Cellcom Israel Announces Second Quarter 2018 Results

NETANYA, Israel, Aug. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Nir Sztern, Cellcom Israel's CEO said:

• "This quarter concluded with a loss, due to several specific events which burdened the Company's expenses, primarily a retirement of approximately 200 employees, which resulted in an expense of approximately NIS 26 million. The positive effect of reduction of the Company's expenses, shall be seen from the next quarter
• Despite the fierce competition, the Company succeeded to maintain the revenue level as compared with the first quarter of 2018, with total revenues of NIS 927 million in this quarter, compared to NIS 933 million in the first quarter (a decrease of approximately 0.6%), among others, through a successful marketing of the quatro packages
• Entering into the MOU for an investment in IBC, which we recently announced, is of strategic significance to Cellcom Israel and a ground breaking event in the field of internet services in Israel. The cooperation between the companies will allow offering fast and advanced internet services over fiber-optic infrastructure also in the periphery of Israel and to a wide population of approximately one million households, within several years"

Second Quarter 2018 Highlights (compared to second quarter of 2017):

• Total Revenues totaled NIS 927 million ($254 million) compared to NIS 962 million ($264 million) in the second quarter last year, a decrease of 3.6%
• Service revenues totaled NIS 694 million ($190 million) compared to NIS 731 million ($200 million) in the second quarter last year, a decrease of 5.1%
• Operating loss totaled NIS 12 million ($3 million) compared to operating income of NIS 102 million ($28 million) in the second quarter last year. Operating loss for the second quarter of 2018, includes an expense for a new employee voluntary retirement plan in the amount of approximately NIS 26 million ($7 million)
• Loss totaled NIS 37 million ($10 million) compared to net income of NIS 45 million ($12 million) in the second quarter last year
• EBITDA¹ totaled NIS 133 million ($36 million) compared to NIS 237 million ($65 million) in the second quarter last year, a decrease of 43.9%. EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018, includes an expense for a new employee voluntary retirement plan in the amount of approximately NIS 26 million ($7 million)
• Net cash from operating activities totaled NIS 179 million ($49 million) compared to NIS 278 million ($76 million) in the second quarter last year, a decrease of 35.6%
• Free cash flow¹ totaled NIS 56 million ($15 million) compared to NIS 77 million ($21 million) in the second quarter last year, a decrease of 27.3%

Nir Sztern, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, referred to the results of the second quarter of 2018:

"This quarter concluded with a loss, due to several specific events which burdened the Company's expenses, primarily a retirement of approximately 200 employees, which resulted in an expense of approximately NIS 26 million. The positive effect of reduction of the Company's expenses, shall be seen from the next quarter.

Despite the fierce competition, the Company succeeded to maintain the revenue level as compared with the first quarter of 2018, with total revenues of NIS 927 million in this quarter, compared to NIS 933 million in the first quarter (a decrease of approximately 0.6%), among others, through a successful marketing of the quatro packages.

We are pleased to have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with IBC, IEC and other IBC shareholders and stakeholders of IBC, for an investment of Cellcom Israel in IBC.

Entering into the MOU, is of strategic significance to Cellcom Israel and a ground breaking event in the field of internet services in Israel. The cooperation between the companies will allow offering fast and advanced internet services over fiber-optic infrastructure also in the periphery of Israel and to a wide population of approximately one million households, within several years.

We expect that our investment in IBC will place us in a significant competitive position in the advanced fixed-line infrastructure (fiber-optic) market as well, and will allow us, if the transaction is completed, significant savings in payments to Bezeq for Internet infrastructure, an ability to offer our customers new and advanced services and furthers our activities in the landline market.

The continued competition in the cellular segment is reflected in the current quarter as well, with revenues from services in the cellular sector declining by approximately 9.8% compared with the corresponding quarter last year, mainly due to the continued price erosion of those services as a result of the competition in the cellular market. Alongside the ongoing competition in the cellular segment, revenues from services in the fixed-line segment increased by 2.7% compared with the corresponding quarter last year.

The TV revolution that we have brought to the Israeli television market is evident; we are the leading player in the 'new television' services over the internet, with more than 200,000 households (as of today), thanks to the continued trust from our customers each quarter. A quality, innovative and enjoyable viewing experience, has made Cellcom tv, which is also offered through triple and quad-play packages, what it is - the best television service in Israel.

