Commission File Number 1-04212
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter and translation of Registrants name into English)
Israel
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
P.O. Box 142, Hadera
38101, Israel
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Ordinary Shares par value NIS .01 per share |
Name of each exchange on which registered American Stock Exchange |
---|
Securities registered or to be 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:
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers 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 checkmark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 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: Yes No
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. (Check one)
Large accelerated filer | Accelerated filer | Non- accelerated filer |
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 check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No
Not applicable to Annual Reports
Not applicable to Annual Reports
American Israeli Paper Mills Ltd. (AIPM or the Company) prepares its financial statements in accordance with Israeli GAAP. Israeli GAAP and U.S. GAAP vary in certain respects,as it relates to the Company, as described in Item 17.
The following selected financial data is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company.
The financial data is presented in New Israeli Shekel (NIS) as follows:AIPM made a transition to reporting in nominal New Israeli Shekels (NIS) in 2004, pursuant to the directives of Standard 12 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Israel. Prior to 2004 AIPMs reports were in NIS, adjusted to changes in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the NIS.
The comparison figures for the years 2002 - 2003 are the dollar figures, as reported in the past, multiplied by the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar as at December 31, 2003, the day of the transition to NIS-based reporting pursuant to Standard 12 ($1 = NIS 4.379). See also note 1b to the Financial Statements.
1
According to Israeli GAAP (In Thousands of NIS Except Per Share Amounts) | Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
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Income Statement data:
| 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||||
Sales | 530,109 | 482,461 | 482,854 | 465,092 | 455,775 | ||||||||||||
Income from ordinary operations | 50,501 | *43,338 | *54,438 | 46,584 | 36,455 | ||||||||||||
Share in profits (losses) of associated companies, net | ****(26,202) | 16,414 | 25,072 | 35,549 | 16,727 | ||||||||||||
Net income | 113,330 | 145,715 | 162,732 | 160,047 | 37,460 | ||||||||||||
Selected balance sheet data: | |||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 1,173,287 | 1,155,758 | 1,162,387 | 1,253,274 | 1,052,123 | ||||||||||||
Fixed assets | 400,823 | 379,934 | 345,239 | 340,543 | 339,579 | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 256,290 | 260,581 | 261,269 | 268,052 | 70,257 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity | 430,842 | 523,384 | 575,313 | 614,230 | 650,950 | ||||||||||||
Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||
Shares outstanding at end of year | 4,032,723 | 4,002,205 | 3,996,674 | 3,968,295 | 3,918,710 | ||||||||||||
Amount in NIS | 40,327 | 40,022 | 39,967 | 39,683 | 39,187 | ||||||||||||
Net income per NIS 1 par value: | |||||||||||||||||
Primary | 3.31 | ***11.43 | ***15.77 | ***15.26 | ***9.56 | ||||||||||||
Fully diluted | 3.28 | ***11.35 | ***15.44 | ***14.99 | ***9.49 | ||||||||||||
Dividend declared per share | 224.85 | 2**24.99 | 225.12 | 225.12 | 2 5.30 |
* | Reclassified |
** | Consists of two dividends that were declared in 2005 (see comment 2 below). |
*** | As a result of implementing retroactively the change of accounting policy. |
**** | Amount does not include the cumulative affect of a change in accounting policy of associated company of NIS (461). |
(1) | The net income includes gains in the years 2005, 2004 and 2003 (in the sum of 8,000 thousands, NIS 14,440 thousands and NIS 2,700 thousands respectively, which relate to certain tax benefits for a further discussion of these items, see Item 5 Operating Financial Review and Prospects. |
(2) | Dividend for 2002, in the sum of NIS 6.31 per share ($1.44 per share) was declared in March 2003 and paid in April 2003. |
Dividend paid in 2003 includes a special dividend for 2003 in the sum of NIS 18.81 per share ($4.29 per share). |
Dividend for 2003 in the sum of NIS 25.12 per share ($5.54 per share) was declared in August 2004 and paid in September 2004. |
Dividend for 2005 in the sum of NIS 12.50 per share ($2.71 per share) was declared in August 2005 and paid in September 2005. Additional dividend for 2005 in the sum of NIS 12.49 per share ($2.71 per share) was declared in December 2005 and paid in January 2006. |
Dividend for 2006 in the sum of NIS 24.85 per share ($ 5.64 per share) was declared in June 2006 and paid in July 2006. |
2
According to U.S. GAAP (In Thousands of re-measured NIS except per share amounts) | Year Ended December 31
| ||||||||||||||||
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Income statement and balance sheet data:
| 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||||
Sales | 530,109 | 482,461 | 482,854 | 481,491 | 492,990 | ||||||||||||
Income from ordinary operations | 76,917 | 63,258 | 63,974 | 53,688 | 53,751 | ||||||||||||
Share in profits (losses) of associated companies, net | (19,686 | ) | 8,193 | 29,213 | 20,972 | 27,464 | |||||||||||
Net income | 123,909 | 141,861 | (1)58,720 | 138,469 | 54,624 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | 1,123,964 | 1,097,543 | 1,107,725 | 1,189,215 | 1,026,083 | ||||||||||||
Fixed assets | 362,539 | 340,914 | 300,746 | 291,060 | 282,281 | ||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 257,075 | 260,581 | 261,269 | 268,052 | 76,001 | ||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity | 374,768 | 461,406 | 520,482 | 550,354 | 602,675 | ||||||||||||
Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||
Shares outstanding at end of year | 4,032,723 | 4,002,205 | 3,996,674 | 3,968,295 | 3,918,710 | ||||||||||||
Share outstanding to compute: | |||||||||||||||||
Basic net income per share | 4,025,181 | 3,999,910 | 3,978,339 | 3,938,035 | 3,918,710 | ||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share | 4,055,628 | 4,051,610 | 4,043,714 | 3,969,708 | 3,933,280 | ||||||||||||
Amount in NIS | 40,327 | 40,022 | 39,967 | 39,683 | 39,187 | ||||||||||||
Net income per share (re-measured NIS) | |||||||||||||||||
Basic | 5.94 | 10.47 | 14.76 | 9.77 | 13.94 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 5.89 | 10.33 | 14.52 | 9.69 | 13.81 | ||||||||||||
Dividend declared per share | 224.85 | 2**24.99 | 225.12 | 225.55 | (2)5.77 |
For further information about the effect of application of U.S. GAAP, see Item 17.
** Consist of two dividends were declared in 2005 (see comment 2 below)
(1) | The net income includes losses in the years 2005 and 2003, in the sum of NIS 10,000 thousands and NIS 16,986 thousands respectively, [representing other than temporary impairment of investment in associated companies (see Item 17-e)]. Net income in the years 2005, 2004 and 2003, includes gains of NIS 8,000 thousands, NIS 14,440 thousands and NIS 2,700 thousands respectively, originated from certain tax benefits. For a further discussion of these items, see discussion in Item 5 Operating Financial Review and Prospects. |
(2) |
Dividend for 2002, in the sum of NIS 6.61 per share ($1.44 per share) was
declared in March 2003 and paid in April 2003. |
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The exchange rate between the NIS and U.S. dollar published by the Bank of Israel was NIS 4.033 to the dollar on May 31, 2007. The high and low exchange rates between the NIS and the U.S. dollar during the six months of December 2006 through May 2007, as published by the Bank of Israel, were as follows:
Month
|
High
|
Low
|
||||||
1 U.S. dollar = | 1 U.S. dollar = | |||||||
December 2006 | 4.234 NIS | 4.176 NIS | ||||||
January 2007 | 4.260 NIS | 4.187 NIS | ||||||
February 2007 | 4.254 NIS | 4.183 NIS | ||||||
March 2007 | 4.222 NIS | 4.155 NIS | ||||||
April 2007 | 4.135 NIS | 4.014 NIS | ||||||
May 2007 | 4.065 NIS | 3.932 NIS |
The average exchange rate between the NIS and U.S. dollar, using the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period, for each of the five most recent fiscal years was as follows:
Period |
Exchange Rate |
||
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January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001 | 4.219 NIS/$1 | ||
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002 | 4.736 NIS/$1 | ||
January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003 | 4.512 NIS/$1 | ||
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2004 | 4.483 NIS/$1 | ||
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2005 | 4.878 NIS/$1 | ||
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2006 | 4.456 NIS/$1 |
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act) (collectively, the Safe Harbor Provisions). These are statements that are not historical facts and include statements about our beliefs and expectations. These statements contain potential risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ significantly. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words believe, expect, intend, estimate and similar expressions. Such statements appear in this Annual Report and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectation of the Company or its directors or officers. Actual results may differ materially from those projected, expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, without limitation, the factors set forth below under the caption Risk Factors (the Company refers to these factors as Cautionary Statements). Any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company cautions potential investors not to place undue reliance on such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Companys behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements.
4
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A slowdown in the market may result in a reduction of profitability
A slowdown in the global markets as well as in the Israeli market may cause: a decrease in the demand for the Companys and its associated companies products, an increase in the competition with imported products and a decrease in the profitability of export and that could result in a reduction in the Groups* sales and a decline in its profitability.
Future legal restriction may negatively affect the results of operations
The Companys activities and its subsidiaries and associated companies activities are confined by legal constraints (such as government policy on various subjects, different requirements made by the authorities supervising environmental regulations and governmental decisions to raise minimum wages) . These restrictions may affect the results of operations of the Group.
Any future rise in the inflation rate may negatively affect business
Since the Company possesses a significant amount of CPI-linked liabilities, a high inflation rate may cause significant financial expenses. Consequently, the Company occasionally enter into hedging transactions to cover the exposure due to the liabilities. A high inflation rate may also affect payroll expenses, which, at the long run, tends to be adjusted to the changes in the CPI.
Exposure to Exchange Rate Fluctuation
The Company, its consolidated subsidiaries and associated companies are exposed to risks due to changes in the foreign exchange rates, either due to importing raw materials and finished products or due to exporting to international markets. Changes in the foreign exchange rates of the different currencies compared to the New Israeli Shekel may cause erosion in profitability and cash flow.
The Company faces significant competition in the markets the Company operates in
The Company operates in the packaging paper and office supplies industries, both of which are highly competitive. In the packaging paper industry the Company faces competition from imported paper. In the office equipment sector the Company faces competition from many suppliers that operate in the Companys markets. The associated companies are also exposed to competition in all of their operations. This competition may negatively affect the future results. For further information see the section titled Competition in Item 4B below.
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The Company is exposed to increases in the cost of raw materials.
The increase in the activity of the paper machines, which are based on paper waste as a recycled fiber, makes it necessary to increase the collection of paper waste and seek wider range of collection sources. The lack of enforcement of the Israeli recycling laws, which require waste recycling, makes it difficult to find alternative resources at a competitive cost, but the enactment of the Clean Environment Act in January 2007, which charges a landfill levy on waste may, if effectively enforced, significantly improve the ability to collect paper waste.
There is an exposure in the associated companies resulting from fluctuation of prices of raw material and of the imported products, which arrive to Israel without tariffs or entrance barriers. Exceptional price increase of raw materials and imported products may have an adversary effect on these Companies profitability.
The Company is dependent on energy prices.
AIPMs activities are highly dependent on the consumption of energy and therefore are influenced by fuel and electricity prices. AIPMs profitability may suffer if there is an exceptional increase in energy prices.
Account Receivable Risks
Most of the Companys and its subsidiaries sales are made in Israel to a large number of customers. Part of the sales is made without full security of payment. The exposure to credit risks relating to trade receivables is usually limited, due to the relatively large number of our customers. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers to determine the required amount of allowance for doubtful accounts. An appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts is included in the financial statements.
The operations in Turkey may suffer as a result of the Turkish economy.
The Company is exposed to various risks related to its activities in Turkey, where Hogla-Kimberly Ltd (H-K) operates through its subsidiary, Kimberly Clark Turkey (KCTR). These risks result from economic instability and high inflation rates and exchange rate fluctuations, which have characterized the Turkish economy during the past years, and may be repeated and adversely affect KCTRs activities.
Risks Associated with credit from banks
The Company forms part of the I.D.B. Group and is influenced by the Israel Banking Supervisors Correct Banking Management Regulations, which includes amongst other things, limits to the volume of loans an Israeli bank can issue to a single borrower; a single borrowing group(as this term is defined in the said regulations), and to the six largest borrowers and borrowing groups at a bank corporation. I.D.B. Development, its controlling shareholders and some of the companies held thereby, are considered to be a single borrowing group. Under certain circumstances, this can influence the AIPM Groups ability to borrow additional sums from Israeli banks and to carry out certain business transactions in partnership with entities that drew on the aforesaid credit.
For further information, see Item 11 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk.
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American Israeli Paper Mills Ltd. was incorporated in 1951 under the laws of the State of Israel, and, together with its subsidiaries and associated companies (which together with the Company are referred to as the Group) is Israels largest manufacturer of paper and paper products.
The Companys principal executive offices, and also the Companys registered offices, are located at 1 Meizer St., Industrial Zone, P.O. Box 142, Hadera, Israel, Tel: (972-4) 634-9349, fax: (972-4) 633-9740.
The organizational structure of the Company and certain subsidiaries was changed as of January 1, 1999. This change was intended to result in an operational separation between various activities, especially in the paper and board divisions, to allow for better business focus, greater operating efficiency and the formulation of business strategies that facilitate the establishment of additional international strategic alliances.
Within the framework of the organizational changes, different fields of operations were defined and separated, including printing and writing paper and packaging paper. For each of them a separate management team was assigned.
Over the last few years, the Group has participated in several joint ventures as follows:
1. In July 1992, the Group purchased 25% of the shares of Carmel Container Systems Ltd. (Carmel), a leading Israeli designer, manufacturer and marketer of containers, packaging materials and related products. As of December 31, 2006, the Group held 26.25% of the shares of Carmel shares. As a result of a self acquisition by Carmel, the Groups holding in Carmel increased as of June 01, 2007, to 36.2% of the shares of Carmel shares. Another major shareholder in this company is Kraft Group LLC (an American shareholder) (49.6%). Carmel shares were traded on the AMEX and were deregistrated and delisted in 2005.
2. In 1996, Kimberly Clark Ltd. (KC) acquired 49.9% of the shares of Hogla, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and a leading Israeli consumer products company, which was then renamed Hogla-Kimberly Ltd (H-K). H-K is engaged in the production and marketing of household paper products, hygiene products, disposable diapers and complementary kitchen products. The partnership was intended to expand the local production base in Israel, in order to serve both local and regional demand, and to offer H-K access to international markets. In 1999, H-K purchased Ovisan, which was renamed to Kimberly Clark Turkey (KCTR), a Turkish manufacturer and marketer of diapers and paper products. On March 31, 2000, KC increased its holdings in H-K to 50.1%.
3. Effective January 1, 2000, AIPM entered into a joint venture agreement with Neusiedler AG (NAG), pursuant to which NAG acquired 50.1% of AIPMs printing and writing paper operations. The printing and writing paper operation was separated from AIPM upon the completion of this transaction and was sold to Neusiedler Hadera Paper (NHP), a subsidiary that was established for this purpose, of which NAG acquired 50.1%. NHP was renamed in 2004 and is now called Mondi Business Hadera Paper (Mondi Hadera).
4. Amnir Recycling Industries Ltd. (Amnir) (a wholly owned subsidiary of AIPM), which is engaged in the collection and recycling of paper and plastic waste and in the confidential data destruction, acquired in 1997 and 1998 20% and 10%, respectively, of Cycle-Tec Recycling Technologies Ltd. (Cycle-Tec), a research and development company which develops a process for manufacturing of a high strength / low cost composite material, based on recycled post consumer plastic and paper, treated with special chemical additives. As of May 31, 2007, Amnir owned 30.18% of Cycle-Tec.
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5. In July 1998, the Company signed an agreement with a strategic partner, Compagnie Generale dEntreprises Automobiles (CGEA), for the sale of 51% of the operations of Amnir Industries and Environmental Services Ltd. (Amnir Environment) in the field of solid waste management (waste disposal and management of transfer stations and landfills). CGEA is an international French company, which is part of the Veolia group and one of the worlds leading companies in the field of environmental services. The agreement did not apply to Amnirs operations in collecting and recycling paper and plastic. As of February 13, 2007, the Company is no longer a shareholder in Amnir Environment, see clause 6 below.
6. In March 2000, AIPM and CGEA, on the one hand, and Tamam Integrated Recycling Industries Ltd. (T.M.M.) and its controlling shareholders, on the other hand, entered into an agreement pursuant to which AIPM and CGEA acquired through a jointly held company, Barthelemi Holdings Ltd (Barthelemi) from T.M.M.s controlling shareholders 62.5% of the share capital of T.M.M., an Israeli company in the solid waste management field. Simultaneously therewith, 100% of Amnir Environments shares were transferred to T.M.M. in return for an allocation of 35.3% of the shares of T.M.M. to the shareholders of Amnir Environment. Following such transaction, AIPM and CGEA owned, together, 75.74% of the shares of T.M.M. In August and September 2000, T.M.M. acquired approximately 3% of its own share capital. In December 2001 and in August 2003 AIPM and CGEA acquired additional shares of T.M.M.s share capital through the jointly held company Barthelemi, resulting in an increase in the ownership of shares of T.M.M. by AIPM and CGEA to 88%, and as of December 31, 2006, AIPM held directly and indirectly 43.08% of T.M.M.s shares and CGEA held 44.92% of T.M.M.s shares. On January 4, 2007, an Agreement was signed between the Company and CGEA, according to which, the Company sold to CGEA its holdings in Barthelemi, and the rest of its holdings in T.M.M. The aforesaid transaction, for the total amount of $ 27 million, was accomplished in February 13, 2007, and since then, the Company is no longer a shareholder in T.M.M.
7. In June 2005, C.D. Packaging Systems Limited (C.D., an associated company of AIPM, held jointly with Carmel), which is engaged, in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of consumers packages, acquired the business activity of Frenkel and sons Ltd., in exchange for allocation of shares in C.D., and was renamed to Frenkel- CD Ltd. Both companies are engaged in the field of folding boxes. The goal of the new entity is to join the activities in the field and create a significant entity in the competitive market, while combining the advantages of the two companies and fulfilling the potential of cost savings, as a result of the synergy between the activities. The merger is effective as of January 01 2006. As of May 31, 2007, the Group holds 35.16% of C.D.s shares (directly and indirectly through Carmel that holds 27.85% of C.D.s shares) and Frenkel and sons Ltd. holds 44.3% of C.D.s shares.
Capital Expenditures and Divestitures
2006
The investments in fixed assets totaled about NIS 53.1 million (about $ 12.5 million). These investments included:
| Investments of approximately NIS 3.0 million ($ 0.7 million) in environmental expenditures. |
| An investment of approximately NIS 2.5 million ($ 0.6 million) in a conversion to a conversion to gas system. |
| Investments of approximately NIS 13.9 million ($ 3.3 million) in conversion and improvement of steam tanks. |
| Investments of approximately NIS 1.7 million ($ 0.4 million) in real estate in Hadera as a reserve for the Companys future development. |
| Investments totaling NIS 32.0 million ($ 7.5 million) in buildings, equipment, transportation and information technology. |
8
2005
The investments in fixed assets totaled about NIS 71.1 million (about $15.4 million). These investments included:
| Investments of approximately NIS 4.6 million ($1.0 million) in environmental expenditures. |
| An investment of approximately NIS 1.8 million ($0.4 million) in a conversion to a gas system. |
| Investments of approximately NIS 36.8 million ($8 million) in real estate in Hadera an Naharia. |
| Investments totaling NIS 27.9 million ($6 million) in buildings, equipment, transportation and information technology. |
2004:
The investments in fixed assets of the Company totaled about NIS 31.0 million in 2004 (about $6.9 million). These investments included:
| Investments of approximately NIS 2.2 million ($0.5 million) in environmental expenditures. |
| An investment of approximately NIS 2.2 million ($0.5 million) in a machine for the manufacturing of cores based on Cycle-Tec technology. |
| Investments totaling NIS 26.6 million ($5.9 million) in buildings, equipment, transportation and information technology. |
I. The Groups Operations and Principal Activities |
The Company is engaged through its subsidiaries in the manufacture and sale of packaging paper, in the collection and recycling of paper and plastic waste and in the marketing of office supplies, mainly to the institutional and business sector. The Company also holds interests in associated companies that deal in the manufacture and marketing of printing and writing paper, household paper products, hygiene products, disposable diapers, complementary kitchen products, corrugated board containers and packaging for consumer goods.
