200 | 204 | 3.98% |
| Borrowing M | AC | 200 | 200 | 3.884% | 200 | 201 | 3.85% |
| Borrowing N | AC | 250 | 260 | 3.67% | |||
| Derivative financial | FVTPL | ||||||
| instruments | Level 2 | * | * | * | * |
(*) The fair value of these financial instruments equals their carrying amounts, as the impact of discounting is not significant.
(**) The fair values of the notes payable quoted market prices at the end of the reporting period are within level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of other instruments under AC categories were calculated based on observable weighted average of interest rates derived from quoted market prices of the Group's notes payable and bank quotes of rates of similar terms and nature, are within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
See also note 15 in respect of borrowings and notes payable.
(a) Composition:
| New Israeli Shekels December 31 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | |||
| Trade (current and non-current) | 1,763 | 1,545 | |
| Deferred interest income (note 2(n)(3)) | (45) | (32) | |
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | (169) | (190) | |
| 1,549 | 1,323 | ||
| Current | 1,057 | 990 | |
| Non – current | 492 | 333 |
Non-current trade receivables bear no interest. These balances are in respect of equipment sold in installments (13-36 monthly payments (mainly 36)). The amount is computed on the basis of the interest rate relevant at the date of the transaction (2015 – 3.73% - 4.21%) (2016 – 3.72% - 4.72%).
During 2015 and 2016 the Company factored some trade receivables resulting from sales of equipment through credit cards in an amount of NIS 165 million and NIS 72 million, respectively. The factoring was executed through a clearing company, on a non-recourse basis. The factoring of accounts receivable was recorded by the Company as a sale transaction under the provisions of IAS 39. The resulting costs were charged to "finance expenses" in the statement of income, as incurred. The Group does not have continuing involvement in the factored trade receivables.
The changes in the allowance for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 are as follows:
| New Israeli Shekels | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended | ||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | ||||
| Balance at beginning of year | 202 | 166 | 169 | |
| Receivables written-off during the year as | ||||
| uncollectible | (74) | (61) | (61) | |
| Charge or expense during the year | 38 | 64 | 82 | |
| Balance at end of year | 166 | 169 | 190 | |
Doubtful accounts expenses are recorded in the statement of income under General and administrative expenses. See note 6(a)(3) regarding trade receivables credit risk.

(b) Allowance for doubtful accounts (continued)
The aging of gross trade receivables and their respective allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2015 and 2016 is as follows:
| New Israeli Shekels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | |||
| 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | |||
| Gross | Allowance | Gross | Allowance |
| 1,679 | 108 | 1,420 | 101 |
| 84 | 61 | 125 | 89 |
| 1,763 | 169 | 1,545 | 190 |
| New Israeli Shekels December 31 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| In millions | ||
| Handsets and devices | 82 | 60 |
| Accessories and other | 16 | 9 |
| Spare parts | 20 | 22 |
| ISP modems, routers, servers and related equipment | 2 | 5 |
| 120 | 96 | |
| Write-offs recorded | 5 | 6 |
| Cost of inventory recognized as expenses and included in cost of revenues for the year ended | 898 | 673 |
On November 8, 2013 the Company and Hot Mobile Ltd. ("Hot Mobile") entered into a 15-year network sharing agreement ("NSA"), which was approved by the Antitrust Commissioner as described below, and by the Ministry of Communications. Pursuant to the NSA, the parties created a 50-50 limited partnership - P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership (hereinafter "PHI"), which operates and develops a radio access network shared by both parties, starting with a pooling of both parties' radio access network infrastructures creating a single shared pooled radio access network (the "Shared Network"). The parties also established a 50-50 company limited by shares under the name Net 4 P.H.I Ltd., to be the general partner of the limited partnership. In May 2014, the Antitrust Commissioner (the "Commissioner") approved the NSA, subject to conditions that include: (a) Prohibition on exchange of information that is not required for the activities of PHI; (b) Limitations with respect to the serving as an officer or employee in either of the companies concurrent with serving as an officer or employee in PHI and certain cooling off periods were set in case of transition of officers and employees from PHI to the companies. However, this should not prevent PHI from employing employees or officers, that are currently serving as employees or officers in the companies (that is, employees will move to PHI and work for PHI only); (c) As of April 2021, the Commissioner will be allowed to notify the parties of the cancellation of his resolution, if at that time it will be of his opinion that the establishment of PHI, its existence or operations are liable to be substantively detrimental to competition, in which case the parties will be required to cease sharing the active part of the shared network within two years and the passive parts within five years from the Antitrust Commissioner's notice to that effect.
In February 2016, HOT Mobile exercised its option under the NSA to advance the payment date of a onetime amount of NIS 250 million ("Lump Sum"), which was received by the Group in 2016. Therefore in accordance the NSA from April 2016 onward (i) each party bears half of the expenditures relating to the Shared Network, and (ii) the bearing of the operating costs of the Shared Network is according to a pre-determined mechanism, according to which one half of the operating costs is shared equally by the parties, and one half is divided between the parties according to the relative volume of traffic consumption of each party in the Shared Network (the "Capex-Opex Mechanism").
The Lump Sum is treated by the Group as payments for rights of use of the Group's network and therefore recognized as deferred revenue which is amortized to revenues in the income statement over a period of eight years, which is determined to be the shorter of the expected period of the arrangement or the expected life of the related assets.
The NSA term will be automatically extended for consecutive terms of five years each, unless either party provided the other party with prior notice of at least two years prior to the commencement of the respective extended term. At any time after the eighth anniversary of the NSA's effective date (i.e. following April 2023), either party may provide the other party with two years termination notice, and terminate the NSA, without cause, effective as of the end of the said two-year period. On the expiry of the NSA, other than following a material breach, the parties shall divide the network between themselves according to a mechanism provided by the NSA, based on the parties then-respective interests in PHI, with priority that each party shall first receive its own assets.
On November 8, 2013, the Company and Hot Mobile entered into a separate Right of Use agreement which was valid until March 2016 ("ROU"), under which the Company provided services to Hot Mobile, in the form of access to use its cellular network. According to the ROU, Hot Mobile paid the Company fixed base payments together with additional variable payments which were based, among other things, on traffic exceeding a defined threshold. Hot Mobile ceased making payments under the ROU from April 2016. In 2015 and 2016, the Company recorded revenues relating to the ROU in amounts of approximately NIS 120 million and NIS 51 million, respectively.
See also note 26(d) with respect to transactions and balances with PHI.
The associates of the Group as at December 31, 2016, of which the Group holds 50% of ownership interests are: P.H.I. Networks (2015) Limited Partnership ("PHI"), and Net 4 P.H.I Ltd. (see also note 2(c)(2) and note 4(b)(3)). Both are incorporated and operate in Israel. Set out below is summarized financial information for the associates which are accounted for by the Group using the equity method.
| As at December 31 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| NIS in millions | NIS in millions | |
| Current assets | 26 | 122 |
| Non-current assets | 8 | 115 |
| Current liabilities | 24 | 110 |
| Non-current liabilities | 8 | 125 |
| Supplemental information relating to associates: | ||
| Commitments for operating leases and operating | ||
| expenses | 7 | 364 |
| Commitments to purchase fixed assets | 4 | 3 |
| Year ended December 31 | ||
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| NIS in millions | NIS in millions | |
| Summarized statement of income | ||
| Revenue | 94 | 432 |
| Pre-tax Profit | * | * |
| After-tax profit | * | * |
| Total comprehensive income | * | * |
| Reconciliation to carrying amount: | ||
| Opening net assets of PHI | - | 2 |
| Profit for the period | * | * |
| Partners contributions | 2 | |
| Closing net assets of PHI | 2 | 2 |
| Carrying amount: Group's share (50%) | 1 | 1 |
| * Representing an amount of less than NIS 1 million. |
See also note 26(d) with respect to transactions and balances with PHI.
| Communication | Computers and information |
Optic fibers and | Property, leasehold improvements, furniture and |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| network | systems | related assets | equipment | Total | |
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | |||||
| Cost | |||||
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | 2,504 | 332 | 450 | 244 | 3,530 |
| Additions in 2014 | 237 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 294 |
| Disposals in 2014 Balance at December 31, 2014 |
237 2,504 |
52 303 |
469 | 30 229 |
319 3,505 |
| Additions in 2015 | 118 | * | 19 | 4 | 141 |
| Disposals in 2015 | 423 | 39 | 2 | 30 | 494 |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | 2,199 | 264 | 486 | 203 | 3,152 |
| Additions in 2016 | 66 | 17 | 22 | 11 | 116 |
| Disposals in 2016 | 235 | 74 | 78 | 387 | |
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 2,030 | 207 | 508 | 136 | 2,881 |
| Accumulated depreciation | |||||
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | 1,310 | 179 | 120 | 130 | 1,739 |
| Depreciation in 2014 | 305 | 51 | 31 | 37 | 424 |
| Disposals in 2014 | 236 | 52 | 31 | 319 | |
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | 1,379 | 178 | 151 | 136 | 1,844 |
| Depreciation in 2015 | 271 | 45 | 34 | 26 | 376 |
| Impairment charges (**) | 5 | 7 | 12 | ||
| Disposals in 2015 | 423 | 39 | 2 | 30 | 494 |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | 1,232 | 191 | 183 | 132 | 1,738 |
| Depreciation in 2016 | 229 | 29 | 35 | 23 | 316 |
| Disposals in 2016 | 230 | 74 | 76 | 380 | |
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 1,231 | 146 | 218 | 79 | 1,674 |
| Carrying amounts, net | |||||
| At December 31, 2014 | 1,125 | 125 | 318 | 93 | 1,661 |
| At December 31, 2015 | 967 | 73 | 303 | 71 | 1,414 |
| At December 31, 2016 | 799 | 61 | 290 | 57 | 1,207 |
(*) Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
(**) See note 13(2)
Cost as at December 31, 2016 includes assets leased to customers under operating lease in an amount of NIS 25 million (mainly routers).
| New Israeli Shekels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 | |||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Depreciation expenses and impairment charged to the income statement: | |||
| Cost of revenues | 396 | 363 | 291 |
| Selling and marketing expenses | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| General and administrative expenses | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| 424 | 388 | 316 | |
| Communication network cost additions include capitalization of salary and employee related expenses | 41 | 30 | 29 |
| Subscriber | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade | Customer | acquisition and | Computer | |||
| Licenses | name | relationships | retention costs | software(*) | Total | |
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | ||||||
| Cost | ||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | 2,088 | 73 | 276 | 12 | 573 | 3,022 |
| Additions in 2014 | 5 | 135 | 140 | |||
| Disposals in 2014 | 4 | 62 | 66 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | 2,088 | 73 | 276 | 13 | 646 | 3,096 |
| Additions in 2015 | 35 | 6 | 89 | 130 | ||
| Disposals in 2015 | 6 | 73 | 79 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | 2,123 | 73 | 276 | 13 | 662 | 3,147 |
| Additions in 2016 | 4 | 82 | 86 | |||
| Disposals in 2016 | 4 | 110 | 114 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 2,123 | 73 | 276 | 13 | 634 | 3,119 |
| Accumulated amortization | ||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | 1,418 | 28 | 164 | 9 | 236 | 1,855 |
| Amortization in 2014 | 84 | 5 | 24 | 4 | 111 | 228 |
| Disposals in 2014 | 4 | 62 | 66 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | 1,502 | 33 | 188 | 9 | 285 | 2,017 |
| Amortization in 2015(**) | 86 | 6 | 23 | 7 | 121 | 243 |
| Impairment charges (***) | 2 | 8 | 10 | |||
| Disposals in 2015 | 6 | 73 | 79 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | 1,588 | 41 | 219 | 10 | 333 | 2,191 |
| Amortization in 2016 | 88 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 117 | 249 |
| Disposals in 2016 | 4 | 110 | 114 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 1,676 | 62 | 237 | 11 | 340 | 2,326 |
| Carrying amounts, net At December 31, 2014 |
586 | 40 | 88 | 4 | 361 | 1,079 |
| At December 31, 2015 | 535 | 32 | 57 | 3 | 329 | 956 |
| At December 31, 2016 | 447 | 11 | 39 | 2 | 294 | 793 |
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | ||||
| Amortization expenses and impairments charged to the income statement: | ||||
| Cost of revenues | 200 | 214 | 210 | |
| Selling and marketing expenses | 28 | 39 | 39 | |
| 228 | 253 | 249 | ||
| (*) Cost additions include capitalization of salary and employee related expenses | 44 | 35 | 36 |
(**) See information with respect to change in estimate of economic life of the trade name in 2015 in note 2(f)(4)
(***) See note 13(2).
| New Israeli Shekels in millions |
|
|---|---|
| Cost | |
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | 380 |
| Additional payments in 2014 | 22 |
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | 402 |
| Additional payments in 2015 | 34 |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | 436 |
| Additional payments in 2016 | 80 |
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 516 |
| Accumulated amortization and impairment | |
| Balance at January 1, 2014 | 234 |
| Amortization in 2014 | 37 |
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | 271 |
| Amortization in 2015 | 36 |
| Impairment recorded in 2015 | 76 |
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | 383 |
| Amortization in 2016 | 30 |
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 413 |
| Carrying amount, net at December 31, 2014 | 131 |
| Carrying amount, net at December 31, 2015 | 53 |
| Current | 33 |
| Non-current | 20 |
| Carrying amount, net at December 31, 2016 | 103 |
| Current | 28 |
| Non-current | 75 |
See also notes 17(4) and note 2(g).
The amortization and impairment charges are charged to cost of revenues in the statement of income. See also note 13(2) with respect of impairment charges in 2015.
Goodwill is allocated to a single group of CGUs which constitute all the operations of the fixed-line segment, in an amount of NIS 407 million.
For the purpose of the goodwill impairment tests as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the recoverable amount was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert (2014, 2015: "Giza Singer Even. Ltd", 2016: BDO Ziv Haft Consulting & Management Ltd.) based on value-in-use calculations. The value-in-use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the five-year period to be generated from continuing use are extrapolated using estimated growth rates. The growth rate represents the long-term average growth rate of the fixed-line communications services business. The key assumptions used are as follows:
| As of December 31, | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| Terminal growth rate | (negative 0.2%) | (negative 0.09%) | 0.5% | |
| After-tax discount rate | 10.5% | 10.3% | 9.8% | |
| Pre-tax discount rate | 14.3% | 13.4% | 11.9% |
The impairment tests as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts. As a result of the impairment tests, the Group determined that no goodwill impairment existed as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016. See also note 4(a)(4) and note 2(h).
No indicators for impairment or reversal of impairment of assets with finite useful lives were identified in 2016.
In 2015, the Group decided to cease the usage of the "012 Smile" trade name in 2017, this change in business induced the Group to determine that an indicator of impairment exist for the fixed-line segment. See also information with respect to change in estimate of useful life of the intangible asset trade name in note 4(a)(3) and 4(a)(2).
For the purpose of the impairment test, the assets were grouped to the lowest level for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (CGU).
(e) Trade name by NIS 2 million, recorded in selling and marketing expenses.
The recoverable amount of the VOB/ISP CGU assets as of December 31, 2015 was assessed by management with the assistance of an external independent expert ("Giza Singer Even. Ltd") based on value-in-use calculations, which was NIS 250 million. The value in use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections covering a five-year period and using extrapolation with specific adjustments expected until 2027, which was the economic life of the main asset of the CGU: the deferred expenses – Right of Use, and a pre-tax discount rate of 12.9%. The value-in-use calculations included all factors in real terms. This impairment test was based on assessments of financial performance and future strategies in light of current and expected market and economic conditions. Trends in the economic and financial environment, competition and regulatory authorities' decisions, or changes in competitors' behavior in response to the economic environment may affect the estimate of recoverable amounts in future periods. See also note 2(i) and note 4(a)(3).
(ii) The Group reviewed the recoverability of the ILD CGU of the fixed line segment and determined that no impairment existed as of December 31, 2015.
| Dismantling and restoring sites obligation |
Legal claims** | Equipment warranty |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | ||||
| Balance as at January 1, 2016 | 36 | 75 | 2 | |
| Additions during the year | * | 19 | 4 | |
| Reductions during the year | (2) | (18) | (5) | |
| Unwind of discount | 1 | |||
| Balance as at December 31, 2016 | 35 | 76 | 1 | |
| Non-current | 35 | |||
| Current | 76 | 1 | ||
| Balance as at December 31, 2015 | 36 | 75 | 2 | |
| Non-current | 36 | |||
| Current | 75 | 2 | ||
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million.
** See also note 20.

The Group has received borrowings from leading Israeli commercial banks and institutions. The Group may, at its discretion prepay the borrowings, subject to certain conditions, including that the Group shall reimburse the lender for losses sustained by it as a result of the prepayment. The reimbursement is mainly based on the difference between the interest rate that the Group would otherwise pay and the current market interest rate on the prepayment date.
The notes payable are unsecured, non-convertible and listed for trade on the TASE.
The notes payable have been rated ilA+, on a local scale, by Standard & Poor's Maalot.
Composition as of December 31, 2016:
| Linkage terms (principal and interest) | Annual interest rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Notes payable series C | CPI | 3.35% CPI adj. |
| Notes payable series D | 'Makam'(*) plus 1.2% | |
| Notes payable series E | 5.5% fixed | |
| Borrowing C | 5.7% fixed | |
| Borrowing D | 5.7% fixed | |
| Borrowing E | Prime(**) minus 0.025% | |
| Borrowing F | CPI | 3.42% CPI adj. |
| Borrowing G (received in 2014) | 3.08% fixed | |
| Borrowing H (received in 2014) | 2.93% fixed | |
| Borrowing I (received in 2015) | 3.17% fixed | |
| Borrowing J (received in 2015) | 2.75% fixed | |
| Borrowing K (received in 2015) | 3.71% fixed | |
| Borrowing L (received in 2015) | 4.25% fixed | |
| Borrowing M (received in 2015) | 3.884% fixed | |
| Borrowing N (see note 15(3)) | 4.95% fixed |
(*) 'Makam' is a variable interest that is based on the yield of 12 month government bonds issued by the government of Israel. The interest is updated on a quarterly basis. The interest rates paid (in annual terms, and including the additional interest of 1.2%) for the period from October 1, 2016 to December 30, 2016 was 1.287%.
(**) The Israeli Prime interest rate is determined by the Bank of Israel and updated on a monthly basis. The Israeli Prime interest rate as of December 31, 2015 and 2016 was 1.60% per year.
See note 6(a)(4) as to the balances and maturities of the borrowings and the notes payable.
See note 6(c) as to the fair value of the borrowings and the notes payable.
Following the Board of Directors' resolution in October 2015, to approve a notes buy-back plan of the Company's series B, C and E notes, which are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the repurchases of the following notes were executed (these notes are considered legally extinguished):
In March 2016, the Company repurchased approximately NIS 43 million par value of notes payable series B, at an average transaction price of approximately 1.104 NIS par value. The total amount paid was approximately NIS 48 million.
In March 2016, the Company repurchased approximately NIS 131 million par value of notes payable series E, at an average transaction price of approximately 1.073 NIS par value. The total amount paid was approximately NIS 141 million.
In April 2016, the Company repurchased approximately NIS 54 million par value of notes payable series C, at an average transaction price of approximately 1.136 NIS par value. The total amount paid was approximately NIS 61.5 million.
The buy-back costs of the aforementioned repurchases were recorded in finance expenses in an amount of NIS 12 million.
Borrowing N: On December 28, 2016, the Company received a long-term loan from a group of institutional corporations in the principal amount of NIS 250 million. The Loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.95% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2017.
On November 27, 2014, the Company engaged in a loan agreement with a group of institutional corporations ("Lenders"), according to which on December 26, 2017 the Lenders will provide the Company a loan in the principal amount of NIS 100 million. The Loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.44% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2018.
On November 30, 2014, the Company engaged in a loan agreement with a group of institutional corporations ("Lenders"), according to which on December 26, 2017 the Lenders will provide the Company a loan in the principal amount of NIS 100 million. The Loan will bear unlinked interest at the rate of 4.34% per annum and will be paid (principal and interest) in variable quarterly payments over five years, commencing in March 2018.

All the loan commitments include provisions which allow the lenders to not provide the loans should any of the events of default defined for the Company's existing loans occur prior to the date for providing the deferred loans. These events of default include non-compliance with the financial covenants set forth below, as well as other customary terms.
The terms of loans require the Group to comply with financial covenants on a consolidated basis. Their main provisions are two ratios:
EBITDA is defined as the sum of (a) the net income before extraordinary items, (b) the amount of tax expenses set against the net profits including, without double counting, any provisions for tax expenses, (c) and depreciation and amortization expenses, and (d) any finance costs, net.
Capital Expenditures are defined as any expenditure classified as fixed and intangible asset in the financial statements.
The Group was in compliance with all covenants stipulated for the years 2015 and 2016. The covenants are measured every six months (on June 30, and December 31) on an annualized basis of twelve months and are based on the financial results for the preceding period of twelve months.
The existing loans agreements allow the lenders to demand an immediate repayment of the loans in certain events (events of default), including, among others, a material adverse change in the Company's business and non-compliance with the financial covenants set in those agreements.
The Company provided the lenders with a negative pledge undertaking (i.e., not to pledge any of its assets to a third party), except for a number of exceptions that were agreed upon, including pledge (other than by way of floating charge) in favor of a third party over specific assets or rights of the Company, securing obligations no greater than NIS 100 million in aggregate. See note 6 regarding the Company's exposure to market risks and liquidity risk.
Israeli labor laws and agreements require payment of severance pay upon dismissal of an employee or upon termination of employment in certain other circumstances. See also note 2(k).
The Group had contributed NIS 17 million, NIS 15 million, NIS 14 million for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively, in accordance with Section 14 of the Israeli Severance Pay Law. See also note 2(k)(i)(1).
Liability for employee rights upon retirement, net is presented as non-current liability.
The amounts recognized in the statement of financial position, in respect of a defined benefit plan (see note 2(k)(i)(2)) and changes during the year in the obligation recognized for post-employment defined benefit plans were as follows:
| New Israeli Shekels in millions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Present value of obligation |
Fair value of plan assets |
Total | |
| At January 1, 2015 | 204 | (153) | 51 |
| Current service cost | 17 | 17 | |
| Interest expense (income) | 4 | (4) | * |
| Employer contributions | (15) | (15) | |
| Benefits paid | (86) | 72 | (14) |
| Remeasurements: | |||
| Experience loss (gain) | (4) | 1 | (3) |
| Loss from change in financial assumptions | (2) | * | (2) |
| Return on plan assets | * | * | |
| At December 31, 2015 | 133 | (99) | 34 |
| Current service cost | 17 | 17 | |
| Interest expense (income) | 5 | (3) | 2 |
| Employer contributions | (12) | (12) | |
| Benefits paid | (19) | 9 | (10) |
| Remeasurements: | |||
| Experience loss (gain) | 9 | 9 | |
| Loss from change in demographic assumptions | (4) | (4) | |
| Loss (gain) from change in financial assumptions | 1 | 1 | |
| Return on plan assets | 2 | 2 | |
| At December 31, 2016 | 142 | (103) | 39 |
Remeasurements are recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.
The expected contribution to the defined benefit plan during the year ending December 31, 2017 is approximately NIS 12 million.
The principal actuarial assumptions used were as follows:
| December 31 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2016 | ||
| Interest rate weighted average | 3.47% | 2.95% | |
| Inflation rate weighted average | 1.20% | 1.04% | |
| Expected turnover rate | 10% - 49% | 9%-56% | |
| Future salary increases | 1% - 26% | 1%-6% |
The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to changes in the principal assumptions is:
| December 31, 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NIS in millions | |||
| Increase of 10% of the assumption |
Decrease of 10% of the assumption |
||
| Interest rate | (0.7) | 0.7 | |
| Expected turnover rate | 0.3 | (0.3) | |
| Future salary increases | 0.4 | (0.4) |
The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to significant actuarial assumptions the same method has been applied as when calculating the pension liability recognized within the statement of financial position. The methods and types of assumptions used in preparing the sensitivity analysis did not change compared to the previous period.
The defined benefit plan exposes the Group to a number of risks, the most significant are asset volatility, and a risk that salary increases will be higher than expected in the actuarial calculations. The assets are invested in provident funds, managed by managing companies and are subject to laws and regulations, and supervision (including investment portfolio) of the Capital Markets, Insurance and Saving Division of the Israeli Ministry of Finance.
Expected maturity analysis of undiscounted defined benefits as at December 31, 2016:

The Group signed long-term agreements with service providers to receive indefeasible Rights of Use (ROU) of international capacities through submarine infrastructures (see note 12), most extendable until 2030. As of December 31, 2016, the Group is committed to pay for capacities over the following years an amount of NIS 273 million (excluding maintenance fees) as follows:
| New Israeli Shekels in millions |
|
|---|---|
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 46 |
| 2019 | 46 |
| 2020 | 45 |
| 2021 and thereafter | 90 |
| 273 |
In addition, under the terms of the ROU agreements, the Group is committed to pay annual maintenance fees during the usage period. The total aggregated expected maintenance fee for the years 2017-2023 is approximately NIS 69 million. All payments under the ROU agreements are linked to the USD.
As of December 31, 2016, the Group has provided bank guarantees in respect of licenses (see note 1(d)) in an amount of NIS 100 million, in addition to bank guarantees in favor of other parties in an aggregate amount of approximately NIS 71 million. The total bank guarantees provided by the Group as of December 31, 2016 is NIS 171 million.
In June 2015, the Company announced that it had entered into a settlement agreement with Orange Brand Services Ltd ("Orange") which created a new framework for their relationship and provided both Partner and Orange the right to terminate the brand license agreement which had been in force since 1998. In accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company received advance payments in a total of €90 million during 2015; €40 million of which was received between the signing of the agreement and the completion of a market study to assess the Company's position within the dynamics of the Israeli telecommunications services market; and €50 million of which was received in the fourth quarter of 2015, following the Company's notice to Orange of its decision to terminate the brand license agreement.
As set forth in the settlement agreement, the advance payments are to be recognized and reconciled evenly on a quarterly basis over a period until the second quarter of 2017, against contingent marketing, sales, customer services and other expenses to be incurred over this period. The income is recorded in the Company's income statement under "Income with respect to settlement agreement with Orange". For 2015 and 2016, the Company recognized income with respect to the settlement agreement in an amount of NIS 61 and NIS 217 million, respectively. Based on a legal opinion obtained by the Company, the advance payments are considered compensation payments and are therefore not subject to VAT charges.
The Group has entered into operating lease agreements as follows:
| New Israeli | |
|---|---|
| Shekels | |
| December 31, | |
| 2016 | |
| In millions | |
| 2017 | 137 |
| 2018 | 107 |
| 2019 | 86 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2021-2022 | 116 |
| 2023-2024 | 83 |
| 2025-2026 | 14 |
| 2027 and thereafter | 16 |
| 630 |
(6) The rental expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were approximately NIS 259 million, NIS 260 million, and NIS 213 million, respectively.
Total provision recorded in the financial statements in respect of all lawsuits against the Group amounted to NIS 76 million at December 31, 2016.
Described below are the main litigation and claims against the Group:
This category includes lawsuits and motions for the recognition of these lawsuits as class actions with respect to alleged unlawful collection of charges from customers or alleged breach of the Consumer Protection Law.
Described hereunder are the outstanding consumer purported class actions with respect to lawsuits with a total claim amount of NIS 1,996 million or which have not been quantified, broken down by the amount claimed, as of the date of approval of these financial statements:
| Claim amount | Number of claims |
Total claims amount (NIS million) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to NIS 100 million | 7 | 227 |
| NIS 100-400 million | 6 | 1,364 |
| NIS 400 million - NIS 1 billion | 1 | 405 |
| Over NIS 1 billion | - | - |
| Unquantified claims | 4 | - |
| Total | 18 | 1,996 |
With respect to 3 of the claims mentioned in the table above, the court approved these claims as class actions:
With respect to 3 claims mentioned in the table above, with a total amount of NIS 493 million (other than the 3 claims mentioned above), the parties filed requests to approve settlement agreements and with respect to 1 additional claim in the amount of NIS 187 million (other than the 3 claims mentioned above), the court approved a settlement agreement.
In addition to the claims mentioned in the table above, the court approved these claims as a class action and the settlement agreements were fully executed:
1) During 2008, several claims and motions to certify the claims as class actions were filed against several international telephony companies including 012 Smile. The plaintiffs allege that with respect to prepaid calling card services, the defendants misled the consumers regarding certain issues, charged consumers in excess, and formed a cartel that arranged and raised the prices of calling cards. The total amount of damages claimed by the plaintiffs against 012 Smile is approximately NIS 128 million. In November 2010, the court granted the plaintiffs' request and certified the lawsuit as a class action against all of the defendants. In May 2012, the parties signed a settlement agreement regarding the amended request and regarding an additional lawsuit in an amount of NIS 2.7 billion, dealing with similar issues. The parties submitted a revised settlement agreement in December 2014 that was approved by the Court in January 2015. In January 2016, the Court declared that in accordance with the documents filed with the court, the execution of the settlement agreement was completed. The damages that Partner was required to pay were immaterial.
2) On November 4, 2013, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class action were filed against Partner. The claim alleges that Partner unlawfully reduced the account balance of Pre-Paid subscribers. The amount claimed in the lawsuit was estimated by the plaintiffs to be approximately NIS 35 million. In October 2015, the parties filed a joint request to approve the claim as a class action. In May, 2016, the Court approved the request and in October 2016 Partner completed its obligations in accordance with the claim. The damages that Partner was required to pay were immaterial.
This category includes lawsuits and motions for the recognition of these lawsuits as class actions with respect to alleged breaches of licenses or the Communications Law (Telecommunications and Broadcasting).
Described hereunder are the outstanding consumer purported class actions with respect to lawsuits with a total claim amount of NIS 745 million or which have not been quantified, broken down by the amount claimed, as of the date of approval of these financial statements:
| Claim amount | Number of claims |
Total claims amount (NIS million) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to NIS 100 million | 13 | 329 |
| NIS 100-400 million | 2 | 416 |
| Unquantified claims | 7 | - |
| Total | 22 | 745 |
With respect to the claims in the above table, the court approved 1 claim as a class action:
On April 3, 2012, a claim and a motion to certify the claim as a class action were filed against Partner. The claim alleges that Partner breached its license conditions in connection with benefits provided to customers that purchased handsets from third parties. The amount claimed in the lawsuit was estimated by the plaintiffs to be approximately NIS 22 million. In September 2014, The Court approved the motion and recognized the lawsuit as a class action. Partner estimates that even if the claim will be decided in favor of the relevant customers, the damages that Partner will be required to pay for will be immaterial.
With respect to 3 claims mentioned in the table above, with a total amount of NIS 63 million (other than the 1 claim mentioned above), the parties filed requests to approve settlement agreements.

In addition to the claims mentioned in the table above, the court approved 2 claims as class actions and the settlement agreements were fully executed:
This category includes 2 claims with respect to employees and suppliers issues: a claim and a motion for the recognition of this claim as a class action in the amount of NIS 100 million (in September 2016, the parties filed a request to approve a settlement agreement regarding this claim) and a civil lawsuit in the amount of NIS 40 million.
In addition to all the above mentioned claims the Group is a party to various claims arising in the ordinary course of its operations.
In January 2006, the Non-ionizing Radiation Law was published, amending the Planning and Building Law so that local Planning and Building committees must require indemnification letters against reduction in property value from the cellular operators requesting building permits.
Accordingly, on January 3, 2006, the National Council for Planning and Building published an interim decision conditioning the issuance of building permits for cell site permits by local planning and building councils upon provision of a 100% indemnification undertaking by the cellular operators. This decision shall remain in effect until it is replaced with an amendment to the National Zoning Plan 36. Between January 3, 2006 and December 31, 2016 the Company provided the local authorities with 511 indemnification letters as a pre-condition for obtaining building permits.
In case the Company shall be required to make substantial payments under the indemnity letters, it could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial results.
According to the company's management estimation and based on its legal counsel, a provision in the financial statement was not included.
The Company assumes that the requirement to provide indemnification letters might require it to change locations of sites to different, less suitable locations and to dismantle some of its sites. These changes in the deployment of the sites might have an adverse effect on the extent, quality and capacity of the network coverage.
The Company's share capital consists of ordinary shares, which are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. under the symbol "PTNR", and are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market™, in the form of American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each representing one of the Company's ordinary shares, under the symbol "PTNR", according to the dual listing regulations. The ADSs are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). Since November 2011, Citibank, N.A. serves as the Company's depository for ADSs. The holders of ordinary shares are entitled vote in the general meetings of shareholders and to receive dividends as declared.
Under the provisions of the Company's licenses (note 1(d)), restrictions are placed on transfer of the Company's shares and placing liens thereon. The restrictions include the requirement of advance written consent of the Minister of Communications be received prior to transfer of 10% or more of the Company's shares to a third party. The restrictions require that the "founding shareholders or their approved substitutes", as defined in the cellular license, hold at least 26% of the means of control in the Company, including 5% which must be held by Israeli shareholders (Israeli citizens and residents), who were approved as such by the Minister of Communications.
Through December 31, 2008 the Company purchased its own 4,467,990 shares at the cost of NIS 351 million ("treasury shares"). In accordance with the Israeli Companies Law, the treasury shares are considered dormant shares as long as they are held by the Company, and as such they do not bear any rights (including the right to vote in general meetings of shareholders and to receive dividends) until they are transferred to a third party. Of which 3,603,578 remained as of December 31, 2016. Of which 2,061,201 were allocated as of December 31, 2016 to a trustee on behalf of the Company's employees under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (see (b) below). These shares are under the control of the Company until vested under the plan and therefore are not presented in the financial statements as outstanding shares until vested (restricted shares ("RSAs")).
Share options and restricted shares were granted to employees in accordance with the 2004 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan or as 2004 Share Option Plan (the "Plan")). On June 18, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The main amendments to the Plan include: (a) the extension of the Plan for an additional ten years from July 2014 until July 2024; and (b) the addition of the ability to allocate restricted shares ("RSAs") to the Company's employees and officers and necessary related amendments to the Plan (in particular, regarding the right to vote at the general meetings of shareholders and the right to receive dividends distributed with respect to the restricted shares). The committee may set performance targets as a vesting criterion (independently or in combination with other criteria). The plan was further amended in 2015 to the increase of the number of shares which may be granted under the Plan up to a total of 22,917,000 shares. On March, 2016, the Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the Plan.
(1) Description of the Equity Incentive Plan (continued)
The amendments to the Plan include: (a) amendment to the cashless exercise formula; (b) the ability to allocate restricted share units to the Company's employees and office holders; (c) automatic extension of the exercise period due to black-out periods; (d) adjustments to the grantee's rights under any granted securities due to the occurrence of certain events, including a rights offering; (e) a provision allowing the Company's management bodies to decide to pay a grantee the financial benefit embedded in his equity compensation in cash compensation instead of equity compensation, in certain events in which the Company is unable to issue shares resulting from exercise of options or RSUs or to release any restricted share to a grantee; (f) extension of the exercise period as a result of a change of control event; (g) a provision that allows the Company to limit a grantee from making transactions in the granted securities in connection with any underwritten public offering of the Company and (h) certain exercise restrictions in accordance with the Tel Aviv stock exchange rules. These amendments are subject to the approval of the Israeli Tax Authority and the Israeli Securities Authority. The total number of Company's shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of all options or upon the earning of the restricted shares granted under the Plan is 22,917,000, of which 2,699,943 remained ungranted as of December 31, 2016. The vesting of the options and the earning of the restricted shares are subject to vesting/restriction periods. The vesting of the options and the earning of the restricted shares granted after June 2014 are also subject to performance conditions set by the Company's organs. The Company expects that the performance conditions will be met. The Plan's principal terms of the options include:
| Through December 31, 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of | Number of | ||
| options | RSAs | ||
| Granted | 30,102,849 | 3,791,622 | |
| Shares issued upon exercises and vesting | (6,111,330) | (864,412) | |
| Cancelled upon net exercises, expiration | |||
| and forfeitures | (12,705,618) | (971,796) | |
| Outstanding | 11,285,901 | 1,955,414 | |
| Of which: | |||
| Exercisable | 5,912,904 | ||
| Vest in 2017 | 2,535,575 | 916,070 | |
| Vest in 2018 | 2,481,751 | 890,588 | |
| Vest in 2019 | 355,671 | 148,756 |
As of December 31, 2016 the Company expects to record a total amount of compensation expenses of approximately NIS 31 million during the next three years with respect to options and restricted shares.

(3) Options and RSAs status summary as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the changes therein during the years ended on those dates:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||
| Number | Weighted average exercise price |
Number | Weighted average exercise price |
Number | Weighted average exercise price |
|
| Share Options: | NIS | NIS | NIS | |||
| Outstanding at the beginning of the year | 6,928,382 | 43.46 | 8,962,116 | 32.08 | 12,686,317 | 29.52 |
| Granted during the year | 3,897,270 | 26.25 | 5,519,031 | 17.41 | 998,433 | 18.14 |
| Exercised during the year | (828,950) | 16.30 | (32,880) | 13.12 | (284,251) | 15.74 |
| Forfeited during the year | (334,570) | 32.83 | (1,459,215) | 28.7 | (1,219,648) | 20.58 |
| Expired during the year | (700,016) | 57.72 | (302,735) | 58.61 | (894,950) | 38.16 |
| Outstanding at the end of the year | 8,962,116 | 32.08 | 12,686,317 | 29.52 | 11,285,901 | 29.14 |
| Exercisable at the end of the year | 4,902,943 | 47.25 | 4,615,076 | 45.97 | 5,912,904 | 37.77 |
| Shares issued during the year due exercises | 385,943 | 14,511 | 47,484 | |||
| RSAs: | ||||||
| Outstanding at the beginning of the year | 1,589,990 | 2,900,626 | ||||
| Granted during the year | 1,594,850 | 1,779,596 | 417,176 | |||
| Vested during the year | (6,015) | (858,397) | ||||
| Forfeited during the year | (4,860) | (462,945) | (503,991) | |||
| Outstanding at the end of the year | 1,589,990 | 2,900,626 | 1,955,414 | |||
| Options granted | Options granted | Options granted |
| in 2014 | in 2015 | in 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted average fair value of options granted using the | |||
| Black & Scholes option-pricing model – per option (NIS) | 6.92 | 5.37 | 5.02 |
| The above fair value is estimated on the grant date based on the following weighted average assumptions: | |||
| Expected volatility | 31.66% | 39.28% | 39.5% |
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.00% | 0.54% | 0.54% |
| Expected life (years) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Dividend yield | * | * | * |
* Due to the Full Dividend Mechanism the expected dividend yield used in the fair value determination of such options was 0% for the purpose of using the Black & Scholes option-pricing model.
The expected volatility is based on a historical volatility, by statistical analysis of the daily share price for periods corresponding the option's expected life. The expected life is expected length of time until expected date of exercising the options, based on historical data on employees' exercise behavior and anticipated future condition. The fair value of RSAs was evaluated based on the stock price on grant date.
Share options outstanding as of December 31, 2016 have the following expiry dates and exercise prices:
| Expire in | Number of options |
Weighted average exercise price in NIS |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 748,729 | 42.07 |
| 2018 | 50,000 | 23.61 |
| 2019 | 1,218,271 | 49.82 |
| 2020 | 2,915,328 | 37.14 |
| 2021 | 5,175,460 | 19.99 |
| 2022 | 1,178,113 | 20.14 |
| 11,285,901 | 29.14 |
| (a) Cost of revenues | New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | ||||
| Transmission, communication and content providers | 981 | 888 | 814 | |
| Cost of equipment and accessories | 738 | 852 | 625 | |
| Wages, employee benefits expenses and car maintenance | 366 | 320 | 270 | |
| Depreciation and amortization (including impairment) | 596 | 577 | 501 | |
| Costs of handling, replacing or repairing equipment | 88 | 88 | 93 | |
| Operating lease, rent and overhead expenses | 332 | 315 | 258 | |
| Network and cable maintenance | 120 | 145 | 150 | |
| Internet infrastructure and service providers | 29 | 49 | 68 | |
| Car kit installation, IT support, and other operating | ||||
| expenses | 86 | 72 | 62 | |
| Amortization of rights of use (including impairment) | 37 | 112 | 30 | |
| Other | 46 | 54 | 53 | |
| Total cost of revenues | 3,419 | 3,472 | 2,924 |
| (b) Selling and marketing expenses | New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | ||||
| Wages, employee benefits expenses and car maintenance | 205 | 206 | 177 | |
| Advertising and marketing | 49 | 30 | 68 | |
| Selling commissions, net | 83 | 77 | 82 | |
| Depreciation and amortization (including impairment) | 45 | 55 | 55 | |
| Operating lease, rent and overhead expenses | 25 | 27 | 29 | |
| Other | 31 | 22 | 15 | |
| Total selling and marketing expenses | 438 | 417 | 426 |
| (c) General and administrative expenses | New Israeli Shekels | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| In millions | |||
| Wages, employee benefits expenses and car maintenance | 71 | 84 | 101 |
| Bad debts and allowance for doubtful accounts | 39 | 63 | 82 |
| Professional fees | 27 | 31 | 32 |
| Credit card and other commissions | 18 | 16 | 14 |
| Depreciation | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Other | 27 | 20 | 25 |
| Total general and administrative expenses | 193 | 223 | 263 |
| (d) Employee benefit expense | New Israeli Shekels | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31, | |||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| In millions | |||
| Wages and salaries including social benefits, social | |||
| security costs, pension costs and car maintenance | |||
| before capitalization | 683 | 622 | 537 |
| Less: expenses capitalized (notes 10, 11) | (85) | (65) | (65) |
| Service costs: defined benefit plan (note 16) | 19 | 21 | 17 |
| Service costs: defined contribution plan (note 16) | 17 | 15 | 14 |
| Amortization of share based compensation (note 21(b)) | 8 | 17 | 45 |
| 642 | 610 | 548 |
See also note 28 with respect of collective employment agreement.
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| In millions | |||
| Unwinding of trade receivables | 47 | 46 | 41 |
| Other income, net | 2 | * | 4 |
| Capital gain from property and equipment | 1 | 1 | * |
| 50 | 47 | 45 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million
| New Israeli Shekels Year ended December 31, |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | ||||
| Net foreign exchange rate gains | 7 | |||
| Fair value gain from derivative financial instruments, net | 2 | * | ||
| CPI linkage income | 9 | 2 | ||
| Interest income from cash equivalents | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Other | * | 1 | 3 | |
| Finance income | 3 | 13 | 13 | |
| Interest expenses | 123 | 136 | 105 | |
| CPI linkage expenses | 3 | |||
| Fair value loss from derivative financial instruments, net | 7 | |||
| Net foreign exchange rate losses | 18 | 9 | ||
| Other finance costs | 11 | 11 | 13 | |
| Finance expenses | 162 | 156 | 118 | |
| 159 | 143 | 105 |
* Representing an amount of less than 1 million
Under this law, results for tax purposes through tax-year 2007 were measured in real terms, having regard to the changes in the Israeli CPI. Commencing the tax-year 2008 and thereafter the Company and its subsidiaries are measured for tax purposes in nominal values, except for certain transition provisions: certain losses carryforward for tax purposes, and certain tax deductible depreciation expenses are adjusted to the changes in the CPI until the end of 2007.
The Group is taxed according to the regular corporate income tax in Israel.
On August 5, 2013, the Law for Change of National Priorities (Legislative Amendments for Achieving the Budgetary Goals for 2013-2014), 2013 was published, enacts, among other things, the raising of the corporate tax rate beginning in 2014 and thereafter to 26.5% (instead of 25%).
In January 2016, the Law for the Amendment of the Income Tax Ordinance (No. 216) was published, enacting a reduction of corporate tax rate in 2016 and thereafter, from 26.5% to 25%.
In December 2016, the Economic Efficiency Law (Legislative Amendments for Implementing the Economic Policy for the 2017 and 2018 Budget Year), 2016 was published, enacting that the corporate tax rate will be 24% in 2017 and 23% in 2018 and thereafter.
The above reductions (in January and December 2016) of the corporate tax rate resulted in a reduction of NIS 7 million in the Group's deferred tax assets in 2016, which was recognized as an expense in the income statement.

Balances of deferred tax asset (liability) in NIS millions are attributable to the following items:
| Balance of deferred tax asset (liability) in respect of |
As at January 1, 2014 |
Charged to the income statement |
Charged to other comprehen sive income |
As at December 31, 2014 |
Charged to the income statement |
Charged to other comprehen sive income |
As at December 31, 2015 |
Charged to the income statement |
Charged to other comprehensive income |
Effect of change in corporate tax rate |
As at December 31, 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowance for | |||||||||||
| doubtful accounts | 54 | (10) | 44 | 1 | 45 | 6 | (6) | 45 | |||
| Provisions for | |||||||||||
| employee rights | 18 | (1) | 2 | 19 | (4) | (1) | 14 | * | 2 | (2) | 14 |
| Depreciable fixed assets and software |
(92) | 22 | (70) | 17 | (53) | 13 | 5 | (35) | |||
| Intangibles, deferred expenses and carry |
|||||||||||
| forward losses | 23 | (16) | 7 | 15 | 22 | (8) | (5) | 9 | |||
| Options granted to | |||||||||||
| employees | 1 | * | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (1) | 6 | |||
| Other | 8 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 18 | (18) | 2 | 2 | |||
| Total | 12 | (4) | 2 | 10 | 40 | (1) | 49 | (3) | 2 | (7) | 41 |
* Representing an amount of less than NIS 1 million.
c. Deferred income taxes (continued)
| New Israeli Shekels | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, | ||||
| 2015 | 2016 | |||
| In millions | ||||
| Deferred tax assets | ||||
| Deferred tax assets to be recovered after more than 12 months | 92 | 87 | ||
| Deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months | 50 | 37 | ||
| 142 | 124 | |||
| Deferred tax liabilities | ||||
| Deferred tax liabilities to be recovered after more than 12 months | 85 | 72 | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities to be recovered within 12 months | 8 | 11 | ||
| 93 | 83 | |||
| Deferred tax assets, net | 49 | 41 |
d. Following is a reconciliation of the theoretical tax expense, assuming all income is taxed at the regular tax rates applicable to companies in Israel (see (b) above), and the actual tax expense:
| New Israeli Shekels | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 | ||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| In millions | ||||
| Profit (loss) before taxes on income, | ||||
| as reported in the income statements | 241 | (36) | 88 | |
| Theoretical tax expense | 64 | (9) | 22 | |
| Increase in tax resulting from disallowable deductions | 15 | 7 | 11 | |
| Taxes on income in respect of previous years | 7 | (4) | ||
| Change in corporate tax rate, see (b) above | 7 | |||
| Other | * | (1) | * | |
| Income tax expenses | 79 | 4 | 36 |
* Representing an amount of less than NIS 1 million.
e. Taxes on income included in the income statements:
| 2016 |
|---|
| 31 |
| 2 |
| 7 |
| (4) |
| 36 |
f. Tax assessments:

Key management personnel are the senior management of the Company and the members of the Company's Board of Directors.
| New Israeli Shekels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 | |||||
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |||
| Key management compensation expenses comprised | In millions | ||||
| Salaries and short-term employee benefits | 20 | 23 | 22 | ||
| Long term employment benefits | 3 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Employee share-based compensation | |||||
| expenses | 2 | 4 | 17 | ||
| 25 | 31 | 42 | |||
| New Israeli Shekels | |||||
| December 31, | |||||
| 2015 | 2016 | ||||
| Statement of financial position items - key management | In millions | ||||
| Current liabilities: | 7 | 10 | |||
| Non-current liabilities: | 14 | 12 | |||
b. In the ordinary course of business, key management or their relatives may have engaged with the Company with immaterial transactions that are under normal market conditions.
c. Principal shareholder: On January 29, 2013, S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd. completed the acquisition of 48,050,000 ordinary shares of the Company and became the Company's principal shareholder. See also note 1(a).
Balances and transactions with PHI (see also note 9):
| New Israeli Shekels | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year ended December 31 | ||
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| In millions | ||
| Cost of revenues | (7) | (2) |
| New Israeli Shekels December 31, |
||
| 2015 | 2016 | |
| In millions | ||
| Deferred expenses - Right of use | 4 | 41 |
| Current assets (liabilities) | 25 | (5) |
Following are data relating to the net income (loss) and the weighted average number of shares that were taken into account in computing the basic and diluted EPS:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||
| Profit (loss) used for the computation of basic and diluted EPS (NIS in millions) |
162 | (40) | 52 | |
| Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic EPS (in thousands) |
155,802 | 156,081 | 156,268 | |
| Add - net additional shares from assumed exercise of employee stock options and restricted shared (in thousands) |
598 | 0 | 1,828 | |
| Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted EPS (in thousands) |
156,400 | 156,081 | 158,096 | |
| Number of options and restricted shares not taken into account in computation of diluted earnings per share, because of their anti-dilutive effect (in thousands) |
8,101 | 15,587 | 8,906 |

The Company, the employees' representatives and the Histadrut New General Labor Organization, have reached understandings regarding a retirement plan that includes, among others, an increased retirement payment and range of benefits. This plan is a continuation of the necessary efficiency measures that the Company has initiated over the last few years. As a result, the Company recorded a onetime expense of approximately NIS 35 million in the third quarter of 2015.
The Company signed in 2016 a collective employment agreement with the employees' representatives and the Histadrut New General Labor Organization. The agreement includes an organizational chapter that is for a period of three years (2016-2018) and an economic chapter that is valid for the years 2017 and 2018.
The cost of the 2017 economic chapter is estimated at approximately NIS 7 million in addition to the implementation of all of the sections of the 2016 economic chapter (which is estimated at approximately NIS 10 million). The total estimated amount of the expense in 2017, for the collective employment agreement, is therefore expected to be higher than 2016 by approximately NIS 17 million.
The cost of the 2018 economic chapter is estimated at approximately NIS 23 million, in addition to the estimated expense for the Company for 2017 for the collective employment agreement.
The collective employment agreement also refers to the participation of employees in the Company's profits and regulates the eligibility conditions for receipt of these awards for the years 2017 and 2018.
Exhibit 4.(a).2.1

State of Israel Ministry of Communications
Integrated version correct to 5 Tevet 5777 [January 3, 2017]
This integrated version was drawn up on the basis of the following documents
| Original license of* | 15.01.07 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment no. 0 of | 11.02.16 | ||
| Amendment no. 1 of | 02.05.16 | ||
| Amendment no. 2 of | 28.06.16 | ||
| Amendment no. 3 of | 06.10.16 | ||
| Amendment no. 4 of | 12.12.16 |
This integrated version was prepared for the reader's convenience; in any instance of an inconsistency between this version and the Original License and amendments thereto, the prevailing version is the Original License and amendments thereto. This version does not include appendices that are not published for public perusal.
Ministry of Communications, Engineering and Licensing Division Telephone: 03-5198230/264 9 Ehad Ha'am Street, Shalom Tower, Tel-Aviv Fax: 03-5198244
* Special General License
** Replacement of Special General License with a Unified License
Unified General License to Partner Fixed-Line Communications Solutions Limited Partnership for the Provision of Telecommunications Services Integrated version correct to January 3, 2017