We continue to offer our customers rich and varied content and at the end of the second quarter, we launched our first original TV series: Mashiach, exclusively for our customers, in cooperation with Keshet Studios and starring Israeli actor Udi Kagan. In only a month since it was aired, the series has enjoyed unprecedented popularity, achieving over one million views by our customers.

Our success in the television market received further recognition as we won the prestigious Platinum Award at the Effie Awards, an international competition across 40 countries including Israel, for the significant change we have brought to the Israeli television market.

In the second quarter, we implemented a significant streamlining and voluntary retirement program covering more than 200 employees, alongside a renewal of the collective agreement with the employees' representatives and the Histadrut until the end of 2020."

Shlomi Fruhling, Chief Financial Officer, said:

"During the second quarter of 2018, the increased competition in the cellular market continued, among others due to Xfone's entry into the market as an additional cellular operator, which was reflected in an increase in customers transferring between operators over a short period, and a further decline in prices in the market. As a result, we experienced a continued decline in revenues from cellular services compared with the previous quarter, which was partly compensated by an increase in revenues from cellular services abroad and revenues from the network sharing agreement with Xfone.

Revenues from services in the fixed-line segment continued to grow due to recruitment of subscribers for television and internet services. The growth in these revenues was partially offset by a decrease in revenues from international call services.

Revenues from end-user equipment of the Company were similar to those of the previous quarter, but there was a change in the sales mix, which included growth in the fixed-line segment, mainly from the sale of television screens and solutions to business customers, and a decline in sales in the cellular segment. This change in mix slightly eroded the profit margins from end-user equipment compared to the previous quarter.

The EBITDA of the Company was negatively affected this quarter also by an expense of NIS 26 million for a voluntary retirement plan of employees, while we expect the savings in associated salary costs to be seen gradually from the third quarter of this year, from settling accounts differences in relation to the Company's network sharing agreement with Golan, and an update in provisions for legal proceedings.

Free cash flow in the second quarter of 2018 was NIS 56 million, a decrease of 27.3% compared with the corresponding period last year. The decrease in free cash flow was mainly due to an increase in payments to end user equipment suppliers in the cellular segment, which was partially offset by an increase in receipts from international operators. The second quarter cash flow does not include the cost of the voluntary retirement program that is expected to be paid out during the third quarter.

During the quarter, the Company issued ordinary shares and options, for an immediate net proceeds of NIS 275 million. The proceeds from the issuance will be used for general purposes and to strengthen the Company's balance sheet.

The Company's Board of Directors decided not to distribute dividends for the second quarter of 2018, in view of the continued intensified competition in the market and its negative impact on the Company's operating results and in order to continue to strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The Board of Directors will review its decision in accordance with the development of market conditions and taking into account the Company's needs."

Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL; TASE: CEL) ("Cellcom Israel" or the "Company" or the "Group") announced today its financial results for the second quarter of 2018.

The Company reported that revenues for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 927 million ($254 million); EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 133 million ($36 million), or 14.3% of total revenues; loss for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 37 million ($10 million). Basic loss per share for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 0.36 ($0.10).

Main Consolidated Financial Results:

Main Financial Data by Operating Segments:

Financial Review (second quarter of 2018 compared to second quarter of 2017):

Revenues for the second quarter of 2018 decreased 3.6% totaling NIS 927 million ($254 million), compared to NIS 962 million ($264 million) in the second quarter last year. The decrease in revenues is attributed to a 5.1% decrease in service revenues, which was partially offset by a 0.9% increase in equipment revenues.

Service revenues totaled NIS 694 million ($190 million) in the second quarter of 2018, a 5.1% decrease from NIS 731 million ($200 million) in the second quarter last year.

Service revenues in the cellular segment totaled NIS 434 million ($119 million) in the second quarter of 2018, a 9.8% decrease from NIS 481 million ($132 million) in the second quarter last year. This decrease resulted mainly from the ongoing erosion in the prices of these services as a result of the competition in the cellular market.

Service revenues in the fixed-line segment totaled NIS 300 million ($82 million) in the second quarter of 2018, a 2.7% increase from NIS 292 million ($80 million) in the second quarter last year. The increase resulted mainly from an increase in revenues from internet and TV services. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in revenues from international calling services.