In order to serve the paper production activities, the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, supplies engineering services, maintenance, steam and energy, water supply, sewage treatment etc. to different paper machines located at the Companys main site in Hadera in return for cost sharing.
The Company operates in its main production site in Hadera according to the following standards:
ISO 9001/2000 quality management
ISO 14001 environmental regulations
Israeli Standard 18001 - safety
The principal products produced and/or marketed by the Group (indicating its subsidiaries and associated companies) are as follows:
Grades of Paper and Board
Printing and writing paper, publication papers in reels, coated paper, carbonless paper, cut-size paper for copy laser and inkjet, copy-book paper, paper for continuous forms, paper for envelopes and direct mailing and various grades of packaging paper and board.
9
Packaging Products
Folding cartons, corrugated containers, consumer packages solid board containers and pallets.
Household Products
Bathroom tissue, toilet paper, kitchen towels, facial tissue, napkins, disposable tablecloths, sanitary towels, panty shields, tampons, disposable baby diapers, training pants, baby wipes, disposable adult diapers, incontinence pads.
Industrial, Hospital and Food Service Products
Toilet paper, towel rolls, C-fold towels, napkins, place mats, coasters, bed sheets, wadding, paper toilet seat covers, disposable bed-pans and urinals, sterilizing paper, bathroom tissue and paper towel dispensers, dispensers for liquid hand soaps and room deodorizing dispensers for washrooms and cleaners, detergents and cleaning complimentary products, cups and plates, examination gloves.
Other Products
Aluminum food wraps, cling-film wraps, garbage bags, oven baking and cooking trays, office supplies, recycled ground and palletized plastics used by the plastic products industry.
Sales and Marketing
The Groups packaging products are sold mostly to four main customers in Israel (one of them is an associated company) which operate in the corrugated board sector with whom the Group has long standing business relationships.
The Groups office supplies products are sold to thousands of customers in the Business to Business sector and to institutions such as governmental offices and banks. About 30% of the sales are made through tenders.
The Groups paper grades products are sold to publishers, big and medium size printers, converters, and wholesalers some of which are part of the Group, as well as other direct customers.
The Groups household products are marketed mainly through retail marketing chains, stores and the institutional market.
The Groups packaging products are sold to a wide range of customers in different sectors (e.g., industry, agriculture, food and beverage industry), including direct marketing to ultimate customers through subcontractors and agents.
The Groups main marketing strategy has the following objectives:
(a) | Maintaining its existing dominant share in the Israeli market of paper grades and household products produced by the Group and imported by it, through short delivery times and prompt service, while constantly improving the quality of its products. |
(b) | Meeting the growing and changing requirements of the market by adding new products and improving the quality of existing grades of paper in order to meet the technological changes required by new printing equipment and the needs of the customers. |
(c) | Exploring new business opportunities in Israel and abroad and increasing the range of its products and the production capacity. |
10
In March 2007, KCTR signed a principles agreement with Unilever, according to which Unilever shall distribute and sell KCTRs products in Turkey, excluding distribution and sales to the food chains which will be done directly by KCTR. The agreement was signed to enable KCTR to increase its market cover and volume of sales, following the approval of a strategic plan by KCTR, for the expansion of its activities in Turkey for the coming decade. The complete strategic plan is designated to expand the activities of KCTR, from the current yearly sales turnover of $50 million to a turnover of $300 million in the year 2015, and improve its profitability through constructing it as a significant factor in the Turkish market in the field of disposable diapers, women hygienic products and various tissue products, based on international brands of Kimberly- Clark worldwide.
The following table sets forth the consolidated sales in NIS millions(**) by categories of the consolidated segments of operations:
** | AIPM made the transition to reporting in nominal New Israeli Shekels (NIS) in 2004, pursuant to the directives of Standard 12 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Israel. Prior to January 1, 2004, AIPMs reports were in NIS, adjusted to changes in the exchange rate of the US dollar against the NIS. |
Packaging Paper Manufacturing and Recycling (1) | Marketing Office Supplies (2) | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
408.0 | 368.9 | 367.4 | 122.1 | 113.6 | 115.5 | 530.1 | 482.5 | 482.9 |
The above mentioned segments include the following activities:
1. | Packaging paper manufacturing and recycling manufacturing and marketing of packaging paper, including collecting and recycling of paper waste. The manufacturing of packaging paper relies mainly on paper waste as raw materials. |
2. | Marketing office supplies - Marketing of office supplies and paper, mainly to institutions. |
The raw materials required for paper and board production are different wood pulps, secondary fibers (i.e., waste paper) and various chemicals and fillers. Pulp is imported primarily from major suppliers in Scandinavia, the United States, Portugal, Austria, Brazil and Spain on a regular basis. The bulk of the pulp tonnage purchased is secured by revolving long-term agreements renewed on a yearly basis. All of the pulp for the printing and writing paper manufactured by Mondi Hadera is purchased by Mondi Business Paper (the Austrian parent company), which purchases pulp for its subsidiaries around the world. This ensures fluent supply and better prices.
The pulp for the household products is being imported by H-K with the assistance of K-C.
About 65% of the fibers required in paper production by the Group (including printing and writing paper and household products for the operation of its associated companies) come from waste paper, which in some paper grades, is used in lieu of relatively more expensive pulp. The production of packaging and brown wrapping paper is based mostly on recycled fibers. Therefore, the main raw material used for the production of packaging and brown wrapping paper is paper waste most of which is collected from various sources by Amnir, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Approximately 210,000 tons per year of waste paper are collected and handled by Amnir, most of which are used by the Group for the production of fluting and tissue paper and some of which is sold to other tissue paper manufacturers. Apart from the waste paper collected by Amnir there is a use of residue which is created during the production of packages and purchased from the manufacturers of corrugated board.
11
The absence of supporting enforcement of the Recycling Act, which mandates waste recycling, detracts from the companys ability to expand waste collection, due to financial considerations. On January 16, 2007, however, the Clean Environment Act (9th amendment) - 2007 (Clean Environment Act) was enacted, imposing a landfill levy on waste. Pursuant to the provisions of this act, a landfill charge will be levied against waste, at the rate of NIS 10 per ton in 2007, rising up to NIS 50 per ton from 2011 and thereafter. The enforcement of this act may lead to improved capacity in paper waste collection.
Also, Amnir is preparing to increase paper waste collection over the coming years, due to a board approval for an investment in a new machine for packaging paper, at a cost of approximately $140 million (see also section D below). The construction of the new packaging machine, will require twice the volume of paper waste collection to serve as raw material in the production of packaging paper over the coming years. Amnir is gearing up to increase collection volumes, in anticipation of the installation of the new packaging paper machine. For further details please refer to the Item 4.D. Property, Plants and Equipment below.
The main raw material required for the manufacture of corrugated board is board paper. Carmel purchases paper from two main suppliers which are also shareholders of Carmel.
Since 1996, NHP, an associated company, has been using precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a special pigment used for filling and coating paper in order to improve quality. In 2005, an agreement was signed between Mondi Hadera and the Swedish company Omya International AG (Omya) for the supply of PCC for a period of ten years commencing in April 2006.The parties are currently negotiating for the extension of the Agreement to fourteen years in return for the reduction of the PCC cost. Omya constructed and operates a PCC plant in Israel. In September 2005, the Agreement was converted to an Israeli fully owned subsidiary of Omya. The PCC purchased from Omya replaced a former PCC purchase from another PCC supplier, and led to a significant PCC cost saving.
The cost of paper production is affected by fluctuating raw material prices and the cost of water, energy and fuel oil. At the associated companies, there exists exposure to the fluctuations in raw material prices and the prices of products purchased for imports that arrive in Israel with no tariffs and no entrance barriers. Unusual rises in the cost of raw materials and imported finished products could impair profitability.
Competition
Most of the Groups products that are sold on the local market are exposed to competition with local and imported products. The imported products arrive in Israel exempt from import tariffs, especially from the EEC, EFTA and the USA. The tariffs on imports of fine paper from other countries are in the range of 0% - though 12%.
The main competitors of the Group in the different fields of operation are Israeli companies which sell mainly imported products, except for sales of baby diapers and hygienic products in which the Groups main competitor is Proctor & Gamble Co.
In the market for office supplies that are sold directly to institutions and businesses there are numerous local suppliers that compete with the Company.
The sector of office supplies with direct delivery to organizations and businesses includes two dominant competitors (Office Depot and Kravitz), which together with Grafiti primarily dominate the tender and strategic business customer segment; and number of competitors which have a combined together on approximately 20% market share. In addition, in the business big/ medium/ small a large number of competitors exists, , and which mostly operate within a limited geographical area. In late 2006 and early 2007, several General Accountant tenders were issued for office supplies and consumables office supplies; the tenders were secured by Office Depot, whose market share is therefore expected to grow to about 11%. Graffiti and Kravitz each possess an estimated 10% market share after implementation of the General Accountant tenders. Below is a listing of major competitors: Kravitz, Office Depot, Ofek, Alpha Beta, Yavne Pitango, Pythagoras, Lautman and Pan. Graffiti competes and maintains its position by adhering to elevated standards of quality and service.
12
The Group collection and paper recycling operation is exposed to local competition by local companies which operate all over the country.
The competition has influence over the selling prices that the Group can charge. The Group competes with the imported products by emphasizing the advantages of having a local supplier by ensuring the customers uninterrupted supply and service on short notice and excellent quality of products.
Competition in packaging paper is against imports, made directly by customers with no barriers. Imports into Israel include all paper types produced in Israel at different paper qualities, depending on the suppliers production machinery. To the best of the Companys knowledge, the primary overseas suppliers include: Varel Germany, Emin Leidlier France, Saica Spain, Hamburger Austria, SCA Italy, Otor France. The sector competes by ensuring continuous supply and service with short lead times, which provide it with the advantage of a local supplier.
The Company operates in a competitive market, with competition in the paper and recycling sector against imported paper on the one hand, and with many collectors operating in raw material collection in Israel.
Companys operations depend to a great degree on energy consumption, and are therefore strongly impacted by fuel prices. Profit margins may be eroded if fuel and electricity prices surge.
In December 1989, the Company was declared a monopoly in the manufacture and marketing of packaging paper by the Israel Antitrust Authority- there are no special provisions for the packaging paper.
Regarding seasonality of the Companys business, H-K products are generally sold on a regular scale all year round, and during the Jewish holiday season (Rosh Hashanah, Passover), there is some increase in the scope of sales beyond the ordinary monthly average.
As of May 28, 2007, Clal Industries and Investment Ltd. (Clal) beneficially owned 37.83% of the ordinary shares of the Company and Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. (DIC) beneficially owned 21.37% of the ordinary shares of the Company. Clal and DIC agreed to coordinate and pool their voting power in the Company. To our knowledge, IDB Development Corporation Ltd. owns 74.76% of DIC and 60.52% of Clal. See Item 7 - Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.
13
Significant subsidiaries and associated companies
| ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name of the Company | Ownership and Voting | Country of Incorporation | ||||||
Subsidiaries | ||||||||
Amnir Recycling Industries Ltd. | 100.00% | Israel | ||||||
Graffiti Office Supplies & Paper Marketing Ltd. | 100.00% | Israel | ||||||
Attar Marketing Office Supplies Ltd. | 100.00% | Israel | ||||||
American Israeli Paper Mills Paper Industry (1995) Ltd. | 100.00% | Israel | ||||||
Associated Companies | ||||||||
Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. | 49.90% | Israel | ||||||
Kimberly -Clark Tuketim Mallari Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S. ("KCTR") (held through H-K) | 49.90% | Turkey | ||||||
Mondi Business Paper Hadera Ltd. | 49.90% | Israel | ||||||
Barthelemi Holdings Ltd.** | 35.98% | Israel | ||||||
T.M.M. Integrated Recycling Industries Ltd. (direct and indirect)** | 43.08% | Israel | ||||||
Carmel Containers Systems Ltd. | 36.02% | Israel | ||||||
Frenkel- CD Ltd. (direct and indirect through Carmel) | 35.16%* | Israel | ||||||
Cycle-Tec Recycling Technology Ltd. | 30.18% | Israel |
* | The holding in voting shares is 35.11%. |
** | Until February 2007. |
The Groups principal executive offices and manufacturing and warehouse facilities (including associated companies) are located on approximately 87.5 acres of land in Hadera, Israel, which is 31 miles south of Haifa, a major seaport, 28 miles north of Tel Aviv. The Company owns 69.5 acres, out of which 18.5 acres were purchased in 2005, for the amount of $4.4 million, and 18 acres are leased from the Israel Land Administration, an agency of the State of Israel, under several leases. The lease periods terminate during the period from 2007 until 2053. Some of this land is rented to associated companies, which operate in Hadera.
The Groups facilities in Hadera are housed in two-story plants and several adjoining buildings. Approximately 1,200,000 square feet are utilized for manufacturing, storage and sales and administrative offices. An additional plant owned by H-K is located in a 10-acre plot in Afula, a city in northern Israel. AIPM is leasing from the Israel Land Administration in Nahariya, in northern Israel, approximately 6 acres, which are rented to an associated company. In September 2002, the Company signed an agreement with the Tel Aviv Municipality for the extension of the lease period of a real estate lease for a plant in Tel Aviv, that was shut down at the end of 2002, until the year 2059, in return for the payment of $6.2 million by the Company. The Company is investigating several options for using the land. According to the lease Agreement, the Company is obliged to utilize its building permits until September 2009.
14
The Group also owns a two-acre parcel in the industrial zone of Bnei Brak, near Tel-Aviv, which is used for waste paper collection.
The Group owned a warehouse containing 50,000 square feet situated on approximately 3.1 acres in the Tel Aviv area, leased from the Israel Land Authority and rented to third party under a long term agreement. On December 31, 2006, the Company sold its lease rights to this land to Erledan Investments Ltd. in consideration of NIS 57 million, including betterment taxes that apply to the buyer, so that the net worth to the Company before betterment taxes is about NIS 43 million. As a result of this sale, the Company recorded capital gains of some NIS 28.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
H-Ks headquarters and logistic center, which are leased under a long term lease agreement, are located in a new modern site in Zrifin, near Tel-Aviv, covering an area of 430,550 square feet, with 188,370 square feet of buildings.
Associated companies rent plants and office facilities in Migdal Haemek and Caesarea and additional warehouses and waste paper collection sites throughout Israel.
The machinery, equipment and assets of the Company are free of any mortgage, lien, pledge or other charge or security interest.
The Group owns six paper machines that are used in the manufacture of various grades of paper and board. Most of the paper production facilities of the Company and its subsidiaries are located in Hadera where it operates five machines with a combined production capacity of over 320,000 tons per year. The Group owns another machine in Nahariya which produces tissue paper with production capacity of 20,000 tons per year.
In November 2006, the Companys Board of Directors approved a total investment of approximately $140 million in the construction project of a new machine for the manufacture of packaging paper from cardboard and paper waste, with an output capacity of 230,000 tons per annum, at the Companys site in Hadera. Subsequent to the construction of the new machine, planned for 2009, and along with the parallel decommissioning of one of two machines currently operating, the Companys annual production capacity for packaging paper will increase from 155,000 tons at the present time, to approximately 330,000 tons per annum. The new machine is meant to answer the need for ever-increasing demand volumes by the local market, at competitive pricing vis-à-vis the competing importer. The Company has yet to decide how it will finance the project and is currently analyzing various alternatives.
The new machine is intended to meet the Companys need for ever-increasing demand volumes by the local market, at competitive pricing vis-à-vis the competing importer. The Company anticipates that the significant growth that is planned in the total volume of its paper production, on the basis of the existing infrastructure, will serve to improve its long-term profitability. The Company has yet to decide how it will finance the project and is currently analyzing various alternatives.
The Group also operates converting lines for personal care and household paper products in Hadera and Nahariya.
The Group maintains facilities for collecting, sorting and baling waste paper and board in various locations in Israel. It also has a plant in Afula for the production of disposable baby diapers, incontinence absorbent products and feminine hygiene products, a plant in Migdal Haemek for the production of paperboard consumer packages and a plant in Hadera for recycling plastic waste.
The Company established in 2000 a new co-generation power plant, based on high-pressure steam available from steam drying employed in paper production, for a total investment of about $14 million. The operation of the power plant, situated in Hadera, and the Group now enjoys an independent power generation capacity of 18MW, with generation costs considerably lower than the cost of electricity purchased from the Israel Electricity Company. As part of this project, the infrastructure of the main electricity supply system was renovated and improved, utilizing modern technological innovations.
15
The Company is examining and promoting a project for establishing a combined cycle co-generation plant based on natural gas at Hadera. In addition, the Company is preparing for the conversion of its energy-generation systems, currently based on heavy fuel oil, to natural gas, once the transportation infrastructure of natural gas to Hadera is completed. The conversion is planned for the third quarter of 2007. This conversion is expected to enable savings in production costs, while further improving environmental compliance. The capacity of the new plant is expected to enable the Company to sell electricity to external users, including the Israel Electric Company.
In October 2004, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, American Israeli Paper Mills Paper Industry (1995) Ltd., was granted by the Minister of National Infrastructure a basic permit to generate electricity by means of power and heat systems (co-generation). In addition, in December 2004 the project was announced as a National Infrastructure Project.
The permit in principle enables the Company to build a power station with a total output of 200 megawatts, with integrated cycle cogeneration, operating on natural gas, at the AIPM site in the Hadera Industrial Zone. The said authorization is contingent upon several conditions that have yet to be met, including meeting the production license requirements, the demands of the Electricity Economy Law, certain milestones outlined in the authorization and more.
In October 2006, the National Infrastructure Committee approved the change in designation of 40,000 m(2) of land, to be used as a power station and for other uses. The approval was empowered by the Israeli government on February 6, 2007.
Environmental Regulation Matters
The business license of the main production site of the Group in Hadera includes conditions regarding sewage treatment, effluent quality, air quality and the handling of waste and chemicals. In addition, the site has to operate according to the conditions of the Israeli water commission regarding effluent disposal. To the best knowledge of the Company, the site operates according to the requirements of the authorities, and in the events of deviations, the Company acts for the repairment of the deviations, jointly with the authorities.
In November 2006, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced that, even though the Company plant at Hadera has made considerable investments in sewage treatment and environmental protection issues, an investigation may be launched against it to review deviations from certain emission standards into the air. The Company anticipates that the investigation will not materially impact its operations.
Certain of the Groups manufacturing operations are subject to environmental and pollution control laws in Israel. In order to comply with these laws, the Group planned and acquired, during 2001, a new modern facility for the treatment of effluent using an anaerobic treatment process. This process was installed in the Groups site in Hadera as a pre-treatment phase in the existing system based on aerobic treatment, in order to improve the treated effluent quality in compliance with environmental regulations.
During the years 2000-2006 the Group invested in Hadera approximately $11.6 million in projects intended to enable it to comply with the strict environmental regulations applicable to it out of which: about $5 million in 2006, including a $3.5 million investment in the conversion of the energy system to consume natural gas instead of fuel oil as described below, and $800,000 in a project for a waste water softening facility in the treatment facility, to serve as a basis for recycling treated waste water, as well as investments in sewage, chemicals and waste, including systems for collection and separation of waste and sewage incorporating tertiary treatment of treated waste water.