By virtue of the authority of the Minister of Communications pursuant to section 4(e) of the Communications Law (Telecommunications and Broadcasting), 5742 – 1982, which has been delegated to me, and by virtue of all other authorities pursuant to any law, and after Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions Limited Partnership (hereinafter: "the Licensee") was given an opportunity to voice its arguments, I hereby amend the Licensee's General License with the following version.
The attached version of the License cancels and supersedes the version of the General License for the Provision of Domestic Fixed-Line Service granted to the Licensee on January 15, 2007 (hereinafter: the License Grant Date") and all amendments made thereto up until the date of this amendment.
The amendment of This License was drawn up in the format of a version of a unified general license;
The License is valid for a period of twenty (20) years, as of the License Grant Date.
This version of the License shall be marked as the original and, as of the date of this amendment, this version shall be the binding version.
License amendments to this version shall be marked as of amendment no. 1.
2 Adar Alef 5776 (11 February 2016) ________________ Shlomo Filber The Director-General

State of Israel Ministry of Communications
Unified General License to Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions LP for the Provision of Telecommunications Services

By virtue of my authority pursuant to the Communications Law (Telecommunications and Broadcasting), 5742 – 1982, the Wireless Telegraph Ordinance [New Version], 5732 – 1972, and by virtue of all my other authorities pursuant to any law, I grant a License to Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions Limited Partnership for the provision of telecommunications services to the public in Israel through a system as specified in This License.
This License supersedes any previous version of a General License for the Provision of International Telecommunications Service ("ILD Operator"), a Special General License for the Provision of Domestic Fixed-line Telecommunications Service ("Fixed-line Domestic Operator"), a License for Mobile Radio Telephone on Another Network for the Provision of Mobile Domestic Telecommunications Service ("Mobile Domestic Operator").
The License is issued for the period specified in the License and is subject to the following conditions:
The version of This License was replaced by a Uniform General License on 23 Adar Alef 5776 (3 March 2016).
| CHAPTER A - GENERAL | 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Section A - Definitions and Interpretation | 1 | |
| 1. | Definitions | 1 |
| 2. | Interpretation | 11 |
| 3. | Cancelled | 12 |
| 4. | The "Blue Pencil" Principle | 12 |
| Section B - Legal and Administrative Provisions | 13 | |
| 5. | Observation of Laws and Provisions | 13 |
| Section C – Scope and Validity of the License | 14 | |
| 6. | The Scope of the License | 14 |
| 7. | Validity and Term of the License | 14 |
| 8. | Extending the Period of the License | 15 |
| 9. | The Minister's Announcement of the Extension of the Period of the License | 17 |
| 10. | Termination of the Period of the License | 17 |
| Section D – Amending, Enforcing and Revoking of the License | 18 | |
| 11. | Amending the Conditions of the License | 18 |
| 12. | Revoking of the License | 18 |
| CHAPTER B – STRUCTURAL SEPARATION, OWNERSHIP, ASSETS AND MEANS OF CONTROL | 20 | |
| Section A – Structural Separation | 20 | |
| 13. | Structural Separation | 20 |
| 14. | Prohibition of Giving Preference | 20 |
| Section B: Restrictions in Relation to the Transfer of the License's Assets | 22 | |
| 15. | Definitions | 22 |
| 16. | Restrictions on a Transfer of the License's Assets | 22 |
| Section C: Means of Control – Changes and Restrictions | 23 | |
| 17. | Details of the Licensee | 23 |
| 18. | Transfer of a Means of Control | 23 |
| 19. | Irregular Holdings | 24 |
| 20. | Pledge of a Means of Control | 25 |
| CHAPTER C – ESTABLISHMENT, DEVELOPMENT, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE NETWORK | 26 | |
| Section A – Establishment and Development of the Network | 26 | |
| 21. | General | 26 |
| 22. | Establishment and Development of the Network | 26 |
| 23. | Network Development or Upgrade Plan | 26 |
| 24. | Implementation Stages and Timetable | 27 |
| 25. | Change in Plans during the Establishment and Development | 27 |
| 26. | Report on Establishment and Development Works | 28 |
| 27. | Backup in Conjunction with another Licensee | 28 |
| 28. | Supervision of Establishment and Development Works | 28 |
| 29. | Repair of Deficiencies and Defects | 29 |
| Section B – Interconnection and Use | 30 | |
| 30. | Interconnectivity Obligation | 30 |
| 31. | Rules regarding the Implementation of Interconnection | 30 |
| 32. | Payment for Traffic Completion and Interconnection | 32 |
| 33. | Prohibition of Delaying Interconnection | 33 |
| 34. | Prohibition of Interconnection to the Palestinian Authority | 33 |
| 35. | Provision of Possibility of Use | 33 |
| 36. | Infrastructure Service to an Interested Company | 34 |
| Section C – Operation of the Network | 35 | |
| 37. | Operation Start Date | 35 |
| 38. | Authorization to Operate | 35 |
| 39. | Operation in the Territory of the Judea and Samaria Civil Administration | 36 |
| 40. | Preparations to Ensure Functional Continuity during Emergencies | 36 |
| Section D: Tests and Maintenance | 37 | |
|---|---|---|
| 41. | Definitions | 37 |
| 42. | Maintenance and the Performance of Tests | 37 |
| 43. | Test, Malfunction and Maintenance Log | 38 |
| 44. | Repair of Deficiencies and Defects | 38 |
| Section E: Equipment Tests and Installation Approvals | 39 | |
| 45. | End Devices | 39 |
| 46. | Maintenance Obligation | 43 |
| Section F – Use of Frequencies in Wireless Segments | 44 | |
| 47. | Definitions | 44 |
| 48. | Allotment and Use of Frequencies | 44 |
| 49. | Conditions for Use of Frequencies | 45 |
| 50. | Safety during the Use of Frequencies and Prevention of Interference | 45 |
| Section G – Numbering | 47 | |
| 51. | Operation According to the Numbering Plan | 47 |
| 52. | Telephone Numbers and Ranges of Numbers | 47 |
| Section H – Security-related Arrangements | 49 | |
| 53. | The Provision of Services to the Security Forces | 49 |
| 54. | The Security Provisions | 49 |
| CHAPTER D – PROVISION OF SERVICES TO SUBSCRIBERS | 51 | |
| Section A – Engagement with Subscribers | 51 | |
| 55. | The Engagement Agreement | 51 |
| 56. | Remote Sale Transaction | 59 |
| 57. | Amendment to the Engagement Agreement | 63 |
| 58. | Cancelled. | 64 |
| 59. | The Obligation to Connect Applicants and the Prohibition of Stipulations | 64 |
| Section B – Conflicts of Interest and Harm to Competition | 65 | |
| 60. | Prohibition of Conflicts of Interests | 65 |
| 61. | Prohibition of Harm to Competition | 65 |
| Section C – Standards of Service to Subscribers | 66 | |
| 62. | Obligation to Maintain the Service | 66 |
| 63. | Call Center | 69 |
| 64. | Ombudsman | 69 |
| 64A. | Dispute Settlement | 71 |
| 65. | Protection of Subscriber Privacy | 71 |
| 66. | Prevention of Fraud | 72 |
| 67. | Subscribers' Bills | 72 |
| 68. | Public Emergency Services | 77 |
| 69. | Blocking Service to Harassing Subscribers | 77 |
| 69A. | Personal Message Service | 79 |
| 70. | Information Service for Clarifying Telephone Numbers | 81 |
| 71. | Service File | 83 |
| 71A. | Erotic Service | 85 |
| 71B. | Premium Service | 85 |
| 72. | International Roaming Service through the Network of an MRT Operator in a Neighboring Country | 85 |
| 73. | Offensive sites and content | 86 |
| Section D - Suspension or Disconnection of Service and Termination of an Engagement | 88 | |
| 74. | Definitions | 88 |
| 75. | Termination of Service | 88 |
| 76. | Prohibition of Suspension or Disconnection of Service | 89 |
| 77. | Suspension of Service at a Subscriber's Request | 89 |
| 78. | Disconnection of Service at a Subscriber's Request | 90 |
| 78A. | Termination of an Engagement at a Subscriber's Request | 90 |
| 78B. | Saving the Telephone Number upon Termination of an Engagement | 91 |
| 78C. | Suspension or Disconnection of Service or Termination of an Engagement – General Provisions | 91 |
| 79. | Suspension or Disconnection of Service Due to Breach of Agreement | 93 |
| 80. | Disconnection of Service due to Maintenance Operations | 94 |
| 81. | Blocking of End Devices and MRT Services Due to Theft or Loss | 96 |
| 82. | Disconnection of Service to Dormant Subscribers | 100 |
| Section E – Provision of Service Through Another Entity | 103 | |
|---|---|---|
| 83. | Engagement with Another Entity | 103 |
| 83A. | Joint Service Bundle | 103 |
| CHAPTER E - PAYMENT FOR SERVICES | 108 | |
| Section A - General | 108 | |
| 84. | Definitions | 108 |
| 85. | Types of Payments | 108 |
| 85A. | Connection fee | 111 |
| 85B. | SIM card fee | 111 |
| 86. | Collection of a Subscriber Fee in Installments | 112 |
| Section B – Setting and Advertising of Tariffs | 113 | |
| 87. | Setting of the Tariffs and their Rates | 113 |
| 88. | Payment for Completion of a Call in Another Public Telecommunications Network | 119 |
| 89. | Completion of a Short Message Service (SMS) in a Network of Another Public Telecommunications Network | 119 |
| Section B1 – Service Package in Israel | 120 | |
| 90. | Notice of Utilization of Services in Israel | 120 |
| Section B2 – International Roaming Service Package | 124 | |
| 90A. | Charges for International Roaming Service | 124 |
| 91. | Publication of Tariffs | 133 |
| Section C – Amendments to Tariffs | 134 | |
| 92. | Change in Tariffs | 134 |
| 93. | Inception of a Change in a Tariff | 136 |
| 94. | Late Payments | 136 |
| Section D – Miscellaneous | 137 | |
| 95. | Overcharging | 137 |
| CHAPTER F - PAYMENTS FROM THE LICENSEE, LIABILITY, INSURANCE AND GUARANTEE | 139 | |
| Section A - Liability and Insurance | 139 | |
| 96. | Definition | 139 |
| 97. | Liability of the Licensee | 139 |
| 98. | Drawing Up of an Insurance Contract | 139 |
| 99. | Conditions in the Insurance Contract | 140 |
| 100. | Remedy for Breach of Insurance Conditions | 141 |
| Section B - Guarantee for Fulfilling the License Conditions | 142 | |
| 101. | Rate of the Guarantee and the Date of its Issue | 142 |
| 102. | The Guarantee and its Objective | 142 |
| 103. | Confiscation of the Guarantee | 142 |
| 104. | Mode of Confiscation of the Guarantee | 143 |
| 105. | The Period of Validity of the Guarantee | 143 |
| 106. | Reservation of Remedies | 144 |
| CHAPTER G - SUPERVISION AND REPORTING | 145 | |
| Section A - Supervision of the Licensee's Operations | 145 | |
| 107. | Authority to Oversee | 145 |
| 108. | Safeguarding of Confidentiality | 145 |
| 109. | Entry into Premises and Perusal of Documents | 145 |
| 110. | Cooperation | 146 |
| Section B - Reporting and Rectification of Deficiencies | 147 | |
| 111. | Obligation to Submit Reports | 147 |
| 112. | Types of Report and their Submission Dates | 147 |
| 113. | Notice of Deficiency | 149 |
| 113A. | Retention of documents and recordings | 149 |
| CHAPTER H - MISCELLANEOUS | 150 | |
| 114. | The License as an Exhaustive Document | 150 |
| 115. | Perusal of the License Documents | 150 |
| 116. | Time Deferments | 151 |
| 117. | Reservation of Liability | 151 |
| 118. | Mode of Sending Notice | 151 |
| 119. | Cancelled. | 151 |
1.1 In This License:
Chapter A - General Section A - Definitions and Interpretation
"The Licensee" - Partner Land-Line Communications Solutions LP;
"Licensee" - entity who received a General License, a Special License or a General Permit for the Performance of Telecommunications Operations and for the Provision of Telecommunications Services;
"Transfer" - for the purposes of Means of Control, whether directly or indirectly, whether for a consideration or for no
consideration, whether indefinitely or for a defined period, whether simultaneously or in portions; "Company" - including another corporation; "Parent Company" - company with significant influence over another Company. "Interested Company" - Parent Company, Subsidiary, Sister Company, Company that is an Interested Party, Affiliated Company, Related Company, Allied Company and a Partner Company; "Subsidiary" - company over which another company exerts significant influence; "Affiliated Company" - company in which another company is an Interested Party; "Related Company" - company, whose investments in another company are at a ratio of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its equity, whether in shares or in some other manner, excluding a loan provided during the ordinary course of business; "Sister Companies" - companies, when an entity having significant influence over one of them also has significant influence over the other; "Allied Companies" - companies, when an entity having significant influence over one of them also is influential in the other; "Partner Companies" - each of these: (1) companies, when they both have significant influence over a third company; (2) companies, when they are both Related Companies of a third company; (3) companies, when one of them is a Related Company to a third company, while the other has significant influence over it; 2
| 1 "The Bezeq Corporation" |
- Bezeq, Israel Telecommunications Corporation Ltd.; |
|---|---|
| "Bill" or2 "Telephone Bill" 3 |
- bill that the Licensee submits to a Subscriber for services that it itself provided to the Subscriber or for Goods |
| that it sold or leased to him4 or for services that were provided to the Subscriber by another Licensee or by a service-provider; |
|
| "The Law" | - The Communications (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) Law, 5742 – 1982; |
| 5"Goods" | - As defined in section 3 of the Interpretation Law, 5741 – 1981; |
| "The Security Forces" | - as defined in section 13 of the Law; |
| "Applicant" | whoever asks to engage in an Engagement Agreement or a purchase agreement with the Licensee;6 - |
| "Telecommunications Installation" | - as defined in the Law; |
| "The Director" | - The Director-General of the Ministry of Communications or his delegate for the purposes of This License, |
generally or for a particular matter;
1 Amendment no. 1 [Inception: this amendment shall come into effect by no later than July 1, 2016].
2 Amendment no. 5.
3 Amendment no. 1 [Inception: this amendment shall come into effect by no later than July 1, 2016].
7 Amendment No. 5. 8 Amendment No. 5
| "Subscriber" | - whoever engages in an Engagement Agreement with the Licensee for the purpose of receiving its services as |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| an end-user. | ||||
| "Prepaid Subscriber" | - Subscriber who pays in advance to receive a service from the Licensee; |
|||
| "Business Subscriber" | - Subscriber that is one of the following: |
|||
| (a) corporation, as defined in the Interpretations Law, 5741 – 1981; |
||||
| (b) government ministries and other quasi-governmental bodies; |
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| (c) a licensed dealer, except for an exempt dealer; |
||||
| (d) a body that was incorporated in a law or by-law. |
||||
| 7"Split Business Subscriber" | - a user of the End Device, when his Telephone Bill is split between himself and a Business Subscriber or when |
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| he is charged for the entire Telephone Bill; | ||||
| "Non-Business Subscriber" | Subscriber other than a Business Subscriber and other than a Split Business Subscriber;8 - |
|||
| "Dormant Subscriber" | - Subscriber to Telephony Service, that fulfills all of the following conditions: |
|||
| (a) has not received and has not made use of a Telephony Service of the Licensee for at least one year; |
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| (b) is not paying any fixed payment to the Licensee for a Telephony Service; |
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| (c) is not engaged with the Licensee in a plan that includes a commitment period for a Telephony Service. |
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| "International Telecommunications System" | - system of Telecommunications Facilities installed in Israel, which is used or is designated to be used for the |
|||
| transfer of telecommunications messages originating in Israel, but whose destination is in another country or | ||||
| vice-versa, or for the transfer of telecommunications messages between destinations located in different | ||||
| countries; and excluding End Devices; | ||||
"MRT System (Mobile Radio Telephone)" - system of wireless installations built according to the cellular method and other installations through which Mobile Radio Telephone Services are provided to the public; "Domestic Operator" - a fixed-line domestic operator and a mobile domestic operator; "Mobile Domestic Operator" - MRT Operator and an MRT Operator on another network; "Fixed-line Domestic Operator" - holder of a General License that provides a fixed-line domestic service; "MRT Operator" - holder of a General License for the Provision of Mobile Radio Telephone Services, excluding an MRT Operator on Another Network; "MRT Operator on Another Network" - Holder of a General License, who provides MRT Services through the use of all or a portion of an MRT System of another entity, and at least of the Access Network of the said MRT System; "The Ministry" - The Ministry of Communications; "Switch" - Telecommunications Installation that contains and operates means of switching and transmission that enable the creation of a connection between various End Devices that are connected or linked to it and enable the provision of various telecommunications services to Subscribers of the Licensee or to Subscribers of other Licensee; "Officer" - as defined in the Regulations; "NTP (Network Termination Point)" - interface to which a Public Telecommunications Network is connected at one end, and End Devices, a private network, or another Public Telecommunications Network, as the case may be, is connected at the other end;
| "Bundle of Services" | - a number of services being marketed to a Subscriber as a single package; |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 "One-time Transaction" |
- transaction that is not an Ongoing Transaction; |
||||
| 10 "Ongoing Transaction" |
- Engagement Agreement for the purchase of the Licensee's Services continuously and on an ongoing basis, including any amendment or addendum to the agreement that does not constitute a new transaction, and all, whether the Engagement Agreement is for a defined period or for an indefinite period; |
||||
| "The Ordinance" | - The Wireless Telegraph Ordinance [New Version], 5732 – 1972; |
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| "End Devices" | - Fixed-line End Devices or MRT End Devices; |
||||
| "Fixed-line End Devices" | - telecommunications equipment for a Subscriber's use, which connects or is intended to be connected from the Subscriber's premises or from any other location to a Public Telecommunications Network, through a designated interface; |
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| "MRT End Devices" | - telecommunications equipment for a Subscriber's use, which connects or is intended to be connected to a Public Telecommunications Network through a designated interface, for wireless communications; |
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| "Interconnection" | - as defined in section 5 of the Law; |
||||
| "Relative" | - spouse, including common-law spouse, parent, a parent's parent, offspring and the offspring's offspring, sibling and the spouse of each of these; |
9 Amendment no. 1 [Inception: this amendment shall come into effect by no later than July 1, 2016].
10 Amendment no. 1 [Inception: this amendment shall come into effect by no later than July 1, 2016].
| "The License" | - This License and all appendices thereto, as shall be updated from time to time, as well as any other document or condition that the License defines as constituting an integral part of the License or of its conditions; |
|---|---|
| "The Network" | - the Public Telecommunications Network of the Licensee, through which the Licensee's Services are being provided; |
| "The Host Network" | - all or a portion of an MRT System of an MRT Operator when the provision of the Licensee's Services involves the use thereof; |
| "Public Telecommunications Network" | - as defined in the Law; |
| "Access Network" | - as defined in the Law; |
| "Private Network" | - Telecommunications Network that is used or is intended to be used by a particular person or a group of particular people with a common interest, which connects or is intended to connect to a Public Telecommunications Network by means of an NTP, including switching equipment, connection devices, cables, Transmission equipment and any other Telecommunications Facility, provided that the common interest is not merely the very existence of the Network; |
| "Use" | - as defined in section 5 of the Law; |
| 11"Telecommunications Service" | - as defined in the law; |
| 11 Amendment no. 5. |
|
| 7 |
| service that enables connection of a Subscriber to the internet, including connection of a content supplier or |
|---|
| switched or routed full duplex transfer, including via modem, of voice or of pseudo-voice telecommunications |
| Basic Telephone Service that is provided during use of a broadband access network of another domestic |
| Basic Telephone Service and Ancillary Services to this service; |
| Mobile Domestic Service provided overseas and in the territories under the Civil Administration of the Palestinian Council via the MRT system of a foreign MRT operator (hereinafter: "Foreign Operator"), whereby the Subscriber pays the Licensee for the service; and similarly – a Mobile Domestic Service provided in Israel via the Network, whereby the Licensee provides a service to a Foreign Operator for the Subscribers of that operator; for this purpose, the "Palestinian Council" – as defined in the Implementation of the Interim Agreement regarding the West Bank and Gaza Strip Law (Jurisdictional Powers and Other Provisions) |
| Telecommunications Service being provided to the public by a Mobile Domestic Operator, through an MRT |
| infrastructure, transmission, data communications service and fixed-line telephony, being provided to the public by a Fixed-Line Domestic Operator; |
| (Legislative Amendments), 5756 – 1998; |
| "Infrastructure Service" | - allowing another Licensee or a Broadcasting Licensee to use the Network for the purpose of conducting telecommunications operations, including broadcasting, and for the purpose of their provision of Telecommunications Services; |
|---|---|
| "The Licensee's Services" | - the services that the Licensee is permitted to provide pursuant to the License; |
| "Control" | - as defined in the Law; |
| "The Minister" | - the Minister of Communications, including a person to whom the Minister has delegated all or a portion of his authorities for the purposes of the License; |
| "The Engineering Plan" | - the Engineering Plan submitted by the Licensee pursuant to the Regulations, including amendments and supplements made thereto subsequent to the granting of the License; |
| "The Numbering Plan" | - plan prescribed by the Director, for the allocation and assignment of telephone numbers, for mandating dialing rules and Number Portability, or any part of the foregoing12, as amended from time to time; |
| "Transmission" | - the transfer of electromagnetic signals, including optic signals or a sequence of bits between Telecommunications Facilities of a Licensee, including a Broadcasting Licensee, excluding End Devices; |
| "Billing Period" | - A cyclical period of a defined duration, at the end of which a bill is submitted to the Subscriber for payment for the Licensee's Services and for services of a service-provider that were provided to the Subscriber during that period; |
12 The plan, which has been formulated, is contained in the document entitled "Numbering Plan for Telephony Services and Value Added Services in Israel," which can be found on the Ministry of Communications website at http://www.moc.gov.il and in administrative directives issued by the Director from time to time.
"The Regulations" - Communications Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Proceedings and Conditions for Receiving a Unified General License, 5770 – 2010; or the MRT on Another Network Regulations, the ILD Operator Regulations and the Unique Domestic Operator Regulations, as the case may be; "Supervision Regulations" - The Communication Regulations (Supervision Over the Operations of a Licensee), 5746 – 1986. "ILD Operator Regulations" - Communications Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Proceedings and Conditions for Receiving a General License for the Provision of International Telecommunications Services, 5764 – 2004; "Unique Domestic Operator Regulations" Communications Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Proceedings and Conditions for Receiving a Unique General License for the Provision of Domestic Fixed-Line Telecommunications Services), 5764 – 2004; "MRT on Another Network Regulations" - Communications Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Proceedings and Conditions for Receiving an MRT License on Another Network), 5770 – 2010; "Data Communications" - the transfer of information and software, excluding voice, between units of End Devices, including computers; in this regard: "information" – data, signals, terms or instructions, excluding software, which are expressed in a computerreadable format and stored in a computer or another storage medium; "computer" – device that operates by means of software in order to perform arithmetic or logical processing of data, and its peripheral equipment, including systems of computers; "software" – set of instructions expressed in a computer-readable format, which is capable of causing a computer to function or to perform an action; "Postpaid" 13 - payment for services that is collected from the Subscriber after the Billing Period; "Prepaid" 14 - payment for services that is collected from the Subscriber before or at the beginning of the provision of the services;
13 Amendment no. 1 [Inception: this amendment shall come into effect by no later than July 1, 2016].
14 Amendment no. 1 [Inception: this amendment shall come into effect by no later than July 1, 2016].
1.2 Words and expressions in the License that are not defined in clause 1.1, or elsewhere in the License, shall have the definitions as prescribed in the Law, the Ordinance and in the Regulations instituted in accordance with them, or in the Law of Interpretations, 5741 – 1981 (hereinafter – "the Interpretation Law"), unless a different meaning is implicit in the text or in its context.
2.3 The provisions of the Interpretation Law shall apply to the interpretation of This License, mutatis mutandis.
3. Cancelled
7.2 The Minister may extend the validity of the License for additional periods of ten (10) years each, in accordance with that stated in clause 8 (hereinafter: "the Additional Period"); the initial period and the additional periods shall be called hereinafter – the Period of the License.
7.3 Without derogating from that stated above in clause 7.1, the validity of the following provisions shall be as follows:
In this clause – "consumer provisions" – the provisions of clauses 55.4-55.7 (Engagement Agreement), 56 (Remote Sale Transaction), 62.7(b), 62.7(c) and 67.8 (obligation to maintain a service), 67.5-67.8 regarding bills to a Business Subscriber, 78.3-78.4 (setting of tariffs and their rates), 90 (notice of utilization of a cellular data package in Israel), 95 (billing of Subscribers), 119 (documents and recordings) and Appendix C.4 – Ordering a Service on the Website of the Licensee and a Service-Provider.
8.1 The Minister may, at the Licensee's request, extend the Period of the License for an additional period and after considering the considerations specified in section 4(B) of the Law, including all of the following:
8.2 The Licensee shall submit its application to extend the Period of the License during the forty-five (45) days prior to the period of the eighteen (18) months prior to the expiration of the Period of the License.