Equipment revenues totaled NIS 233 million ($64 million) in the second quarter of 2018, a 0.9% increase compared to NIS 231 million ($63 million) in the second quarter last year. The increase resulted mainly from an increase in equipment sales in the fixed-line segment. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in the amount of end user equipment sold in the cellular segment.

Cost of revenues for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 675 million ($185 million), compared to NIS 665 million ($182 million) in the second quarter of 2017, a 1.5% increase. This increase resulted mainly from an increase in the amount of end user equipment sold in the fixed-line segment, from an increase in costs of TV services content in the fixed-line segment, from settling accounts differences in respect of the Company's network sharing agreement with Golan and from an update in provisions for legal proceedings, which were partially offset by a decrease in depreciation expenses and a decrease in costs of extended warranty services for end user equipment.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2018 decreased 15.2% to NIS 252 million ($69 million), compared to NIS 297 million ($81 million) in the second quarter of 2017. Gross profit margin for the second quarter of 2018 amounted to 27.2%, down from 30.9% in the second quarter of 2017.

Selling, Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses ("SG&A Expenses") for the second quarter of 2018 increased 15.0% to NIS 238 million ($65 million), compared to NIS 207 million ($57 million) in the second quarter of 2017. This increase is primarily a result of an increase in amortization expenses of salaries and commissions expenses which were capitalized as part of the customer acquisition costs, as a result of early adoption of an International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS 15) as of the first quarter of 2017 (the "Adoption of IFRS15"), as well as from an increase in doubtful accounts expenses.

Other expenses for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 26 million ($7 million), compared with other income of NIS 12 million ($3 million) in the second quarter of 2017. Other expenses for the second quarter of 2018 mainly include an expense for employee voluntary retirement plan in the amount of approximately NIS 26 million ($7 million), compared to an income in the second quarter of 2017, which mainly included a gain from the sale of Internet Rimon Israel 2009 Ltd. ("Internet Rimon"), an indirect subsidiary of the Company, in the amount of approximately NIS 10 million ($3 million) (the "Sale of Internet Rimon").

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 12 million ($3 million), compared with operating income of NIS 102 million ($28 million) in the second quarter of 2017.

EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 decreased by 43.9% totaling NIS 133 million ($36 million) compared to NIS 237 million ($65 million) in the second quarter of 2017. EBITDA as a percent of revenues for the second quarter of 2018 totaled 14.3%, down from 24.6% in the second quarter of 2017.

Cellular segment EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 71 million ($19 million), compared to NIS 158 million ($43 million) in the second quarter last year, a decrease of 55.1%, which resulted mainly from the ongoing erosion in the service revenues, from an expense for employee voluntary retirement plan in the second quarter of 2018, from settling accounts differences in respect of the Company's network sharing agreement with Golan and from an update in provisions for legal proceedings.

Fixed-line segment EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 62 million ($17 million), compared to NIS 79 million ($22 million) in the second quarter last year, a 21.5% decrease, which resulted mainly from an expense for employee voluntary retirement plan in the second quarter of 2018, as well as from a gain from the Sale of Internet Rimon in the second quarter last year. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in activity in the internet and TV fields.

Financing expenses, net for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 36 million ($10 million), compared with NIS 44 million ($12 million) in the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 18.2%, which resulted mainly from a decrease in the Company's debt level.

Taxes on income for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 11 million ($3 million) of tax income, compared to NIS 13 million ($4 million) of tax expenses in the second quarter of 2017. Tax income resulted mainly from loss for tax purposes in the second quarter of 2018, compared to taxable income in the second quarter last year.

Loss for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 37 million ($10 million), compared with net income of NIS 45 million ($12 million) in the second quarter of 2017.

Basic loss per share for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 0.36 ($0.10), compared to basic earnings per share of NIS 0.45 ($0.12) in the second quarter last year.

OPERATING REVIEW

Main Performance Indicators - Cellular segment:

Cellular subscriber base - at the end of the second quarter of 2018 the Company had approximately 2.809 million cellular subscribers. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company's cellular subscriber base decreased by approximately 13,000 net cellular subscribers. This decrease resulted mainly from the removal M2M subscribers from the Company's cellular subscriber base, according to the Company's active cellular subscriber calculation method.