16
The Company is preparing for the conversion of its energy-generation systems, currently based on heavy fuel oil, to natural gas, in an investment of approximately $7million (out of which about $3.5 million in 2006). This process will be completed with the completion of the installation of the natural gas pipeline to Hadera , postpones due to delays that lie outside the control of the Company, and planned for the third quarter of 2007. This project is expected to contribute saving expense and improve the environmental compliance since the Company will use natural gas instead of fuel oil.
In 2006 all plants at the main Hadera site successfully passed various environmental inspections.
None.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Companys discussion and analysis of the financial condition and operations are based upon the Companys consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Israel (for information as to the reconciliation between U.S. and Israeli GAAP, see Item 17). The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.
The Company identified the most critical accounting principles upon which its financial status depends. The Company determined the critical principles by considering accounting policies that involve subjective decisions or assessments.
The Company states its accounting policies in the notes to the consolidated financial statements and at relevant sections in this discussion and analysis.
This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Companys consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.
The Company identified the following critical accounting policies:
Inventories
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market, where cost is determined on the moving average basis. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory based on an analysis of the inventory aging and assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual demand and/or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.
Spare parts of the machinery and equipment that are not for current use, are presented under fixed assets.
Allowance for doubtful accounts
The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of all specific debts doubtful of collection. The allowances are based on the likelihood of recoverability of accounts receivable considering the aging of the balances, the Companys historical write-off experience, (net of recoveries), change in credit worthiness of the customers, and taking current collection trends that are expected to continue. These estimated allowances are periodically reviewed, and customers payment histories analyzed. Actual customer collections could differ from the Companys estimates.
17
Contingencies and risks involving the business
The Company is subject, from time to time, to various claims arising in the ordinary course of operations. In determining whether liabilities should be recorded for pending litigation claims, the Company assesses, based on advice of its outside legal counsel, the allegations made and the likelihood that it will successfully defend itself.
When the Company believes that it is probable that it will not prevail in a particular matter, it then estimates the amount of the liability. The evaluation of the probability of success of such claims and the determination of whether there is a necessity to include provisions in respect thereof require judgment by the Companys legal counsel and management.
Deferred income taxes
Deferred taxes are determined utilizing the asset and liability method, based on the differences between the amounts presented in the financial statements and those taken into account for tax purposes, in accordance with the related tax laws. Valuation allowances are included in respect of deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. The Company has considered future taxable income and tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance. Management evaluates the realizability of the deferred tax assets on a current basis. If it were determined that the Company would be able to realize the deferred tax assets in excess of its net recorded amount, an adjustment to deferred tax assets would increase income.
Impairment in value of Long-Lived Assets (including fixed assets and investments in associated companies)
In February 2003, Accounting Standard No. 15 of the Israeli Accounting Standard Board (hereafter - IASB) - Impairment of Assets, became effective. According to this standard the Company assesses - at each balance sheet date - whether any events have occurred or changes in circumstances have taken place, which might indicate that there has been an impairment of non-monetary assets, mainly fixed assets and investments in associated companies. When such indicators of impairment are present, the Company evaluates whether the carrying value of the asset is recoverable from the cash flows expected from that asset. See Note 2g to the Financial Statements.
The recoverable value of an asset is determined according to the higher of the net selling price of the asset or its value in use to the Company. The value in use is determined according to the present value of anticipated cash flows from the continued use of the asset, including those expected at the time of its future retirement and disposal.
When it is not possible to assess whether an impairment provision is required for a particular asset on its own, the need for such a provision is assessed in relation to the recoverable value of the cash-generating unit to which that asset belongs.
Through December 31, 2002, the Company applied the provisions for assessing and recording impairment of assets, prescribed by the U.S. standard, FAS 121.
Discontinuance of Adjusting Financial Statements for Inflation
The Company draws up and presents its financial statements in Israeli currency (hereafter - shekels or NIS), in accordance with the provisions of Israel Accounting Standard No. 12 - Discontinuance of Adjusting Financial Statements for Inflation - of the IASB, which establishes principles for transition to nominal reporting, commencing January 1, 2004 (hereafter - the transition date). Accordingly, amounts that relate to non-monetary assets (including depreciation and amortization thereon), investments in associated companies (see also below) permanent investments, and equity items, which originate from the period that preceded the transition date, are based on the data adjusted for the changes in the exchange rate of the dollar (based on the exchange rate of the dollar at December 31, 2003), as previously reported. All the amounts originating from the period after the transition date are included in the financial statements at their nominal values.
18
The financial statements of group companies which are drawn up in foreign currency, are translated into shekels or are remeasured in shekels for the purpose of inclusion in these financial statements, as explained in e. below.
The sums of non-monetary assets do not necessarily reflect the realization value or an updated economic value, but rather only the reported sums of the said assets, as stated in (1), above. The term cost in these financial statements shall mean the cost in reported sums.
Financial Instruments
In August 2005, the IASB issued Israeli Accounting Standard No. 22 Financial Instruments Disclosure and Presentation (herein after Standard 22). Commencing January 1, 2006, the Company applied Standard No. 22, which prescribes the rules for presentation of financial instruments and the proper disclosure required therefore, as follows:
1) | Offset of financial instruments |
Financial assets and financial liabilities are presented on the balance sheet at their net amount, only when the Company has a legally enforceable right to effect such set off, and subject to the existence of an intent to settle the asset and the liability on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. |
2) | In accordance with the transitional provisions of Standard 22, commencing January 1, 2006, in addition to the aforesaid, the financial statements include the following changes: |
The balance of deferred issuance costs, which at December 31, 2005 amounted to NIS 946,000, has been reclassified and presented as a deduction from the amount of the liabilities to which such expenses relate. Through December 31, 2005, deferred issuance costs were included under other assets and amortized according to the straight-line method. |
The change in the amortization method of deferred issuance costs, as above, does not have a material effect on the operating results in the reported years. |
Revenue Recognition
In January 2006, Accounting Standard No. 25 of the IASB - Revenue, became effective. The standard prescribes recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure criteria for revenues originating from the sale of goods purchased or manufactured by the Company.
Revenue is measured, as detailed below, at the fair value of the consideration received or the consideration that the Company is entitled to receive, taking into account trade discounts and/or bulk discounts granted by the entity:
Revenue from sale of goods is recognized when all the following conditions have been satisfied: (a) the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have been transferred to the buyer; (b) the Company retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold; (c) the amount of revenue can be measured reliably; (d) it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Company; and (e) the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
19
Upon the application of the standard, an associated company separates the financing component embedded in revenue from sales made on credit for periods exceeding the customary credit period in its industry (mainly 90 days), that does not bear interest at the appropriate rate; the financing component is determined according to the amount by which the nominal amount of consideration for the transaction exceeds the present value of future cash payments in respect thereof, based on the customary market interest rate applicable to credit extended under similar terms. Revenue from the financing component is recognized over the credit period. Through December 31, 2005, the Company did not separate the financing component in respect of sales made on credit, as above, and included within revenue from the sale on the date of recognition of such revenue. In accordance with the transitional provisions of the standard, on January 1, 2006 the Company recognized an expense of NIS 1.1 million as a result of presentation in present value, resulting from the adjustment of trade receivables in respect of such credit transactions to their present value on the effective date of the standard, the share of the Company at the adjustment effect as above was approximately NIS 0.5 million which is presented in these financial statements under Cumulative effect, at beginning of year, of an accounting change.
Share Based Payment
In January, 2006, Accounting Standard No. 24 of the IASB, Share-Based Payment became effective. The standard prescribes the recognition and measurement principles, as well as the disclosure requirements, relating to share-based payment transactions.
Since the Company has not granted any equity-settled awards, nor made modifications to existing grants, subsequent to March 15, 2005, the measurement criteria of the standard do not apply to past grants made by the Company, and its application has not had any effect on the comparative figures included in these financial statements.
Net Income per Share
In January 2006, Accounting Standard No. 21 of the IASB, Earnings per Share became effective. The computation of basic net income per share is generally based on earnings available for distribution to holders of ordinary shares, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
In computing diluted net income per share, the weighted average number of shares to be issued, assuming that all dilutive potential shares are converted into shares, is to be added to the average number of ordinary shares used in the computation of the basic income (loss) per share. Potential shares are taken into account, as above, only when their effect is dilutive (reducing net income per share from continuing activities).
Comparative net income per share figures included in these financial statements reflect a retrospective application of the new standards computation directives.
As to the data used in the computation of net income per share, as above - see Note 11 to the Financial Statements.
As for information regarding the effects of new Israeli accounting standards see Note 1s to the Financial Statements.
Effects of Prior Year Misstatements
In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Financial Statements Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, or SAB 108. SAB 108 requires companies to quantify the impact of all correcting misstatements, including both the carryover and reversing effects of prior year misstatements, on the current year financial statements. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. We initially applied the provisions of SAB 108 using the cumulative effect transition method in our annual financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2006 in connection with our accounting treatment for various misstatements the cumulative effect of which on our retained earnings as at December 31, 2005 totaled NIS 2,665 thousand net of tax.
General
On March 7, 2006, T.M.M (an associated company) announced that the Israeli Securities Authority had addressed T.M.M. with regard to an investigation the authority is conducting. At this stage, T.M.M. is unable to estimate the impact of the investigation on the Company. On January 4, 2007, the Company sold all its holdings in T.M.M. (See Item 4A History and Development of the Company above).
20
On April 15, 2007, at a General Meeting the shareholders approved the appointment of Brightman Almagor & Co as the Companys external auditors for the year 2007. Brightman Almagor & Co will replace Kesselman & Kesselman & Co who served as the Companys external auditors since 1954.
The following is a summary of the period-to-period changes in the principal items included in the Consolidated Statements of Income:
Amount and Percentage
Increase (Decrease)
New Israeli Shekels (in thousands)(1)
Year ended 12/31/06 v. year ended 12/31/05 | Year ended 12/31/05 v. year ended 12/31/04 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Changes NIS | % | Changes NIS | % | |||||||||||
Net sales | 47,648 | 9.9 | (393 | ) | (0.1 | ) | ||||||||
Cost of sales | 35,546 | 9.3 | 7,275 | 1.9 | ||||||||||
Gross profit | 12,102 | 12.2 | (7,668 | ) | (7.2 | ) | ||||||||
Selling, administrative and general expenses | 4,939 | 8.8 | *3,432 | 6.5 | ||||||||||
Income from ordinary operations | 7,163 | 16.5 | (11,100 | ) | (20.4 | ) | ||||||||
Financial expenses (income) - net | 18,621 | 149.1 | (628 | ) | (4.8 | ) | ||||||||
Other income | 32,861 | 739.4 | 4,952 | 974.8 | ||||||||||
Income before taxes on income | 21,403 | 60.6 | (5,520 | ) | (13.5 | ) | ||||||||
Taxes on income | 10,711 | 178.8 | 2,839 | 90.1 | ||||||||||
Income from operation of the Company and the consolidated subsidiaries | 10,692 | 36.5 | (8,359 | ) | (22.2 | ) | ||||||||
Share in profits (losses) of associated companies | (42,616 | ) | (259.6 | ) | (8,658 | ) | (34.5 | ) | ||||||
Cumulative effect, at beginning of year of an accounting change in an | ||||||||||||||
associated company | (461 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net income | (32,385 | ) | (70.8 | ) | (17,017 | ) | (27.1 | ) | ||||||
The statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 are presented in New Israeli Shekels as explained in note 1 to the Financial Statements.
The number of New Israeli Shekels which were exchangeable for 1 U.S. dollar increased (decreased) over the prior year by (-1.6%), 6.8% and (-8.2%) in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. See Note 1 to the Financial Statements attached and Item 17 Financial Statements for the anticipated effect of adopting of accounting pronouncements that have been issued but are not yet adopted.
* | The change in selling administrative and general expenses of NIS 3,432 was reclassified in the years 2005 and 2004. |
1 | AIPM made the transition to reporting in nominal New Israeli Shekels (NIS) in 2004, pursuant to the directives of Standard 12 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Israel. In the past AIPMs reports were in NIS, adjusted to changes in the exchange rate of the US dollar against the NIS. |
21
2006 Compared to 2005
1. Consolidated Data
Consolidated sales in 2006 amounted to NIS 530.1 million, as compared with NIS 482.5 million in 2005, representing growth of approximately 10%.
The consolidated operating profit amounted to NIS 50.5 million in 2006, as compared with NIS 43.3 million in 2005, representing growth of approximately 17%.
Profit after taxes and before AIPMs share in earnings of associated companies for 2006, amounted to NIS 40.0 million, as compared with NIS 29.3 million in 2005.
2. Net Profit and Earnings Per Share
Net profit in 2006 amounted to NIS 13.3 million, as compared with NIS 45.7 million in 2005.
Net profit this year was affected by the growth in the Companys share in the losses of the operations in Turkey (KCTR), amounting to NIS 41.9 million (see Section C7 in this Item 5, below).
Net profit in 2006 included a net capital gain from the sale of real estate at Atidim in the sum of NIS 28.5 million, and non-recurring expenses (net of taxes) of NIS 18 million, primarily on account of a provision for impairment at an associated company (in the third quarter of the year) and the impact of the devaluation and modified tax rates in Turkey (in the second quarter of the year- approximately NIS 8 million included in the loss of the operations in Turkey).
Basic earnings per share amounted to NIS 3.31 per share in 2006 ($0.81 per share), as compared with NIS 11.43 per share in 2005 ($2.48 per share).
The diluted earnings per share amounted to NIS 3.28 per share in 2006 ($0.77 per share), as compared with NIS 11.35 per share in 2005 ($2.46 per share).
In 2006, the accelerated growth in the Israeli economy continued (5%), along with growing demand in the public sector and growth in private consumption.
Although the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006 led to a slowdown in economic activity during the war. The economy, however, rapidly recovered and returned to the accelerated growth rate that existed before the war.
The Companys results continued to be effected by high energy prices primarily fuel oil, whose prices rose by an aggregate 70% in 2005 and 2006 as compared to 2004 (38% in 2005 and 22% in 2006), while diesel prices rose by an average of 29% during the same period.
The impact of rising energy prices on the aggregate operating profit of the Company amounted to approximately NIS 22 million.
At the same time, the prices of the main raw materials utilized by the Group in their various activities also continued to rise.
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The impact of rising raw material prices on the aggregate operating profit of the Company amounted to approximately NIS 46 million.
The recovery that began in Europes paper industry, which closed the gap between paper supply and demand, was slow and has not yet fully translated into a decrease in competing imports into Israel. As a result it has been difficult to raise selling prices primarily those of fine paper, as warranted by the said rise in input prices.
General
The Group dealt with the increased input prices by implementing a range of activities. These activities included raising prices vis-à-vis the competition to the extent possible and intensifying the efficiency measures implemented with respect to all its expense components. The efficiency measures implemented by the Group in 2006 led to cost savings in the amount of approximately NIS 27 million.
As part of the said operations, the Company is initiating measures to achieve synergies between the Groups companies, so as to allow for efficiency and cost-cutting, including energy and raw material costs. Among other measures, this was reflected in a fuel purchase agreement that allowed for significant savings, while capitalizing on the Groups economies of scale. The said measures also include the anticipated savings from the completion of the anticipated conversion to the use of natural gas at the Hadera plant, as described below.
At the same time, the Group continues to implement a number of cross organization plans including the following: the talent management program for the development of the Groups managers and the creation of a managerial reserve; the WOW Program, for enhancing the customers perceived added value of the Companys products and improving the loyalty premium and the price based on a differentiation of products and service; and Kimberly Clarks global center lining program, aimed at improving production-line efficiency (applying a methodology that creates a common basis for all factors influencing operation of the machines, such as engineering, maintenance, technology and operations, while continuously measuring the variance of the selected parameters, creating a process of constant improvement in both quality and costs). These programs have already borne the first fruits in 2006 and the Company is continues to implement the plans at all the Groups companies in order to exploit their full potential in the coming years.
The Group is also currently continuing its efforts to improve selling prices, on the one hand, while extending the efficiency measures on the other hand, in order to compensate for the said rise in input prices.
It is impossible to estimate the influence of the above operations on the Groups profitability, at this stage.
As part of the Companys efforts to cut production costs and achieve further improvements in environmental quality, the Company is continuing to promote the project for the establishment of a co-generation plant in Hadera, using natural gas.
The Company has taken the initial steps to convert its energy generation facilities from the use of fuel oil to natural gas. This process will be completed with the completion of the natural gas pipeline to Hadera , planned for the third quarter of 2007.
In connection therewith, the Company signed an agreement in London on July 29, 2005, with the Tethis Sea Group, for the purchase of natural gas. The gas that will be purchased is intended to supply the Companys requirements in the coming years, for the operation of the existing energy co-generation plant at the Hadera plant, that will be converted for the use of natural gas, instead of the current use of fuel oil. The overall financial volume of the transaction totals about $35 million over the term of the agreement (5 years from the commencement of the gas flow, but no later than July 1, 2011).
The conversion from fuel oil to gas will enable significant savings in fuel costs, estimated at approximately $8.5 million per annum, due to the significant differences between the current prices of fuel oil and gas, and will enhance the Groups competitiveness and profitability.
23
The exchange rate between the NIS and the US dollar was revalued by a further 8.2% in 2006, as compared to a 6.8% devaluation in 2005.
The inflation rate in 2006 amounted to 0%, as compared with an inflation rate of 2.4% in 2005.
The analysis set forth below is based on the consolidated data.
1. Sales
Consolidated sales amounted to NIS 530.1 million in 2006, as compared with NIS 482.5 million in 2005 and NIS 482.9 million in 2004.
The growth in sales in 2006 included increases in sales in both the packaging paper and recycling sector, as well as the office supplies sector.
The change in sales in 2005 in comparison to 2004, originated primarily from a certain growth in the sales of packaging paper and recycling, along with an immaterial decrease in the office supplies sector, following the implementation of a reorganization in this sector.
2. Cost of Sales
Cost of sales amounted to NIS 418.7 million in 2006, representing 79.0% of sales, as compared with NIS 383.2 million, or 79.4% of sales in 2005 and as compared with NIS 375.9 million, or 77.9% of sales in 2004.
The gross margin grew to 21.0% of sales in 2006, as compared with 20.6% in 2005 and 22.1% in 2004.
The principal factors that affected the material changes in gross profitability in 2006, as compared with 2005 consisted of a certain increase in raw material prices and an unusual rise in energy prices (fuel oil by 22%).
The rising prices in packaging paper and recycling and the quantitative increase in sales primarily in office supplies sector together with the continuing efficiency, resulted in an improvement in the consolidated gross margin in 2006.
The gross margin eroded in 2005 as compared to 2004 as a result of the unusual increase in energy prices (approximately 38%), raw material prices and other inputs. These price hikes were not fully compensated for by an increase in selling prices, due to prevailing market conditions.
Labor Wages
The labor wages in the cost of sales, in selling, general and administrative expenses , amounted to approximately NIS 162.2 million in 2006, as compared with NIS 149.7 million in 2005 and NIS 137.0 million in 2004.
The increase in wages in 2006 originated mostly from an increase in personnel primarily at Amnir as part of the preparations for an expansion in collection volumes, in anticipation of the establishment of the new paper manufacturing array.
3. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
The selling, general and administrative expenses (including wages) amounted to NIS 60.9 million in 2006 (11.5% of sales), as compared with NIS 55.9 million (11.6% of sales) in 2005 and NIS 52.5 million in 2004 (10.8% of sales).
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The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses originated partially from a certain increase in labor expenses, coupled with non-recurring expenses (approximately NIS 2 million), included in the expenses this year.
4. Operating Profit
The operating profit amounted to NIS 50.5 million in 2006, representing growth of 17% as compared with 2005, and comprised 9.5% , 9.0% and 11.3% of sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004 respectively.
The increase in operating profit in 2006, in a rate of 17% as compared with 2005 originated from the increase in sales of packaging paper and recycling, primarily on account of the improvement in selling prices and the efficiency measures, that were partially offset by rising energy prices, coupled with the improvement in the operating profit of the office supplies sector as a result of efficiency measures and the reorganization that the Company initiated in the past several years.