12.1 The Minister may revoke the License before its expiration if one or more of the causes specified in section 6 of the Law has transpired, including in any one of the following circumstances:
(c) the Licensee failed to comply with the provisions of the Law, the Ordinance or the Regulations instituted pursuant thereto;
For the purposes of this clause:
"Commercial information" – data about a competitor that are not in the public domain that pertain to any one of the following:
"Other Licensee" – including a Broadcasting Licensee.
15.1 For the purposes of this section:
| "The License's Assets" - "Banking Corporation" - |
that same law. | the assets required to assure the provision of the Licensee's Services; as defined in the Banking Law (Licensing), 5741 – 1981, and apart from a "foreign corporation," as defined in |
|
|---|---|---|---|
In this clause 18, "Tradable Means of Control" – Means of Control, including Global or American Depository Shares (GDR's or ADR's), or similar certificates, registered for trading on a stock exchange in Israel or overseas, or that were offered to the public pursuant to a prospectus and held by the public in Israel or overseas.
18.5 An engagement in an underwriting agreement relating to an issue or sale of securities to the public, a listing for trading on a stock exchange in Israel or overseas, or a deposit or listing of securities with a nominee company or with a depository agent or a custodian for the purpose of listing GDRs or ADRs or similar certificates relating to an issue or sale of securities to the public – shall not be deemed, per se, as a transfer of a Means of Control over the Licensee.
Without derogating from the general purport of that stated above:
(a) A shareholder who participates in a vote during a meeting of shareholders shall inform the Licensee prior to the vote, or, if the voting is by ballot paper, on the ballot paper, whether or not his Holdings in the Licensee or his voting require approval pursuant to clause 18; if a shareholder does not so advise, he may not vote and his vote shall not be counted.
For the purposes of this clause: "Irregular Holdings" – the Holding of a Tradable Means of Control without the Minister's consent as required under clause 18, and all Holdings of a shareholder of a Tradable Means of Control who acted contrary to the provisions of clause 60; this, as long as the Minister's consent under clause 18 was requested, but was not issued, or circumstances of a breach of the provisions of clause 60 have transpired.
20.1 A shareholder of the company that holds the License, or a shareholder in an Interested Party therein, is not allowed to pledge his shares in a manner so that the exercise of the pledge would cause a change in the ownership by ten percent (10%) or more of any Means of Control over the Licensee, unless the pledge agreement includes a stipulation whereby the pledge cannot be exercised without the Minister's prior written consent.
23.1 Insofar as the Licensee intends to expand, develop or upgrade the Network (hereinafter: "Development Plan"), it shall submit the Development Plan to the Director, which shall include, at the very least, the following:
25.1 The Licensee may not deviate from the Engineering Plan unless permitted to do so by the Director according to the provisions of this clause.
26.1 The Licensee shall submit reports to the Director, upon his request, in which it shall specify the Network establishment and development works. The Director may issue instructions to the Licensee with regard to the report submission format and the periods to which the reports shall relate.
27.1 The Licensee may engage in backup agreements with another Licensee for the purpose of ensuring the continuity of the service, in relation to any matter pertaining to an operation or service that is identical to an operation or service that the Licensee performs. The Licensee shall notify the Director of the existence of any backup agreement as stated shortly after signing it.
28.1 The Director may supervise personally, or through another person acting on his behalf, the actions taken by the Licensee to carry out the establishment and development works. For the purposes of carrying out the supervision, the Director may enter the Licensee's work sites and premises at any reasonable time in order to perform measurements and tests and to examine any plan or document pertaining to the implementation of the establishment and development works.
28.2 The Licensee shall cooperate with the Director in everything that pertains to the conducting of supervision of the establishment works and, without derogating from the general purport of that stated, shall allow him to enter the worksite and its facilities, allow examination of any document, plan and specifications and provide him with any necessary information that the Director shall request.
31.1 The Licensee shall take action to implement Interconnection according to all of the following:
(b) The Licensee shall implement the Interconnection on equal terms vis-à-vis every Other Operator and shall refrain from discriminating when implementing the interconnection, including in relation to the following:
Notwithstanding that stated, the Minister may, upon a written application from the Licensee, in special circumstances and when he is convinced that it is justified, permit the Licensee to deviate from the provisions of this subclause;
32.1 If regulations have not been instituted regarding payment for Interconnection or payment deriving from use of Interconnection, and if no agreement has been reached between the Licensee and an other Licensee in this regard, the Minister shall decide on the payment as stated, according to his authority pursuant to section 5 of the Law; any sum that is not being disputed shall be paid in a timely matter, even before the Minister reaches a decision in that regard. If the Minister did not decide the payment for Interconnection or the payment deriving from Interconnection, the Licensee may charge a reasonable and non-discriminatory sum for these.
33.1 The Minister shall give the Licensee a reasonable opportunity to voice its position regarding the Minister's intention to instruct the Licensee regarding the mode of implementation of the Interconnection and the scope thereof, regarding operations, services and related arrangements for implementing Interconnection, and regarding the payments for Interconnection; if the Minister instructs the Licensee in relation to such matters, the Licensee shall not delay Interconnection to the Network in any manner, and shall fulfill its obligations in accordance with the instructions of the Minister, in good faith and properly, on the date prescribed for such and in full cooperation.
34.1 The Licensee shall not implement direct Interconnection to a network of a communications operator in the territories of the Palestinian Authority, unless it receives the Director's prior written authorization.
37.1 The Licensee shall begin providing all or a portion of services by no later than one year after the issue of the License. Notwithstanding that stated, if the Licensee is seeking to provide only Mobile Domestic Service, and applied to the Minister during the year since receiving the License to exercise his authority pursuant to section 4(A2)(4) of the Law, then it shall begin providing services on the date set by the Minister.
39.1 The Licensee shall operate in the areas of Judea and Samaria pursuant to a permit from the Civil Administration; the permit shall be based, for the most part, on the provisions of This License, mutatis mutandis, including with regard to the need to receive a separate approval from the Civil Administration for the establishment of each telecommunications facility, insofar as required.
"Routine Test"- Testing of the Network or any portion thereof, that is conducted on a regular basis.
42.6 The Director or whoever is so authorized on his behalf shall be allowed to conduct the test themselves, if it is required in their opinion; the Licensee shall allow the Director or anyone else authorized on his behalf, after prior coordination, access to installations and equipment and shall place at their disposal testing equipment that the Licensee uses and professional manpower employed by the Licensee.

The Licensee shall forward to the Director, upon his request, the standards and test specifications that are required for the purpose of issuing a Type Approval or for determining an exemption from a Type Approval by the Ministry or by any party on its behalf.

45.5 In the event that the Licensee is providing an End Device to a Subscriber when the operation thereof depends on the supply of electricity from the electricity system on the Subscriber's premises, the Licensee shall inform the Subscriber that, during a blackout, the operation of the said End Device shall be interrupted, unless he installed a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) system for the supply of backup electricity (hereinafter: "UPS System").
The Subscriber shall be so informed at the time of the purchase of the End Device and at the time of the installation thereof at the Subscriber's premises, insofar as the sale or installation thereof, as the case may be, is being performed by the Licensee, and by way of a clear and conspicuous marking on the back of the End Device or on its packaging.
If the Licensee provided a UPS System for the End Device, the Licensee shall inform the Subscriber of the duration of the backup provided by the system and the duration of operation of the End Device.
For the purposes of this subclause: "End Device" – fixed-line End Device for the receipt of Telephony Service by the Subscriber, including a modem or adaptor.
45.6 (a) During a sale conversation through a telephone conversation for the purchase or rental of an MRT End Device, without a transaction being transacted with an Applicant for the purchase of MRT Services (hereinafter – "Purchase Agreement"), and before the Applicant expresses his consent to engage in a Purchase Agreement with the Licensee, the Licensee's representative shall ask for the Applicant's consent to send him a printed Purchase Agreement via electronic mail or SMS or facsimile, without any handwritten changes, and bearing the Licensee's logo, which provides a detailed description of the End Device and the inclusive price and, insofar as payment in instalments for the End Device was agreed upon between the purchaser and the Licensee – the number of payments and the rate of each payment, and which includes the date of the execution of the sale conversation and the details of the purchaser and of the Licensee's representative, who must inform the purchaser that he must confirm in writing that he is accepting the terms of the Purchase Agreement as a precondition to it coming into effect. Insofar as the Applicant expressly states that he is not interested in receiving the said document in one of the three said ways during the sale conversation, then the Licensee shall be released from having to send it to the Applicant when conducting the sale conversation, and it shall be sent to him on the transaction execution date. If the Applicant asked to receive the said document via one of the ways specified above, the Licensee's representative shall send it to him in the manner requested.
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the Purchase Agreement in its possession, and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
The Licensee shall record, in addition, the telephone conversation held with the Applicant, and shall make the recording available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
(b) A notice shall be sent to the Applicant asking the Applicant to confirm the execution of the transaction. The Applicant must expressly confirm the terms of the transaction, without any handwritten stipulations or qualifications or changes in relation to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, either via return electronic mail message or return SMS or facsimile, which includes his full name and ID number.
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the purchaser's confirmation in its possession, and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
(c) Immediately after the Applicant sends his confirmation, as stated, the Licensee shall send him a document pursuant to the law15 in the mode by which the Purchase Agreement was sent to him.
15 A tax invoice/receipt
(d) When executing a transaction for the purchase of an MRT End Device in the presence of both parties, without executing a transaction for the purchase of MRT Services, and before the Applicant expresses his consent to engage in a Purchase Agreement with the Licensee, the Licensee's representative shall submit a printed copy of the Purchase Agreement to the Applicant and enable him to peruse it.
When executing the transaction, the Applicant and the Licensee's representative shall sign the Purchase Agreement submitted to the Applicant for his perusal by original signature.
After signing, as stated, the Licensee's representative shall deliver the Purchase Agreement to the Applicant bearing the original signatures of the Licensee's representative and the Applicant, as well as the document specified in subclause (c).
After completing all that stated in this subclause, the Licensee's representative may obtain the Applicant's signature on a Purchase Agreement identical to the one signed with original signatures, while using electronic means.
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the Purchase Agreement and the document specified in subclause (c) in its possession, and shall make them available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
The Licensee's representative shall perform a reliable identification of the Applicant pursuant to the procedure prescribed by the Licensee. The Licensee shall retain in its possession a copy of an identification certificate of the Applicant and a copy of an identification certificate of the payer of the Bill, which were issued to the Licensee's representative at the time of execution of the engagement.
(e) Insofar as the Subscriber and the Licensee agreed on payment in installments for Goods that the Subscriber purchased or rented from it, and the Subscriber breached the Engagement Agreement before paying all of the payments for the said Goods, but rectified the breach within forty-five (45) days of the date the Licensee notified the Subscriber of the breach, then the Licensee is not allowed to collect the balance of the payments from the Subscriber for the Goods in a single payment, and the payment in installments shall continue as agreed upon between the Subscriber and the Licensee ab initio.16
16 Amendment no. 5.
47.1 In this section, "the Manager" – a senior vice general manager for managing spectrum and the licensing of frequencies at the Ministry, or corresponding functionary in the Ministry who might replace him
48.2 With regard to an allotment of frequencies, the Manager may consider the Licensee's volume of activity cumulatively, together with the volumes of activity of Licensees that are Interested Companies in the Licensee, and it may consider them as a single Licensee.

For the purposes of this clause, "telephone number plan" – plan prepared by the Licensee pursuant to the Numbering Plan and the Directors' instructions, for the purpose of assigning telephone numbers to Subscribers, and which includes an access code to its services and to the services of other Licensees.
53.4 The Licensee shall be exempt from any obligation to indemnify the State by virtue of the provisions of section 98.2 or by virtue of any law, in respect of the provision of the special services to the Security Forces, provided that it had acted according to instructions issued to it pursuant to the provisions of section 13 of the Law.
54.2 Insofar as requested by representatives of the Security Forces, the Licensee shall prescribe suitable provisions in its incorporation documents, and shall take action so that a person shall not be appointed and shall not serve in a position or office, which are specified in the security provisions to be issued to it by the Security Forces, unless said person fulfills the following conditions:
(b) he has been issued security clearance by the General Security Services, according to which, there is no obstacle to fulfilling a role as stated.
For the purposes of this clause: "writing" - including an electronic document that can be saved and retrieved by the Subscriber.
55.4 The Engagement Agreement shall clearly include, inter alia, the following:
(1) The name of the Licensee or its logo, the details of the Licensee's representative who executed the engagement, the date and mode18 of execution of the transaction, the Subscriber's details, including his name, I.D. number, type of subscription,19 address, e-mail address,20 telephone number to which the agreement pertains, an additional telephone number of the Subscriber where notices shall be sent from the Licensee21 regarding the usage ratio of a services22 plan as stated in clause 90 and regarding disconnection of a Dormant Subscriber, as stated in clause 82,23 and a description of Goods,24 if included in the engagement; notwithstanding that stated at the beginning of clause (a), the details stated in this subclause, except for the Licensee's name or logo, can be handwritten;
17 Amendment no. 5.
18 Transaction at a service station of the Licensee or through peddling, as this term is defined in the Consumer Protection Law, 5741 – 1981, or a transaction via telephone conversation or a transaction via the internet. Amendment no. 5,
19 Business subscriber or Split Business Subscriber or Non-Business Subscriber. Amendment no. 5.
20 Amendment no. 5.
21 Amendment no. 5.
22 Amendment no. 5.
23 Amendment no. 5.
Insofar as the Licensee is not charging for connection fees or SIM card fees or plan switching fees, this must be stated accordingly;
Insofar as the Engagement Agreement includes international services, such as a minutes package or a plan for calls abroad, the Licensee must specify its rates, the quota of minutes allotted in him, the three-digit international access code that must be dialed, the countries included in it, the type of targets in those countries (fixed-line, mobile) and the tariff for exceeding the quota in the plan;25
That stated above shall also apply when at issue is a Benefit being given within the scope of the tariff plan, and not necessarily for a particular service included in a plan;
24 Amendment no. 5.
25 Amendment no. 5.
26 Amendment no. 5.
In this clause, "Business Subscriber" – as defined in section 51A or 51D or the Law, as the case may be;
"Commitment" – as defined in clause 87.5;
27 For example: as of the date the plan comes into effect, as of the date that the subscriber activates the SIM card.
28 Amendment no. 5.
29 Amendment no. 5.
30 Amendment no. 5.
54
31 Amendment no. 5.
32 Amendment no. 5.
55
(2) A new Subscriber who did not mark his choice with regard to a particular service, whether blocked or open, in the place designated for this in the Form, shall be blocked from receiving that service. A new Subscriber who did not sign at the bottom of the Form shall be blocked from all services appearing on the Form;
In this clause, "new Subscriber" – a Subscriber who engaged with the Licensee after 15 Iyar 5777 (May 11, 2017);36
(3) A Subscriber may request from the Licensee at any time, in writing or orally as a human response only,37 to change his access38 to the services specified in the Form (hereinafter in this clause: "Subscriber's request"). A first change shall be done free of charge. The Licensee shall execute the Subscriber's request only after he has identified the Subscriber. The Licensee shall retain the request, as stated, in its possession and make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the submission date of the request;39
The Subscriber's request shall be executed within one workday of the date of the request;
35 Amendment no. 5. 36 Amendment no. 5.
33 Amendment no. 5.
34 Amendment no. 5.
37 Amendment no. 5.
40 Amendment no. 5.
42 Amendment no. 5.
41 Amendment no. 5.
45 Amendment no. 5.
46 Amendment no. 5.
The Licensee shall retain the signed notice, as stated, in its possession and make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the submission date of the request.53
55.6 Cancelled54
55.7 Notwithstanding that stated in clause 55.5, the Licensee may have a Subscriber sign an Engagement Agreement also by a computerized graphic signature, instead of an original signature, and for this matter, the provisions of Appendix C shall apply instead of that stated in clause 55.5.
In this regard, "computerized graphic signature" – a signature that is digitally saved as a graphic file.
| 47 Amendment no. 5. |
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49 Amendment no. 5.
50 Amendment no. 5.
51 Amendment no. 5.
52 Amendment no. 5.
53 Amendment no. 5. 54 Amendment no. 5.
The Applicant must expressly confirm the terms of the transaction, without any written stipulations or qualifications or changes in relation to the terms in the said documents, in his handwriting, his marking and his signature on the Plan Basics and on the Service Access Form, and he must send the two said documents via facsimile to the facsimile number given to him by the Licensee's representative during the conversation between them.
The Licensee shall send the rest of the provisions of the engagement terms document via regular post to the Applicant, on the transaction execution date.

(i) The rules specified in this clause shall also apply when at issue is the execution of a change in an existing plan or a replacement of an existing plan with a new plan.
For the purposes of this clause, "change" – the receipt of an additional service, the expansion of a service, subscribing to a service package.
The Licensee is not allowed to make any change, including a replacement of an existing plan with a new plan, without receiving the Subscriber's express consent, in the manner specified in clause 62.7(b).55
57 Amendment no. 5.
56 Amendment no. 5.
For the purposes of this clause, "change" – the receipt of an additional service, the expansion of a service, subscribing to a service package.
The Licensee is not allowed to make any change, including a replacement of an existing plan with a new plan, without receiving the Subscriber's express consent, in the manner specified in clause 62.7(b).58
58 Amendment no. 5.
63
60.1 The Licensee, any body in which the Licensee is an Interested Party, an Officer in the Licensee or an Interested Party in the company holding the License or an Officer in an Interested Party therein, shall not be party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with a Competing Operator or an Interested Party or an Officer therein, or an Officer in an Interested Party in a Competing Operator, or any other body in which a Competing Operator is an Interested Party, which is designed or is liable to reduce or harm competition in relation to any matter pertaining to End Devices or any Telecommunications Services.
For the purposes of this clause, "competing operator" – operator other than the Licensee.
62.5 If the Licensee shall provide any service to any person or body for a payment, the service shall be available to every Subscriber as stated in clause 62.4, while complying with the minimum requirements pertaining to Quality of Service, without discrimination, within 24 months of the start date of the provision of the service for payment.
62.6 Upon written application from the Licensee, the Director may permit the Licensee exceptions to the provisions of clause 62.5 and clause 62.4, after being convinced that there is a substantive difficulty in providing the service to all who request it, and that the particular characteristics of the service contain special and extraordinary grounds that justify this.
For the purposes of this clause, "service-provider" – whoever provides a service through the Network, when the payment in respect of the service is paid through the Telephone Bill.59
(c) The Licensee shall retain the documentation of the Subscriber's express request in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the date of the Subscriber's express request.62
In this regard, "documentation" –
For subclause (b)(1) - a copy of the document;
For subclause (b)(2) - a copy of the electronic mail;
For subclause (b)(3) - a recording of the telephone call;
For subclause (b)(4) - a copy of the Subscriber's Telephone Bill that lists under the "call details," the details of the SMS sent by the Subscriber and a printout of its contents as received in the Licensee's system;63
For purposes of subclause (b)(5) - a log from the short message service center (SMSC) of the Licensee in which the fact of the sending of the 2 SMSs from the Licensee to the Subscriber are documented, as part of the procedure of ordering a service. If the service was ordered on the Licensee's website or cellular portal by using a user code and password as set forth in clause 1.3 of Appendix C4 of the License – a printout of the log from the internet server that attests to the execution of the service order process and a printout of the log-in of the typing the user code and password by the Subscriber.
For the purposes of clause (b)(6) – a printout of the calls via internet.64
Notes taken by the Licensee's representative in the Licensee's information systems do not constitute documentation.
63 Amendment no. 5.
62 Amendment no. 5.
64 Amendment no. 5.
64.2 Subject to the provisions of clause 64A relating to the settlement of disputes, the roles and authorities of the Ombudsman shall be as follows:
(c) to clarify disagreements arising between the Licensee and a Subscriber concerning the interpretation or execution of the Engagement Agreement and to decide them.

71 A link entitled "contact us" shall not be deemed a substitute for the said link.
72 Amendment no. 5
73 Amendment no. 5.
74 Amendment no. 5.
The Director may issue instructions regarding the institution of measures to prevent fraudulent acts and to identify and handle fraudulent acts, and the Licensee shall comply with the Director's instructions in this regard.
67.1 The Bill that the Licensee shall submit to the Subscriber shall be clear, concise, legible and comprehensible; the Bill shall include precise itemization of the required payments in accordance with the types of payments and the rules detailed in Chapter F of the License.
In this section, "variable tariff"- a tariff that changes during the course of the call based on different criteria, such as, a tariff that gradually reduces as consumption increases, or a tariff that varies as a result of changing from "peak time" to "off-peak time" during the course of the call or vice versa.
75 Amendment no. 5.
76 Amendment no. 5.
The Licensee must present the five (5) said modes for the Subscriber's choice on the Service Access Form. If the Subscriber does not select one of the modes, then the Bill must be sent to him by regular post. The Subscriber may change the mode for receiving the Bill at any time, by way of an oral or written request.
The Licensee shall document the Subscriber's request, as stated, and make this documentation available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the submission of the request.
If the Subscriber submitted his request during the first half of the Billing Period, then the Licensee shall send him the Bill immediately following the date of his request in the mode selected by the Subscriber. Otherwise, the Licensee shall send the Bill to the Subscriber in the mode selected by the Subscriber after the upcoming Bill.
The Licensee is not allowed to demand any payment from the Subscriber for issuing the Bill, which includes "itemized calls," either regularly or on a one-time basis, and sending it to him, at his request, through electronic means. The Licensee may demand reasonable payment in respect of "itemized calls" from any particular date, which was sent to the Subscriber at his request, regularly or on a one-time basis, only in the event that the Bill was received by the Subscriber as specified in subclause (a).81

83 Amendment no. 5.
The Licensee may implement the aforesaid through a Licensee that routes the call to the public emergency service center.
The Licensee shall notify a Subscriber who requested an "no-caller ID" number that the number is not unidentified to a call to public emergency service call centers.
84 Israel Police-100, Magen David Adom-101 and the Fire Department-102 and Homefront Command Center 104.
85 Excluding a subscriber whose End Device allows him to dial emergency centers only, for example a handset without a SIM card on a GSM network.
77
69A.1 The Licensee shall provide a personal message service (in this section: "the Service"), at all times and free of charge, whether itself or through another Licensee, to all of its Subscribers who have MRT End Devices that support the Service and in accordance with the "personal message" service file.
In this section:
"Another Licensee" – an MRT operator that provides service through its network to the Licensee and pursuant to a hosting agreement with the Licensee;
"Personal Message" – an announcement, warning and short explanation from the Security Establishment that is sent immediately, selectively and specifically to Subscribers with MRT End Devices that support the use of cell broadcast ("CB") technology.
"The Security Establishment" – representatives of the Ministry of Defense and Home Front Command who are responsible for a personal message system;
"Service File "Personal Message"" – a service file approved by the Director, including amendments that shall be executed in the service file;
69A.2 In order to execute that stated in clause 69A.1, the Licensee shall act as stated in Appendix B.1 and in the service file regarding this service and as follows:
(d) the execution of technical trials to examine the integration between the system and the Network and a drill of the Network and system operation, in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry and the Security Establishment.
Without derogating from the aforesaid, the Security Establishment may instruct the Licensees to change the operating procedures if they find them to be lacking, however, this provision does not diminish the Licensee's responsibility as aforesaid.
The aforesaid does not detract from the License's obligation to receive the Director's approval for the said service.
69A.6 The Licensee shall assist in launching the Service to its Subscribers in all of the following ways:
(c) by providing a response to Subscriber inquiries to choose the necessary definitions on his MRT End Device; for models of MRT End Devices that were not marketed by the License, the License shall make a reasonable effort to give its Subscribers an answer as stated;
(a) The Licensee may query any database of a Domestic Operator (hereinafter in this clause: "another licensee"), or receive information from the database of another licensee through any other method and with the consent of the other licensee, all subject to the obligation regarding protection of the Subscriber's privacy;
For the purposes of this clause –
"database"- a pool of data that includes the name, address and telephone number of every Subscriber that is not unlisted, including a Subscriber that is a business.
71.4 The Licensee shall submit a service file for the Director's approval upon his request; if the Licensee shall not submit a service file according to the Director's instruction, or if the Director does not approve the service file, the Licensee shall not begin providing the service.
87 Start of receiving service-an answer by a telephone operator or by the IVR system that requests the information from the caller in order to locate the requested telephone number etc.

86 Busy Hour Call Attempts
89 Amendment no. 5.
71A.1 An erotic service being provided through the Network, shall be done in accordance with the provisions of Appendix B.6.
For the purposes of this clause -
"erotic service" - as defined in clause 1 in Appendix B.6.
For the purposes of this clause,
"Fixed-line telephone number" - a number format of geographic numbers and national fixed-line numbers or a number format asterisk plus 4 digits (*XXXX), in accordance with that defined in the Numbering Plan91;
"Premium Service" and "Regular Tariff" as defined in Appendix B.5.
72.1 The Licensee shall act so that, in an area in which there is reception that allows the holding of a proper call through a Subscriber's MRT End Device, both from the Network and from the network of an MRT Operator in a neighboring country, the Subscriber shall receive Mobile Domestic Service through the Network. The Licensee shall perform the action itself without requiring any action on the part of the Subscriber.
90 "Network access code" as defined in the Numbering Plan.
91 For example: numbers in the format 03-XXXXXXX and 07Z-xxxxxxx or *XXXX.
"Proper call" - a call that takes place in accordance with the minimal reception definitions prescribed in international standards according to which the Network operates.
"The Licensee" – Licensee that provides Mobile Domestic Service or Internet Access Service, or both.
"Subscriber" – Subscriber to a Mobile Domestic Service, or Internet Access Service, or both.
74.1 In this section – "Termination of Service" - permanent disconnection of any of the Licensee's Services to all of the Subscribers; "Suspension of Service" - temporary halting of any of the Licensee's Services or of all of the Licensee's Services, which are being provided to a Subscriber; "Disconnection of Service" - permanent disconnection of any of the Licensee's Services, which are being provided to a Subscriber; "Termination of an Engagement" - disconnection of all of the Licensee's Services being provided to a Subscriber, and termination of the Engagement Agreement with him.93 75. Termination of Service
75.1 The Licensee shall be allowed, with the Minister's approval, to terminate the provision of service, including as a result of one of the following:
(a) the service has been rendered obsolete for technological reasons;
(c) the service has been abused and could cause substantive financial damage to the public, or a portion thereof, or to the Licensee.
In its application to terminate a service, the Licensee shall specify the number of Subscribers using that service, the measures that the Licensee intends to take in order to prevent any damage or loss to them, including the provision of an alternative service to the terminated service, and any other necessary information.
92 Amendment no. 5.