Cellular Churn Rate for the second quarter of 2018 totaled to 12.6%, compared to 10.8% in the second quarter last year.

The monthly cellular Average Revenue per User ("ARPU") for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 51.8 ($14.2), compared to NIS 57.0 ($15.6) in the second quarter last year. The decrease in ARPU resulted mainly from the ongoing erosion in the prices of cellular services, resulting from the intense competition in the cellular market.

Main Performance Indicators - Fixed-line segment:

In the second quarter of 2018, the Company's subscriber base in the internet infrastructure field increased by approximately 13,000 net households, and the Company's subscriber base in the TV field increased by 11,000 net households.

FINANCING AND INVESTMENT REVIEW

Cash Flow

Free cash flow for the second quarter of 2018 totaled NIS 56 million ($15 million), compared to NIS 77 million ($21 million) in the second quarter of 2017, a 27.3% decrease. The decrease in free cash flow resulted mainly from an increase in payments to end user equipment suppliers in the cellular segment, which was partially offset by an increase in receipts from international operators.

Total Equity

Total Equity as of June 30, 2018 amounted to NIS 1,653 million ($453 million) primarily consisting of undistributed accumulated retained earnings of the Company.

For information regarding an equity offering executed in the second quarter of 2018, see "Other Developments During the Second Quarter of 2018 and Subsequent to the End of the Reporting Period - Equity Offering and Controlling Shareholder Holdings" section in this press release.

Cash Capital Expenditures in Fixed Assets and Intangible Assets and others

During the second quarter of 2018, the Company invested NIS 131 million ($36 million) in fixed assets and intangible assets and others (including, among others, investments in the Company's communications networks, information systems, software and TV set-top boxes and capitalization of part of the customer acquisition costs as a result of the adoption of IFRS 15), compared to NIS 191 million ($52 million) in the second quarter 2017.

Dividend

On August 15 2018, the Company's Board of Directors decided not to declare a cash dividend for the second quarter of 2018. In making its decision, the board of directors considered the Company's dividend policy and business status and decided not to distribute a dividend at this time, given the intensified competition and its adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, and in order to strengthen the Company's balance sheet. The board of directors will re-evaluate its decision in future quarters. No future dividend declaration is guaranteed and is subject to the Company's board of directors' sole discretion, as detailed in the Company's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2017 on Form 20-F dated March 26, 2018, or the 2017 Annual Report, under "Item 8 - Financial Information – A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information - Dividend Policy".

Debentures, Material Loans and Financial Liabilities

According to the Company's June 2017 undertaking in an agreement with certain Israeli institutional investors for the issuance of NIS 220 million principal amount of additional series K debentures from the Company's existing series K debentures, on July 1, 2018, the Company issued the additional debentures as aforesaid.

For information regarding the Company's outstanding debentures as of June 30, 2018, see "Disclosure for Debenture Holders" section in this press release.

For information regarding the Company's material loans as of June 30, 2018, see "Aggregation of the Information regarding the Company's Material Loans" section in this press release.

For a summary of the Company's financial liabilities as of June 30, 2018, see "Disclosure for Debenture Holders" section in this press release.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2018 AND SUBSEQUENT TO THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

Investment in IBC

In August 2018, following the Company's previous reports regarding a possible investment in Israel Broadband Company, or IBC, the Company, the Israeli Electric Company, or IEC, IBC and the other shareholders and main creditors of IBC have entered a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, for an investment by the Company in IBC. IBC's licenses provide IBC the exclusive right to deploy fiber optic over IEC's infrastructure.

The MOU outlines the principles of the transaction contemplated by the parties and in addition to standard and customary conditions contains the following stipulations:

• The Transaction: for a total amount of approximately NIS 100 million, or the Consideration, Cellcom Israel (by itself or with a group of investors it may arrange) will own 70% of IBC's issued and outstanding share capital and the other 30% of IBC's issued and outstanding share capital will be owned by IEC. The Consideration shall be used to settle generally all of IBC's debts.
• The transaction is subject to entering a definitive agreement and certain other documentation (including an updated agreement of IBC with IEC and an IRU broadband service agreement between Cellcom and IBC), or the Agreement, within a certain period from the MOU execution.
• The MOU also contains certain precedent conditions to the closing of the transaction, including regulatory approvals (including with regards to the change of IBC's deployment obligations) and tax arrangements.