In the office supplies sector, the transition to operating profit in 2006, as compared with an operating loss in 2005, was attributed to the reorganization in the sector, accompanied by far-reaching efficiency measures and steps to increase sales, following the decrease of the operating loss in 2005 as compared with 2004 (NIS -0.9 million in 2005, as compared with NIS -4.6 million in 2004).
5. Financial Expenses
Financial expenses amounted to NIS 31.1 million in 2006, as compared with NIS 12.5 million in 2005 and NIS 13.1 million in 2004.
The total average of the Companys net, interest-bearing liabilities grew by an average of approximately NIS 160 million in 2006, compared to 2006 and 2005. The increase resulted primarily from investments in fixed assets and dividends distributed in 2006, net of dividends received from associated companies and the positive cash flows from operating activities.
Moreover, the costs of hedging the Series 2 notes against a rise in the CPI has risen to 1.8% per annum in 2006, as compared with 1.3% per annum in 2005 and resulted in an increase in costs related to the notes.
During 2006 hedging transaction was made at a cost equal to 1.8%, and a 0.1% decrease in the CPI led during 2006 to additional financing costs of NIS 4 million being incurred on account of the CPI-linked notes.
In addition to the above, the sharp revaluation in 2006 of the New Israeli Shekel against the U.S. dollar served to increase the financial expenses on account of the surplus of dollar-denominated assets over dollar-denominated liabilities held by the Company, as compared with the devaluation recorded in 2005 (revaluation of 8.2% in 2006, as compared with a devaluation of 6.8% in 2005), also resulted in an increase in financial expenses in 2006.
6. Taxes on Income
Expenses for taxes on income from current operations totaled approximately NIS 5.5 million in 2006, as compared with NIS 10.2 million in 2005 and NIS 13.2 million in 2004.
The principal factors responsible for the decrease in tax expenses from current operations in 2006 as compared with 2005, are both the decrease in the profit from current operations before taxes this year, and the impact of the lower tax rate on current and deferred taxes this year, in relation to last year.
Moreover, the tax expenses in 2006 included an additional tax expense of NIS 11.2 million, primarily on account of the betterment tax realized on the sale of real estate. A tax benefit of NIS 4.2 million was recorded in 2005 on account of the impact of the tax reforms that were passed by the Knesset in July 2005 (gradually lowering the corporate tax rate to 25% by 2010) on the Companys deferred taxes.
25
In 2004, the financial statements included a tax benefit of NIS 10 million, on account of the impact of the change in the corporate tax rate and a benefit on account of the exercise of options by employees.
Total tax expenses amounted to NIS 16.7 million in 2006, as compared with NIS 6.0 million in 2005 and NIS 3.2 million in 2004.
7. Companys Share in Earnings (Losses) of Associated Companies
The companies whose earnings are reported under this item (according to AIPMs holdings therein), primarily include: Mondi Hadera, Hogla-Kimberly, Carmel and T.M.M.
The Companys share in the earnings (losses) of associated companies amounted to NIS (26.7) million in 2006, as compared with NIS 16.4 million in 2005 and NIS 25.1 million in 2004.
The following principal changes were recorded as the Companys share in the earnings of the associated companies:
| The Companys share in the losses of Mondi Hadera (49.9%) in 2006, grew by NIS 2 million in relation to last year. Last year, Mondi recorded a tax benefit of NIS 4 million (our share consists of NIS 2 million on account of the change in the corporate tax rate; without this benefit, no change would have been recorded in the Companys share as compared with last year). Mondis quantitative sales increased in 2006 as a result of greater output capacity due to the improvements to the paper machine in 2005. The sharp rise in pulp prices in the course of the year (16%), rising energy prices (22%) and the continuing imports from Europe at low prices, served to erode the gross margin and harmed the operating profitability. The revaluation of the dollar and the lowering of interest rates served to lower the financial expenses and offset the erosion in the operating profit. |
| The Companys share in the net earnings of Hogla-Kimberly Israel (49.9%) increased by NIS 9.8 million in 2006, as compared with 2005. The operating profit of Hogla-Kimberly Israel grew from NIS 94 million to NIS 128 million. This increase is primarily attributed to the improvement in selling prices. In the course of the year, Hogla-Kimberly continued to improve selling prices and to expand the market share of premium products, where the profit margins are higher. In 2006, Hogla-Kimberly also continued its far-reaching efficiency measures, that further contributed to its profitability. This profitability was partially offset by the continuing increase in input prices in 2006 (primarily raw materials and energy). |
| The Companys share in the losses of KCTR, a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of Hogla-Kimberly (49.9%) grew by NIS 41.9 million in 2006, as compared with 2005. Over the past two years KCTR has been establishing the organizational infrastructure in Turkey, developing its sales and distribution network, and is continuing to upgrade the diaper production plant producing Huggies® premium disposable diapers. In 2006, KCTR began launching Kimberly Clarks international brands Huggies® and Kotex® on the Turkish market. The launch of the brands involves significant investments in advertising, sales promotion and listing fees for the organized retail chains. These investments led to continued growth and an increase of 30% in quantitative sales to the local market. However, the rising prices of raw materials on account of the sharp devaluation in local currency in 2006, the escalating competition against local manufacturers and the investments in launching the international brands all led to a significant increase in the operating loss. Furthermore, KCTR recorded an extraordinary expenditure of approximately NIS 16 million (the Companys 49.9% share - approximately NIS 8 million) on account of the effect of the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 30% to 20% on the tax asset created in the past several years at KCTR and due to the sharp 20% devaluation of the exchange rate of the Turkish lira relative to the US dollar. |
| The Companys share in the net earnings of the Carmel Group (26.25%) increased by NIS 2.0 million in 2006, as compared with 2005. The change in profit is attributed to the higher operating profit that increased from NIS 8.1 million to NIS 11.7 million. The improvement in the operating profit originated primarily from an increase in quantities, the rise in selling prices and the continuing efficiency measures. This improvement was partially eroded in the course of the year as a result of the continuing rise in energy and raw material prices. At the same time, financial expenses have decreased as a result of the revaluation of the dollar in 2006. |
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| The Companys share in the losses of T.M.M. (43.08%) increased by NIS 10.1 million in 2006, as compared with 2005. The factors that led to this increase in losses included primarily non-recurring expenses that were incurred during the year. These expenses included a loss on account of the cumulative impact at the beginning of the year, on account of the implementation of Standard 25, in the sum of NIS 1.1 million, a provision for impairment on account of a long-term loan granted to a third party in the amount of NIS 1.6 million, the cancellation of a tax asset created on account of carryover losses in the amount of NIS 2.2 million and the impairment of two transfer stations by NIS 12.5 million. The Companys total share in these expenses amounted to approximately NIS 7.5 million (incorporated above). |
As mentioned above, the Company sold its direct and indirect holdings in T.M.M. in early 2007.
2005 Compared to 2004
1. Consolidated Data
Sales amounted to NIS 482.5 million during 2005, as compared with NIS 482.9 million in 2004.
Operating profit in 2005 amounted to NIS 47.8 million, as compared with NIS 53.9 million in 2004.
Profit after taxes and before AIPMs share in the earnings of associated companies for 2005, amounted to NIS 29.3 million, as compared with NIS 37.7 million in 2004.
2. Net income
Net income amounted to NIS 45.7 million during 2005, as compared with NIS 62.7 million in 2004.
Net income during 2005 included a tax benefit of NIS 8 million (including the Companys share in the benefit of associated companies) on account of the impact of the tax law reforms that were passed by the Knesset (Israeli parliament) on July 25, 2005, that serve to gradually lower the corporate tax rate to a level of 25% by 2010.
The net income before non-recurring items mentioned above amounted to NIS 37.7 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 48.3 million in 2004.
Earnings per share in 2005 amounted to NIS 1,127 per NIS 1 par value ($2.45per share), as compared with NIS 1,544 per NIS 1 par value ($3.58per share) in 2004. The return on shareholders equity amounted to 7.9% in 2005, as compared with10.2% in 2004.
The year 2005 was characterized by economic growth in Israel (approximately 5%), increased demand on the part of the public sector and more moderate growth in private consumption.
The Groups results in 2005 were significantly affected by the unusual rise in energy prices, that began in 2004 and accelerated in 2005.
This price increase included fuel oil and diesel prices that rose by an extraordinary average of 38% in relation to 2004. Water and electricity prices also rose in 2005 as compared with 2004 (by an average of 10% and 13%, respectively).
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The impact of these price increases on the Groups aggregate operating profit results amounted to approximately NIS 40 million.
Simultaneously, the prices of the principal raw materials used by the Group companies in their various activities also continued to rise. The impact was an additional NIS 60 million to the Groups costs in the aggregated operations profit, compared with 2004.
The downturn in the European paper industry, originating from surplus supply due to the recession, has resulted in competing imports into Israel, at low prices, which rendered it impossible for the Group to raise prices, as warranted from the said rise in input prices.
In view of the said market conditions and the fierce competition which the Group is facing, and with the intention of dealing with the said rise in input prices, the Group accelerated its efficiency programs at all its companies, intensively cutting costs across all expense areas at the same time maintaining the quality of products and the market share figures.
To cut costs, the Company is initiating measures to achieve synergy between the Group companies, thereby allowing the Group to enjoy economies of scale, while bringing about greater efficiency and savings in various costs, including energy and raw material costs. These plans include among others the anticipated savings from the expected transition to the use of natural gas at the Hadera plant, as described below.
Concurrently, the Group is implementing the following cross-organization plans the Talent Management plan for the development of the Groups managers and the creation of managerial reserve, the WOW Program for enhancing the customers perceived added value of the Companys products and improving loyalty premium and price based on differentiation of products and service, Kimberly Clarks global Centerlining program aimed at improving production lines (operating a methodology that creates a joint agenda for all elements impacting operations, including: engineering, maintenance, technology and operations, while constantly measuring the variation of selected parameters, thereby creating a process of constant improvement in quality and efficiency).
In addition, the Group raised the selling prices of its products, albeit only partially and not to the extent warranted by the increase in input prices due to the economic conditions outlined above, the more moderate slow down in demand and the escalating competition against both imports and local manufacturers.
These efficiency measures, together with the partial rise in prices, rendered it possible to significantly reduce the impact of the rising input prices on the results.
The Group is currently continuing its efforts to improve selling prices, on the one hand, while extending the efficiency measures on the other hand, in order to compensate for the said increased input prices.
It is impossible to estimate the impact of the above steps on the Groups profitability, at this stage.
A trend has been identified in early 2006 whereby the gap between supply and demand in the European paper market seems to be narrowing, given the economic growth in the EU. This trend is leading to announcements regarding increases paper prices in Europe and in the USA.
As part of the Companys endeavors to cut manufacturing costs and to achieve additional environmental improvements, the Company continues to promote the energy-generation plant project in Hadera, using natural gas.
The Company is initially preparing for the commencement of work on the conversion of its energy-generation systems from the use of fuel oil to natural gas, once the transportation infrastructure of natural gas to Hadera is completed. The transition is planned for the third quarter of 2007, subject to the arrival of the gas to Hadera.
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In this capacity, the Company signed an agreement in London on July 29, 2005, with the Thetis Sea Group, for the purchase of natural gas. The gas that will be purchased is intended to fulfill the Companys requirements in the coming years, for the operation of the existing energy co-generation plant at Hadera that will be converted for the use of natural gas, instead of the current use of fuel oil. The overall financial volume of the transaction totals $40 million over the term of the agreement (5 years from the initial supply of gas, but no later than July 1, 2011).
The transition from fuel oil to natural gas will allow for significant savings, due to the significant differences between the current price of fuel oil versus the gas price and will serve to improve the Groups competitiveness and profitability.
The exchange rate of the NIS compared to the USD was devaluated by 6.8% during 2005, as compared with a revaluation of 1.6% in 2004.
The inflation rate during 2005 amounted to 2.4%, as compared with an inflation rate of 1.2% in 2004.
The analysis set forth below is based on the consolidated data.
1. Sales
The consolidated sales amounted to NIS 482.5 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 482.9 million in 2004.
The change in the turnover in 2005 originated from a certain growth in sales of packaging paper and paper waste, along with an insignificant decrease in the sales of office equipment sector due to the implementation of a reorganization process in this sector.
2. Cost of Sales
The cost of sales amounted to NIS 383.2 million in 2005, representing 79.4% of sales, as compared with NIS 375.9 million, or 77.9% of sales in 2004.
The gross margin amounted to 20.6% in 2005, as compared with 22.1% in 2004.
The decrease in the gross margin originated primarily from the erosion of the gross profit due to the increase in raw material prices (approximately 9% for paper waste), the unusual rise in energy prices (approximately 38% for fuel oil and approximately 13% for electricity) and water (approximately 10%). This was partially offset by a certain quantitative growth in sales of packaging and paper waste, a certain rise in selling prices (that failed to compensate for the said rise) and the continuing efficiency measures across all areas of operation.
3. Labor Wages
The labor wages in the cost of sales, in selling expenses and in General and Administrative expenses, amounted to NIS 149.7 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 143.5 million in 2004.
The increase in wages is attributed to a certain rise in manpower due to the quantitative growth, coupled with the preservation of a real level of wages, in CPI terms.
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4. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
The selling, general and administrative expenses (including wages) amounted to NIS 51.5 million in 2005, 10.7% of sales, as compared with NIS 53.0 million, 11.0% of sales, in 2004.
The decrease in selling and General and administrative expenses originated from continuing efficiency and cost-cutting measures.
5. Operating Profit
The operating profit amounted to NIS 47.8 million in 2005, representing 9.9% of sales, as compared with NIS 53.9 million, or 11.2% of sales in 2004.
The decrease in the operating profit in the paper and recycling sector in 2005 as compared with 2004 originated primarily from the said erosion of margins, due to the sharp rise in input prices (primarily energy, electricity and water) on the one hand, along with the difficulty in raising prices as warranted by the said rise in input prices due to competing imports.
The substantial decrease in the office supplies sector loss in 2005 as compared with 2004 resulted from the reorganization process implemented in this sector, along with extensive efficiency measures and operations in order to increase sales.
6. Financial Expenses
Financial expenses amounted to NIS 12.5 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 13.1 million in 2004.
The total average of the Companys net, interest-bearing liabilities grew by approximately NIS 58 million, as a comparison between 2005 and 2004. The growth originated primarily from the payment of NIS 100 million in dividends in September 2004 and NIS 50 million in September 2005, coupled with investments in fixed assets, net of dividend received from a consolidated subsidiary (NIS 21.8 million) and net of the positive cash flows from operating activities.
Moreover, the cost of the transaction for hedging the Series 2 notes against a rise in the CPI has risen to 1.3% per annum in 2005, as compared with 0.92% per annum in 2004 and resulted in an increase in costs related to the notes.
Nevertheless, since the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by an actual 2.4% in 2005, the hedging transaction of 1.3% resulted in savings of NIS 2.7 million on additional financing costs on account of the CPI-linked notes.
Despite the aforesaid, the devaluation in 2005, that served to increase the financial revenues from the Companys dollar-denominated assets, as compared with the revaluation that took place in 2004, resulted in net financial expenses that were lower in 2005 than in 2004.
7. Taxes on Income
Expenses for taxes on income from current operations totaled NIS 10.2 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 13.2 million in 2004.
The principal factors responsible for the decrease in tax expenses in 2005 as compared with 2004 include the decrease in pre-tax earnings this year and the lower tax rate this year, in relation to last year.
30
A tax benefit of NIS 4.2 million was recorded in 2005 on account of the impact of the tax reforms that were passed by the Knesset in July this year (gradually lowering the corporate tax rate to 25% by 2010) on the companys deferred taxes. The financial statements in 2004 included a tax benefit of NIS 5.8 million on account of the impact of the change in the corporate tax rate that was passed in 2004 on the companys deferred taxes, coupled with an additional tax benefit of NIS 4.2 million on account of the exercise of options by employees.
The tax expenses, including the said benefits, amounted to NIS 6.0 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 3.2 million in 2004.
8. Companys Share in Earnings (losses) of Associated Companies
The companies whose earnings are reported under this item (according to AIPMs holdings therein), primarily include: Mondi Hadera, Hogla-Kimberly, Carmel and T.M.M.
The Companys share in the earnings of associated companies (before non-recurring items) amounted to NIS 12.6 million in 2005, as compared with NIS 20.7 million in 2004.
The following principal changes were recorded in the Companys share in the (losses) earnings of associated companies, (before non-recurring items):
| The Companys share in the net earnings of Mondi Hadera (49.9%) decreased by NIS 10.1 million in 2005, as compared with 2004 (2004 gain, 2005 loss). Most of the change in profit in 2005 as compared with 2004 originates from the decrease in operating income between the years, as a result of the rebuild that was carried put on the paper machine this year. The massive rebuild that was intended to improve the output of the machine and the quality of the paper, necessitated discontinuing the manufacturing process during the rebuild and was accompanied by a subsequent learning curve, as is normal during such a significant project. The unusual increase in raw material, energy and water prices also adversely affected the profitability of Mondi Hadera. The economic slowdown in Europe and the surplus of paper led to an erosion of imported paper prices and rendered it difficult for Mondi Hadera to raise prices, as warranted from the said price hikes both in local markets and especially in export markets. Mondi Hadera is nevertheless continuing with its efforts to raise prices (in parallel to announcing higher prices in Europe in late 2005) and is intensifying its efficiency and cost-cutting measures. |
| The Companys share in the net earnings of Hogla-Kimberly (49.9%) increased by NIS 2.9 million in 2005, as compared with 2004. The stronger marketing operations and the fortification of brands, in combination with the increase in prices and effective efficiency measures, served to compensate in 2005 for the sharp rise in input prices (raw materials and energy) and improved the operating income. Hogla-Kimberly continues to improve the quality of its products, while strengthening its brands, including Mollett Hearts toilet paper, Kotex hygiene products and Nikol (complementary kitchen products). |
A net loss of NIS 3.5 million was recorded in the second quarter of 2005 on account of AIPMs share in a supplemental provision for doubtful debts, that was recorded by Hogla-Kimberly on account of the debts of Club Market, that is in a stay of proceedings and is currently subsequent to its acquisition by Supersol undergoing a settlement of debts. The settlement was approved by the court, but has yet to be finalized. The sum of the settlement is yet unknown. |
| The Companys share in the losses of Kimberly Clark Turkey, a wholly-owned Hogla-Kimberly subsidiary that is consolidated in its financial statements (hereinafter: KCTR, formerly Ovisan) (49.9%) has decreased by NIS 6.6 million in 2005, as compared with 2004. In 2005, KCTR has continued its preparation for the expansion of operations in the Turkish market and for the introduction of Kimberly Clarks international premium products into the Turkish market, as part of the multi-annual program (that is being formulated in conjunction with Kimberly Clark). In this capacity, the local management team was reinforced, to enable the realization of the said plan. KCTR has started the introduction of the Kotex® line of feminine hygiene products in late 2005 and is expected to introduce Huggies® diapers in 2006. KCTR recorded a significant loss in 2004, since the deployment of its distribution network on the one hand, and fierce competition in the Turkish market, on the other hand, resulted in the need to adjust the value of inventories to the prevailing market prices at the end of that year. |
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| The Companys share in the net earnings of the Carmel Group (26.25%) decreased by NIS 2.8 million in 2005 as compared with 2004. The change in 2005 originated from a decrease in operating profit and a rise in financial expenses (due to devaluation differentials). The decrease in operating profit, despite the quantitative increase in sales, originated primarily from the sharp rise in raw material prices, that was only partially offset by the rise in selling prices (in view of the escalating competition in the corrugator market), leading to a consequent erosion in the gross margin. In 2005, Carmel began making investments as part of the strategic move to improve the corrugation base with the intention of rendering the manufacturing process more efficient. At the end of this process, the output capacity will reach 100 thousand tons. The investment will be completed in 2006. |
| The Companys share in the net earnings of T.M.M. (43.08%) decreased by NIS 4.6 million in 2005 as compared with 2004 (2004 gain, 2005 loss). T.M.M. recorded a sharp decrease in operating profit in 2005 as compared with 2004, due to the significant rise in transportation costs (originating from a significant average rise of 32% in diesel prices as compared with 2004 an impact of NIS 8 million). This unusual increase in diesel prices was not sufficiently compensated for in the selling prices, due to the fact that most of the agreements are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), that rose by only 2.4% this year. T.M.M. is intensively carrying out efficiency measures and is attempting to modify some of the agreements, so as to reflect the extraordinary increase in diesel prices. |
We note that some of the customers began responding to the price changes in late 2005. |
| The Companys share in the earnings of associated companies in 2005 includes its share in the tax benefits recorded by these companies, following the change in tax rates (in the amount of NIS 3.9 million) amounts to NIS 16.4 million, as compared with NIS 25.1 million in 2004 (including a tax benefit of NIS 4.4 million). |
1. Cash Flows
The cash flows from operating activities in 2006 amounted to NIS 53.1 million, as compared with NIS 88.6 million in 2005. The change in the cash flows from operating activities in 2006 is primarily attributed to the increase in working capital, originating mostly from the growth in the volume of operations.
