The monthly Average Revenue per User ("ARPU") for cellular subscribers in Q3 2021 was NIS 48 (US$ 15), a decrease of 6% from NIS 51 in Q3 2020, the decrease mainly reflecting the continued price erosion, although to a lesser degree, together with an ease in the impact of COVID-19 as was reflected in a decrease in interconnect revenues from incoming calls, on the one hand, and a moderate increase in roaming service revenues on the other hand.
Fixed-Line Segment Operational Review
At the end of Q3 2021:
-- The Company's fiber-optic subscriber base was 192 thousand subscribers,
an increase, net, of 19 thousand subscribers during the third quarter of
2021.
-- The Company's infrastructure-based internet subscriber base (fiber
subscribers and wholesale market subscribers) was 365
thousand subscribers, an increase, net, of 11 thousand subscribers during
the third quarter of 2021.
-- Households in buildings connected to our fiber-optic infrastructure (HC)
totaled 624 thousand, an increase of 53 thousand during the third quarter
of 2021.
-- The Company's TV subscriber base totaled 226 thousand subscribers, an
increase, net, of 3 thousand subscribers during the third quarter of
2021, largely reflecting the impact of the strategic business change in
TV services and tariff updates during the quarter.
Funding and Investing Review
In Q3 2021, Adjusted Free Cash Flow (including lease payments) totaled NIS 9 million (US$ 3 million), a decrease of NIS 12 million compared with NIS 21 million in Q3 2020.
Cash generated from operating activities totaled NIS 224 million (US$ 69 million) in Q3 2021, an increase of 8% from NIS 207 million in Q3 2020, largely reflecting the increase in Adjusted EBITDA.
Lease payments (principal and interest), recorded in cash flows from financing activities under IFRS 16, totaled NIS 43 million (US$ 13 million) in Q3 2021, an increase of 10% from NIS 39 million in Q3 2020.
Cash capital expenditures (CAPEX payments), as represented by cash flows used for the acquisition of property and equipment and intangible assets, were NIS 172 million (US$ 53 million) in Q3 2021, an increase of 17% from NIS 147 million in Q3 2020.
The level of net debt at the end of Q3 2021 amounted to NIS 662 million (US$ 205 million), compared with NIS 646 million at the end of Q3 2020, an increase of NIS 16 million.
Regarding CAPEX additions, in October 2021 the Company received a letter from the MOC confirming that the Company has met the criteria entitling it to a grant for deployment of its 5G network, in the amount of NIS 37 million. The Grant shall be paid in accordance with the schedule set out in the license and after the Company has paid the 5G license fee, expected in 2022. Since the MOC has confirmed entitlement to the grant and the reception of the grant is only subject to the Company's payment of the 5G license fee, which is under the Company's control, the grant was recognized in its entirety as by Sep 30, 2021 under other non-current receivables against a reduction in property and equipment in its present value amount of NIS 36 million.
Regulatory Developments
Cellular license renewal
On November 18, 2021, the Ministry of Communications renewed the Company's cellular license for an additional period of ten years until February 1, 2032.
First annual incentive tender for the deployment of FTTH networks
Further to the description in the Company's 2020 Annual Report-Item 4B-12e-vii "Amendment to the Communications law regarding the deployment of fiber-optic infrastructures in Israel", in October 2021, the MoC published its first annual incentive tender for the rollout of FTTH (fiber to the home) networks in non-economically feasible areas where Bezeq has decided not to deploy its FTTH network.
The tender mechanism was described in the Company's second quarter results for 2021. The tender process is due to take place during December of 2021 and January of 2022. The Company is formulating its strategy regarding the incentive tender and has registered to participate in it.
First annual payment to the incentive fund for deployment of FTTH networks
Further to the description in the Company's 2020 Annual Report-Item 4B-12e-vii "Amendment to the Communications law regarding the deployment of fiber-optic infrastructures in Israel", the MoC has established a fund for incentivizing the rollout of FTTH networks in non-economically feasible areas where Bezeq has decided not to deploy its FTTH network (the "Incentive Fund").
The Incentive Fund is funded by a tax on all relevant telecommunications operators (including Bezeq and Partner) at an annual rate of 0.5% of income (deducting Interconnection fees and fees paid for use of other operators' networks).