The terms of the Agreement are subject to further negotiations between the parties and approval of the Company's Board of Directors. If entered, the execution of the transaction will be subject to the said conditions, including regulatory approvals. There is no assurance that the parties will enter the Agreement, or that such Agreement will be approved and executed, nor as to its timing and terms.

Further, in August 2018, the Minister of Communication, or MOC, resolved to allow IBC to apply for a general unique (infrastructure) license the MOC intends to regulate, in lieu of its current license. The new license will include, among others, a deployment requirement to at least 40% of Israel's households in 10 years from receipt of the license, as opposed to a universal deployment requirement in IBC's current license.

For additional details see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk factors – Risks related to our business - We face intense competition in all aspects of our business", "- Our investment in new businesses involves many risks" and "Item 4. Information on the Company –B. Business Overview – Competition – Fixed-Line Segment- Fixed-Line Infrastructure" and the Company's current report on form 6-K dated August 8, 2018.

Forward looking statement

The information included in this press release contains, or may be deemed to contain, forward-looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Israeli Securities Law, 1968). Said forward-looking statements, relating to the potential transaction and execution thereof and the benefits therefrom, and objectives for fiber-optic deployment, are subject to uncertainties and assumptions about the completion of the negotiations, approval of the transaction by the Company's board of directors, the completion of the precedent conditions including the receipt of the necessary approvals, the ability to carry out future plans as to IBC and the Company's, and the Israeli telecommunication regulation and market condition. The actual conditions the Company may face could lead to materially different outcome than that set forth above.

Regulation

Frequencies

In July 2018, following the Company's previous reports regarding a frequencies migration the Company shall be required to execute to accord to European standards, the Ministry of Communications, or MOC, notified the Company that its 850MHZ frequencies allocation shall expire on February 1, 2022 and replaced by 900MHZ frequencies no later than March 22, 2021. The method and schedule in which such replacement will be executed, including interim frequencies allocations as required, shall be formed separately. The MOC noted the Company may use an interim leniency to the Planning and Building Law, allowing, under certain conditions, replacement of cell sites without obtaining a building permit. The Company is examining the implications of the MOC's notification and possible courses of action.

For additional details see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk factors – Risks related to our business - We operate in a heavily regulated industry, which can harm our results of operations, Regulation in Israel has materially adversely affected our results", "- We may not be able to obtain permits to construct and operate cell sites" and "-We may be adversely affected by significant technological and other changes in the telecommunications industry" and "Item 4. Information on the Company –B. Business Overview – Network and Infrastructure – Cellular Segment- Cellular Infrastructure - Spectrum allocation" and "- Government Regulation – Cellular Segment - Permits for Cell Site Construction" and the Company's current report on Form 6-K dated July 5, 2018.

TV

In July 2018, a new bill for the regulation of broadcasting was published and includes classification of audio visual providers into four categories and determination of the regulation applied to each, which according to the Company's estimate does not materially change the regulation that shall apply to the Company in the coming years.

The legislation of the bill requires legislative proceedings in the Israeli parliament, which may include material changes to the bill. If the legislation adopted requires the Company to make additional investments or impose unfavorable regulation on the Company's OTT TV service, or apply such regulation to the Company and not to other OTT TV providers, it may adversely affect the Company's OTT TV business.

For additional details see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors – We operate in a heavily regulated industry, which can harm our results of operations. Regulation in Israel has materially adversely affected our results" and "– Item 4. Information on the Company – B. Business Overview – Government Regulations ― Fixed-line Segment – OTT TV".

Call Centers Manner of Response

In July 2019, an amendment to the Israeli Consumer Protection Law regulating the manner of response of call centers, will come into effect. The amendment includes measurable parameters for response times, which are partly incompatible with a recently reported similar amendment to the Groups' licenses. The Company is studying the amendment and at this stage cannot estimate the amendment's effect on its results of operations.

For additional details see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors – Risks Related to our Business – We operate in a heavily regulated industry, which can harm our results of operations. Regulation in Israel has materially adversely affected our results" and "Item 4. Information on The Company – B. Business Overview – Government Regulations – Cellular Segment - Our Cellular License" and the Company's current report on form 6-K dated May 30, 2018 under " Other developments during the first quarter of 2018 and subsequent to the end of the reporting period – Regulation".