The cash flows from operating activities in 2004 amounted to NIS 47.1 million.
The dividend that was declared in December 2005, in the amount of NIS 50 million, was paid in January 2006.in addition, a dividend of NIS 100 million was paid in July 2006.
2. Financial Liabilities
The Company believes that its existing credit lines and cash flow from operations are sufficient for financing its working capital needs. The Company uses its cash flow from operating activities to finance its investments and for repayment of loans and dividend distributions to its shareholders.
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Based on the Companys balance sheet, the Company believes that it is unlikely that there will be any difficulties to obtain credit, whether short term debt or long-term debt, to finance anticipated investments.
On December 21, 2003, the Company issued notes through tender by private placement in the amount of NIS 200 million, to institutional investors. These notes carry an interest rate of 5.65% per annum (a margin of 1.45% above government notes with a comparable average maturity at the time). The principal will be repaid in seven equal annual installments between the years 2007-2013 (average maturity of 6 years), with both the principal and the interest being linked to the CPI. The notes are not convertible into the Companys ordinary shares and shall not be registered for trade on a public exchange.
The long-term liabilities (including current maturities) of the Companies amounted to NIS 297.9 million as at December 31, 2006 as compared with NIS 267.4 million as at December 31, 2005.
The Company uses loans from local financial institutions, mostly banks, to finance its activities. As of December 31, 2006, these loans consisted of the following:
1. | Short-term credit from banks AIPM has a bank credit facility of some NIS 360 Million. Of this, as of December 31, 2006, some NIS 242 Million were utilized. The Company does not have any credit limitations (i.e. financial covenants) other than this. see Note 10c to the Financial Statements attached. |
2. | Notes see Note 4a to the Financial Statements attached. |
3. | Long Term Loans See Note 4b to the Financial Statements attached. |
4. | Other liabilities see Note 4c to the Financial Statements attached. For information regarding financial instruments used for hedging purposes and market risks see Item 11, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk. |
The Group may incur additional tax liabilities in the event of inter-company dividend distributions, derived from approved enterprises profits. The said dividend distributions from investee companies is in the amount of up to approximately NIS 94 million (of which the Companys share of the additional tax is NIS 16 million, if this dividend is distributed). No account was taken of the additional tax, since AIPM has the ability and the intention that such earnings are to be reinvested and that no dividend would be declared which would involve additional tax liability to the Group in the foreseeable future.
3. Material commitments for Capital Expenditures
The Company also contracted with Alstom Power Boiler Service gmbh, a manufacturer of equipment in the energy industry, in an agreement worth approximately 1.74 million, for the purchase of the systems needed for the conversion and assistance with their installation at the plant in Hadera. Up to December 31, 2006 the remainder of the agreement was worth approximately 0.6 million.
There were no significant investments in research and development activities during the last three years.
For trend information see The Business Environment section included in Item 5 above.
33
The Company does not have any material off balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 5E of Form 20-F.
In NIS in million | Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 4-5 years | More than 5 years |
Long term debt obligations* | 275.1 | 48.7 | 127.8 | 67.4 | 31.2 |
Purchase obligations** | 158.6 | 13.7 | 123.5 | 21.4 | |
* Including interest
** From natural gas agreement
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the directors and executive officers of the Company:
NAME | DIRECTOR SINCE | AGE | POSITION |
Directors: | |||
Ronit Blum | 2005 | 55 | Director |
Nochi Dankner | 2003 | 53 | Director |
Avi Fischer | 2004 | 51 | Director |
Oren Lieder | 2003 | 59 | Director (until May 11, 2006) |
Ari Bronshtein | 2006 | 38 | Director (from May 11, 2006) |
Zvi Livnat | 2003 | 54 | Chairman of the Board since April 02, 2006 |
Amir Makov | 2005 | 73 | Director |
Isaac Manor | 2003 | 66 | Director |
Amos Mar-Haim | 1984 | 69 | Director |
Adi Rozenfeld | 2004 | 53 | Director |
Avi Yehezkel | 2003 | 49 | Director |
The business experience of each of the directors is as follows:
Ms. Ronit Blum is Director of Association of Friends, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, ingaged in the fild of managing donations to the Medical Center.
Mr. Ari Bronshtein is Vice President of Discount Investments Corporation Ltd. Serves as director at various companies. Formerly served as Deputy CEO of Economics and Business Development of Bezeq, the Israeli Telecom Company Ltd.
Mr. Nochi Dankner isChairman and Chief Executive Officer of IDB Holdings Corporation Ltd., Chairman of IDB Development Ltd., Discount Investments Corporation Ltd. and of Clal Industries and Investments Ltd. He serves or served as Chairman and Director in public and private companies of Ganden Group, IDB Group and Bank Hapoalim.
34
Mr. Avi Fischer is Director and Co-CEO of Clal Industries and Investments Ltd. and Deputy Chairman of IDB Development Ltd, Deputy CEO of IDB Holdings Corporation Ltd., director of Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. and Chairman and director of several public and private companies of Ganden Group and IDB Group. Senior partner of Fischer, Behar, Chen & Co. Law Office.
Mr. Zvi Livnat is Chairman of the Board of the Company since April 2006, Co-CEO of Clal Industries and Investments Ltd., Executive Vice President of IDB Holding Corporation Ltd., Deputy Chairman of IDB Development Corporation Ltd., director in Discount Investments Corporation Ltd., and other public and private companies.
Mr. Amir Makov is the Chairman of The Israel Institute of Petroleum & Energy and the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, Chairman of Polyon Plastic Industries Ltd, a member of the presidency of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, and a director in the following companies: ICL Fertilizers (Dead Sea Works, Rotem Amfert Negev), ICL Industry Products (Dead Sea Bromine Company, Dead Sea Periclase),and an external director in Wolfman Industries. Mr. Makov served as an external director of the Company between 1996-2001.
Mr. Isaac Manor is a Deputy Chairman of IDB Holdings Corporation Ltd., IDB Development Ltd., Discount Investments Corporation Ltd. and of Clal Industries and Investments Ltd and a director of various publicly-traded and privately-held companies within the IDB Group, IDB Holdings Ltd., IDB Development Ltd., Discount Investment Corporation Ltd. and Clal Industries and Investments Ltd ,Israel Union Bank Ltd. and others and Co-CEO and Chairman of companies in the David Lubinsky Group Ltd.
Mr. Amos Mar-Haim is a member of the Israel Accounting Standards Board and a director of various companies; Deputy Chairman of Phoenix Investments & Finances Ltd, Chairman of Migdal underwriting & Promotion of Investments Ltd.
Mr. Adi Rozenfeld is a businessman, consultant to companies and a representative of Activa Holdings BV in Israel. He is also the Honorary Consul of Slovenia in Israel and a director of various companies. Chairman of Association of Friends, Haifa University.
Mr. Avi Yehezkel is an external director at Bank Yahav. He served as a Knesset member between 1992-2003, during these years, alternately, he served as Deputy Minister of transportation, Chairman of the Economics Committee, Chairman of the Defense Budget Committee, Chairman of the Capital Market Sub-Committee, Chairman of the Banking Sub-Committee and member of the Finance Committee.
35
Name | Age | Position |
Avi Brener | 54 | Chief Executive Officer |
Israel Eldar | 62 | Corporate Controller and responsible for risks and business interruption management. |
Ofra Gorni | 54 | Business Development Manager. |
Lea Katz | 56 | Legal counsel and Corporate Secretary . |
Gabi Kenan | 63 | Senior Manager |
Gur Ben David | 55 | General manager of Packaging Paper and Recycling Division (as of January 01, 2007). |
Pinhas Rimon | 67 | General manager of Packaging Paper and Recycling Division (until December 31, 2006). A director of subsidiaries and affiliated companies of the Company. |
Gideon Liberman | 57 | General Manager of Development and Infrastructure Division |
Amir Moshe | 41 | General Manager, Graffiti Office Supplies & Paper Marketing Ltd. (as of January 01, 2007). |
Moshe Riani | 48 | General Manager, Graffiti Office Supplies & Paper Marketing Ltd. (until December 31, 2006). |
Uzi Carmi | 51 | General Manager, Amnir Recycling Industries Ltd. |
Simcha Kenigsbuch | 49 | Chief Information Officer |
Name | Age | Position in the Company |
Arik Schor | 51 | General Manager, Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. |
Avner Solel | 53 | General Manager, Mondi Business Paper Hadera Ltd. |
Doron Kempler | 57 | General Manager, Carmel Container Systems Ltd. |
The aggregate amount of remuneration paid to all directors and the above senior officers of the Company (23 officers and directors) as a group for services provided by them to the Company during 2006 was approximately NIS 19,380,980 (approximately $4,587,214). The aggregate amount set aside for pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors and officers as a group for services provided by them to the Company during 2006 was approximately NIS 1,561,006 (approximately $369,469).
36
The aggregate amount of remuneration paid to all directors and senior officers of the Company mentioned above, include payments paid by the Corporation and liabilities to pay taken by it, to the 5 senior officers, as follows(1):
Position | Thousands NIS | |
No' 1 | Chairman of the Board of Directors (until 04/06)(2) | 5,692 |
No' 2 | CEO(3) | 2,402 |
No' 3 | Division Manger | 1,448 |
No' 4 | Vice President | 1,348 |
No' 5 | Division Manger | 1,112 |
In addition, the senior officers of the Company and of certain other companies in the Group, were granted a stock option plan. For stock option plan granted to senior officers, see Item 6.E. Share ownership below, and Note 6b of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Remuneration of Directors
The remuneration of the directors (including the external directors) for 2006 was approved at the 2006 general meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to regulations under the Israeli Companies Law, each external director of the Company must receive the same annual compensation, which must be between NIS 29,010 and NIS 47,135, plus an additional fee for each meeting attended which must be between NIS 1,021 and NIS 1,813. The Board approved that the remuneration of each director for the year 2006, including the external directors, be fixed at NIS 40,000 plus an additional NIS 1,550 for each meeting attended.
(1) | The following, details remuneration payments paid by the Company and liabilities to pay taken by it, to the 5 senior officers of the Company, as reported by the Company at the Periodical Report published, in March 2007, following the Companys obligation to present that information, according to the Israeli Law. |
(2) | The Chairman of the Board of Directors retired on April 2, 2006, from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors after 37 years of employment in senior positions in the Group. The above mentioned sum of money includes its payment fees for 3 months and remuneration for execution of the remnant of remuneration according to the incentive plan approved at the General meeting on May 2001. |
In addition, the Company paid on April 2007 the retired Chairman, according to the agreement with him that was approved by the Board of Directors in March 2003 and at the General meeting in July 2003, an amount of NIS 4.992 million, and an additional amount paid in April 2007 to providence fund to cover gaps in deposits for previous years to the retired Chairman. |
(3) | On May 13, 2007, the Board of Directors approved the Employment Agreement and remuneration of Mr. Avi Brener, the CEO of the Company. The main principals of the Agreement are: monthly salary of NIS 95,000 (approximately $22,864) linked to the Israeli Consumer Price Index and a yearly bonus in the amount of between 6-9 salaries, subject to the discretion of the Board. In addition, upon the termination of employment of the CEO he will receive, in addition to the provisions for severance payments, a retirement grant payment in an aggregate amount equal to one-months salary for each year in which he was employed by the Group (from August 1988). |
37
The directors of the Company, except for the external directors (see below), retire from office at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and are eligible for re-appointment at such Annual General Meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no directors were appointed at any Annual General Meeting, the directors appointed at the previous Annual General Meeting will continue in office. Directors, except for the external directors, may be removed from office earlier by a resolution at an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
The Articles of Association of the Company provide that any director may, by written notice, appoint any person who is approved by the Board of Directors to be an alternate director and to act in his place and to vote at any meeting at which he is not personally present. The alternate director is entitled to notice of Board meetings and he will be remunerated out of the remuneration of the director appointing him. The alternate director shall vacate his office if and when the director appointing him vacates his office as director, or removes him from office by written notice.
There are no services contracts which give the current directors of the Company any benefits upon termination of office.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the Company (as a public company) is required to have at least two external directors as members of its Board of Directors. An external director may not have any financial or other substantial connection with the Company and must be appointed at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The external directors are elected for a three-year term of office that may be extended for another three years. Currently the external directors are Ms. Blum and Mr. Makov.
For the periods each director served in his or her respective position, see Item 6.A.Directors and Senior Management above.
For a description of the Termination and Employment Agreement of the Companys former Chairman of the Board, see Item 6.B. Compensation above. Aside from Mr. Yerushalmi, none of the Groups directors are entitled to benefits upon termination of their employment.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, members of the Audit Committee are to be elected from members of the Board of the Company by the Board. The Audit Committee will be comprised of at least three directors, including all of the external directors, but excluding: (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors; (ii) any director employed by the Company or who provides services to the Company on a regular basis; or (iii) a controlling shareholder of the Company or his relative.
The role of the Audit Committee under the Israeli law is: (i) to examine flaws in the business management of the Company in consultation with its auditors and to suggest appropriate courses of action and (ii) to decide whether to approve actions or transactions which under the Israeli Companies Law require the approval of the Audit Committee (transaction with a related party, etc.) The Company does not have a Nominating Committee nor a Compensation Committee.
The role of the Audit Committee under the American law is: (i) to oversee on behalf of the Board: (a) the integrity of the financial statements; (b) the appointment, compensation, qualification and work of the Independent Auditors; (c) compliance with legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the internal controls and reporting of publicly traded companies; (d) performance of Internal Auditor and internal controls functions; and (ii) to evaluate potential or existing deficiencies in the administration, by consulting with the management, and make proposal to the Board; and (iii) to review matters referred to them under the Whistleblower process of the Companys Code of Conduct and Ethics.
38
The Companys Audit Committee members are: Amos Mar-Haim, Chairman, Ronit Blum, and Amir Makov. All members are independent directors, as that term is defined in the American Stock Exchange listing standards.
As of April 30, 2007, the Group had 2,950 employees in Israel, of which the Company and its subsidiaries had 798 employees in Israel of whom 158 were engaged in the office supplies activities, 622 in packaging paper and recycling division, and 18 were management and clerical personnel at the Companys headquarters in Hadera. The associated companies had 2,152 employees in Israel of whom 1,037 were engaged in the household paper activities (in addition, KCTR had 240 employees), 321 in the printing and writing paper activities and 794 in the corrugated board containers activities.
Some of the employees are subject to the terms of employment of collective bargaining agreements. The parties to such collective bargaining agreements are the Company and the employees, through the union. The relationship between the Company and the union is good and based on continuous dialogue.
In April 2001, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a new stock option plan under which options to purchase a total of 194,300 shares may be granted to senior officers of the Company and certain other companies in the Group. All of the options were granted by July 2001. Each option is exercisable to purchase one ordinary share of NIS 0.01 par value of the Company. The options vest in four yearly installments. The vesting period of the first installment is two years, commencing on the date of grant, and the next three installments vest on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary of the grant date. Each installment is exercisable for two years from the vesting date of such installment. For further information regarding the 2001 plan, see Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In 2006, 44,998 options were exercised under the 2001 plan and 24,303 shares were issued following the exercise of options.
In August 2001, the Companys Board of Directors approved a stock option plan for employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, that expired on November 3, 2006. Under this plan, up to 125,000 options may be granted without consideration. Each option is exercisable to purchase one ordinary share of NIS 0.01 par value of the Company. In November 2001, 81,455 options were granted under the 2001 employee plan. The vesting period of the options is two years from the data of grant. Each option is exercisable within three years from the end of the blocking period. For further information regarding the 2001 employee plan, see Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In 2006, 10,091 options were exercised under the 2001 employee plan and 6,215 shares were issued following the exercise of options. The employees option plan expired on November 3, 2006.
39
The following table sets forth, as of May 28, 2007, the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company beneficially owned by (i) all those persons who, to the Companys knowledge, were the beneficial owners of more than 5% of such outstanding shares, and (ii) all officers and directors of the Company as a group:
Name and Address: Principal Shareholders: | Amount Beneficially Owned Directly or Indirectly* | Percent of Class Outstanding | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clal Industries Ltd. ("Clal") | ||||||||
3 Azrieli Center, the Triangle Tower, Tel Aviv, Israel | 1,531,128(1) | 37.83(1) | ||||||
Discount Investments Corporation Ltd. ("DIC") | 865,014(1) | 21.37(1) | ||||||
3 Azrieli Center, the Triangle Tower, Tel Aviv, Israel | ||||||||
All officers and directors as a group | ** | ** |
In 1980 DIC and Clal agreed for a period of ten years (subject to renewal for additional ten year periods) to coordinate and pool their voting power in the Company in order to appoint an equal number of each partys nominees to the Board of Directors of the Company, and in order to elect their designees to the Boards Committees. They also agreed to vote as bloc in General Meetings of the Company on the subject of dividend distributions. This agreement has been extended to the year 2010.
* | Beneficial ownership is calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
** | The officers and directors of the Company own, in the aggregate, less than 1% of the Companys outstanding ordinary shares, except for Nochi Dankner, Isaac Manor and Zvi Livnat whose ownership is set forth in footnote (1) below. |
(1) | IDB Holding Corporation Ltd. (IDBH) holds 72.4% of the equity of and 72.69% of the voting power in IDB Development Corporation Ltd. (IDBD), which, in turn, holds 74.76% of the equity of and voting power in DIC and 60.52% of the equity of and voting power in Clal. IDBH, IDBD, Clal and DIC are public companies traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. |
Since May 19, 2003 approximately 51.7% of the outstanding share capital of IDBH, is held by a group comprised of: (i) Ganden Investments I.D.B. Ltd. (Ganden), a private Israeli company controlled by Nochi Dankner and his sister, Shelly Bergman, which holds approximately 31.02% of the outstanding shares of IDBH; (ii) Manor Investments-IDB Ltd. (Manor), a private Israeli company controlled by Isaac and Ruth Manor which holds approximately 10.34% of the outstanding shares of IDBH; and (iii) Avraham Livnat Investments (2002) Ltd. (Livnat), a private Israeli company controlled by Avraham Livnat and Zvi Livnat which holds approximately 10.34% of the outstanding shares of IDBH. Ganden, Manor and Livnat, owning in the aggregate approximately 51.7% of the outstanding shares of IDBH, entered into a Shareholders Agreement relating, among other things, to their joint control of IDBH, the term of which is until May 19, 2023. |
In addition: (a) Ganden Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Ganden, directly holds approximately 7.15% of the outstanding shares of IDBH and Ganden directly holds approximately 6.71% of the outstanding shares of IDBH ; (b) Manor Holdings B.A. Ltd., the parent company of Manor, directly holds approximately 0.03% of the outstanding shares of IDBH; (c) Avraham Livnat Ltd., the parent company of Livnat, directly holds approximately 0.04% of the outstanding shares of IDBH; and (d) Shelly Bergman owns, through a private company wholly owned by her, approximately 7.23% of the outstanding shares of IDBH (hereinafter jointly: additional holdings). It should be noted, that the additional holdings, are not included in the shareholders agreement between Ganden, Manor and Livnat, relating, among other things, to their joint control of IDBH. |
Nochi Dankner is Chairman and CEO of IDBH and chairman of IDBD, Clal and DIC., Isaac Manor (the husband of Ruth Manor), and Zvi Livnat (the son of Avraham Livnat) are directors of each of IDBH, IDBD, and DIC . Isaac Manor is also director of Clal. |
40
Since May 23, 2005, beneficial ownership percentages for Clal and DIC increased by 5.14% and 2.9%, respectively, as compared to the percentages as indicated in the chart above.