(b) economic reasons;
93 Amendment no. 5.
75.2 When granting authorization to terminate a service as aforesaid, the Minister shall consider, inter alia, issuing an instruction to the Licensee to provide an alternative service to replace the terminated service, or to continue providing the service for an additional period to be determined by the Minister.

94 Amendment no. 5.
The Final Bill must specify the execution date of the termination of the engagement and it must bear the heading "Final Bill."
78A.5 That stated in this clause in no way derogates from a termination of engagement by way of number portability, according to a Numbering Plan relating to number portability – consolidated version, of 22.8.2005, inclusive of amendments thereto.
78C.3 The Licensee shall publish on every Telephone Bill, the telephone number, address, facsimile number and electronic mail address through which the Subscriber can submit requests as stated.
78C.4 If the Subscriber submitted his request via electronic mail, the Licensee shall send, immediately upon receiving the request, a reply electronic mail notice acknowledging the receipt of the request. The notice shall include the reference number assigned to the Subscriber's request in the Licensee's system, the receipt date of the request, and the contents of the request as sent by the Subscriber.
95 Amendment no. 5.
101 Amendment no. 5.
(b) the number of Disconnections due to Maintenance does not exceed two (2) during one year. Notwithstanding that stated, during the first two years after the granting of the License, the number of disconnections shall not exceed four (4) during one year;
102 Amendment no. 5.
103 Amendment no. 5.
96

(n) On a daily basis and by 24:00, the Licensee shall update the list of End Devices in its information system that it blocked on that day and, by 24:00, shall update the list of End Devices that were blocked by other MRT Operators on that day, and for which a report about them was delivered to it by way of computer files sent to it by other MRT Operators. The list must include the following details in relation to each End Device:
(o) The Licensee shall at all times enable the performance of a search on its website according to the IMEI number of the End Device, when the IMEI number has been blocked due to a notice of theft or loss.
Notwithstanding that stated, if it has been found that the blocking of the IMEI number shall cause suspension of service to other End Devices with the same IMEI number, the Licensee may choose to not execute the blocking as stated.
104 Amendment no. 5.
109 Amendment no. 5.
106 Amendment no. 5. 107 Amendment no. 5.
108 Amendment no. 5.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Licensee may disconnect113 service to a Dormant Subscriber who notified the Licensee that he is not interested in disconnecting from114 the service, after sending the Subscriber at least two messages, as stated in clauses 82.3 and 82.5, and, in the second message, the Licensee notified the Subscriber that if, within one year of the second message, the Subscriber shall not use the service, then the service shall be disconnected115 to the Subscriber, and this, without sending any further notification to the Subscriber.
82.5 The Licensee shall not be allowed to send a Subscriber an additional notice regarding its request to disconnect116 service, except after one year of the date when the previous notice was sent to the Subscriber in this regard.

110 Amendment no. 5.
Disconnection as stated shall not be taken into account in relation to the number of disconnections as required pursuant to clause 80.1 (b).
83A.1 In this clause –
For the purposes of this subclause – "group" – a number of companies when the relations between them is that of Parent Company, Subsidiary or Sister Companies, as defined in clause 1 of the License.
In this regard – "company" – including another corporation.

In this regard – "the defined timeframe" –
(1) for an Application based on the existence of a Competing Bundle – 7 workdays after the Application receipt date by the Manager, or 5 workdays after the date on which the Director received additional information that the Licensee was requested to forward, whichever is later;
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84.1 In this Chapter:
"Payment for Call Completion" a payment payable by the initiator of a call, starting from an End Device connected to one Public Telecommunications Network and ending at another Public Telecommunications Network or at an End Device connected to a Public Telecommunications Network as stated, for completing the call on the other Public Telecommunications Network.
(f) In a transaction as specified in subclause (b), in which a monthly or other fixed periodic payment is collected from the Subscriber, as a result of a Subscriber's switching from one tariff plan to another tariff plan, the Licensee shall charge the Subscriber, as the fixed payment as stated, for the period as of the start of the Billing Period until the transaction execution date, according to the tariffs in the previous tariff plan, according to that specified in clause 85.3(c) or according to that specified in clause 85.3(d), as the case may be, while, for the period subsequent to the transaction execution date and until the end of the Billing Period, according to the ratio between the number of days from the day after the transaction execution date and until the end of the Billing Period, and the inclusive number of days in the Billing Period, according to the tariffs in the new tariff plan.131
(a) The SIM card fee must be reasonable relative to the cost of the SIM card to the Licensee.
131 Amendment no. 5.
132 Amendment no. 5.
86.1 The Licensee is permitted to collect the Collection Fee as stated in clause 85 in a number of payments, on the dates agreed upon with the Subscriber and at the ratio prescribed in the Engagement Agreement.
133 Amendment no. 5.
For the purposes of this clause,
"Uniform" - each tariff before V.A.T. that the Subscriber must pay as defined on the engagement date, shall not able to be increased for the duration of the Commitment Period.
"Commitment" – the Subscriber's commitment to comply with the terms pertaining to the volume of consumption of services, the height of the payment and the payment terms during a defined period, when noncompliance with those terms during that period involves a payment, including the return of a benefit or an exit fee.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Licensee may provide its services to Subscribers at lower tariffs than those predefined in the Engagement Agreement during a limited timeframe, to all of its Subscribers or to a type of Subscriber.
134 Amendment no. 5.
The tariffs shall be denominated in NIS per minute and shall be measured in units of time; the mode of determining the payment shall be as follows:
(a) For the purpose of determining the payment, the duration of the call shall be from the time that the connection is made between the Subscriber initiating the call (hereinafter: "the Calling Subscriber") and the Subscriber receiving the call ("the Recipient"), until the call is terminated, which is the time that an instruction was received to terminate the connection from the Calling Subscriber or from the Recipient; the length of time in establishing the connection, until the time when contact is in fact established, and the length of time to disconnect, from the moment an instruction is received to terminate the communication up until actual disconnection, are not included in the counting of the duration of the call.
136 In accordance with the Director's provision "speed dial for businesses - asterisk and four digits", dated May 4, 2008.
135 In accordance with the service file "partially toll-free calls" (1-700 service).
For the purpose of this subclause, a recipient, includes voicemail.
"Voice Mail"- a device or mechanism that is part of a Public Telecommunications Network, designed to allow the Calling Subscriber to leave a voice message for the Recipient.
(b) For a call that is being transferred to Voice Mail, the Licensee shall play an introductory recorded message to the Calling Subscriber, that is at least 2 seconds long (in this subclause: "a message"), and shall allow the Calling Subscriber, at his discretion, to disconnect the call without a charge, during the course of the Message, or within a reasonable length of time that shall not be less than 1 second after its conclusion ("the reasonable time"). In this instance, the timing of the connection of the call to the Recipient shall be as defined in subclause (a) above, as beginning after the reasonable time.
The wording of the Message shall be "the call is being transferred to voice mail" and it shall be played in a clear manner and at a reasonable pace.
In this subclause, "a call that is being transferred to voice mail" – except for a call that originated outside of Israel.
87.10 When setting tariffs for the Licensee's Domestic Services, the following rules shall be followed:
(c) The payment for each Unit of Time, at the very least, during the first minute of the call, shall be fixed;
"Limited Package" - a package of minutes that is limited to a number of minutes, in accordance with the engagement plan with the Subscriber.
"Unlimited Package" - a package with unlimited minutes for which the Subscriber pays.
"Toll-free Number"- a telephone number when a call to it from any network does not involve any payment from the initiator of the call;
"Special Telephone Number with a Composite Tariff" - a national or Network telephone number with an unusual numbering format, for which the call tariff to it is a composite tariff;
"Special Telephone Number with a Regular Tariff" - a national137 or Network138 telephone number with an unusual numbering format, for which the call tariff to it does not exceed the regular tariff;
"Unusual Numbering Format" - a numbering format that is not a regular numbering format;
138 A telephone number that can be accessed only from the Licensee's Network.
137 A telephone number that can be accessed from any network.
"Usual Numbering Format" - a numbering format of geographic numbers and national numbers in accordance with the definitions in the Numbering Plan.139
"Composite Tariff" - a tariff comprised of a regular tariff plus a tariff for a service being provided by the Licensee or by any party on its behalf or by a service-provider;
"Regular Tariff" - a tariff per call minute to telephone numbers with a regular Numbering Format, in accordance with the Subscriber's tariff plan.
The Licensee may charge the Subscriber for the services being provided as part of calling telephone numbers that are charged according to a Composite Tariff, whether the charge is per call minute or whether at issue is a fixed charge for a call, in addition to the defined payment for the package of minutes.
139 For example: numbers in the format 03-XXXXXXX, 05Y-XXXXXXX and 07Z-XXXXXXX.
88.1 The payment that the Licensee may collect for call completion in a network of another Public Telecommunications Network shall not exceed the interconnect tariff prescribed in the Interconnection Regulations.
89.1 The payment that the Licensee may collect from a Subscriber for transferring an SMS from an End Device connected to the Network to an End Device connected to the Public Telecommunications Network of another Licensee (hereinafter: "Another Network"), shall not exceed the payment that the Licensee collects from Subscribers for transferring any SMS within the Licensee's Network, with an additional payment that shall not exceed the tariff for transferring an SMS that is prescribed in the Interconnection Regulations, if prescribed.
For the purposes of this clause – "SMS" – telecommunications message that includes writing, including letters or symbols.
140 The Interconnection Regulations prescribe a "Peak Payment" and a "Reduced Payment" for Interconnection service to the network of a Fixed-line Domestic Operator; the difference in the Interconnection Fees shall be calculated according to the "Reduced Payment."

90.1 Cancelled.143
In this regard, "service package" – a number of services being marketed to Subscribers as a package at a fixed monthly payment, including domestic calls, an international call service, SMS service or cellular data service, when an inclusive Quota of Units is defined for the package,144 or if a particular Quota of Units has been defined for each of the services included therein,145 or if the Subscriber set a consumption maximum for the package in order to control consumption.

141 Amendment no. 5.
142 Amendment no. 5.
143 Amendment no. 5.
144 For example: in a package including 100 units of call minutes, SMSs and cellular data (in MB) for NIS 15, the Subscriber shall receive an SMS according to his consumption in relation to all of the aforesaid services. For example: an SMS shall be sent after 75 units have been utilized and an additional warning message after 100 units have been utilized.
145 For example: in a package including 100 call minutes, 100 SMSs and 50 MB of cellular data for NIS 20, the Subscriber shall receive an SMS according to his consumption in relation to each of the aforesaid services. For example: an SMS shall be sent after 75 call minutes have been utilized and an additional warning message after 100 call minutes have been utilized.
121
When engaging in the engagement with the Licensee, the Subscriber may refuse to continue receiving the cellular data service for an additional payment after he utilizes 100% of the quota defined for the cellular data service prior to the end of the Billing Period.
This shall be conspicuously stated in the advertisements of the relevant plans on the Licensee's website, insofar as they are advertised on the website, and by a representative of the Licensee when conducting a sale conversation.
(c) If a Subscriber purchases a package that includes cellular data, which is comprised of a basic cellular data package and additional cellular data packages for utilization after he utilizes all of the basic cellular data package before the end of the Billing Period, for which a quantity of service units and a price has been defined for each, the Subscriber may, at any time, completely cancel the purchase of the additional cellular data packages that it purchased, in writing or orally, and the Licensee shall stop providing him the additional cellular data packages and shall no longer charge him in respect thereof as of the date of his request and thereafter.
This shall be conspicuously stated in the advertisements of the relevant plans on the Licensee's website, insofar as they are advertised on the website, and by a representative of the Licensee when conducting a sale conversation.
(d) If a Subscriber purchases a package that includes a basic cellular data package, the Subscriber may ask the Licensee to block the access to the cellular data service at any time, in writing or orally, and the Licensee shall comply with his request.

146 Amendment no. 5.
| "Mb" | - Mbyte |
|
|---|---|---|
| "Blocked Subscriber" | - Subscriber who did not request constant access to cellular data services on the Service Access Form; |
|
| "Open Subscriber" | - Subscriber who requested constant access to cellular data services on the Service Access Form;154 |
|
| "Cellular Data Service" or "Cellular Data" | - cellular data service abroad; |
|
| "Plan" | - a tariff plan for a limited period or for a specific trip abroad. for consumption of services through an International Roaming Service abroad (for example: voice service, sending and receiving SMSs and cellular data) to destinations included in the plan, and the payment for the services shall be made according to consumption; the service tariffs included in the plan are different from the tariffs for those services for a Subscriber who did not subscribe to the plan; a plan can define a fixed payment that does not depend on consumption. |
|
| "Full tariff" | - tariff per call minute, per SMS and per 1 MB other than within the scope of an arrangement; |
|
| "Discount tariff" | tariff per call minute, per SMS and per 1 MB within the scope of an arrangement.155 - |
|
| 154 | Amendment no. 5. | |
| 155 | Amendment no. 5. | |
156 Amendment no. 5.
157 Amendment no. 5.
126
159 Amendment no. 5.
158 Amendment no. 5.
160 Amendment no. 5.
(a) If a Non-Business Subscriber or a Split Business Subscriber that is charged in respect of Cellular Data Service via international roaming (hereinafter – "Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data Service via International Roaming") or a Blocked Business Subscriber purchases a Package that includes Cellular Data, the Licensee shall block the access to the Cellular Data Service after the full utilization of the Package or upon the expiration of the validity of the Package, whichever is earlier, at no charge, and the Subscriber shall not be required to pay any payment whatsoever for the Cellular Data Service beyond the payment known in advance for the Package that he purchased. The Licensee shall send an SMS to the Subscriber, at no charge, about the blocking as stated, shortly before the blocking date. The SMS shall include a Cellular Data Arrangement Offer.
If a Non-Business Subscriber or a Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data Service via International Roaming or a Blocked Business Subscriber purchases a Package that includes Cellular Data, which is comprised of a basic Cellular Data Package and additional Cellular Data Packages for utilization after the full utilization of the basic Cellular Data Package, for which a number of service units and a price has been defined for each of them, or which is comprised of a basic Cellular Data Package, when after its full utilization or until it expires, the Subscriber is charged according to a Discount Tariff, the Subscriber may completely cancel the purchase of the additional Cellular Data Packages that he purchased or the additional Cellular Data according to a Discount Tariff that he purchased, at any time, in writing or orally, and the Licensee shall stop providing him the additional Cellular Data Packages or the additional Cellular Data at a Discount Tariff and shall no longer charge him in respect of Cellular Data as of the date of his request and thereafter.
The Licensee shall document the Subscriber's explicit request as stated, as specified in clause 62.7(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the submission of the request.
When engaging in the order of the service from the Licensee, a Non-Business Subscriber or a Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data Service via International Roaming or a Blocked Business Subscriber may refuse to continue receiving the Cellular Data Service for an additional payment after he utilizes 100% of the basic Package defined for the Cellular Data Service, as specified in clause 90A.2(b)(1).
This shall be conspicuously stated in the advertisements of the relevant Plans on the Licensee's website and by a representative of the Licensee when conducting a sale conversation.
163 An "open" status on the Service Access Form, without a Cellular Data Arrangement, is relevant solely to a Business Subscriber; a Non-Business Subscriber and a Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data via International Roaming, without a Cellular Data Arrangement, shall be blocked from Cellular Data as the default mode.
129
(a) The Licensee shall send an SMS, at no charge, to an Open Business Subscriber who did not purchase a Cellular Data Arrangement, or if the Cellular Data Arrangement that he purchased does not include the country to which he arrived, immediately upon his arrival Abroad, which shall include a warning about possible consumption of chargeable Cellular Data Service without the Subscriber initiating any action to consume Cellular Data, and the message shall also include the tariffs for Cellular Data without a purchase of a Cellular Data Arrangement. The SMS shall also include a Cellular Data Arrangement Offer.
The Licensee shall document the sending of the said SMS to the Business Subscriber, as specified in clause 62.7(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending of the SMSs.
164 Amendment no. 5.
165 Amendment no. 5.
166 Amendment no. 5.
(b) The Licensee shall send SMSs, at no charge, to an Open Business Subscriber who purchased only a basic Package whereby the tariff after the full utilization of the Package is a Discount Tariff or a Full Tariff, and the messages shall include notice regarding the Package utilization ratio, as stated in clause 90A.2(b), and the tariff, as stated.
The Licensee shall document its sending of the said SMSs to the Business Subscriber, and about the Subscriber sending the said SMSs to the Licensee, if sent, as specified in clause 62.7(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending of the SMSs.167
167 Amendment no. 5.
90A.10 Without derogating from the aforesaid in clause 56, clause 62.7 shall apply to a "remote sale transaction" of services through an International Roaming Service.
90A.11 The Licensee shall send an SMS to every Subscriber who executes a Remote Sale Transaction for the purchase of services through an International Roaming Service, that includes the main points of the transaction, as soon as possible, free of charge, and by no later than the end of the day on which the Remote Sale Transaction was made.
Insofar as the transaction for the purchase of calls or SMSs does not include Destinations abroad, the said SMS shall advise that outgoing calls and the sending of SMSs to Destinations Abroad shall be charged according to the Full Tariff.
The Licensee shall document the sending of the said SMS, as specified in clause 62.7(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.168
In addition, the Licensee shall note information regarding the said "Remote Sale Transaction" in the Telephone Bill following the date of the execution of the transaction, in accordance with the Billing Period of the Subscriber, that includes the telephone number for which the transaction was executed, the date of the transaction, the quantity and types of services that were purchased through an International Roaming Service, the number of days allocated for the use of the services, the starting date and time of the provision of the services, the price of the services purchased, the price according to which the charge shall be executed for consuming the services beyond the Package, insofar as a Package is purchased and the manner of rounding up every amount consumed (hereinafter: "the transaction details").
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the Telephone Bill that specifies the transaction details in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the Bill preparation date.169
90A.12 In an engagement for the purchase of services through an International Roaming Service that was done in the presence of the Licensee's representative and the Subscriber, the Subscriber shall be given, at the time of executing the transaction, a printed confirmation that includes the transaction details. The Licensee shall retain a copy of the confirmation as stated in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.170
168 Amendment no. 5.
169 Amendment no. 5.
132
173 Amendment no. 5. 174 Amendment no. 5.
170 Amendment no. 5.
171 Amendment no. 5.
172 Amendment no. 5.
The obligation to send notice of a change to the Director shall not apply to a change defined from the outset in the Engagement Agreement, when the Subscriber subscribed to the service or to the Bundle of Services.
(b) that it sent prior written notice to every Subscriber who subscribed to the service, specifying the name of the service, the tariff or the new Number of Units, and their effective date, and the tariff or Number of Units prior to the change, between fourteen (14) and twenty-one (21) days before the effective date of the change.
Notwithstanding that stated, with regard to a tariff reduction, the Licensee may send the notice to the Subscriber up to one month after the reduction.
For the purposes of this section, "change" means – any change in tariff that could cause an increase or decrease in the pre-VAT payment that a Subscriber must pay for the Licensee's Services or any reduction in the number of service units allotted for a Billing Period, without a change in tariff.
(c) Notice as stated in subclause (b) shall be sent to a Subscriber to a Mobile Domestic Service who has access to the receipt of SMS services via SMS, to a Subscriber to a Mobile Domestic Service who is blocked from the receipt of SMS services, by voice message, and to a Subscriber to a Fixed-line Domestic Service via SMS or electronic mail message or voice message. After hearing the voice message for the first time, the Subscriber shall be given an option to hear it again by pressing a particular key, and the message shall be replayed for the Subscriber as many times as he wants.
The Licensee shall make the documentation of the sending of the notice available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending thereof.
The Licensee shall make a copy of the Telephone Bill available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of its production date.
(g) Insofar as the Licensee provided a service to a Subscriber that is other than a voice or SMS or cellular data service, at a discount or for free for a defined period, including a service that is other than a telecommunications service, the Licensee shall send an SMS to the Subscriber about the change in the tariff, as specified in clause 92.1(b), in which the Subscriber shall be asked to send a reply SMS to the said SMS, which includes the digit zero (0), and this, if he is no longer interested in continuing to receive the service for a charge. If the Subscriber sends an SMS to the Licensee, which includes the digit zero (0), then it is no longer allowed to continue or to start charging the Subscriber in respect of the said service at the end of the said period. Documentation of the sending of the SMS by the Licensee to the Subscriber shall be done as specified in clause 62.7(c), and the contents of the SMS shall be documented.
The Licensee shall make the said documentation available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending of the SMS.175
93.1 If a change is made in a tariff for a service pursuant to the provisions of the License, the change shall not apply to payments for a service that the Subscriber consumed prior to the date of the change; the provisions of this clause shall not apply in the instance of an amendment to a tariff pursuant to the instructions of the Minister pursuant to clause 61.3.
175 Amendment no. 5.
The Licensee shall document the contents of the complaint in its information system immediately upon its submission, and the outcome of the clarification of the complaint, immediately upon completing the clarification, and shall make this documentation available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of completing the clarification of the complaint.177

176 Amendment no. 5.
177 Amendment no. 5.
178 Amendment no. 5.
179 Amendment no. 5.
96.1 In this section:
"Use of the License" - the establishment of the Network, its installation, development, fulfillment, maintenance or operation, and the provision of service through it, whether by the Licensee itself or through another party on its behalf, including its employees, contractors, agents or representatives.
98.2 The Licensee shall indemnify the State for all financial liability, as set out in clause 98.1, that the State shall incur vis-a-vis any third party as a result of the Use of the License; indemnification in accordance with this clause shall be insured by the Licensee under liability insurance, as this term is defined in the Insurance Contract Law, 5741 – 1981.
98.3 The Licensee shall insure itself, including its employees and contractors, against any financial liability as set out in clause 98.1, which it is liable to be adjudged pursuant to any law as a result of personal injury to a person or damage to his property being caused due to Use of the License, and against any loss or damage that shall be caused to all or a portion of the Network from Use of the License, and including against third-party risks.
99.4 If a termination notice is sent as stated in clause 99.3, the Licensee shall take immediate action to remove the cause for the termination, or shall take immediate action to obtain an alternative insurance contract as stated in clause 99.6, and notify the Director of the actions it has taken in this regard; if the cause for the termination is default in the payment of premiums by the Licensee, the Director may pay the premiums in its stead, and may confiscate the bank guarantee or any part thereof to cover the sums incurred due to payment of the premiums, or collect them in any other way.
99.5 If the Licensee wants to terminate the insurance contract, it shall inform the Director of this at least forty-five (45) days before it intends to actually terminate the contract.
100.1 Should the Licensee not arrange an insurance contract, or if it becomes clear that the insurance contract that it arranged has been terminated or has expired, and the Licensee has not arranged a new insurance contract as stated in clause 99.6, the Director may execute the insurance in its stead and pay the insurance premiums, and may confiscate the bank guarantee to cover sums incurred because of the insurance, or collect them in any other way; all of the above without derogating from his authority to terminate, restrict or suspend the License because of the Licensee's failure to execute the insurance in conformity with the conditions of This License.
101.1 The Licensee shall deposit a bank guarantee and shall attach a deed of covenant to extend the guarantee, as stated in regulation 18 of the Regulations.
102.1 The guarantee furnished by the Licensee pursuant to clause 101 (hereinafter: "the Guarantee") shall be used to secure the fulfillment of the License conditions by the Licensee, to secure payment of pecuniary sanctions and to compensate and indemnify the State for any damage, payment, loss or expense that might be incurred by the State, whether directly or indirectly, as a result of noncompliance with all or a portion of the conditions of the License, in a timely manner and in their entirety, or as a result of the revoking of the License, its limitation or suspension.
103.1 Without derogating from the general purport of that stated in clause 102.1, the Director may confiscate the Guarantee, in any one of the circumstances specified hereunder:
(d) if the Licensee failed to comply with the License provisions relating to the Guarantee;
105.1 The validity of the Guarantee shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations.
109.1 For the purpose of carrying out the supervision as stated in this section, the Director, or any person who is engaged on his behalf in performing supervision of the Licensee, may:
(d) peruse any record, document, plan, accounting ledger, register, database or computer file of the Licensee or of anyone who engages on its behalf in matters over which the Director has the authority to oversee; the Director may examine and copy these in any way he deems fit;
110.1 The Licensee shall cooperate with the Director, or with any person who is engaged on his behalf in performing supervision in relation to all matters pertaining to the performance of supervision of the Licensee's operations and, inter alia, shall provide to them, upon their request, any information in its possession or under its control that they require in order to carry out the supervision.
112.1 The Licensee shall submit the annual reports to the Director upon his request, or at least annually, at the end of the calender year, and by no later than ninety (90) days, which describe the activities during the period from January through December, of the previous year:
(3) the volume of revenue in each service, segmented by types of services;

180 Amendment no. 5.
181 Amendment no. 5.
149
117.1 The approval or supervisory authority conferred upon the Minister or the Director pursuant to This License, including the exercise of authority as stated, in no way imposes any liability whatsoever on them, which is imposed on the Licensee pursuant to This License, and in no way prejudices or derogates from or eliminates or diminishes the liability of the Licensee as stated.
182 Amendment no. 5.