Wholesale Landline Telephony Services

In June 2018, the MOC resolved not to prolong Bezeq's temporary alternative for its obligation to provide wholesale landline telephony services (the resale telephony services) after the lapse of the temporary alternative period and to obligate Bezeq to provide wholesale landline telephony services as of August 1, 2018. As of the date of this report, Bezeq does not provide the wholesale landline telephony services.

For additional details see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 4. Information on The Company – B. Business Overview – Government Regulations – Fixed-line Segment – Wholesale landline market".

Equity Offering and Controlling Shareholder Holdings

In June 2018, The Company issued in an offering to the public in Israel only:

• 12,121,200 ordinary shares of the Company (par value NIS 0.01 per share, or ordinary shares).
• 3,030,300 Series 1 Options. Each Series 1 Option entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of NIS 19.50, until December 24, 2018.
• and 3,030,300 Series 2 Options. Each Series 2 Option entitles the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of NIS 20, until June 24, 2019.

The offering was made in Israel only under the Company's Israeli 2017 shelf prospectus and the securities were registered for trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

The total net consideration received by the Company from the offering was approximately NIS 275 million.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include financing its operating and investment activity, payment of outstanding debt under its debentures and other credit facilities, and dividend distributions, subject to certain restrictions that apply to dividend distributions made by the Company and to the decisions of the Company's board of directors from time to time.

In addition, the Company's controlling shareholder announced that following the completion of a swap transaction of the Company's controlling shareholder with a financial institution, it purchased an additional approximately 1.1% of the Company's pre offering issued and outstanding share capital, for a period of 90 days (at the end of which it will be obligated to sell back such swap shares).

Following such transaction and the participation of the Company's controlling shareholder in the offering, after the closing of the offering, the Company's controlling shareholder holds approximately 44.2% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital and approximately 47.2% of the Company's voting rights (directly and indirectly and through agreements with other shareholders of the Company).        

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

For additional details see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 7. Major Shareholders and related party transactions – A. Major Shareholders" and the Company's current reports on Form 6-K dated June 21, 25, 26 and 27, 2018.

Collective Employment Agreement and Employee Voluntary Retirement Plan

In July 2018, the Company entered a new collective employment agreement with its employees' representatives and the Histadrut (an Israeli union labor) for a three year period until the end of 2020, which is similar to the Company's previous collective employment agreement (which expired at the end of 2017) and includes certain nonmaterial additions. The labor dispute announced in March 2018 by the Histadrut, was cancelled.

In addition, in May 2018, the Group, in collaboration with the employees representatives, launched a new voluntary retirement plan for employees, following which, the Company recorded an expense in an amount of approximately NIS 26 million in the second quarter of 2018 with respect to employees who joined the plan.

For additional details including regarding the Company's previous collective employment agreement see the Company's 2017 Annual Report under "Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors – Risks Related to our Business – The unionizing of our employees may prevent us from executing necessary organizational and personnel changes, result in increased costs or disruption to our operation" and "Item 6. Directors, senior management and employees – D. Employees" and the Company's current report on form 6-K dated May 30, 2018 under " Other developments during the first quarter of 2018 and subsequent to the end of the reporting period - Negotiations regarding Collective Employment Agreement and Voluntary Retirement Plan".

Purchase of Minority Holdings in Subsidiary

In July 2018, following an exercise of an option of minority shareholders in an indirect subsidiary of the Company to sell the minority shares to the Company's subsidiary, the Company's subsidiary purchased 40% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the said indirect subsidiary for an amount of NIS 19 million.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

The Company will be hosting a conference call regarding its results for the second quarter of 2018 on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at 09:00 am ET, 06:00 am PT, 14:00 UK time, 16:00 Israel time. On the call, management will review and discuss the results, and will be available to answer questions. To participate, please either access the live webcast on the Company's website, or call one of the following teleconferencing numbers below. Please begin placing your calls at least 10 minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