The Company estimates that as of May 30, 2007, 10.56 % of its outstanding ordinary shares were held in the United States by 851 record holders.
All ordinary shares of the Company have equal voting rights. The Companys major shareholders who beneficially own 5% or more of the Companys ordinary shares outstanding do not have a voting rights different from other holders of ordinary shares.
The information is included in the Companys attached Consolidated Financial Statements. For loans to associated companies see Note 2 to the attached financial statements. For a capital note to an associated company, see Note 4c to the attached financial statements. For transactions and balances with related parties see Note 13 to the attached Financial Statements.
For further information see also Note 9e and 9d to the Financial Statements attached.
Not applicable to annual reports.
See the financial statements included in Item 17.
The amount of export sales represents approximately 9% out of the total sales volume of the Company.
In September 2006, a petition was filed against H-K, an affiliated company (49.9%), for approval of a class action. According to the petition H-K has reduced the number of units of diapers in a package of its Titulim® brand and thus misled the public according to the Israeli Consumer Protection Act. The plaintiff estimated the scope of the class action to be NIS 47 million. On June 18, 2007, court approved plaintiffs abandonment from the petition for the approval of a class action, and also ordered the dismissal of the plaintiffs personal action, with no expenses order.
In December 2006, a petition was filed against H-K, an affiliated company (49.9%), for the approval of a class action. According to the petition, 3.5 years ago, H-K has reduced the quantity of paper in the toilet packages of its Kleenex® Premium brand and thus misled the public according to the Israeli Consumer Protection Act. The plaintiff estimates the scope of the class action to be approximately NIS 43 million. On June 26, 2007, the court approved plaintiffs abandonment from the petition for the approval of a class action, a payment of expenses to the plaintiff in the amount of NIS 10,000 and also ordered the dismissal of the plaintiffs personal action, with no expenses order.
41
In January 2007, a petition was filed against H-K, an affiliated company (49.9%), for the approval of a class action. According to the petition, 3.5 years ago H-K reduced the quantity of wipes in the baby wipes packages of its Titulim® Premium brand and thus misled the public according to the Israeli Consumer Protection Act. The plaintiff estimated the scope of the class action to be approximately NIS 28 million. H-K rejects the claims and intends to defend itself against the action. At this early stage H-K is not able to assess the chances of the class action and its influences.
In November 2006, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced that even though the Company plant at Hadera has made considerable investments in sewage treatment and environmental protection issues, an investigation against the Company is required in connection with its plant at Hadera to review deviations from certain emission standards concerning air. The company anticipates that the investigation will not materially impact its operations.
On March 7, 2006, T.M.M., an associated company announced that the Israeli Securities Authority had addressed T.M.M. with regard to an investigation the authority is conducting. At this stage, T.M.M. is unable to estimate the impact of this investigation on the company. On February 04, 2007, the Company sold all its holdings in T.M.M.
During 2006, the Company did not have a defined policy for distributing dividends.
On January 4, 2007, the Company entered into an Agreement with CGEA, according to which, the Company sold to CGEA its holdings in Barthelemi, and the rest of its holdings in T.M.M. for the total amount of $ 27 million. This transaction was consummated on February 13, 2007, from which date the Company is no longer a shareholder in T.M.M.
42
The following table sets forth the high and low market prices of the Companys ordinary shares on the American Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for the five most recent full fiscal years:
American Stock Exchange | Tel Aviv Stock Exchange | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | |||||||||||||||
$ | NIS | $(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
Calendar Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | 52.12 | 38.50 | 237.00 | 168.50 | 53.01 | 38.42 | ||||||||||||||
2005 | 57.98 | 37.50 | 246.90 | 176.90 | 56.42 | 38.24 | ||||||||||||||
2004 | 60.73 | 48.75 | 267.10 | 217.60 | 60.33 | 48.72 | ||||||||||||||
2003 | 54.66 | 29.22 | 239.00 | 143.60 | 54.58 | 30.01 | ||||||||||||||
2002 | 40.50 | 25.18 | 178.00 | 116.10 | 40.10 | 24.90 |
The following table sets forth the high and low market prices of the Companys ordinary shares on the American Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for each fiscal quarter for the two most recent fiscal years and the first quarter of 2007:
American Stock Exchange | Tel Aviv Stock Exchange | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||
$ | NIS | $(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30 (through June 25) | 61.46 | 56.30 | 258.40 | 236.50 | 62.71 | 55.63 | ||||||||||||||
March 31 | 49.84 | 41.90 | 207.50 | 185.00 | 49.61 | 43.65 | ||||||||||||||
2006 Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||
$ | NIS | $(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
March 31 | 49.23 | 42.00 | 227.00 | 197.50 | 49.60 | 42.26 | ||||||||||||||
June 30 | 52.12 | 41.52 | 237.00 | 194.00 | 53.01 | 43.17 | ||||||||||||||
September 30 | 46.67 | 38.50 | 228.80 | 168.50 | 51.78 | 38.42 | ||||||||||||||
December 31 | 48.55 | 41.00 | 206.00 | 177.10 | 47.63 | 41.24 |
(1) | Share prices have been converted from New Israeli Shekels (NIS) to U.S. Dollars at the representative rate of exchange, as reported by the Bank of Israel, on the dates when such high or low prices in NIS were recorded. |
43
2005 Quarter Ended | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$ | NIS | $(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
March 31 | 57.98 | 48.25 | 246.90 | 214.80 | 56.42 | 49.42 | ||||||||||||||
June 30 | 52.00 | 42.13 | 227.60 | 187.50 | 52.21 | 41.30 | ||||||||||||||
September 30 | 45.73 | 40.50 | 207.90 | 183.80 | 45.60 | 40.56 | ||||||||||||||
December 31 | 44.00 | 37.50 | 200.20 | 176.90 | 43.61 | 38.24 |
The following table sets forth the high and low market prices of the Companys ordinary shares on the American Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for each month of the most recent six months:
American Stock Exchange | Tel Aviv Stock Exchange | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | |||||||||||||||
$ | NIS | $(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
May 2007 | 67.50 | 55.81 | 259.40 | 230.00 | 65.60 | 57.51 | ||||||||||||||
April 2007 | 56.75 | 47.21 | 230.80 | 198.70 | 56.62 | 47.82 | ||||||||||||||
March 2007 | 48.00 | 45.04 | 199.00 | 187.40 | 47.72 | 44.52 | ||||||||||||||
February 2007 | 49.84 | 43.82 | 207.50 | 188.10 | 49.61 | 44.38 | ||||||||||||||
January 2007 | 45.76 | 41.90 | 191.10 | 185.00 | 45.64 | 43.65 |
(1) | Share prices have been converted from New Israeli Shekels (NIS) to U.S. Dollars at the representative rate of exchange, as reported by the Bank of Israel, on the dates when such high or low prices in NIS were recorded. |
The Companys ordinary shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange. The trading symbol for the ordinary shares is AIP. The ordinary shares are also listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Not applicable to Annual Reports.
The Company was registered under Israeli law on February 10, 1951 and its registration number with the Israeli registrar of companies is 52-001838-3.
44
The Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association are attached as Exhibits 1.1and 1.2 to this Annual Report.
Objects of the Company
As indicated in Article 5 of the Companys Articles, the Company may, at any time, engage in any branch or kind of business in which it is, expressly or by implication, authorized to engage in accordance with the Articles. The Company may also cease to engage in such businesses, whether or not it has commenced to engage in such branch or kind of business.
Directors Personal Interest
The Israeli Companies Law requires that a director and an officer of a company disclose to the Company any personal interest that he may have and all related material information, in connection with any existing or proposed transaction by the Company. The disclosure is required to be made promptly and in any event no later than the date of meeting of the board of directors in which the transaction is first discussed.
If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, the procedure of approval is as described below. Under Israeli law, an extraordinary transaction is a transaction other than in the ordinary course of business, otherwise than on market terms or that is likely to have a material impact on the Companys profitability, assets or liabilities.
Subject to the restrictions of the Israeli Companies Law, a director is entitled to participate in the deliberations and vote with regard to the approval of transactions in which he has a personal interest. A director is not entitled to participate and vote with regard to the approval of an extraordinary transaction in which he has a personal interest, the approval of indemnity, exemption or insurance of the directors or the approval of the directors compensation. If a majority of the directors have a personal interest in a certain decision, they may participate and vote but the issue must be approved also by the audit committee and by the shareholders. If the controlling shareholder has a personal interest in an extraordinary transaction, the issue must be approved also by the audit committee and the shareholders.
Any power of the Company which has not been conferred by law or by the Articles to any other body, may be exercised by the Board. The management of the Company is guided by the Board.
Powers and Function of Directors
The Board shall formulate the policies of the Company and shall supervise the performance of the office and actions of the General Manager, including inter alia examination of the financial position of the Company and determination of the credit framework which the Company may receive. Without derogating from any power vested in the Board in accordance with the Articles, the Board may, from time to time, at its discretion, decide upon the issuance of a series of debentures, including capital notes or undertakings, including debentures, capital notes or undertakings which can be converted into shares, and also the terms thereof, and mortgage of the property of the Company, in whole or in part, at present or in future, by floating or fixed charge. Debentures, capital notes, undertakings or other securities, as aforesaid, may be issued either at a discount or at a premium or in any other manner, whether with deferred rights or special rights and/or preferred rights and/or other rights, all the aforesaid as the Board may, at its discretion, determine. Compensation to directors is subordinate to an approval of the Audit committee, the Board of Directors and the General meeting of the Shareholders. There are no provisions in the Companys Articles for the retirement of directors under an age limit.
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Except for special cases as detailed in the Articles and subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law, the Board may delegate its powers to the General Manager, to an officer of the Company or to any other person or to the Board committees. Delegation of the powers of the Board may be with regard to a specific matter or for a particular period, at the discretion of the Board.
The directors need not be shareholders of the Company in order to qualify as directors.
The Shares Rights and Restrictions
All of the Companys shares are ordinary shares. Every ordinary share in the capital of the Company is of equal rights, for all intents and purposes, to every other ordinary share, including the right to dividends, to bonus shares and to participation in the surplus assets of the Company upon liquidation, proportionately to the par value of each share, without taking into consideration any premium paid in respect thereof, all the aforesaid subject to the provisions of the Articles.
Each of the ordinary shares entitles the holder thereof to participate at and to one vote at Annual General Meetings of the Company. As described in Item 6C, all directors, except external directors, stand for election each year at the Annual General Meeting.
Subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law, the Board may resolve upon the distribution of a dividend. When deciding on the distribution of a dividend, the Board may decide that the dividend shall be paid, in whole or in part, in cash or by way of the distribution of assets in specie, including securities or bonus shares, or in any other manner at the discretion of the Board.
Dividends on the Companys ordinary shares may be paid only out of retained earnings, as defined in the Israeli Companies Law, as of the end of the most recent fiscal year or profits accrued over a period of two years, whichever is higher.
The Company may, by resolution adopted at an Annual General Meeting by an ordinary majority, decrease the capital of the Company and of any reserve fund from redemption of capital. For the execution of any resolution as aforesaid, the Board may, at its discretion, resolve any issues, which may arise in connection therewith.
In case of winding up of the Company, the liquidator may determine the proper value of the assets available for distribution and determine how the distribution among the shareholders will be carried out.
The liability of the shareholders is limited to the payment of par value of their ordinary shares.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, each shareholder has a duty to act in good faith in exercising his rights and fulfilling his obligations toward the Company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing his power in the Company.
In addition, each shareholder has the general duty to refrain from depriving other shareholders of their rights.
Furthermore, any controlling shareholder, who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder that, pursuant to the provisions of the Articles, has the power to appoint or to prevent the appointment of an officer in the Company or any other power toward the Company is under a duty to act in fairness toward the Company. The Israeli Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty of fairness. These various shareholder duties may restrict the ability of a shareholder to act in what the shareholder perceives to be its own best interests.
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Modification of Rights of Shares
If the share capital is divided into different classes, the Company may by resolution adopted at a General Meeting by a special majority of 60% of the votes of shareholders (in person or by proxy) voting at the General Meeting (except if the terms of the issuance of the shares of such class otherwise provide) annul, convert, expand, supplement, restrict, amend or otherwise modify the rights of a class of shares of the Company, provided that the consent, in writing, of all the shareholders of such class thereto shall be received or that the resolution shall have been approved by a General Meeting of the shareholders of such class by special majority, or in the event that it was otherwise provided in the terms of the issuance of a particular class of the shares of the Company, as may have been provided in the terms of issuance of such class, provided that the quorum at the class meeting shall be the presence, in person or by proxy, at the opening of the meeting of at least two shareholders who own at least twenty five percent (25%) of the number of the issued shares of such class.
The rights conferred upon the shareholders or owners of a class of shares, whether issued with ordinary rights or with preference rights or with other special rights, shall not be deemed to have been converted, restricted, prejudiced or altered in any other manner by the creation or issuance of additional shares of any class, whether of the same degree or in a degree different or preferable to them, nor shall they be deemed to have been converted, restricted, prejudiced or altered in any other manner by a change of the rights linked to any other class of shares, all the aforesaid unless otherwise expressly provided in the terms of the issuance of such shares.
Shareholders Meeting
The Company shall hold an Annual General Meeting each year not later than fifteen months after the previous Annual Meeting, at such time and place as may be determined by the Board. Any other General Meeting is referred to as a Special Meeting.
A notice of a General Meeting shall be published in at least two widely distributed daily newspapers published in Hebrew. The notice shall be published at least twenty-one days prior to the convocation of the meeting. In addition the Company provides a notice of the meeting and related proxy statement in English to the holders of its Ordinary Shares listed on the records of the Companys registrar and stock transfer agent in the United States.
Apart from the notices as to the General Meeting as above, according to its articles and the Israeli Companies Law the Company is not required to give any notice as to the General Meeting, either to the registered shareholders or to shareholders who are not registered, subject to provisions of the Companies Law and/or any other applicable law. The notice as to a General Meeting is required to detail the place, the day and the hour at which the meeting will be held and to include the agenda as well as a summary of the proposed resolutions and any other details required by law.
The Board of Directors of the Company shall convene a Special Meeting as may be decided by the Board, and shall also convene a special meeting at the demand of any two directors or one quarter of the directors in office or one or more shareholders who hold at least five percent of the issued capital and one percent of the voting rights, or one or more shareholders who hold at least five percent of the voting rights.
If the Board receives a demand for the convocation of a Special Meeting as aforesaid, the Board shall within twenty one days of receipt of the demand convene the meeting for a date fixed in the notice as to the Special Meeting, provided that the date for convocation shall not be later than thirty five days from the date of publication of the notice, all the aforesaid subject to the provisions of the Companies Law.
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In the resolution of the Board to convene a meeting, the Board may, at its discretion and subject to the provisions of the law, fix the manner in which the items on the agenda will be determined and notice given to the shareholders entitled to participate at the meeting.
Each shareholder holding at least ten percent (10%) of the issued capital and one percent (1%) of the voting rights, or each shareholder holding at least ten percent (10%) of the voting rights is entitled to request the Board to include in the agenda any issue, provided that this issue is suitable to be discussed in a General Meeting.
No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business. A quorum shall be constituted when two shareholders, holding collectively at least twenty five percent (25%) of the voting rights, are present in person or by proxy within half an hour from the time appointed for commencement of the meeting, unless otherwise determined in the Articles.
If a quorum is not present within half an hour, the meeting shall stand adjourned for seven days, to the same day of the week at the same time and place, without need for notification to the shareholders, or to such other day, time and place as the Board may by notice to the shareholders appoint.
If a quorum is not present as aforesaid at the adjourned meeting, the meeting shall be canceled.
Voting and Adopting Resolutions at General Meetings
A shareholder who wishes to vote at a General Meeting shall prove to the Company his ownership of his shares. The Board may issue directives and procedures relating to the proof of ownership of shares of the Company.
A shareholder is entitled to vote at a General Meeting or class meeting, in person, or by proxy or by proxy card. A voting proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.
The above shall also apply to any person entitled to shares, provided that at least forty eight hours before the time for the meeting or the adjourned meeting, as the case may be, at which he proposes to vote, he shall satisfy the Board of his right to vote such shares unless the Company shall have previously recognized his right to vote the shares at such meeting.
The instrument appointing a proxy (hereinafter Proxy Appointment) shall be in writing signed by the principal, or if the principal is a corporation the proxy appointment shall be in writing and signed by authorized signatories of the corporation. The Board is entitled to demand that prior to the holding of the meeting, there shall be produced to the Company a confirmation in writing of the authority of signatories to bind the corporation to the satisfaction of the Board. The Board may also issue provisions and procedures relating to such matters.
The Proxy Appointment or an office copy to the satisfaction of the Board shall be deposited at the registered office or at such other place or places, in or outside of Israel, as may from time to time be determined by the Board, either generally or in respect of a specific meeting, at least forty eight hours prior to the commencement of the meeting or the adjourned meeting, as the case may be, at which the proxy proposes to vote on the strength of such Proxy Appointment.
A voting proxy is entitled to participate in the proceedings at the General Meeting and to be elected as chairman of the meeting in the same manner as the appointing shareholder, unless the Proxy Appointment otherwise provides. The Proxy Appointment shall be in form usual in Israel or any other form which may be approved by the Board.
According to an amendment in the Israeli Companies Law , a shareholder is also entitled, in certain issues, to vote by a proxy card.
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Each ordinary share entitles the holder thereof to participate at a General Meeting of the Company and to one vote at a poll.
Right of Non-Israeli Shareholders to Vote
There is no limitation on the right of non-resident or foreign owners of any class of the Companys securities to hold or to vote according to the rights vested in such securities.
Change of Control
Under the Articles, the approval of merger as provided in the Israeli Companies Law, is subject to a simple majority at the General Meeting or class meeting, as the case may be, all the aforesaid subject to the applicable provisions of any law. It is also subject to the approval of the boards of the merging companies.
For purposes of shareholders approval, unless a court rules otherwise, the merger will not be deemed approved if a majority of the shares held by shareholders voting at the general meeting, other than the shareholders who are also shareholders in the other merging company whose shares are held by the other merging company, or by any person who holds 25% or more of the shares or the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors in the other merging company, vote against the merger. Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, a court may delay or prevent the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that as a result of the merger, the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations of any of the parties to the merger. In addition, a merger may not be completed unless at least 30 days have passed from the data that the merger was approved at the general meeting of all the merging companies and at least 50 days have passed from the time that a proposal of the merger has been filed with the Israeli Registrar of companies.
The Israeli Companies Law also provides that an acquisition of shares of a public company must be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a 25% shareholder of the Company and there is no existing 25% or more shareholder in the Company. If there is no existing 45% or greater shareholder in the Company, the Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares of a public company must be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a 45% shareholder of the Company.
If following any acquisition of shares, the acquirer will hold 90% or more of the Companys shares, the acquisition may not be made other than through a tender offer to acquire all of the shares of such class. If more than 95% of the outstanding shares are tendered in the tender offer, all the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be sold to it. However, the remaining minority shareholders may seek to alter the consideration by court order.