Translation from Hebrew The Binding version is the Hebrew version
State of Israel Ministry of Communications
General License
For Partner Communications Company Ltd.
For the Provision of Mobile Radio Telephone Services
Using the Cellular Method (MRT) in Israel
Jerusalem
April 7, 1998
Integrated Version – last updated March 12, 2017
By virtue of my authority pursuant to The Telecommunication Law, 1982, The Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance (New Version), 1972, and all my other authorities pursuant to all law, I award a License to Partner Communications Company Ltd. for the establishment of a Mobile Radio Telephone System using the cellular method, its subsistence, maintenance and operation, and for the provision of Mobile Radio Telephone services to the public in Israel through it, as set out in this License.
The License is issued for the period set out in the License and is subject to the following conditions:
1.1 In this License, the following words and expressions will have the meaning appended to them, unless another meaning is implicit in the text or its context.
| "Type approval" | - | Approval given by the Ministry in accordance with the Law and Ordinance for a model of MRT Terminal Equipment. |
|---|---|---|
| "Means of Control" | - | In a corporation, each of the following: (1) Voting rights in the corporation's general meeting or in an equivalent body in another corporation; (2) The right to appoint a director or managing director; (3) The right to participate in the corporation's profits; (4) The right to share in the corporation's remaining assets after payment of debts when the corporation is wound-up; |
| "Telecommunications"- | - | Broadcasting, transmission or reception of signs, signals, text, visual forms, voices or information through wire, wireless, an optic system or other electromagnetic systems; |
| 1"Franchisee" | - | As defined in section 6L(1) of the Law; |
| "2Cellular Licensee Infrastructure Licensee" |
- | Whoever receives a license for establishment, existence and operation of a radio infrastructure for an MRT operator; |
| "32nd Generation" | - | A network which allows mainly the provision of voice and message services, using basic MRT technology of GSM or CDMA and all of their updates, such as GPRS, EDGE, etc.; |
1 Amendment No. 14
2 Amendment No. 83
| "43rd Generation" | - | A network, which in addition to 2nd Generation services, allows for the provision of data services at a medium pace (a few dozen megabits per second) using basic MRT technology of UMTS and CDMA2000 and all of their updates, such as HSPA, HSPA+, etc.; |
|---|---|---|
| "54th Generation" | - | A network, which in addition to 3rd Generation services, allows for the transfer of date at a high pace (approximately 100 megabits per seconds) using basic MRT technology in accordance with the 3GPP TS 36.104 last release standard, for supplying all of the Licensee's services under its license, such as LTE technology; |
| "Interested Party" | - | Whoever holds, either directly or indirectly, 5% of a specific type of Means of Control; for the purpose of this definition, "holding", includes holding as an agent; |
| "The Licensee" | - | Partner Communications Company Ltd., which was awarded this License; |
| "A Licensee" | - | The body to which the Minister has awarded, in accordance with the Law, a general or special License; |
| 6"General Licensee" | - | A person who has received a general license to effect telecommunications activities and to provide telecommunications services: |
| 7Roaming Licensee"- | - | A person who has won tender 12/2010- a combined license for the provision of cellular mobile radio telephone (MRT) services in Israel –an expansion of the existing license and the grant of a new license; |
| 8"Broadcast Licensee" | - | as defined in the Law; |
| "Access Fee" | - | Payment for use of other telecommunication systems, including payment for connection, transmission and collection; |
5 Amendment No. 83
6Amendment No. 14
7 Amendment No. 59
| "Technical Requirements and Grade of Service" |
- | Standards of availability and grade of service, standards for Telecommunication Installations and installation instructions, operation and maintenance, all in accordance with the Engineering Plan and the Annexes to this License, and as the Director will order from time to time regarding the Licensee's services; |
|---|---|---|
| 9"Subscriber Agreement" | - | a contract that serves as an agreement between the Licensee and a subscriber, for the provision of all or part of the Licensee's services; |
| "The Bid" | - | The Licensee's bid in the Tender; |
| "The Bezeq Corporation" | - | Bezeq, Israel Telecommunication Corporation Ltd. |
| 10"Bill" or "Telephone Bill" | - | A bill that the Licensee submits to a subscriber for services that it itself provided to the subscriber or for Goods that it sold or rented to the subscriber; |
| "The Law" | - | The 11Communications (Telecommunication and Broadcasts) Law, 5742-1982; |
| 12"Goods" | - | As defined in section 3 of the Interpretation Law, 5741 – 1981; |
| 13"Holding" | - | for the purposes of Means of Control, directly or indirectly, whether alone or jointly , including by way of another, and including by way of a trustee or agent, or by a right granted under any agreement, including an option to hold which does not arise from convertible securities, or any other means; |
| 14"Transfer" | - | for the purposes of Means of Control, directly or indirectly, for valuable consideration or otherwise, in perpetuity or for a fixed period, at once or in portions; |
10 Amendment No. 87
11 Amendment No. 14
12 Amendment No. 87
13 Amendment No. 14 14 Amendment No. 14
| 15"Jointly with Others" | - | cooperation on a permanent basis; and the following shall be deemed to be in cooperation on a permanent basis: in respect of an individual – the individual, a person related to him, and a corporation that either of them controls; and in respect of a corporation – the corporation, the person who controls it and a person controlled by either of them;" |
|---|---|---|
| "The Security Forces" | - | The Israel Defense Forces, The Israel Police, the General Security Force and the Institution of Intelligence and Special Operations; |
| 16"Applicant" | - | whoever asks to engage in an engagement agreement or a purchase agreement with the Licensee; |
| "The Index" | - | The Consumer Price Index that is published by the Central Bureau of Statistics, from time to time, or any other index which will be substituted for it; |
| "Cellular Radio Base" | - | A wireless installation operating on the operating frequencies of the MRT System and used for establishing radio contact between subscribers' MRT Terminal Equipment units in its area of coverage and the MRT exchange; |
| "Interface" | - | The physical connection, including optic or wireless, meeting between various operational telecommunications installations;17 |
| "Telecommunication Installation" |
- | An installation or device which is primarily designated for telecommunications purposes, including Terminal Equipment;18 |
| "194th Generation Tender" | - | Tender No. 2014/021 – a combined license for the provision of mobile radio telephony communications by way of the cellular method in Israel (MRT): expansion of an existing license or granting a new license; |
| 20"Tender No. 1/01 | - | The tender published by the Ministry on 4 Nissan 5761 (28 March 2001), including clarifications given by the Ministry during the tender, and following which this License has been amended; |
16 Amendment No. 87
17 Amendment No. 14 18 Amendment No. 14
19 Amendment No. 83
| "The Tender" | - | Tender No. 7/97, published by the Ministry on July 15, 1997, including clarifications provided by the Ministry during the course of the Tender, following which this License has been awarded; |
|---|---|---|
| "The Director" | - | The Director General of the Ministry of Communications or his appointee in the matter of this License, wholly or partly; |
| "Subscriber" | - | Whoever has signed a subscriber agreement with the Licensee for obtaining MRT services as a terminal user.21 ; |
| "Business Subscriber"22 | - | a Subscriber that is one of the following: a corporation, as defined in the Interpretations Law, 1981; government offices and other quasi-governmental offices; a licensed dealer except for an exempt dealer; a body that was incorporated in a law or by-law. |
| 23"Split Business Subscriber" | - | a user of the Terminal Equipment, when his Telephone Bill is split between himself and a Business Subscriber or when he is charged for the entire Telephone Bill; |
| 24"Non-Business Subscriber" | - | a Subscriber that is not a Business Subscriber and that is not a Split Business Subscriber; |
| "Dormant Subscriber"25 | - | a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. |
22 Amendment No. 45
23 Amendment No. 87
24 Amendment No. 87
| a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. |
||
|---|---|---|
| -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- |
| a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. a subscriber that fulfills all of the following conditions: Has not received and not made use of MRT services for at least one year, as of 1 January 2008; Does not pay the Licensee any fixed tariffs; Does not have an agreement with the Licensee for a fixed period program. |
||
|---|---|---|
| "International Communication System" |
- | a telecommunications installations system , connected or intended to be connected to a Public Telecommunications Network through an International Network Termination Point (NTP), which serves or intends to serve for the transmission of telecommunications messages between an international switch located in Israel and a Telecommunications Installation located outside of Israel, including a satellite ground station and other Telecommunications Installations (hereinafter: "Components of the System"), and including transmission facilities between Components of the System;26 |
| "One-time Transaction" | - | A transaction that is not a Continuous Transaction; |
| "Continuous Transaction" | - | An engagement agreement to purchase Licensee services continuously and ongoing, including any change to the agreement or addition to it that do not constitute a new transaction, and all whether the engagement agreement is for a set period or whether not for a set period; |
27 Amendment No. 14
28 Amendment No. 14
29 Amendment No. 87 30 Amendment No. 14
31 Amendment No. 14
32 Amendment No. 59
33 Amendment No. 14
34 Amendment No. 14
35 Amendment No. 14 36 Amendment No. 64
37 Amendment No, 52
38 Amendment No. 84
39 Amendment No. 84
| "The MRT System" | - | The MRT through which the Licensee provides its services; |
|---|---|---|
| 27"DO (Domestic Operator)" | - | a holder of a general license for the provision of wireless domestic telecommunications services; |
| Mobile Radio Telephone System (MRT)" |
- | A wireless installation system built according to the cellular method and other installations, through which Mobile Radio Telephone Services are provided to the public, including an MRT exchange, Cellular Radio Bases and wireless or physical transmission channels which connect Cellular Radio Bases, Cellular Radio Bases and an MRT exchange, and between MRT exchanges; |
| "International Operator" | - | An operator which provides International Communication Services to the public in Israel in accordance with a general License awarded by the Minister; |
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| 28"MRT Operator" | - | A holder of a general license for the provision of mobile radio telephone services; |
| 29"MRT Operator on Another Network" | - | a Licensee for the Provision of MRT Services that involves the use of all or a portion of an MRT System of an MRT Operator and at least of the Access Network of the said MRT System; |
| 30"Competing MRT Operator" |
- | An MRT Operator that is not the Licensee; |
| "Domestic Operator" | - | An operator who provides communication services (infrastructure, transmission and telephony) to the public in Israel in accordance with a general license from the Minister. |
28 Amendment No. 14
29 Amendment No. 87
| "Exchange" | - | A Telecommunication Installation in which switching and transmission means are operated, which allows the establishment of contact between various Terminal Equipment units connected to it, and transmission of telecommunication messages between them, including control and monitoring installations and other installations which enable provision of various services to the Licensee's subscribers or to the subscribers of another Licensee. |
|---|---|---|
| "The Ministry" | - | The Ministry of Communications; |
| 31"Transfer Switch" | - | A Telecommunications Installation which contains and operates switching, routing and transmission devices which enable the creation of a connection between various switching centers connected thereto , and the transmission of telecommunications messages between them , including monitoring and routing installations; |
| 32"National Roaming" (NR)" | - | The expansion of the services of another MRT Operator (hereinafter-"another operator") to coverage areas of the Licensee through the Licensee's MRT system, as detailed in section 67E. |
| "Officer" | - | 33a person serving as a director, general manager, chief executive officer, deputy general manager, vice general manager, or a person acting as a replacement of one of the above in a company even under a different title as well as any other manager directly subordinate to the general manager of the company; |
| "Appendices" | - | 34The First Annex and the Appendices set out in the Second Annex to the License;; |
| NTP - (Network Termination Point)" |
- | An interface to one end of which a Public Telecommunication Network is connected, and to the other, Terminal Equipment, a private network, a mobile telephone network or another Public Telecommunications Network, as the case may be; |
32 Amendment No. 59
33 Amendment No. 14
| "International NTP" | - | An interface to one end of which a Public Telecommunication Network is connected, and to the other, an International Communication Network; |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| "Telecommunication Activity" |
- | Operation of a Telecommunication Installation, its installation, construction or its subsistence, all with the objective of telecommunication; |
|
| "The Ordinance" | - | The Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance (New Version) 1972; | |
| Terminal Equipment" | - | Telecommunication equipment connected or designated to be connected to the Public Telecommunication Network, through an NTP or a private network, including telephones, modems, facsimile machines or private exchanges; |
|
| MRT Terminal Equipment" |
- | Hand-held, mobile Terminal Equipment, or Terminal Equipment designated for permanent installation in motor vehicles or ships, designated to be connected to the MRT System by radio communication through Cellular Radio Bases. |
|
| "PTP Line (Point to Point)" |
- | A line which serves for telecommunications, both ends of which are located on an NTP which is not in a public telecommunication network, in which a call or other form of communication which initiates at one end may terminate only in the other end. |
|
| 35"Interconnection" | - | a physical or logical connection between the Public Telecommunications Network of one licensee and the Public Telecommunications Network of another licensee, enabling the transfer of telecommunications messages between the subscribers of both licensees or the provision of services by one licensee to the subscribers of another licensee; |
|
| "Relative" | - | A spouse, parent, son, daughter, brother or sister and their spouses; | |
| "The License" | - | This License and all its Appendices as well as any document or condition which has been determined in the License as constituting an integral part of the License or of its conditions; |
| "the Network" | - | The Licensee's MRT system; |
|---|---|---|
| "Public Telecommunication Network" |
- | a system of Telecommunications Installations serving or designated to serve as a provider of Telecommunications Services to the entire public around the country, or at least in an area of service that includes exchanges and transmission switches, transmission equipment and an access network including an MRT system and an International Telecommunications System, and with the exception of a private network, Terminal Equipment and MRT Terminal Equipment; |
| "Wireline Public Telecommunications Network" |
- | A public domestic telecommunications network, with the exception of an MRT system and an International Telecommunications System; |
| "Access Network" | - | Components of a Public Telecommunications Network used to connect a switching center and a network termination point (NTP) using wireline infrastructure, wireless infrastructure or a combination of the two;" |
| "The Bezeq Corporation Network" |
- | The Public Telecommunication Network which serves The Bezeq Corporation for provision of services in accordance with the general License which it was awarded, as well as other Telecommunication Services provided, in accordance with the Law, either by The Bezeq Corporation or by another body; |
| "Use" | - | Access to a Telecommunications Installation of the Licensee, including to its Public Telecommunications Network or Access Network, in whole or in part, and the ability to use such , for the implementation of Telecommunications Activity and to provide Telecommunications Services thereby, including the installation of a Telecommunications Installation of another licensee on the Licensee's telecommunications facility or premises; |
| "Telecommunication Service" |
- | Operation of telecommunication activities for the public; |
| "International Communication Service" |
- | Telecommunication Service provided for the public in Israel, in accordance with a License granted by the Minister, through an international communications system of an International Operator; |
|---|---|---|
| "Basic Telephone Service" | - | Switched or routed bi-directional transmission , including via modem, speech or speech-like telecommunications messages, such as facsimile signals; |
| "Telephony Service" | - | Basic Telephone Service and Accompanying Services to such service; |
| "36International Roaming Service" | - | An MRT Service provided overseas and in the territories under the Civil Administration of the Palestinian Council via the MRT system of a foreign MRT operator (hereinafter: a "Foreign Operator"), whereby the Subscriber pays the Licensee for the service; and similarly – an MRT Service provided in Israel via the Licensee's MRT system, whereby the Licensee provides a service to a Foreign Operator for the subscribers of such operator; for this purpose, the "Palestinian Council" – as defined in the Law for Implementation of the Interim Agreement regarding the West Bank and Gaza Strip Law (Jurisdictional Powers and Other Provisions) ( (Legislative Amendments), 5756-1998 [sic] |
| "Accompanying Service" | - | A service as set out in the First Annex to the License, provided on the basis of a Basic Telephone Service, which by its nature can only be provided by the provider of the basic service; |
| "Added Value Service"- | - | A service provided based on a Basic Telephone Service, which by its nature can also be granted by another licensee who is not the supplier of the basic service; for the purposes of the services of the Licensee, such service as set out in the First Annex of the License; |
| "Infrastructure Service" | - | an Interconnection or the ability of Use given to another licensee, a Franchisee or to a broadcast licensee;" |
| "Wireline Domestic Telecommunications Services" |
- | Infrastructure Service, transmission, data communications and telephony services |
| "The Licensee's Services" | - | MRT Services, Telecommunications Services and other services that the Licensee is entitled to provide to its subscribers, to other licensees, to broadcast licensees, to Franchisees and to the Security Forces under this License; |
|---|---|---|
| "MRT Services" | - | Telecommunication Services provided through the MRT Terminal Equipment and through the MRT System; |
| Control" | - | The ability to direct the activity of a corporation, either alone or jointly with others, either directly or indirectly, including the ability that derives from the Articles of the corporation, by virtue of an agreement, either written or oral, by virtue of holding the Means of Control in the corporation or in another corporation or which derives from another source, and excluding the ability deriving solely from holding the office of director or any other office in the company; any person controlling a subsidiary company or another corporation held directly by him/her, will be deemed as controlling another corporation, controlled by the corporation which is held directly, as aforesaid; it should be presumed that an individual or corporation shall control the corporation if one of the following conditions exist: A. If he or it holds, either directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of any Means of Control in the corporation; B. If he or it holds, either directly or indirectly, a percentage of any Means of Control in the corporation which is the greatest part in relation to the holdings of the other Interested Parties in the corporation. C. If he or it has the ability to prevent taking business decisions in the corporation, with the exception of decisions in the matter of issuance of means of control in a corporation or 37decisions in the matters of sale or liquidation of most businesses of the corporation, or fundamental change of these businesses; |
| "The Minister" | - | The Minister of Communication, including a person to whom the Minister has delegated his authority in the matter of this License, either in whole or in part; |
| "The Engineering Plan" | - | The Engineering Plan, including the Maintenance Organization and Grade of Services for the Subscribers, attached in the Appendices of the Second Annex to the License; |
|---|---|---|
| "Numbering Plan" | - | As defined in section 5A(b) of the Law; |
| "Billing Period" | - | A cyclical time period, with a set period, at the end of which a bill is presented to the subscriber for payment for the Licensee's services and for content services that were provided to the subscriber during that period. |
| "Radio Infrastructure" | - | Radio centers by way of the cellular method, monitoring units thereof, if any, and transmission connecting them to the core of the public telecommunications network of the Licensee. |
| "38Post- paid" | - | Payment for services that is collected from the subscriber after the Bill Period; |
| "39Pre-paid" | - | Payment for services that is collected from the subscriber before or at the beginning of the provision of the services; |
| 40 |
1.2 Words and expressions in the License that are not defined in Paragraph 1.1, will be interpreted as in the Law, Ordinance and Regulations which have been enacted in accordance with them, The Law of Interpretations, 1981, or as specified in appropriate paragraphs in the License, unless a different meaning is implicit in the text or in its context.
The paragraph headings in this License are provided for ease of reading only, and they must not be used for purposes of interpretation or explanation of the content of one or all of the Terms of the License.
Revocation or a decision in the matter of the nullification of a condition of this License or a part thereof will only apply to that condition or the part thereof, as the case may be, and they themselves will not prejudice the binding validity of the License or any other condition it contains.
38 Amendment No. 84
39 Amendment No. 84
The award of this License does not exempt the Licensee from the obligation to obtain, for execution of the License, any License, permit, approval or consent according to all other laws.
In any case of apparent contradiction between the provisions of the License, the Minister will decide on the interpretation of the provisions, or how to settle the contradiction between them, after the Licensee has been given an opportunity to voice its arguments.
8.1 The Licensee shall not have any form of exclusivity whatsoever in the provision of its services.
43 Amendment No. 13 44 Amendment No. 14
10.9 The conditions of this License will apply to the Additional Period, including and changes in them.
10.10 The instructions of Paragraph 100 in the matter of confidentiality will apply, with the required modifications, to information provided by the Licensee in accordance with the instructions of this paragraph, to the Minister or his appointee.
(G) Should one or more of the attributes that made the Licensee fit for participation in the Tender for MRT services or to be a Licensee, cease to exist, including the following:
(7) Subject to what is set out in Clause 9, one of the following exists in the Licensee:
(H) The Means of Control in the Licensee or control of it have been transferred in contravention of Paragraph 21;
Notwithstanding the above-mentioned, a transfer or purchase of a percentage of the Means of Control in the Licensee, either directly or indirectly, that requires consent in accordance with Articles 21.1 or 21.3 (other than a transfer or purchase that results in a transfer of control), without first receiving the Minister's prior written consent as required according to these articles, shall not constitute a cause to revoke the License if the Minister's consent was given in writing in advance for a public offering of the Tradable Means of Control or for registration for trading of the Tradable Means of Control, on the securities exchange in Israel or overseas, under which the Means of Control in the Licensee may be transferred in a percentage that requires consent in accordance with Articles 21.1 or 21.3 (other than a transfer or purchase that results in a transfer of control), and it shall all be subject to the conditions to be set by the Minister when he gives his consent. The contents of this article are in addition to and do not derogate from the provisions of Article 21.8 of the License. For the purpose of this Article, "Tradable Means of Control"- as defined in Article 21.5 of the License.46
47 Amendment No. 31
46 Amendment No. 25
In addition to his authority to revoke the License as set out in Paragraph 14, the Minister may, if the causes set out in Paragraph 14.1 exist, limit or suspend the License, or change its conditions or foreclose the guarantees given by the Licensee to ensure the fulfillment of the License conditions, wholly or in part; the detailed proceedings in the matter of revocation of the License will be applied, with the necessary changes, to limitation of the License, its suspension, and the foreclosure of the guarantees.
50
49 Amendment No. 64
50 Amendment No. 83
| 19A.1 "Confidential Commercial Information" | - | Data regarding the Licensee that is not public, and that relates to one of the following: |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Amount and volume of telecommunication messages transferred through the network, the kinds thereof and their | ||
| destinations; | ||
| (2) Number of subscribers, their classification and characteristics; | ||
| (3) Network structure, its layout and the technology according to which it operates; | ||
52 Amendment No. 83
| (4) Plans for the expansion of the network, changes therein and operation of new services therewith; (5) Marketing or other technological plans or activities, the information regarding them was transferred to the Licensee by the MRT licensee, or other business activity, the information regarding which was classified by the MRT licensee as confidential commercial information; (6) Any other information which cannot be legally easily discovered by others, whose confidentiality grants its owners a business advantage over its competitors. |
||
|---|---|---|
| "Passive Component" | - | The passive elements in the cellular radio center's website, including pole, structure, electricity and air conditioning; |
| "Active cooperation of an antenna" | - | Passive cooperation and in addition, cooperation of the antenna or cable feed to the antenna; |
| "Active Cooperation of a frequency" (MOCN54) | - | Active cooperation of an antenna, including sharing of radio equipment and frequency that were allotted for use of the MRT licensee; |
| "Passive Cooperation" | - | Whole or partial cooperation of a Passive Component in a significant number of cellular radio center's websites between two or more of the MRT licensee; |
19B. Cooperation with another mobile telephony communications license owner
19B.1 The Licensee may enter into an agreement with another MRT licensee (hereinafter in this section: "Other Licensee") for the purpose of cooperation ("Cooperation Agreement") in any one of the following options only:
54 Multi Operator Core Network
2) Active Cooperation of a Frequency (MOCN) in 2nd or 3rd Generation shall be approved only if both cooperating licensee were allocated 4th Generation frequencies and if the cooperating licensee who is not an operator has an Active Cooperation of a Frequency (MOCN) in 4th Generation.
For the purpose of this sub-clause, "Operator" – a licensee who has completely laid out access network in 3rd Generation: Pelephone Communications Ltd., Cellcom Israel Ltd., Partner Communications Company Ltd.;
19C.1 If the Licensee files a request for an Active Cooperation of a Frequency Agreement (MOCN), the Director General shall consider the request, taking into account, inter alia, the existing competition level of MRT services and the potential harm to competition, the existing and expected frequency inventories and the efficiency of use of the frequencies, the survivability and the redundancy of the networks from a national standpoint and ensuring the telecommunication service level over time.
In this regard – "Right to make effective use" – indefeasible right to use, during the relevant license period, the Passive Component, resulting from ownership or other source, which shall allow its owners to perform all actions connected to the establishment, existence and operation of cellular radio centers by way of or on the Passive Components.
In this regard, the indefeasible right of use shall be provided for a period not to exceed 10 years, and shall refer to the relevant access network components for the generation which was agreed upon in the Cooperation Agreement.
19C.4 Any change in the Usage Agreement or in the Cooperation Agreement shall be presented to the Director General for approval no later than ten days from the date of signing the change; the Licensee shall forward to the Director General, upon request, a copy of the Usage Agreement or any change therein.
In this Clause 21, "Tradable Means of Control" – Means of Control, including Global or American Depository Shares (GDR's or ADR's), or similar certificates, registered for trading on the securities exchange in Israel or overseas, and offered to the public by prospectus, or held by the public in Israel or overseas.
55 Amendment No. 41
56 Amendment No. 52
Without derogating form the generality of the above:
"Irregular Holdings" – the holding of Tradable Means of Control without the Minister's consent as required under clause 23, and all holdings of a person holding Tradable Means of Control acting contrary to the provisions of clause 24; for so long as the Minister's consent under clause 21 has been sought but not yet granted, or whilst there is a situation of breach of the provisions of clauses 23 or 24.
'For the purpose of this article: "Founding Shareholders or their Substitutes"- Matbit Telecommunications Systems Ltd., Advent Investment Pte Limited, Matav Investments Ltd and Tapuz Cellular Systems limited Partnership as well as any other entity that one of them has transferred the Means of Control in the Licensee to, with the Minister's consent, before 4.7.2004 (each of the above entities shall be termed "Founding Shareholder"), as well as any other entity that a Founding Shareholder will transfer Means of Control in the Licensee to after 4.7.2004, provided that the Minister gave his written consent that the transferree be considered for this matter as the Founding Shareholder's substitute from the date to be determined by the Minister, including anyone that is an Israel Entity as defined in Article 22A.2, that purchased Means of Control from the Licensee and received the Minister's approval to be considered a founding shareholder or their substitute from the date set by the Minister63. Such consent under this article does not exempt the Licensee from the obligation to receive the Minister's consent for every transfer of the Means of Control in the Licensee that requires the Minister's consent in accordance with any other article in the License.64
21.9 The provisions of clauses 21.5 through 21.8 shall not apply to the founding shareholders or their substitutes.65.
Any shareholder in the company that holds the License, or a shareholder in an Interested Party in the same company, is not allowed to encumber his/her shares, in a way that the realization of the charge would cause a change in the ownership in ten percent (10%) or more of any of the Means of Control in the Licensee, unless the charge agreement includes a constraint, according to which the charge cannot be realized without prior consent, in writing, by the Minister.
In this Article-
"Israeli Entity"- for an individual-an Israeli citizen or resident of Israel, For a corporation- a corporation that was incorporated in Israel and an individual that is a citizen and a resident of Israel, controls the corporation either directly or indirectly, as long as the indirect control shall be only through a corporation that was incorporated in Israel, one or more. However, for the matter of indirect holdings, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications may approve holdings through a corporation that has not been incorporated in Israel, as long as the corporation does not directly hold shares in the Licensee, and only if they are convinced that this will not derogate from the provisions of this article. For this matter, "Israeli citizen"- as defined in the Nationality Law, 5712-1952; "resident"-as defined in the Inhabitants Registry Law, 5725-1965.
For this matter, "Dormant Shares"- as defined in Article 308 of the Companies Law, 5759-1999.
22A.3 At least one tenth (10%) of the members of the Board of Directors of the Licensee shall be appointed by the Israeli Entities as set forth in Article 22A.2. Notwithstanding the abovementioned, for this matter- if the Board of Directors of the Licensee shall consist of up to 14 members – at least one director shall be appointed by the Israeli entities as set forth in Article 22.2A above, if the Board of Directors of the Licensee shall consist of between 15 and 24 members-at least 2 directors shall be appointed by the Israeli entities as set forth in Article 22.2A above and so on and so forth.
66 Amendment No. 31-Amendment No. 31 will come into effect upon completion of all of the obligations set forth in article 22A and no later than 30 June 2005, in accordance with the Ministry of Communications document 62/05-4031 dated 13 March 2005
22A.4 The Licensee's Board of Directors shall appoint from among its members that have security clearance and security compatibility to be determined by the General Security Service (hereinafter: " Directors with Clearance") a committee to be designated "the Committee for Security Matters", or CSM.
The CSM shall consist of at least 4 Directors with Clearance including at least one External Director. Security matters shall be discussed, subject to Article 22A.5, solely by the CSM. A resolution that was adopted or an action that was taken by the CSM , shall have the same effect as a resolution that was adopted or an action that was taken by the Board of Directors and shall be discussed by the Board of Directors only if necessary in accordance with Article 22A.5 and subject to Article 22A.5.
In this article-"security matters"-as defined in the Bezeq Order (Determination of Essential Service Provided by "Bezeq", the Israeli Telecommunications Company Ltd), 5757-1997, as of March 9, 2005.
22A.5 Security matters that the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee of the Licensee shall be required to consider in accordance with the mandatory provisions of the Companies Law, 5759-1999, or in accordance with the mandatory provisions of any other law that applies to the Licensee shall be discussed, if they need to be discussed by the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee, only in the presence of Directors with Clearance. Directors that do not have security clearance shall not be allowed to participate in this Board of Directors or Audit Committee meeting and shall not be entitled to receive information or to review documents that relate to this matter. The legal quorum for such meetings shall include only Directors with Clearance.
The Licensee may set out in its Articles of Association that an Office Holder, who in the capacity of his position or based on the provisions of the law or the Articles of Association, should have received information or participate in security matter meetings and this was denied him due to Article 22A.5, will be released from any liability for any claim of breach of duty of care towards the Licensee, if the breach of duty of care was a result of his or her inability to participate in the meetings or receive information.
(c) In addition, and without derogating from any duty imposed on him by any law, the observer shall be bound by confidentiality towards the Licensee, except as the matter may be required to fulfill his responsibilities as an observer. The observer shall not act as an observer or in any other capacity for any entity that deals with the provision of telecommunication services and directly competes with the Licensee, and shall refrain from any conflict of interest between his position as an observer and between the Licensee, excluding conflicts of interest that result from his being a government employee that is fulfilling his responsibilities as an observer with the Licensee. The observer shall undertake towards the Licensee not to serve as an observer or an office holder, and not to fulfill a position or be employed, directly or indirectly by any entity that directly competes with the Licensee or has a conflict of interest with the Licensee, excluding a conflict of interest that results from his being a government employee that is fulfilling his responsibilities as an observer with the Licensee throughout the duration of his position as an observer with the Licensee and for eighteen months after he completes this term.
In any case of a dispute regarding a conflict of interest of the observer, the matter shall be decided by the State Attorney General or a person on his behalf.
67 Amendment No. 10
The Licensee, any body in which the Licensee is an Interested Party, an Office Holder in the Licensee or an Interested Party in the company holding the License or an Office Holder in an Interested Party therein, will not be party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with a Competing MRT Operator, or an Interested Party or an Office Holder in it, or an Office Holder in an Interested Party in a Competing MRT Operator, or any other body in which a Competing MRT Operator is an Interested Party, which are intended to or might reduce or harm competition in anything that pertains to MRT Services, MRT Terminal Equipment or any other Telecommunications Services.
24.268 Without derogating from the aforementioned in Article 24.1, the Licensee may reach a Cooperation Agreement as set forth in Article 19.1B.
"Milestones"- Stages in the establishment of the MRT System, according to the timetable specified in the Engineering Plan - Appendix B to the License.
26A.1 The Licensee shall contact the Director General in writing for the receipt of his approval to commence the provision of 4th Generation services (hereinafter – "Operation Approval").
The Licensee may commence the provision of 4th Generation services only after receiving Operation Approval from the Director General.
26B.1 If the License has not begun providing 4th Generation Services within 12 months from the determining date, as stated in Article 2.1(b)(2)(a) to Appendix E, the frequencies allocation that it received for the provision of this service shall expire, and the license fees paid due to the award of the 4th Generation Tender shall not be returned.
The expiration of the frequencies allocation as stated shall be considered a change of the Cooperation Agreement or change of the Usage Agreement, as applicable.
69 Amendment No. 83 70 Amendment No. 83
30.1 72 The Licensee shall act in order to effect the Interconnection of the Network with any other Public Telecommunications Network operating in the area in which the law, jurisdiction and administration of the State of Israel apply (including settlements, military sites and military installations in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip), and including to any Wireline Public Telecommunications Network, International Telecommunications System and the MRT System of another MRT operator.
71 Amendment No. 83 72 Amendment No. 14
The Licensee shall act to effect the Interconnection subject to all of the following:
(a) The Licensee shall ensure that the technical and operational standards of the Network match the requirements for connection to the Public Telecommunications Network of the Domestic Operators, the other MRT operators and the international operators (hereinafter: "an Other Operator"), that the operations of the Network be properly integrated with the operations of the Public Telecommunications Network of the Other Operator and that the Interconnection shall not harm the proper operation of these systems or proper service to their subscribers;
Where the Minister has not prescribed payment for Interconnection or payment deriving from Interconnection, the Licensee may charge a reasonable and non-discriminatory sum for these.
The Minister shall give the Licensee a reasonable opportunity to make claims regarding the Minister's intention to instruct the Licensee regarding the manner of effecting Interconnection and the scope thereof, activities, services and Accompanying Services for effecting Interconnection, and payment for Interconnection; where the Minister has instructed the Licensee in respect of such matters, the Licensee shall not delay Interconnection to the Network in any manner, and shall fulfill its obligations in accordance with the instructions of the Minister, in good faith and properly, on the date prescribed for such and in full cooperation.
30D.3 For the purpose of provision of the possibility of Use, the provisions of clauses 30A through 30C shall apply, mutatis mutandis.
34.1 The Director may advise the Licensee in writing of faults, defects and deviations that he found in the establishment work of the MRT System, on the basis of reports submitted by the Licensee, documents and information that it provided the Director, or on the basis of measurement and tests that he conducted.
34.2 Should the Licensee receive notification as set out in Paragraph 34.1, it will notify the Director, within fourteen (14) days from the date on which it was notified of the above, of its response to the notifications and the actions that it has taken or is about to take in order to remedy the faults, defects or deviations.
Where electricity lines or electric installations exist before the installation of the MRT System, the Licensee will be subject to the obligations according to the Telecommunication and Electricity Regulations (Proximity of and Crossing Between Telecommunication Lines and Electricity Lines), 1986.
The Director may determine equipment items that are not to be installed in the MRT System before undergoing compatibility tests; for the matter of this paragraph, "Compatibility" - as implied by the provisions of Paragraph 41; should the Director decide as aforesaid, the items will not be installed before a compatibility test is conducted on them.
The Licensee is responsible for ensuring that equipment installed in the MRT System meets at least the condition of technical compatibility to the properties specified in the manufacturer's specifications relevant to the same equipment item, that were appended to the Engineering Plan.
When the Licensee completes the establishment of an exchange or a Cellular Radio Base in any area in a manner that allows to start providing MRT Services through it, the Licensee will advise the Director of the same in writing, in the format as instructed by the Director, complete with the results of the detailed tests that indicate the success of the establishment and operation.
902.2 MHz through to 910.2 MHz, and 947.2 MHz through to 955.2 MHz;
(B) Frequency bands that were not exclusively allocated for the use of the Licensee, according to rules and limitations that will be determined by the Director:
910.2 MHz through to 912.2 MHz, and 955.2 MHz through to 957.2 MHz
1730 to 1740 MHz and the matching domain 1825 to 1835 MHz; 1940 to 1950 MHz and the matching domain 2130 to 2140 MHz;
75 These frequency bands have been used by the Licensee since 1999.
47.1 The Licensee will establish the MRT System and operate it in a manner that will ensure that each of its components does not emit radiation prohibited by the Pharmaceutical Regulations (Radioactive Elements and Their Products), 1980, and will do everything necessary, if required, to receive a permit in accordance with the said regulations; in this matter, the Licensee will act, inter alia, as follows:
47.2 The Licensee will coordinate the use of frequencies with the Director, who will base his guidelines, inter alia, on the national emergency plan or a special situation plan in the home front.
47.5 The award of this License, as well as the approval of the Engineering Plan, shall not be deemed as providing protection against harmonies from other radiating bodies, whether operating lawfully or unlawfully, or spurious radiations from other radiating bodies, whether operating lawfully or unlawfully, or protection against other radiating bodies operating in frequency ranges identical to the frequency ranges that were allocated to the Licensee outside the territory of the State or in a territory over which the State has no control, however, the Director will make a reasonable effort to find a suitable solution for the required protection.
| 49. | Definitions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| In this part: | |||
| "Periodic Test"- | Test of the network or any part of it, that is conducted in accordance with the License provisions, at fixed intervals and at least annually; | ||
| "Special Test" - | Test of the network or any part of it, conducted due to a maintenance or repair activity, following an electromagnetic interference, a malfunction, complaint review technological change, modification of the Engineering plan; etc. |
||
| "Routine Test"- | Testing of the network or any part of it, conducted on a regular basis. | ||
| 50. | Execution of Tests | ||
| 50.1 | The licensee shall carry out periodic tests of the MRT system, and shall submit the results of the test upon the director's request within 30 days from the day of the request. | ||
| 50.2 | The licensee shall establish and operate an inspection system for constant monitoring of the network's performance and its intactness and shall conduct on a regular basis routine tests of the network or any part of it, as needed. |
51.1 The licensee shall maintain a test, fault and maintenance log (hereinafter – "maintenance log"), in which details of the faults and tests of the network shall be recorded.
51.2 The licensee shall keep the maintenance log, shall allow the director or anyone authorized on his or her behalf to see the log at any time, to check it, copy it in any manner and to pass it to the director upon his demand.
55.4 The subscriber agreement shall clearly include, among other things, the following:
82 A transaction at a service station of the Licensee or through peddling, as this term is defined in the Consumer Protection Law, 5741 1981, or a transaction via telephone conversation or a transaction via the internet. Amendment No. 87.
80Amendment No. 41-shall become effective no later than 30.4.2007
81 Amendment No. 87
Insofar as the Licensee is not charging for connection fees or SIM card fees or plan switching fees, this must be stated accordingly.