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

About Cellcom Israel

Cellcom Israel Ltd., established in 1994, is a leading Israeli communications group, providing a wide range of communications services. Cellcom Israel is the largest Israeli cellular provider, providing its approximately 2.809 million cellular subscribers (as at June 30, 2018) with a broad range of services including cellular telephony, roaming services for tourists in Israel and for its subscribers abroad, text and multimedia messaging, advanced cellular content and data services and other value-added services in the areas of music, video, mobile office etc., based on Cellcom Israel's technologically advanced infrastructure. The Company operates an LTE 4 generation network and an HSPA 3.5 Generation network enabling advanced high speed broadband multimedia services, in addition to GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Cellcom Israel offers Israel's broadest and largest customer service infrastructure including telephone customer service centers, retail stores, and service and sale centers, distributed nationwide. Cellcom Israel further provides OTT TV services (as of December 2014), internet infrastructure (as of February 2015) and connectivity services and international calling services, as well as landline telephone services in Israel. Cellcom Israel's shares are traded both on the New York Stock Exchange (CEL) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (CEL). For additional information please visit the Company's website http://investors.cellcom.co.il.

Forward-Looking Statements

The following information contains, or may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Israeli Securities Law, 1968). In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company, may include projections of the Company's future financial results, its anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in its business. These statements are only predictions based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: changes to the terms of the Company's license, new legislation or decisions by the regulator affecting the Company's operations, new competition and changes in the competitive environment, the outcome of legal proceedings to which the Company is a party, particularly class action lawsuits, the Company's ability to maintain or obtain permits to construct and operate cell sites, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption "Risk Factors" in its 2017 Annual Report. 

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

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Unless noted specifically otherwise, the dollar denominated figures were converted to US$ using a convenience translation based on the New Israeli Shekel (NIS)/US$ exchange rate of NIS 3.650 = US$ 1 as published by the Bank of Israel for June 30, 2018.

Use of non-IFRS financial measures

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

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

Financial Tables Follow

Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Disclosure for debenture holders as of June 30, 2018

Aggregation of the information regarding the debenture series issued by the Company ⁽¹⁾, in million NIS

Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Disclosure for debenture holders as of June 30, 2018 (cont`d)

Debentures Rating Details* 

Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Aggregation of the information regarding the Company's Material Loans ⁽¹⁾, in million NIS

Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Summary of Financial Undertakings (according to repayment dates) as of June 30, 2018

a.       Debentures issued to the public by the Company and held by the public, excluding such debentures held by the Company's parent company, by a controlling shareholder, by companies controlled by them, or by companies controlled by the Company, based on the Company's "Solo" financial data (in thousand NIS).

b.      Private debentures and other non-bank credit, excluding such debentures held by the Company's parent company, by a controlling shareholder, by companies controlled by them, or by companies controlled by the Company, based on the Company's "Solo" financial data (in thousand NIS).

c.       Credit from banks in Israel based on the Company's "Solo" financial data (in thousand NIS) - None.

Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Summary of Financial Undertakings (according to repayment dates) as of June 30, 2018 (cont`d)

d.      Credit from banks abroad based on the Company's "Solo" financial data (in thousand NIS) - None.

e.       Total of sections a - d above, total credit from banks, non-bank credit and debentures based on the Company's "Solo" financial data (in thousand NIS).

f.       Out of the balance sheet Credit exposure based on the Company's "Solo" financial data - None.

g.      Out of the balance sheet Credit exposure of all the Company's consolidated companies, excluding companies that are reporting corporations and excluding the Company's data presented in section f above (in thousand NIS) - None.

h.      Total balances of the credit from banks, non-bank credit and debentures of all the consolidated companies, excluding companies that are reporting corporations and excluding Company's data presented in sections a - d above (in thousand NIS) - None.

i.        Total balances of credit granted to the Company by the parent company or a controlling shareholder and balances of debentures offered by the Company held by the parent company or the controlling shareholder (in thousand NIS) - None.

j.        Total balances of credit granted to the Company by companies held by the parent company or the controlling shareholder, which are not controlled by the Company, and balances of debentures offered by the Company held by companies held by the parent company or the controlling shareholder, which are not controlled by the Company (in thousand NIS).

k.      Total balances of credit granted to the Company by consolidated companies and balances of debentures offered by the Company held by the consolidated companies (in thousand NIS) - None.

SOURCE Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Related Links

http://investors.cellcom.co.il/