Under the Israeli Securities Act 1968, any major shareholder who is the beneficial owner of more then 5% of the Companys equity capital or voting securities is required to report this fact and any change in his holding to the Israeli Securities Authority.
| In May 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with East Mediterranean Gas Company (EMG) for the purchase of natural gas from Egypt. The Agreement describes the principles for the negotiations toward the conclusion of a Detailed Agreement for the purchase of natural gas, that will be purchased in order to fulfill the Companys requirements after the conversion of its energy generation facilities from the use of fuel oil to natural gas, that will enable significant savings in fuel costs and further improvement in air quality. In July 2005, AIPM signed an agreement for the purchase of natural gas with Thetis Sea Group to provide its requirements in natural gas until mid 2011 for the currently operating facility in its Hadera site. The new agreement with EMG provides for the continued availability of gas, for the following 15 years. In addition, the agreement allows AIPM, within a limited timetable, to increase the contracted quantities to serve the needs of the new power plant which is being planned by AIPM. The estimated annual purchase from EMG will range from $10 million up to $50 million, according to the quantities acquired and the prevailing prices. Bank and corporate guarantees, of an order of one year purchase, will be provided by AIPM, when signing the Detailed Agreement. |
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| In February 2007, AIPM finalized the sale of all its direct and indirect holdings in T.M.M. to CGEA in an Agreement signed on January 04, 2007 (through a complete tender offer) (by agreement with CGEA for the sale of its holdings in Barthelemi) for a total amount of approximately $27 million, so that AIPM has absolutely ceased to be a shareholder in T.M.M. For further details, please see the chapter on History and Development of the Company. |
| In the beginning of 2006, companies in the Group signed a three year agreement with Delek, for the purchase of fuel and oil for current use, in an aggregated amount of NIS 60 million per year for all the companies in the Group. This agreement will replace former agreements in similar amounts. |
| On July 29, 2005 the Company signed an agreement in London, with the Thetis Sea Group, for the purchase of natural gas. The gas that will be purchased is intended to fulfill the Companys requirements in the coming years, for the operation of the existing energy co-generation plant at Hadera that will be converted for the use of natural gas, instead of the current use of fuel oil. The overall financial volume of the transaction totals $40 million over the term of the agreement (5 years from the initial supply of gas, but no later than July 1, 2011). |
Foreign Exchange Regulations
There are no Israeli governmental laws, decrees or regulations that restrict or that affect the export or import of capital, including but not limited to, foreign exchange controls on remittance of dividends on the ordinary shares or on the conduct of the Groups operations, except as otherwise set forth in the paragraph below regarding taxation.
The following information is regarding the Israeli laws only.
Investors are advised to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of their purchases, ownership and sales of ordinary shares, including the consequences under applicable state and local law and federal estate and gift tax law, and the application of foreign laws or the effect of nonresident status on United States taxation. This tax summary does not address all of the tax consequences to the investors of purchasing, owning or disposing of the ordinary shares.
On July 24, 2002, the Israeli Knesset 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 Tax 2003 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).
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Shortly 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 in Israeli tax law. Inter alia, The 2006 Tax Reform includes a gradual reduction of income tax rates for both individuals and corporations over the years through 2010, and outlined a path towards uniformity in the taxation of interest, dividend and capital gains derived from securities. Most of the amendments to the tax law are effective as of January 1, 2006, subject to certain exceptions. Transition rules apply in certain circumstances.
Various issues related to the effective date of 2003 Tax Reform and the 2006 Tax Reform 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.
Income Taxes on Dividends Distributed by the Company to Non-Israeli Residents
Subject to the provisions of applicable tax treaties, dividend distributions from regular profits (non-approved enterprise) by the Company to a non-resident shareholder are generally subject to withholding tax of 20%. The portion of dividends paid out of profits earned under an Approved Enterprise tax status of the Company is subject to withholding tax at the rate of 15% (in excess of the corporate tax paid by the Company when the dividend is paid of these profits 25% tax).
Generally, under the Tax Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel with Respect to Taxes on Income (US Treaty) the maximum rate of withholding tax on dividends paid to a shareholder who is a resident of the United States (as defined in the US Treaty) will be 25%. Due to the fact that a tax rate of 25% is higher than the maximum Israeli tax rate on dividends pursuant to the 2006 Tax Reform, the maximum tax rate should be 20%. . However, when a U.S. tax resident corporation is the recipient of the dividend, the rate on a dividend out of regular (non-Approved Enterprise) profits may be reduced to 12.5% under the treaty, where the following conditions are met:
(a) | the recipient corporation owns at least 10% of the outstanding voting rights of the Company for all of the period preceding the dividend during the Companys current and prior taxable year; and |
(b) | generally not more than 25% of the gross income of the paying corporation for its prior tax year consists of certain interest and dividend income. |
Otherwise, the usual rates apply.
In addition, If an Individual shareholder is considered a principal shareholder at any time during the 12-month period preceding such sale, i.e., such shareholder holds directly or indirectly, including with others, at least 10% of any means of control in the company, the tax rate on the dividend (not source from Approved Enterprise income) will be 25%. The withholding tax by the Company on such dividend would remain 20%.
United States individual citizens and residents and U.S. corporations generally will be required to include in their gross income the full amount of dividends received from the Company with respect to the ordinary shares owned by them, including the amount withheld as Israeli income tax. Subject to the limitations and conditions provided in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), such persons may be eligible to claim a credit for such withheld amounts against their United States federal income tax liability. As an alternative, the persons enumerated above (provided such persons, in the case of individual taxpayers, itemize their deductions) may elect to deduct such withheld tax from their gross income in determining taxable income (subject to applicable limitations on the deductions claimed by individuals). However, such a credit or deduction may be limited for U.S. alternative minimum tax purposes, depending on the taxpayers specific circumstances.
Dividend payments on the Ordinary Shares will not be eligible for a dividends received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations under the Code.
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Income Taxes on Dividends Distributed by the Company to Israeli Residents
The distribution of dividend income to Israeli residents will generally be subject to income tax at a rate of 20% for individuals and will be exempt from income tax for corporations. The portion of dividends paid out of profits earned under an Approved Enterprise tax status of the Company, to both individuals and corporations, is subject to withholding tax at the rate of 15% (in excess of the corporate tax paid by the Company when the dividend is paid of these profits 25% tax).
In addition, If an Individual Israeli shareholder is considered a principal shareholder at any time during the 12-month period preceding such sale, i.e., such shareholder holds directly or indirectly, including with others, at least 10% of any means of control in the Company, the tax rate on the dividend (not source from Approved Enterprise income) will be 25%. The withholding tax by the Company on such dividend would remain 20%.
Israeli law imposes a capital gains tax on the sale of capital assets by an Israeli resident and on the sale of capital assets located in Israel or the sale of direct or indirect rights to assets located in Israel. The Israeli Tax Ordinance distinguishes between Real Gain and Inflationary Surplus. Real Gain is the excess of the total capital gain over Inflationary Surplus computed on the basis of the increase in the Israeli CPI between the date of purchase and the date of sale. The Real Gain accrued at the sale of an asset purchased on or after January 1, 2003 is generally taxed at a 20% rate for individuals and 25% for corporations. Inflationary Surplus, that accrued after December 31, 1993, is exempt from tax.
In July 2005 the Israeli Parliament approved a Reform in the Israeli taxation law, which among other decreases the corporate tax gradually from 31% in 2006 to 25% in 2010.
Pursuant to the 2006 Tax Reform the current applicable corporate tax rate in 2007 is to be gradually reduced from 29% to 25%, in the following manner: the tax rate for 2007 will be 29%, , in 2008 27%, in 2009 26%, in 2010 and onwards 25%. The maximum tax rate for individuals is 48% and shall also be gradually reduced to 44% in 2010 and onwards. These rates are subject to the provisions of any applicable bilateral double taxation treaty. Israeli law generally imposes a capital gains tax on the sale of securities and any other capital assets.
The shareholder will generally be subject to tax at 20% rate on realized real capital gain accrued from January 1, 2003 and thereafter. To the extent that the shareholder claims a deduction of financing expenses, the gain will be subject to tax at a rate of 25% (until otherwise stipulated in bylaws that may be published in the future).
If such shareholder is considered a principal shareholder at any time during the 12-month period preceding such sale, i.e., such shareholder holds directly or indirectly, including with others, at least 10% of any means of control in the Company, the tax rate will be 25%.
The tax basis of shares acquired prior to January 1, 2003 will be determined in accordance with the average closing share price in the three trading days preceding January 1, 2003. However, a taxpayer may elect the actual adjusted cost of the shares as the tax basis provided he can provide sufficient proof of such adjusted cost.
It should be noted hat different taxation rules may apply to shareholders who purchased their shares prior to the listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. They should consult with their tax advisors for the precise treatment upon sale.
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It should be noted that different taxation rules may apply to shareholders who purchased their shares prior to the listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. They should consult with their tax advisors for the precise treatment upon sale.
Corporations which are subject to the Inflationary Adjustments Law
The shareholder will be subject to tax at the corporate tax rate on realized real capital gain (currently 29% in 2007).
Generally, the shareholder will be subject to tax at the corporate tax rate of 25% on realized real capital gains.
Non-Israeli residents are generally exempt from capital gains tax on any gains derived from the sale of shares publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange provided, however, that such capital gains are not derived from a permanent establishment in Israel, that such shareholders are not subject to the Inflationary Adjustment Law and that such shareholders did not acquire their shares prior to an initial public offering. In addition, non-Israeli companies will not be entitled to such exemption if an Israeli resident (i) has a controlling interest of 25% or more in such non-Israeli company, or (ii) is the beneficiary or is entitled to 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli company, whether directly or indirectly.
It should be noted hat different taxation rules may apply to shareholders who purchased their shares prior to the listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. They should consult with their tax advisors for the precise treatment upon sale.
Notwithstanding the foregoing with respect to both Israeli and non-Israeli residents, dealers (both individuals and corporation) in securities in Israel are generally taxed at regular tax rates applicable to business income.
The U.S. Israeli Tax Treaty exempts U.S. residents who hold an interest of less than 10% an Israeli company, and who held an interest of less than 10% during the 12 months prior to a sale of their shares, from Israeli capital gains tax in connection with such sale. Certain other tax treaties to which Israel is a party also grant exemptions from Israeli capital gains taxes.
Not applicable to Annual Reports.
Not applicable to Annual Reports.
A copy of each document (or a translation thereof to the extent not in English) concerning the Company that is referred to in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, is available for public view at our principal executive offices at American Israeli Paper Mills Ltd., 1 Meizer Street Industrial Zone, Hadera 38100, Israel. We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
Copies of this Annual Report and the exhibits hereto may be inspected and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549 at proposed rates. The public may obtain information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference Room by calling the SEC in the United States at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Our reports and other information can also be inspected on EDGAR available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
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Due to its operations, the Company is exposed to market risks, consisting primarily of changes in interest rates on both short and long-term loans, changes in exchange rates and changes in raw material and energy prices. These changes in interest rates effect the Companys financial results.
The Companys Board of Directors determines the policy according to which financial instruments are employed and defines the objectives to be attained, taking into account the Groups linkage balance sheet and the impact of changes in various currencies and in the Consumer Price Index on the Companys cash flows and on its financial statements.
AIPM conducts calculations of the its exposure every month and examines the compliance with the policy determined by the Board of Directors.
Furthermore, limited use is made of derivative financial instruments, which the Company employs for hedging the cash flows, originating from the existing assets and liabilities.
Such transactions are conducted primarily through currency options and forward transactions opposite Israeli banking institutions. The Company therefore believes that the inherent credit risk of these transactions is slight.
As of December 31, 2006 AIPM owns CPI-linked long-term loans (notes) in the total sum of about NIS 226 million. The interest on such loans is not higher than the market interest rate. In the event that the inflation rate shall rise significantly, a loss may be recorded in AIPMs financial statements, due to the surplus of CPI-linked liabilities.
In order to hedge this exposure, AIPM has entered into forward transactions, in December 2006 and January 2007 for hedging NIS 220 million against a rise in the CPI until December 2007. These transactions serve to replace hedging transactions of NIS 230 million that terminated in late 2005.
Through our normal operations, we are exposed to market risks mainly to the changes in the Consumer Price Index, which our notes are linked to. We manage our exposure to these market risks through our regular financing activities and, when deemed appropriate, we hedge these risks through the use of derivative financial instruments. We use the term hedge to mean a strategy designed to manage risks of volatility movements on certain liabilities. The gains or losses on derivative instruments are expected to offset the losses or gains on these liabilities. We use derivative financial instruments as risk hedging tools and not for trading or speculative purposes. Our risk management objective is to minimize the effect of volatility on our financial results exposed to these risks and appropriately hedging them with forward contracts.
Maturity | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | 2008-9 | 2010-11 | More than 5 years |
Total book value | Total fair value | |
Series 1 Debentures | 6,841 | 13,681 | 20,522 | 20,183 | ||
Series 2 Debentures | 29,518 | 59,036 | 59,036 | 59,037 | 206,627 | 211,284 |
The Companys and its subsidiaries cash and cash equivalents and the short-term deposits as of December 31, 2006 are deposited mainly with major Israeli banks. The Company and its subsidiaries consider the credit risks in respect of these balances to be immaterial.
Most of these companies sales are made in Israel, to a large number of customers. The exposure to credit risks relating to trade receivables is limited due to the relatively large number of customers. The Group performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers to determine the required amount of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company believes that an appropriate allowance for doubtful debts is included in the financial statements.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the financial instruments included in working capital of the Group is usually identical or close to their carrying value. The fair value of loans and other liabilities also approximates the carrying value, since they bear interest at rates close to the prevailing market rates, except as described below.
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Sensitivity Analysis Tables for Sensitive Instruments, According to Changes in Market Elements
All other Companys market risk sensitive instruments are instruments entered into for purposes other than trading proposes.
Sensitivity to Interest Rates
| |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sensitive Instruments | Profit (loss) from changes
| Profit (loss) from changes
| |||||||||||||||
Interest rise 10% | Interest rise 5% | Fair value as at Dec-31-06 | Interest decrease 10% | Interest decrease 5% | |||||||||||||
In NIS thousands
| |||||||||||||||||
Series 1 Debentures | 140 | 70 | 20,183 | -141 | -70 | ||||||||||||
Series 2 Debentures | 3,597 | 1,810 | 211,284 | -3,696 | -1,835 | ||||||||||||
Other liability | 148 | 74 | 31,210 | -149 | -74 | ||||||||||||
Long-term loans and capital notes - granted | -294 | -147 | -62,005 | 297 | 148 |
The fair value of the loans is based on a calculation of the present value of the cash flows, according to the generally-accepted interest rate on loans with similar characteristics (5% in 2006).
Regarding the terms of the debentures and other liability See Note 4 to the Financial Statements.
Regarding the terms of the long-term loans and capital notes granted - See Note 2 to the Financial Statements.
Sensitivity to Consumer Price Index
| |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sensitive Instruments | Profit (loss) from changes
| Profit (loss) from changes
| |||||||||||||||
Interest rise 0.2% | Interest rise 0.1% | Fair value as at Dec-31-06 | Interest decrease 0.2% | Interest decrease 0.1 | |||||||||||||
In NIS thousands
| |||||||||||||||||
NIS-CPI forward transaction | 202 | 101 | -1,274 | -202 | -101 |
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See Note 12a to the Financial Statements.
Sensitivity to US Dollar Exchange Rate
| |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sensitive Instruments | Profit (loss) from changes
| Profit (loss) from changes
| |||||||||||||||
Revaluation of $ 10% | Revaluation of $ 5% | Fair value as at Dec-31-06 | Devaluation of 10% | Devaluation 5% | |||||||||||||
In NIS thousands
| |||||||||||||||||
Other accounts receivable | 5,985 | 2,992 | 59,849 | -5,985 | -2,992 | ||||||||||||
Capital note | 634 | 317 | 6,337 | -634 | -317 | ||||||||||||
Accounts payable | -842 | -421 | 8,422- | 842 | 421 |
Other accounts receivable reflect primarily short-term customer debts.
Capital note See Note 2b to the Financial Statements.
Accounts payable reflect primarily short-term liabilities to suppliers.
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Quantitative Information Regarding Market Risk
The following are the balance-sheet components by linkage bases at December 31, 2006:
In NIS Millions | Unlinked | CPI-linked | In foreign currency, or linked thereto (primarily US$) | Non-monetary items | Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 5.0 | 8.6 | 13.6 | |||||||||||||||
Other accounts receivable | 243.1 | 0.2 | 59.8 | 11.7 | 314.8 | |||||||||||||
Inventories | 62.1 | 62.1 | ||||||||||||||||
Investments in associated companies | 63.7 | 6.3 | 305.5 | 375.5 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred taxes on income | 6.5 | 6.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Fixed assets, net | 400.8 | 400.8 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets | 311.8 | 0.2 | 74.7 | 786.6 | 1,173.3 | |||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||
credit from banks | 203.0 | 203.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | 191.5 | 8.4 | 199.9 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred taxes on income | 41.7 | 41.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Notes (bonds) - including current maturities | 226.4 | 226.4 | ||||||||||||||||
Long term loans | 38.7 | 38.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities - including current maturities | 32.8 | 32.8 | ||||||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity, funds and retained earnings | 430.8 | 430.8 | ||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | 466.0 | 226.4 | 8.4 | 472.5 | 1,173.3 | |||||||||||||
Surplus financial assets (liabilities) as at December 31, 2006 | (154.2 | ) | (226.2 | ) | 66.3 | 314.1 | - |
Not applicable to Annual Reports.
None.
None.
57
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure, controls and procedures (as defined in the U.S. Securities Exchange Rule 13a 15(e) and 15d 15(e)) have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this Form 20-F, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file and furnish under the Exchange Act as recorded, processed and summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and regulations.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process 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. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect material misstatements. Also, projection 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 and procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
As permitted, we have excluded from our evaluation the affiliated companies: T.M.M. Integrated Recycling Industries Ltd, Barthelemi Holdings Ltd, Frenkel C.D. Limited, Carmel Container Systems Limited, Cycle-Tec Recycling Technology Ltd, and Hogla- Kimberly Lt d. (H-K) (which together, not including H-K, are referred to as the excluded companies), which are included in our 2006 Consolidated Financial Statements. The aggregate Companys investments in the excluded companies represented 5% of consolidated total assets and the aggregate Companys share in net income of the excluded companies represented 11% of consolidated net income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2006. Hogla- Kimberly Ltd. has a significant influence on 2006 Consolidated Financial Statements; however, H-K had her evaluation separately, as part of Kimberly Clark Ltd. (parent company) 2006 evaluation.
Our managements assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting concluded that, as of December 31, 2006, the Companys internal control over financial reporting was effective.
(c) This annual report on Form 20-f does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding managements assessment of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Managements report was not subject to audit by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which permit us to defer obtaining such report until our fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2006 that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
58
The Audit Committee maintains a policy of approving and recommending only those services to be performed by the Companys external auditors which are permitted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable rules of the SEC relating to auditors independence, and which are otherwise consistent with and will encourage, and are remunerated at levels that accord with, the basic principles of auditor independence. The practice of the Audit Committee is to receive from the Companys management, a list of all services, including audit, audit-related, tax and other services, proposed to be provided during the current fiscal year to the Company and its subsidiaries by Kesselman & Kesselman, an affiliate of PricewaterhouseCoopers. After reviewing and considering the services proposed to be provided during the current fiscal year and, where appropriate in order better to understand their nature, discussing them with management, the Audit Committee pre-approves such of the proposed services, with a specific pre-approved budget, as it considers appropriate in accordance with the above principles. Additional services from Kesselman & Kesselman and any increase in budgeted amounts will similarly be pre-approved during the year by the Audit Committee on a case-by-case basis.
All audit-related and non-audit-related services performed by Kesselman & Kesselman during 2006 were reported to, and the services proposed to be provided by them during 2006 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, in accordance with the procedures outlined above.