In October 2021, the MoC notified the Company that its first annual payment to the Incentive Fund was to be NIS 12 million, to be paid by the end of the year.
A hearing regarding a change to the call interconnection tariff regime
Further to the Company's immediate report dated September 14, 2021 with respect to a hearing process regarding the potential reduction of the interconnect tariff, the Company filed its position regarding this hearing and argued against the change to the current tariff regime. The Company's results of operation may be negatively affected by the results of this hearing.
Reform regarding communication devices
A recent reform of the MoC that amended the Planning and Building Law with respect to communication devices, is intended to facilitate cellular operators' ability to deploy telecommunication infrastructure. As part of the reform, the cellular infrastructure has been classified as a national infrastructure and as such the Licensing Authority of the National Infrastructure Committee has been authorized to discuss and approve communication devices. The reform includes exemptions from building permits in the following cases:
-- Under certain conditions for communication devices that do not exceed 6
meters or 2/3 of the height of the building on which it is placed (the
lower of the two);
-- Replacement of broadcasting devices; and
-- Under certain conditions for the addition of an antenna to an existing
device with a permit.
Business Developments
Advocate Ehud Sol, applied to the court for the approval of a transaction subject to closing conditions to sell the company's shares under his receivership.
On November 24, 2021, that Advocate Ehud Sol, as the permanent receiver over 49,862,800 of the Company's shares held by S.B. Israel Telecom Ltd. ("SBIT"), that constitute approximately 27% of the Company's issued and outstanding share capital (the "Shares"), notified SBIT and the Company (the "Notice"), that he received on said date an offer to purchase the Shares from a group of parties led by the Phoenix group, Mr. Avi Gabbay and Mr. Shlomo Rodav (the "Offeror"), on an "as is" basis, in consideration for US $ 300,000,000 (the "Offer) and that he supports the Offer and will apply to the Tel Aviv District Court in front of which the receivership proceedings are being conducted (the "Court") for its approval. Such request for approval has been submitted to the Court on November 28, 2021. Additionally, the holders of the Fixed Rate Secured Notes of SBIT have informed Advocate Ehud Sol that they support the Offer.
According to the Notice, several Israeli institutional investors are joining the Offeror, and their payment commitments under the Offer are backed by a guarantee of entities in the Phoenix group.
The Notice states that the Offer includes customary closing conditions, including approval of the transaction by the Court and by the Ministry of Communications and the Competition Authority, and must close within 120 days of the date of the Court approval, with the Offeror having an option to extend by an additional 30 days, otherwise the transaction will terminate.
License to supply electricity without means of production
On October 18, 2021, the Minister of Energy granted Partner a license to supply electricity without means of production (the "License"). The License will allow the Company to purchase electricity for sale to consumers that have online meters. The License is granted to Partner for a period of 5 years.
Passive Infrastructure Sharing
On November 14, 2021, P.H.I. Networks (2015) a Limited Partnership, held by the Company at a rate of 50%, entered into a framework agreement with Pelephone Communications Ltd. and Cellcom Israel Ltd, to expand the cooperation between the parties in the field of passive infrastructure sharing for cellular sites, which will allow for the unification of existing and new passive infrastructures for cellular sites, and may lead to cost and investment savings entailed in establishing passive infrastructures for cellular sites. A pre-condition for the agreement to enter into force is the receipt of the approvals required by law. There is no certainty that such approvals will be received.
Conference Call Details
Partner will host a conference call to discuss its financial results on Monday, November 29, 2021 at 10.00 a.m. Eastern Time / 5.00 p.m. Israel Time.
Please dial the following numbers (at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time) in order to participate:
International: +972.3.918.0687
North America toll-free: +1.866.860.9642
A live webcast of the call will also be available on Partner's Investors Relations website at:
http://www.partner.co.il/en/Investors-Relations/lobby
If you are unavailable to join live, the replay of the call will be available from November 29, 2021 until December 13, 2021, at the following numbers:
International: +972.3.925.5921
North America toll-free: +1.888.254.7270
In addition, the archived webcast of the call will be available on Partner's Investor Relations website at the above address for approximately three months.
Forward-Looking Statements