Insofar as the engagement agreement includes international services, such as a minutes package or plan for calls abroad, the Licensee must specify its rates, the quota of minutes allotted in it, the three-digit international access code that must be dialed, the countries included in it, the type of targets in those countries (fixed-line, mobile) and the tariff for exceeding the quota in the plan.89
91 For example: as of the date the plan comes into effect, as of the date that the subscriber activates the SIMcard.
(4) the tariff for the service upon the expiration of the Benefit.
That stated above shall also apply when at issue is a Benefit being given within the scope of the tariff plan, and not necessarily for a particular service included in a plan.
For this matter-"commitment"-as defined in article 56.1A;
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105 Amendment No. 87
106 Amendment No. 58
107 Amendment No. 61
108 Amendment No. 87
109 Amendment No. 58
110 Amendment No. 87
111 Amendment No. 58 112 Amendment No. 87
113 Amendment No. 62
114 Amendment No. 87
103 Amendment No. 87
(9) Insofar as at issue is a Split Business Subscriber, only he shall complete and sign the service access form, and only he is allowed to amend it.123
(a2)124 The service conditions for the subscriber, including gauges of quality of service to customers and subscribers as set forth in article 2 in Annex E;
For this matter, "computerized graphic signature"-a signature that is digitally maintained as a graphic file."
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137 Amendment No. 87
138 Amendment No. 69 139 Amendment No. 57-shall become effective September 13, 2011
The Applicant must expressly confirm the terms of the transaction, without any written stipulations or qualifications or changes in relation to the terms in the said documents, in his handwriting, his marking and his signature on the Plan Basics and on the service access form, and he must send the two said documents via facsimile to the facsimile number given to him by the Licensee's representative during the conversation between them.
The Licensee shall send the rest of the provisions of the engagement terms document via regular post to the Applicant, on the transaction execution date.
(f) A remote sale transaction via telephone shall be completed and shall come into effect and the Licensee shall be allowed to charge the Applicant pursuant to its terms, only after the Licensee has received the reply notice from the Applicant via electronic mail or SMS confirming the signing of the engagement agreement and the said documents via facsimile, being duly marked and signed.
For the purposes of this clause, "change" – the receipt of an additional service, the expansion of a service, subscribing to a service package.
The Licensee is not allowed to make any change, including a replacement of an existing plan with a new plan, without receiving the subscriber's express consent, in the manner specified in clause 60.6(b).140
(j)141 142Notwithstanding that stated, if a subscriber requests to make changes that do not entail an extension of the subscriber's commitment period or creating said period, the Licensee shall include in the first telephone bill after the request date a notice in which all of the details set forth in sub-section (b) are detailed, except for the name of the Licensee's representative. For this sub-section, "commitment"-as defined in Article 56.1A of the License".
140 Amendment No. 87
141 Amendment No. 87
For the purposes of this clause, "change" – the receipt of an additional service, the expansion of a service, subscribing to a service package.
The Licensee is not allowed to make any change, including a replacement of an existing plan with a new plan, without receiving the subscriber's express consent, in the manner specified in clause 60.6(b).144
145 Amendment No. 57-shall become effective September 13, 2011
147 Amendment No, 57
For the purposes of this clause, "service-provider" – whoever provides a service through the network, and the payment in respect of the service is paid through the Telephone Bill.149
150(b) An express request shall be submitted in one of the following ways151:
(1) A signed document by the subscriber that is sent to the Licensee;
148 Amendment No. 14
150 Amendment No. 57-shall become effective September 13, 2011
149 Amendment No. 87
For sub-section (b)(1)-a copy of the document;
For sub-section (b)(2)-a copy of the electronic mail;
For sub-section (b)(3)-a recording of the telephone call;
For sub-section (b)(4)-a copy of the subscriber's telephone bill that lists under the "call details", the details of the SMS sent by the subscriber and a printout of its contents as received in the Licensee's system;155
For purposes of sub-section (b)(5)-156 a Log from the short message service center (SMSC) of the Licensee in which the sending of the 2 SMS from the Licensee to the subscriber are documented, as part of the procedure of ordering a service. If the service was ordered on the Licensee's website or cellular portal by using a user code and password as set forth in section 1.3 of Appendix F of the License-the Log from the internet server that indicates the execution of the service order procedure and the Log In of typing the user code and password by the subscriber.
For the purposes of clause (b)(6) – a printout of the calls via internet.157
Notes taken by the Licensee representative in the Licensee's information systems does not constitute documentation.
162 Amendment No. 87
163 Amendment No. 87
164 Amendment No. 87
166 A link entitled "contact us" shall not be deemed a substitute for the said link.
167 Amendment No. 87
168 Amendment No. 87
170 Amendment No. 55
(c) During a sale conversation through a telephone conversation for the purchase or rental of MRT Terminal Equipment, without a transaction being transacted with an Applicant for the purchase of MRT services (hereinafter – "Purchase Agreement"), and before the Applicant expresses his consent to engage in a Purchase Agreement with the Licensee, the Licensee's representative must ask for the Applicant's consent to send him a printed Purchase Agreement via electronic mail or SMS or facsimile, without any handwritten changes, and bearing the Licensee's logo, which provides a detailed description of the Terminal Equipment and the inclusive price and, insofar as payment in instalments for the Terminal Equipment was agreed upon between the purchaser and the Licensee – the number of payments and the rate of each payment, and which includes the date of the execution of the sale conversation and the details of the purchaser and of the Licensee's representative, who must inform the purchaser that he must confirm in writing that he is accepting the terms of the Purchase Agreement as a precondition to it coming into effect. Insofar as the Applicant expressly states that he is not interested in receiving the said document in one of the three said ways during the sale conversation, then the Licensee shall be released from having to send it to the Applicant when conducting the sale conversation, and it shall be sent to him on the transaction execution date. If the Applicant asked to receive the said document via one of the ways specified above, the Licensee's representative must send it to him in the manner requested.
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the Purchase Agreement in its possession, and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
The Licensee shall record, in addition, the telephone conversation held with the Applicant, and shall make the recording available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
(d) A notice shall be sent to the Applicant asking the Applicant to confirm the execution of the transaction. The Applicant must expressly confirm the terms of the transaction, without any handwritten stipulations or qualifications or changes in relation to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, either via return electronic mail message or return SMS or facsimile, which includes his full name and ID number.
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the purchaser's confirmation in its possession, and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
(e) Immediately after the Applicant sends his confirmation, as stated, the Licensee shall send him a document pursuant to the law171 in the mode by which the Purchase Agreement was sent to him.
(f) When executing a transaction for the purchase of MRT Terminal Equipment in the presence of both parties, without executing a transaction for the purchase of MRT Services, and before the Applicant expresses his consent to engage in a Purchase Agreement with the Licensee, the Licensee's representative must submit a printed copy of the Purchase Agreement to the Applicant and enable him to peruse it.
When executing the transaction, the Applicant and the Licensee's representative must sign the Purchase Agreement submitted to the Applicant for his perusal by original signature.
After signing, as stated, the Licensee's representative must deliver the Purchase Agreement to the Applicant bearing the original signatures of the Licensee's representative and the Applicant, as well as the document specified in subclause (e).
After completing all that stated in this subclause, the Licensee's representative may obtain the Applicant's signature on a Purchase Agreement identical to the one signed with original signatures, while using electronic means.
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the Purchase Agreement and the document specified in subclause (e) in its possession, and shall make them available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
The Licensee's representative must perform a reliable identification of the Applicant pursuant to the procedure prescribed by the Licensee. The Licensee shall retain in its possession a copy of an identification certificate of the Applicant and a copy of an identification certificate of the payer of the Bill, which were issued to the Licensee's representative at the time of execution of the engagement.
(g) Insofar as the subscriber and the Licensee agreed on payment in instalments for Goods that the subscriber purchased or rented from it, and the subscriber breached the engagement agreement before paying all of the payments for the said Goods, but rectified the breach within forty-five (45) days of the date the Licensee notified the subscriber of the breach, then the Licensee is not allowed to collect the balance of the payments from the subscriber for the Goods in a single payment, and the payment in instalments shall continue as agreed upon between the subscriber and the Licensee ab initio.172
65.1 175The Licensee will enable, at any time and free of charge, all its Subscribers free and rapid access to public emergency services, such as: Magen David Adom, the Israel Police Force and the Fire Department..
172 Amendment 87 174 Amendment No. 87 175 Amendment No. 19
17665.2 The Licensee shall enable the public emergency service centers177 to indentify the telephone number of a subscriber that dials them178, free of charge and at any time, including a subscriber with an unlisted number, a subscriber that implemented barring a call and a subscriber that dials from a private switchboard, effective 5 April 2007 (hereinafter-"the commencement date");
The Licensee may implement the aforesaid through a licensee that routes the call to the public emergency service center.
No later than 2 days179 from the commencement date, the Licensee shall notify all its subscribers, in writing, and in a clear manner, that as of the commencement date, the subscriber's number will be identifiable by the public emergency service centers, and shall also notify in writing all subscribers that request an "unlisted number"-that the number will not be unlisted for calls made to the public emergency service centers.
178 Excluding a subscriber whose terminal equipment allows him to dial emergency centers only, for example a handset without a SIM card on a GSM network.
176 Amendment No. 40
177 Israel Police-100, Magen David Adom-101 and the Fire Department-102
179 Amendment No. 42
180 Amendment No. 19
65B.1 The Licensee shall provide a personal message service (in this section, the Service"), at all times and free of charge, to all its subscribers, including to the subscribers of another licensee, users of handsets that support the Service (thereinafter in this section the "Subscribers"), and in accordance with the "personal service" service file. In this section:
"Another Licensee" – another MRT licensee that receives service through national roaming or an MVNO that receives service through a hosting agreement on a licensee's network;
181 Amendment No. 41 182 Amendment No. 73
"Personal Message" – a message, warning and short explanation of the security forces that is sent immediately, selectively and focused to subscribers with MRT handsets that support the use of the cell broadcast ("CB") technology.
"Security Forces" – representatives of the Ministry of Defense and Home Front Command that are responsible for personal message system;
"Service File "Personal Message" – a service file approved by the Director, including amendments that will be executed in the service file;
Without derogating from the aforesaid, the Security Forces may instruct the licensees to change the operation instructions if they find them to be lacking, however this provision does not limit the responsibility of the aforesaid licensee.
The aforesaid does not detract from the License's obligation to receive the Director's approval to the said service.
183 Amendment No. 79 184 Amendment No. 14
66A.3 The Licensee shall be exempt from the obligation to indemnify the State under the provisions of clause 91.2 of the License and/or under any law, for the provision of the special services to the Security Forces.
67.1 The bill the Licensee will present to the Subscriber will be clear, concise, legible and comprehensible; the bill will include precise details of the components of the required payments in accordance with the types of payments and the rules detailed in Chapter F.
186 Amendment No. 14 187 Amendment No. 57
In this section, "Variable Tariff"- a tariff that changes during the course of the call based on different parameters, for example, a tariff that is reduced based on the higher the usage or a variable tariff as a result of changing from "peak time" to "off peak time" during the course of the call or vice versa.
(4) In addition to the provisions at the end of section 2.2.4 of the Standard regarding the Basket of Services, the bill shall include a detailed list of the services that are included in the basket as well as the total tariff to be paid for the basket.
In this section, "Basket of Services"-a number of services that are marketed to a subscriber as a package in exchange for an all inclusive tariff (and without detailing the payment for each individual service).
188 Amendment 87
189 Amendment 87
190 Amendment 87
191 Amendment 87
192 Amendment 87
The Licensee must present the five (5) said modes for the subscriber's choice on the service access form. If the subscriber does not select one of the modes, then the Bill must be sent to him by regular post. The subscriber may change the mode for receiving the Bill at any time, by way of an oral or written request.
The Licensee must document the subscriber's request, as stated, and make this documentation available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, at his request, and this, within five (5) workdays of the submission of the request.
If the subscriber submitted his request during the first half of the billing period, then the Licensee shall send him the Bill immediately following the date of his request in the mode selected by the subscriber. Otherwise, the Licensee shall send the subscriber the Bill in the mode selected by the subscriber after the upcoming Bill.
The Licensee is not allowed to demand any payment from the subscriber for issuing the Bill, which includes "itemized calls" either regularly or on a one-time basis, and sending it to him, at his request, through electronic means. The Licensee may demand reasonable payment in respect of "itemized calls" from any particular date, which was sent to the subscriber at his request regularly or on a one-time basis, only in the event that the Bill was received by the subscriber as specified in subclause (a).199
200 Amendment No. 57
201 Amendment No. 58
202 Amendment No. 87
"database"- a pool of data that includes the name, address and telephone number of every subscriber that is not classified, including a subscriber that is a business.
In this Article, "new subscriber" –a subscriber that registered with the Licensee after the commencement date as set forth in Article 67A.7 below.
208 Amendment No. 87 209 Amendment No. 87
Without derogating from the above-mentioned, the Minister may instruct the Licensee regarding the manner and format for the publication of the information services.
211 Start of receiving service-an answer by a telephone operator or by the IVR system that requests the information from the caller in order to locate the requested telephone number etc. 212 Amendment No. 42
216 Amendment No. 41
Adult Voice Services provided through the Network, shall be done in accordance with the provisions of Annex "M", in the Second Supplement .
For the purpose of this Article-
"Adult Voice Services"- as defined in Article 1 in Annex M, in the Second Supplement.
21967D1.1 The Licensee may provide Premium Services in one of the following manners:
For this article,
"Fixed-line telephone number"- a number format of geographic numbers and national fixed line numbers or number format star 4 digits (*XXXX), in accordance with that defined in the numbering plan221.
"Premium Service" and "Premium Tariff" as defined in Appendix N
The Licensee shall prepare for the execution of National Roaming in accordance with the following:
The host Licensee shall begin providing National Roaming services in accordance with the operational arrangement no later than three months from the date that the Roaming Licensee presented to the host Licensee the Minister's confirmation as set forth in section 5B(b)(2) of the Law.
67F.1 The Licensee shall act so that in an area in which there is reception that allows the initiation of a proper call, from the network as well as from the network of the MRT operator in the neighboring country, the subscriber shall receive MRT service through the network. The Licensee shall perform the action itself without requiring any action on behalf of the subscriber.
"Proper call"- a call that takes place in accordance with the minimal reception definitions set in the international standards according to which the network operates.
| "Termination of Service" | - | permanent disconnection of any of the Licensee's services to all of the subscribers; |
|---|---|---|
| "Suspension of Service" | - | temporary halting of any of the Licensee's services or of all of the Licensee's services, which are being provided to a subscriber; |
| "Disconnection of Service" | - | Permanent disconnection of any of the Licensee's services, which are being provided to a subscriber; |
| "Termination of an Engagement" | - | Disconnection of all of the Licensee's services being provided to a subscriber, and termination of the engagement agreement with him.225 |
The Licensee is not entitled to suspend or disconnect MRT Services and other services, which the Licensee is obliged to provide in accordance with this License, unless that which is stated in this part, or that stated in Paragraph 48 exists.
The Licensee is not allowed to terminate MRT Services and other services that the Licensee is obligated to provide pursuant to this License, unless that stated in this part or that stated in clause 48 have been fulfilled.
224 Amendment No. 87
The Final Bill must specify the execution date of the termination of the engagement and it must bear the heading "Final Bill."
69D.5 That stated in this clause in no way derogates from a termination of engagement by way of number portability, according to a numbering plan relating to number portability – consolidated version, of 22.8.2005, inclusive of amendments thereto.
226 A link called "contact us" shall not be deemed a substitute for the said link.
69F.6 If the subscriber's request, which was submitted via online form, included one of the details specified in subclause 69F.2(c) and it is erroneous, the Licensee shall mark the erroneous detail on the online form and the subscriber shall be requested to resubmit his request with the correct detail.227
228 Amendment No. 87
229 Amendment No. 87
230 Amendment No. 46
231 Amendment No. 87
227 Amendment No. 87
((c)) performing backs up of vital information to a computer or through cloud services, such as: photos, videos, lists of contacts and e-mail messages.
233 Amendment No. 87
235 Amendment No. 47
236 Amendment No. 48
237 Amendment No. 48
234 Amendment No. 47
240 Amendment 87
241 Amendment 87
242 Amendment 87
243 Amendment 87 244 Amendment 87
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Licensee may disconnect254 service to a dormant subscriber that notified the Licensee that he is not interested in disconnecting from255 services, after sending the subscriber at least two messages, as set forth in Article 72A.3 (a) and 72A.5 (a), and, in the second message, the Licensee notified the subscriber that if, within one year of the second message, the subscriber will not use the MRT service, service will be disconnected256 to the subscriber, and will not have to send another notification.
72.1B The Licensee may disconnect or temporarily limit services that it is obliged to provide, in order to allow a quick recovery of the network at the time of a significant malfunction.
For this matter- "significant malfunction" – a malfunction that causes the disconnection of service to 10% of the subscribers or to at least 100,000 subscribers, the lower of the two.
254 Amendment 87
255 Amendment 87
258 Amendment 87 259 Amendment 87
260 Amendment 87
261 Amendment 87
262 Amendment 87
263 Amendment 87
264 Amendment 87
265 Amendment 87
In this section, "subscriber" – including a subscriber of an MRT licensee in another network and a subscriber of a roaming licensee that use the network.
267 Amendment No. 5
| 26873A. | Definitions | |
|---|---|---|
| In this Chapter: | ||
| "Air time" - | the time during which a Subscriber receives MRT services, whether the communication was initiated by the Subscriber or by another; | |
| "Air time unit"269- | a time unit of no more than 12 seconds however as of 5 Tevet 5769 (1 January 2009) a time unit of 1 second. | |
| "Basked of services" - | a number of services marketed to the Subscriber in a package, for which a tariff has been set as prescribed in clause 75.2; | |
| "Public | shall include an International Communications System; | |
| Telecommunications |
Network"
a payment made by the initiator of a call, which commences at the Terminal Equipment connected to one Public Telecommunications Network and terminates at another Public Telecommunications Network or at Terminal Equipment connected to such a Public Telecommunications Network for the completion of the call on the other Public Telecommunications Network.
74.1 270The Licensee shall be allowed to collect payments from its Subscribers for MRT Services, as follows:
(d) payment for Call Completion as specified in clause 75A;
269 Amendment No. 29
275 Amendment No. 57
276 Amendment No.84
For this article, "constant"-each tariff before V.A.T. that the Subscriber must pay as set out on the day of the agreement, shall not be raised during the Commitment Period. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Licensee may supply it services to Subscribers at lower tariffs than those set out beforehand in the subscriber agreement during a limited time period, to all it Subscribers or to a certain type of subscribers.
75.6 The Licensee shall not make contracting with a Subscriber, or changing a subscriber from one Basked Of Services to another, conditional on the purchase of Added Value Services or Terminal Equipment from it.
75.7 Cancelled.280
1 Amendment No. 16 Effect- Article 75.9 shall take effect as of 15.12.02 2 Amendment No. 54
75.10 The manner of determining payments for Air Time shall be as follows:
For the purpose of this sub-clause, a Subscriber receiving a call includes voicemail.
291"Voice Mail"- a device or mechanism that is part of the MRT system, that is meant to allow the calling Subscriber to leave a voice message for the receiving Subscriber.
(d)292 For a call that is transferred to Voice Mail, the Licensee shall play an introductory recorded message to the calling Subscriber, that is at least 2 seconds long (in this sub-section- "a message"), and will allow the calling Subscriber, in accordance with his choice, to disconnect the call without a charge, in the course of the Message, or within a reasonable amount of time that will not be less than 1 second after its termination ("reasonable time"). In this case, the timing of the execution of the call with the receiving Subscriber shall be as set forth in sub-section (c) above, as occuring after a reasonable time.
The Message text shall be "the call is being transferred to voice mail" and it shall be played in a clear manner and a reasonable pace.
In this sub-section, "a call that is transferred to voice mail"- except for a call that originated in the International Bezek system.
29375.11 (a) In this article:
"Limited Package"- a package of minutes that is limited to a number of minutes, in accordance with the subscriber's plan.
"Unlimited Package"- an unlimited package of minutes for which the subscriber pays.
"Free of Charge Number"- a phone number that is determined that a call to it from any network will not be charged to the initiator of the call;
290 Amendment No. 56
291 Amendment No. 39
292 Amendment No. 39
"A Special Telephone Number at a Composed Tariff"- a national or network telephone number in an unusual numbering plan, for which the call tariff to it is a composed tariff;
"A Special Telephone Number at a Regular Tariff" – a national294 or network295 telephone number in an unusual numbering plan, for which the call tariff to it does not exceed the normal tariff;
"Unusual Numbering Plan"- a numbering plan that is not a regular numbering form;
"Usual Numbering Plan"-a numbering plan of geographic numbers and national numbers in accordance with the definitions in the numbering plan296.
"Composed Tariff"- a tariff composed of a regular tariff in addition to a tariff for service provided by the Licensee or someone on his behalf or a service provider;
"A Regular Tariff"- a tariff per minute for a call to telephone numbers in a regular numbering plan, in accordance with the subscriber's tariff plan.
The Licensee may charge the subscriber for the services that are provided as part of calling telephone numbers that are charged according to a composed tariff, whether the charge is per minute of the call or whether the charge is a constant charge for a call, in addition to the regular payment for the package of minutes.
294 A telephone number that can be accessed from any network.
295 A telephone number that can be accessed only from the Licensee's network.
296 For example numbers in the 03-XXXXXXX, 05Y-XXXXXXX and 07Z-XXXXXXX
The payment which the Licensee shall collect for Call Completion shall not be greater than the interconnect tariff set forth in the Telecommunications Regulations (Payments for Interconnection) 57600-2000.
The Licensee may charge a Subscriber for transferring a Short Message Service, from Terminal Equipment connected to the Network to Terminal Equipment connected to an MRT system of another MRT licensee, payment that shall not exceed the payment the Licensee charges Subscribers for transferring a Short Message Service, from Terminal Equipment connected to the Network, to Terminal Equipment connected to the Network, in addition to a charge that shall not exceed the fee for transferring a Short Message Service as set forth in the Communication Regulations (Telecommunications and Broadcasting) (Payments for Interconnection), 2000.
In this Article-
"Short Message Service"- (SMS) - A telecommunication message that includes writing, including letters or signs, that are transferred from Terminal Equipment connected to the Network, to Terminal Equipment connected to the Network or connected to an MRT system of another MRT licensee."
Notwithstanding the above-mentioned in Article 75B, for the period beginning 9 May 2004 until 9 February 2005300, the following provisions shall apply:
301 The reduction in the amount of 0.7% is based on reports received from some of the MRT operators, regarding the rate of Short Message Services between Networks that did not reach their destination. Article 75C was set as a temporary provision, during which time the MRT operators shall carry out the necessary adjustments between their MRT networks and interconnection arrangements for the complete application of Article 75B of their license. For the avoidance of doubt, it should be clear that this temporary provision is set for a limited period of time only, due to the difficulties that MRT operators experienced regarding the possibility to receive information regarding the inability to complete a Short Message Service in another MRT network. However, it should not be inferred from this temporary arrangement to the matter of allowing collection of payment for a Short Message Service that did not reach it's destination, and it does not detract from the Ministry's basic position that as a rule, no payment shall be charged for a Telecommunication Service that was not completed.
297 Amendment No. 23
298 Amendment No. 23
299 Amendment No. 24
300 Amendment No. 27
75D.1 Cancelled.306
In this regard, "service package" – a number of services being marketed to subscribers as a package at a fixed monthly payment, including domestic calls, an international call service, SMS service or cellular data service, when an inclusive Quota of Units is defined for the package,307 or if a particular Quota of Units has been defined for each of the services included therein,308 or if the subscriber set a consumption maximum for the package in order to control consumption.
307For example: in a package including 100 units of call minutes, SMSs and cellular data (in MB) for NIS 15, the subscriber shall receive an SMS according to his consumption in relation to all of the aforesaid services. For example: an SMS shall be sent after 75 units have been utilized and an additional warning message after 100 units have been utilized.
308For example: in a package including 100 call minutes, 100 SMSs and 50 MB of cellular data for NIS 20, the subscriber shall receive an SMS according to his consumption in relation to each of the aforesaid services. For example: an SMS shall be sent after 75 call minutes have been utilized and an additional warning message after 100 call minutes have been utilized.
302 Amendment No. 87
303 Amendment No. 57
304 Amendment No. 87
305 Amendment No. 72
306 Amendment No. 87
When engaging in the engagement with the Licensee, the subscriber may refuse to continue receiving the cellular data service for an additional payment after he utilizes 100% of the quota defined for the cellular data service prior to the end of the billing period.
This shall be conspicuously stated in the advertisements of the relevant plans on the Licensee's website, insofar as they are advertised on the website, and by a representative of the Licensee when conducting a sale conversation.
For example: in a package including 100 call minutes, 100 SMSs and 50 MB of cellular data for NIS 20, the subscriber shall receive an SMS according to his consumption in relation to each of the aforesaid services. For example: an SMS shall be sent after 75 call minutes have been utilized and an additional warning message after 100 call minutes have been utilized.
(c) If a subscriber purchases a package that includes cellular data, which is comprised of a basic cellular data package and of additional cellular data packages for utilization if he utilizes all of the basic cellular data package before the end of the billing period, for which a quantity of service units and a price has been defined, the subscriber may completely cancel the purchase of the additional cellular data packages that it purchased at any time, in writing or orally, and the Licensee shall stop providing him the additional cellular data packages and shall no longer charge him in respect thereof as of the date of his request and thereafter.
This shall be conspicuously stated in the advertisements of the relevant plans on the Licensee's website, insofar as they are advertised on the website, and by a representative of the Licensee when conducting a sale conversation.
(d) If a subscriber purchases a package that includes a basic cellular data package, the subscriber may ask the Licensee to block the access to the cellular data service at any time, in writing or orally, and the Licensee shall comply with his request.
| "arrangement"- "cellular data arrangement" "call or SMS arrangement" "cellular data offer316"- "call or SMS arrangement offer" "package" "abroad or destination" |
a package or plan that includes cellular data or calls or SMSs;313 - package or plan that includes cellular data;314 - package or plan that includes calls or SMSs;315 - - an offer of three packages or various plans that the Licensee may have that include data that have been offered to the Licensee's subscribers in the month preceding the month in which the package offers were sent to the subscriber; - an offer of three packages or various plans including a call or SMS service, insofar as the Licensee offers them, which have been offered to the Licensee's subscribers in the month preceding the date on which the arrangement offers was sent to the subscriber.317 - a limited quantity of service units, that can be used during a limited period through international roaming abroad, that are sold at a known and predetermined price and is valid for certain destinations - a country, including a vessel at sea and an aircraft; |
|---|---|
| "Mb" | - Mbyte |
| "blocked subscriber" "open subscriber" cellular data or cellular data service" "plan" |
- subscriber who did not request constant access to cellular data services on the service access form; subscriber who requested constant access to cellular data services on the service access form;318 - - cellular data service abroad a tariff plan for a limited period of time or for a specific trip abroad319 for the use of services through international roaming - abroad (for example: voice service, sending and receiving sms and cellular data) to destinations included in the plan and the payment for the services shall be made in accordance with the use; the service tariffs included in the plan are different from the tariffs for these services for a subscriber that did not enroll in the plan; the plan can determine a set payment that does not depend on usage |
"Discount tariff" - tariff per call minute, for an SMS and for 1 MB within the scope of an arrangement.320
"Full tariff" - tariff per call minute, for an SMS and for 1 MB other than within the scope of an arrangement;
(6) The Licensee shall document the SMSs referred to in this clause, as specified in clause 60.6(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the day they were sent.
321
321 Amendment No. 87
322 Amendment No. 73
323 Amendment No. 87 324 Amendment No. 87
If a Non-Business Subscriber or a Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data Service via International Roaming or a blocked Business Subscriber purchases a package that includes cellular data, which is comprised of a basic cellular data package and additional cellular data packages for utilization after the full utilization of the basic cellular data package, for which a number of service units and price has been defined for each of them, or which is comprised of a basic cellular data package, when after its full utilization or until it expires, the subscriber is charged according to a discount tariff, the subscriber may cancel the purchase of the additional cellular data packages that he purchased or the additional cellular data at a discount tariff that he purchased, at any time, in writing or orally, and the Licensee shall stop providing him the additional cellular data packages or the additional cellular data at a discount rate and shall no longer charge him in respect of cellular data as of the date of his request and thereafter.
The Licensee shall document the subscriber's explicit request as stated, as specified in clause 60.6(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the submission of the request.
When engaging in the order of the service from the Licensee, a Non-Business Subscriber or a Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data Service via International Roaming or a blocked Business Subscriber may refuse to continue receiving the cellular data service for an additional payment after he utilizes 100% of the basic package defined for the cellular data service, as specified in clause 75E.2(b)(1).
This shall be conspicuously stated in the advertisements of the relevant plans on the Licensee's website and by a representative of the Licensee when conducting a sale conversation.
326An "open" status on the service access form, without a cellular data arrangement, is relevant solely to a Business Subscriber; a Non-Business Subscriber and a Split Business Subscriber with Cellular Data via International Roaming, without a cellular data arrangement, shall be blocked from cellular data as the defult mode.
75E.4 Cancelled.328
(a) The Licensee shall send a test message, at no charge, to an open Business Subscriber who did not purchase a cellular data arrangement, or if the cellular data arrangement that he purchased does not include the country to which he arrived, immediately upon his arrival abroad, which shall include a warning about possible consumption of chargeable cellular data service, without the subscriber initiating any action to consume cellular data, and the message shall also include the tariffs for cellular data without a purchase of a cellular data arrangement. The SMS shall also include a cellular data arrangement offer.
The Licensee shall document the sending of the said SMS to the Business Subscriber, as specified in clause 60.6(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending of the SMSs.
328Amendment No. 87
329Amendment No. 87
(b) The Licensee shall send SMSs, at no charge, to an open Business Subscriber who purchased only a basic package whereby the tariff after the full utilization of the package is a discount tariff or a full tariff, and the messages shall include notice regarding the package utilization ratio, as stated in clause 75E.2(b), and the tariff, as stated.
The Licensee shall document its sending of the said SMSs to the Business Subscriber, and about the subscriber sending the said SMSs to the Licensee, if sent, as specified in clause 60.6(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending of the SMSs.330
Insofar as the transaction for the purchase of calls or SMSs does not include destinations abroad, the said SMS shall advise that outgoing calls and the sending of SMSs to destinations abroad shall be charged according to the Full Tariff.
330Amendment No. 87
The Licensee shall document the sending of the said SMS, as specified in clause 60.6(c), shall retain the documentation in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.331
In addition, the Licensee will note information regarding the said " remote sales transaction " in the telephone bill following the date of the execution of the transaction, in accordance with the billing period of the subscriber, that includes the telephone number for which the transaction was executed, the date of the transaction, the amount and types of services that were purchased through international roaming services, the number of days allocated for the use of the services, the date and time of beginning of provision of the services, the price of the services purchased, the price according to which the charge will be done for consuming the services beyond the package, if a package is purchased and the manner of rounding up every amount consumed (hereinafter- "transaction details").
The Licensee shall retain a copy of the Telephone Bill that specifies the details of the transaction in its possession and shall make it available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the transaction execution date.
Notwithstanding that stated, with regard to a tariff reduction, the Licensee may send the notice to the subscriber up to one month after the reduction.
For the purposes of this section, "change" means – any change in tariff that could cause an increase or decrease in the pre-VAT payment that a subscriber must pay for the Licensee's services or any reduction in the number of service units allotted for a billing period, without a change in tariff.
The Licensee shall make the documentation of the sending of the notice available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending thereof.
The Licensee shall make a copy of the Telephone Bill available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of its production date.
(g) Insofar as the Licensee provided a service to a subscriber that is other than a voice or SMS or cellular data service, at a discount or for free for a defined period, including a service that is other than a telecommunications service, the Licensee shall send an SMS to the subscriber about the change in the tariff, as specified in clause 78.1(b), in which the subscriber shall be asked to send a reply SMS to the said SMS, which includes the digit zero (0), and this, if he is no longer interested in continuing to receive the service for a charge. If the subscriber sends an SMS to the Licensee, which includes the digit zero (0), then it is no longer allowed to continue or to start charging the subscriber in respect of the said service at the end of the said period. Documentation of the sending of the SMS by the Licensee to the subscriber shall be done as specified in clause 60.6(c), and the contents of the SMS shall be documented.
The Licensee shall make the said documentation available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of the sending of the SMS.339
If the amount of any tariff for MRT services pursuant to the provisions of the license has been raised or lowered, the increase or decrease shall not apply to payments made for such a service prior to the date of commencement of the increase or decrease; the increase or decrease shall apply only with regard to payments for MRT services that were provided to the Subscriber after the date of the increase of decrease. The provisions of this clause shall not apply in the case of an amendment of a tariff pursuant to the instructions of the Minister under clause 83.
80.1 The Licensee may charge a Subscriber interest, linkage and collection costs for payments for MRT services not paid by the Subscriber on the due date as specified in the payment notice that was sent to the Subscriber, in accordance with the service contract340 between them (hereinafter: the "date of payment").
For this matter, "collections costs"-including legal actions that the Licensee or anyone on the Licensee's behalf takes to collect the amount due before filing an application with the courts.342
340 Amendment No. 32
341 Amendment No. 41
343 Amendment No. 87
344 Amendment No. 87
345 Amendment No. 87
The Licensee is permitted to collect the Collection Fee set out in Paragraph 82 for connection to the MRT System in a number of payments, on dates agreed with the Subscriber and in amounts set out in the service contract.
347 Amendment No. 87
348 Amendment No. 87
349 Amendment No. 57
The Licensee shall document the contents of the complaint in its information system immediately upon its submission, and the outcome of the clarification of the complaint, immediately upon completing the clarification, and shall make this documentation available for delivery or forwarding to the Director, upon his request, within five (5) workdays of completing the clarification of the complaint.351
351 Amendment No. 87
352 Amendment No. 87
The Licensee shall pay linkage differentials, arrearage interest and collection costs as set out in the Royalty Regulations, on royalties not paid in the time prescribed for their payment under said regulations.
Royalties and linkage differentials, arrearage interest, and collection fees therefor, shall be paid to the accountant of the Ministry of Communications by way of bank transfer into the account of the Ministry of Communications.
The royalties under this section shall be in addition to any fee, tax or other obligatory payment that the Licensee is required to pay under the provisions of any law.
In this section:
"Use of the License" - The establishment of an MRT System, its installation, subsistence, maintenance or operation, either by the Licensee or through its agent, including its employees, contractors, agents or representatives.
90.1 The Minister may, on request from the Licensee, grant it the immunities enumerated in Section 9 of the Law, wholly or partially, subject to the provisions of Paragraph 90.3.
90.2 The Licensee will detail in its request the immunities it requests and the reasons for so doing.
90.3 If the Minister is satisfied by the need to grant the Licensee immunities in accordance with Section 9 of the Law, he will publish his decision in the Official Gazette.
92.6 Should the Licensee agree to cancellation of the insurance contract by the insurer, or it has requested to do so itself, the Licensee will draw up an insurance contract with another authorized insurer in such a way that the new insurance contract will go into effect at the same time as the validity of the previous contract expires; the new insurance contract will be submitted to the Director, together with the legal opinion set out in Paragraph 91.4, at least thirty (30) days before it goes into effect, and it will be subject to the instructions in the paragraphs of this section.
Should the Licensee not draw up an insurance contract, or if it becomes clear that the insurance contract it drew up has been cancelled or it has expired, and the Licensee has not drawn up a new insurance contract as set out in Paragraph 92.6, the Director may execute the insurance in its place and pay the insurance fees, and may foreclose the bank guarantee to cover the expense incurred by payment of the insurance fees, or collect them in any other way; all of the above without derogating from the authority to cancel, limit or suspend the License because of non-execution of the insurance according to the conditions of this License by the Licensee.
355 Amendment No. 83
356Amendment No. 14
359(M)The Licensee has not paid the license fee on the date required, in accordance with the provisions of clause 40.1 of the terms and conditions of Tender No. 1/01.
__________________________ 358 Amendment No. 41
The Director or a person authorized by him may supervise the activities of the Licensee in all matters pertaining to the implementation of the License and the observation of the provisions of the Law, the Ordinance and the Regulations therein.
The Director and any person engaged in supervision activities on his behalf over the Licensee, will not disclose any information or document that comes into their hands in the course of their duties, to a person not authorized to receive them, unless they have been made public, or if the disclosure is necessary for the purpose of fulfilling their duties in accordance with this License and in accordance with all laws.
For the purposes of the supervision as set out in this section, the Director may:
The Licensee will cooperate with the Director in all matters concerning the execution of the supervision over its said activities, and without detracting from the generality of the above, it will enable them the execution set out in Paragraphs 100 and 101 and will provide them, on request, any information in its possession or under its control that is required for execution of the supervision.
360 Amendment No. 41 361 Amendment No. 41
362 Amendment No. 71 363 Amendment N. 71
_____________________________
366 Amendment No. 87
367 Amendment No. 41
368 Amendment No. 87
369 Amendment No. 14
373108.5 The Ministry may publish the License, other than the Appendices set out in clause 108.2, on such date and in such manner as it sees fit.
The approval or supervisory authority conferred upon the Minister or the Director in accordance with this License, including the employment of the said authority, does not impose on them any responsibility whatsoever, that is imposed in accordance with this License on the Licensee, and it does not harm or detract or remove or diminish the responsibility of the Licensee as stated above.
373 Amendment No. 14
__________________________

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Forms S-8 (Nos. 333-101652, 333-137102, 333-153419, 333-206420, 333-207946 and 333-210151) of Partner Communications Company Ltd. of our report dated March 29, 2017 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 20-F. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading Selected Financial Data in this Form 20-F.
Tel-Aviv, Israel March 29, 2017
/s/ Kesselman & Kesselman Certified Public Accountants (lsr.) A member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited
Exhibit 10.2

March 13, 2017
Partner Communications Company Ltd. 8 Amal Street Afeq Industrial Park Rosh-Ha'ayin 48103 Israel
Dear Sirs:
We hereby consent to the use of our name, Giza Singer Even ltd, with regards to the Impairment Valuation Studies as of December 31, 2015 and as of December 31, 2014 in Partner Communications Company Ltd (Partner) Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2016, and in Partner's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016.
By /s/
Giza Singer Even LTD.
Name: Nir Harush Title: Partner
Partner Communications Company Ltd. 8 Amal Street Afeq Industrial Park Rosh-Ha'ayin 48103 Israel
Dear Sirs:
On behalf of BDO Ziv Haft Consulting & Management Ltd, Amot Bituach Building 46- 48 Menachem Begin Av. Tel-Aviv (the "Consultant"), I hereby confirm that the Consultant has reviewed the information set forth in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "Form 20-F"), for Partner Communications Company Ltd., under Note 4(a)(4) "Assessing the recoverable amount of goodwill for impairment tests", Note 13(1) "Goodwill impairment tests", Item 5A.1f "Impairment test of Fixed-Line Goodwill as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016", and Item 5A.1r. "Critical accounting estimates and assumptions" in the Form 20-F all with respect to testing for impairment of assets and the results thereof.
The Consultant hereby confirms the information referred to above and consents to being named in the Form 20-F as an "expert".
By /s/
BDO Consulting Group Name: Moti Dattelkramer Title: Partner
I, Isaac Benbenisti, certify that:
Date: March 30, 2017
By: /s/ Isaac Benbenisti
——————————————
Isaac Benbenisti Chief Executive Officer I, Ziv Leitman, certify that:
Date: March 30, 2017 By: /s/ Ziv Leitman
Ziv Leitman Chief Financial Officer
——————————————
In connection with the Annual Report of Partner Communications Company Ltd. (the "Company") on Form 20-F for the period ending December 31, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned hereby certify that to the best of our knowledge:
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: March 30, 2017
By: /s/ Isaac Benbenisti
Name: Isaac Benbenisti Title: Chief Executive Officer
——————————————
——————————————
Date: March 30, 2017
By: /s/ Ziv Leitman
Name: Ziv Leitman Title: Chief Financial Officer
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