The following table provides information regarding fees we paid to Kesselman & Kesselman for all services, including audit services, for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
U.S. $ in thousands | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2005 | |||||||
Audit Fees | 150 | 120 | ||||||
Audit Related Fees | - | 30 | * | |||||
Total | 150 | 150 | ||||||
* | Consulting fees regarding the establishment of processes pursuant of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act. |
Audit Fees are the aggregate fees billed for the audit of our annual financial statements. This category also includes services that generally the independent accountant provides, such as statutory audits, consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC.
Audit-Related Fees are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and are not reported under Audit Fees. These fees include mainly accounting consultations regarding the accounting treatment of matters that occur in the regular course of business, implications of new accounting pronouncements and other accounting issues that occur from time to time.
Tax Fees are the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice, other than in connection with the audit. Tax compliance involves preparation of original and amended tax returns, tax planning and tax advice.
Not applicable.
Neither the Company nor any affiliated purchaser purchased any of the Companys equity securities during 2006.
59
See Item 19 below for Consolidated Financial Statements filed as a part of this Annual Report.
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with Israeli GAAP. The effect of the material differences between Israeli GAAP and U.S. GAAP, as it relates to the Company, are described below:
Through December 31, 1993, the financial statements of the Company, presented in NIS values adjusted for the changes in the general purchasing power of the Israeli currency based on the changes in the exchange rate of the dollar were also used for the purposes of reporting in conformity with U.S. GAAP applicable to entities operating in hyper-inflationary economic environments, as prescribed by Statement No. 52 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the United States (FASB). Since the inflation rate in Israel has decreased considerably, the Company decided that, commencing in 1994, it would implement the rules relating to economies no longer considered hyper-inflationary, for reporting purposes, in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Under those rules:
1) The functional currency of the Company (the currency in which most income is derived and most expenses are incurred) is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS); |
2) The opening balances for 1994 are the balances presented in the Companys balance sheet at December 31, 1993; |
3) Transactions performed from January 1, 1994 are presented on the basis of their original amounts in Israeli currency. |
The term Re-measured NIS signifies the currency used for FASB 52 purposes, as described above.
As to the effect of application of these rules see (h) below.
As to the discontinuance of the adjustment of the financial statements under Israeli GAAP, to the exchange rate of the dollar as from January 2004, see Note 1b to the Financial Statements.
Under Israeli GAAP, no deferred taxes have been provided through December 31, 2004 in respect of certain long-lived (more than 20 years) assets, such as buildings and land. Under U.S. GAAP, in accordance with the provisions of FAS 109, income taxes are to be provided for any assets that have a different basis for financial reporting and income tax purposes. Following the adoption of Israeli Standard No. 19 in 2005, except for land that originated from business combinations consummated prior to January 1, 2005, these differences no longer exist.
In addition, for U.S. GAAP purposes deferred taxes are to be provided for with respect to un-remitted earnings of investee companies. Under Israeli GAAP due to the Companys policy to hold its investments in investee companies, and not to realize them, these temporary differences are considered differences permanent in duration for which deferred taxes are not provided for.
60
Through 1999, as long as the main investments of the Company were subsidiaries which were controlled by the Company, the Company did not provide for deferred taxes also for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes, since those differences were deemed to be not taxable due to the tax free inter-company dividend distribution law in Israel and tax planning on its behalf, accordingly.
As from 2000, due to changes in certain of the Companys investments from subsidiaries to associated companies, deferred taxes were provided for any portion that arose from investee companies sources other than pre-1993 undistributed earnings (taking into account the Companys tax strategy).
As to the effect of application of this treatment, see (h) below.
Under Israeli GAAP, and up until December 31, 2005 no compensation expenses were recorded in respect of employee stock options. Commencing January 1, 2006, the company applies Israel Accounting Standard No. 24 of the IASB, Share-Based Payment (hereafter - Standard 24), which prescribes the recognition and measurement principles, as well as the disclosure requirements, relating to share-based payment transactions.
However, since the company has not granted any equity-settled awards, nor made modifications to existing grants, subsequent to March 15, 2005, the transition date for as prescribed in the Israeli standard, the measurement criteria of the standard do not apply to past grants made by the company, and its application has not had any effect on the measurements of the stock based compensation expenses.
Under Israeli GAAP, prior to the adoption of Standard 24, there were no compensation expenses recorded in respect of share based payments. However, upon exercise, the tax benefit is credited to shareholders equity. The U.S. GAAP adjustment of NIS (2,414) in 2006 and NIS (401) in 2005 to shareholders' equity is required to reverse the credit to equity upon exercise.
For U.S. GAAP purposes, prior to January 1, 2006 the Company accounted for employee stock based compensation under the intrinsic value model in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25) and related interpretations. In accordance with FAS 123 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (FAS 123), the Company disclosed pro forma data assuming the Company had accounted for employee stock option grants using the fair value-based method defined in FAS 123.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued the revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 123, Share-Based Payment (FAS 123R), which addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions in which the Company obtains employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the Company or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the Companys equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (SAB 107) regarding the SECs interpretation of FAS 123R.
FAS 123R eliminates the ability to account for employee share-based payment transactions using APB 25 -, and requires instead that such transactions be accounted for using the grant-date fair value based method. This Statement applies to all awards granted or modified after the Statements effective date. In addition, compensation cost for the unvested portion of previously granted awards that remain outstanding on the Statements effective date shall be recognized on or after the effective date, as the related services are rendered, based on the awards grant-date fair value as previously calculated for the pro-forma disclosure under FAS 123.
Compensation expense for outstanding awards for which the requisite service had not been rendered as of the effective date will be recognized over the remaining service period using the compensation cost calculated for pro-forma disclosure purposes under FAS 123, taking into account the forecasted forfeiture rate.
The Company adopted FAS 123R, as of January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective application transition method, as permitted by FAS 123R. Under such transition method, the Companys financial statements for periods prior to the effective date of FAS 123R (January 1, 2006) have not been restated. The adoption of FAS 123R resulted in a net gain representing the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in an amount of approximately NIS 0.2 million net of tax, which reflects the net cumulative impact of estimating future forfeiture in the determination of period expense, rather that recording forfeitures when they occur as previously required.
61
The fair value of stock options granted with service conditions, was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which is consistent with the Companys valuation techniques previously utilized for options in footnote disclosures required under FAS 123 and FAS 148. Such value is recognized as an expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures, using the accelerated method of amortization under FAS 123R.
The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires significant judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from the Companys current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period those estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ substantially from the Companys current estimates.
As of December 31, 2006 all options are fully vested.
The following table illustrates the effect on net income and EPS assuming the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FAS 123 to its stock based employee compensation for the years presented prior to the adoption of FAS 123R:
Year ended December 31 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
NIS in thousands, except for per share data | ||||||||
Net income, as reported under U.S. GAAP | 41,861 | 58,720 | ||||||
Add (deduct): | ||||||||
stock based employee compensation expense (reversal), included in reported net | ||||||||
income, net of related tax effect | (1,838 | ) | 8,458 | |||||
Deduct: | ||||||||
stock based employee compensation expense -determined under fair value method for | ||||||||
all awards, net of related tax effect | (939 | ) | (3,523 | ) | ||||
Pro forma net income -under U.S. GAAP | 39,084 | 63,655 | ||||||
Earnings per share - under U.S. GAAP: | ||||||||
Basic - as reported | 10.47 | 14.76 | ||||||
Basic - pro forma | 9.77 | 16.00 | ||||||
Diluted - as reported | 10.33 | 14.52 | ||||||
Diluted - pro forma | 9.65 | 15.74 |
62
A summary of the status of the Companys plans as of December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 , and changes during the years ended on those dates, is presented below:
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weighted average exercise Price | Weighted average exercise Price | Weighted average exercise Price | ||||||||||||||||||
Options outstanding at | Number | NIS | Number | NIS | Number | NIS | ||||||||||||||
beginning of year | 127,571 | 114.03 | 152,103 | 132.74 | 216,243 | 159.15 | ||||||||||||||
Changes during the year: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Exercised | (55,090 | ) | 94.01 | (16,282 | ) | 143.38 | (64,140 | ) | 153.82 | |||||||||||
Forfeited | (37,056 | ) | 102.06 | (8,250 | ) | 178.25 | ||||||||||||||
Options outstanding at end of year | 35,425 | 122.21 | 127,571 | 114.03 | 152,103 | 132.74 | ||||||||||||||
Options exercisable at | ||||||||||||||||||||
year-end | *35,425 | 127.35 | 78,996 | 87.61 | 54,953 | 99.98 | ||||||||||||||
* | Represents the number of options fully vested as of December 31, 2006. Based upon the Companys share market value as of December 31, 2006, this reflects potentially 11,113 shares regarding the options exercisable at year-end. |
The following table summarizes information about options outstanding at December 31, 2006.
Options outstanding and exercisable | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exercise Prices | Number of options at December 31, 2006 | Average remaining contractual life | ||||||
NIS | Years | |||||||
106.44 |
6,550 | 0.5 | ||||||
132.09 | 28,875 | 1.5 | ||||||
35,425 | 1.3 | |||||||
Israeli GAAP relating to computation of EPS was changed as of January 1, 2006 with retroactive effect. As to the provisions of the new standard see note 1r to the financial statements attached.
The EPS computation according to U.S. GAAP presented below is in accordance with FAS 128.
As applicable to the Company, after the implementation of the new Israeli standard No. 21 there are no material GAAP differences with regard to the computation of the basic EPS however there is a difference in the computation of the diluted EPS as follows:.
The computation of the diluted EPS under US GAAP requires that the unamortized compensation expenses related to employee stock options will be included in the total amount of the assumed proceeds used in applying the treasury stock method, while under Israeli GAAP this amounts is not taken into account.
As to the effect of application of U.S. GAAP, see (h) below.
63
Following are data relating to the weighted average number of shares for the purpose of computing basic and diluted earnings per share under U.S. GAAP:
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weighted average number of shares used in the computation of basic | |||||||||||
earnings per share | 4,025,181 | 3,999,910 | 3,978,339 | ||||||||
Net additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock | |||||||||||
options | 30,447 | 51,700 | 65,375 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of shares used in the computation of diluted | |||||||||||
earnings per share | 4,055,628 | 4,051,610 | 4,043,714 | ||||||||
e. | Investment in marketable equity securities accounted for by the equity method (associated companies) Carmel Container Systems (Carmel) and T.M.M. Integrated Recycling Industries Ltd (T.M.M.) |
Under Israeli GAAP, an investment in an associated company is tested for impairment under the provisions of Israeli Standard No. 15 of the Israeli Accountant Standard Board - Impairment of Assets (see note 1h to the financial statements). Based on the provisions of this Standard, and as explained in note 2f to the financial statements, the Company determined that the recoverable value of the investment in Carmel exceeds its carrying value (based, among other, on its Discounted Cash Flows), and accordingly, the investment was not written down.
Under U.S. GAAP (APB 18 - The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock), SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 59 (Accounting for Non current Marketable Equity Securities) and EITF 03-1 (The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments), a decline in value of investment in an associated company which is other than temporary was recognized as a realized loss in 2003, establishing a new carrying value for the investment. Factors considered in determining that a decline is other than temporary included, among other, the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than the carrying value of the investment. The relevant market value for determining the impairment loss is the market value at December 31, 2003.
Therefore, although according to the Israeli GAAP the recoverable value of this investment exceeds its carrying value (see above) under U.S. GAAP and SEC rules described above, the decline in the market value of Carmel shares was the significant factor in determining other than temporary decline. Accordingly, for U.S.GAAP reporting, since the decline in the market value of Carmel was long and extensive, the Company reduced the carrying value of this investment to its market value as of December 31, 2003 and recorded an impairment loss amounting NIS 16,986,000.
Under US GAAP- Since there is no goodwill or non amortizable assets, the impairment was attributed only to Carmels fixed assets; therefore the Company amortizes the impairment at the rates applicable to Carmels fixed assets. The amortization of the impairment, as above, resulted in an increase in the share in profits of the associated company amounting to NIS 1,699 thousands in the years 2006, 2005 and 2004.
Under Israeli GAAP, an investment in an associated company is tested for impairment under the provisions of Israeli Standard No. 15 of the Israeli Accountant Standard Board - Impairment of Assets (see note 1h to the financial statements). Until December 31, 2005 based on the provisions of this Standard, a the Company determined that the recoverable value of the investment in T.M.M. based on an outside appraiser exceeds its carrying value (based, among other, on its Discounted Cash Flows), and accordingly, the investment was not written down.
64
As a result of the implementation of Accounting Standard No. 15, T.M.M recorded a loss of NIS 12.5 million from the impairment of fixed assets in the third quarter of 2006, based on the estimate of an external assessor. The Companys share in this loss (43.08%) amounts to NIS 5.4 million. This sum appears as part of the Companys share in the earnings (losses) of associated companies for that year.
At the beginning of 2007 the Company sold its holdings in T.M.M. in consideration of a sum approximately similar to the book value, after taking into account the impairment, which was done during 2006.
Under U.S. GAAP (APB 18 - The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock), SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 59 (Accounting for Non-current Marketable Equity Securities), and EITF 03-1 (The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments), a decline in value of investment in an associated company which is other than temporary was recognized as a realized loss in 2005, establishing a new carrying value for the investment. Factors considered in determining that a decline is other than temporary included, mainly, the length of time and the extent to which the market value has been less than the carrying value of the investment. The relevant market value for determining the impairment loss is the market value at December 31, 2005.
Therefore, although according to the Israeli GAAP the recoverable value of this investment exceeded its carrying value (see above) under U.S. GAAP and SEC rules described above, the decline in the market value of T.M.M. shares was the significant factor in determining other than temporary decline. Accordingly, for U.S.GAAP reporting, since the decline in the market value of T.M.M. was long and extensive, the Company reduced the carrying value of this investment to its market value as of December 31, 2005 and recorded an impairment loss amounting NIS 10,000,000.
The losses of T.M.M. and Barthelemi for the year 2006 under U.S. GAAP including impairment in value of fixed assets and goodwill, amount to NIS 21.6 million. The Companys share in this impairment charged approximately NIS 8.7 million. Due to the impairment recorded in the Companys books in 2005 the Companys share in the operating results of those investment for 2006 was determined, based on their actual results, net of the impairment, already reflected in 2005. As a result under U.S. GAAP the book value of T.M.M. is similar to the value under Israeli GAAP, as mentioned above.
f. | Reclassification of deferred charges |
Under Israeli GAAP, in accordance with a new Israeli Standard No. 22, commencing January 1, 2006 see also note 1o to the financial statements:
The balance of deferred debt issuance costs, which at December 31, 2005 amounted to NIS 946 thousands, is reclassified and presented as a deduction from the amount of the liabilities to which such expenses relate. Under U.S. GAAP deferred charges should be classified as other assets, see h.3. below. The reclassifications have no impact on net income as both costs are accreted/amortized to the income statement over the term of the debt.
g. | Leasehold rights from the Israel Land Administration Authority (ILAA) |
Under Israeli GAAP, land lease rights from the ILAA are accounted for as fixed assets, and not depreciated.
Under US GAAP, in accordance with SFAS 13 Accounting for Leases, leases involving real estate can be accounted for as capital lease only when (a) the lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term or (b) the lease contains a bargain purchase option. Since none of the above-mentioned terms is met, leasehold rights are accounted for as an operating lease. The leasehold rights are amortized over the period of the initial option and if applccable the renewal option period (See j below).
65
h. | The effect of applying U.S. GAAP on the consolidated financial statements is as follows: |
1) Consolidated statement of income figures:
Year ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||
NIS in thousands (except per share data) | ||||||||||||||
Net income, as reported according to Israeli GAAP | 13,330 | 45,715 | 62,732 | |||||||||||
Effect of treatment of the following items in accordance with U.S. GAAP: | ||||||||||||||
Functional currency, see a above | 6,970 | 6,490 | 2,385 | |||||||||||
Deferred income taxes - net, see b above | (2,757 | ) | (3,961 | ) | (2,080 | ) | ||||||||
Reconciliation resulting from the Companys share in the adjustments of the associated companies. | 5,278 | 80 | 2,442 | |||||||||||
Other than temporary impairment of an investment in associated companies, see e above | (10,000 | ) | ||||||||||||
Amortization of other than temporary impairment of an investment in an associated company, see e above | 1,699 | 1,699 | 1,699 | |||||||||||
Amortization of leasehold rights from the ILAA, see g above | (596 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||
Applying FAS 123R in respect of employee stock options, see c above: | ||||||||||||||
Gross amount | (373 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||
Deferred taxes | 116 | - | - | |||||||||||
Applying APB 25 in respect of employee stock options, see c above: | ||||||||||||||
Gross amount | 3,093 | (12,660 | ) | |||||||||||
Deferred taxes | (1,255 | ) | 4,202 | |||||||||||
Cumulative effect at beginning of period, net of tax of NIS 127*, see c above | 242 | - | - | |||||||||||
Net income under U.S. GAAP | 23,909 | 41,861 | 58,720 | |||||||||||
Earnings per share, see d above: | ||||||||||||||
Basic | 5.94 | 10.47 | 14.76 | |||||||||||
Diluted | 5.89 | 10.33 | 14.52 | |||||||||||
*As a result of the adoption of FAS 123R, see (c) above.
2) Shareholders equity:
December 31 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2005 | |||||||
In thousands | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity according to Israeli GAAP | 430,842 | 523,384 | ||||||
Effect of treatment of the following items in accordance with US GAAP: | ||||||||
Functional currency | (41,472 | ) | (48,442 | ) | ||||
Amortization of leasehold rights | (596 | ) | ||||||
Investments in associated companies | 7,880 | 2,602 | ||||||
Other then temporary impairment of an investment in an associated companies, net of amortization | (21,890 | ) | (23,588 | ) | ||||
Elimination of exercise options into shares | (2,414 | ) | (401 | ) | ||||
Cumulative effect, at beginning of year of SAB 108, net of tax | (2,665 | ) | - | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 5,083 | 7,851 | ||||||
Shareholders' equity under US GAAP | 374,768 | 461,406 | ||||||
66
3) Consolidated balance sheet figures:
D e c e m b e r 3 1 | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
NIS | Re-measured NIS | NIS | Re-measured NIS | |||||||||||
In thousands | ||||||||||||||
As Reported Under | ||||||||||||||
Assets |
Israeli GAAP | U.S. GAAP | Israeli GAAP | U.S. GAAP | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Inventories | 62,109 | 60,131 | 63,999 | 59,885 | ||||||||||
Investment in associated companies | 375,510 | 362,199 | 428,957 | 407,971 | ||||||||||
Fixed assets - net | 400,823 | 362,539 | 379,934 | 340,914 | ||||||||||
Deferred charges | - | 785 | 946 | 946 | ||||||||||
Liabilities and shareholders' equity | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Deferred taxes - net | 27,267 | 29,786 | 33,022 | 31,077 | ||||||||||
Notes | 226,364 | 227,149 | 234,638 | 234,638 | ||||||||||
Shareholders' equity** | 430,842 | 374,768 | 523,384 | 461,406 | ||||||||||
** | 2006 retained earnings are net of an adjustment of NIS (2,665) thousands, net of tax, related to the adoption of SAB 108 (See j below). |
i. | Statement of cash flows |
The Company presents its cash flow information, under Israeli GAAP net of the effects of inflation.
The information to be included under US GAAP for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2005 and 2006 is presented below:
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIS | |||||||||||
In thousands | |||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 64,521 | 94,143 | 30,096 | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (50,410 | ) | (19,868 | ) | (42,043 | ) | |||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (8,808 | ) | (73,770 | ) | (138,946 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash | |||||||||||
Equivalents | 5,303 | 505 | (150,893 | ) | |||||||
Balance of cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
at beginning of year | 8,318 | 7,813 | 158,706 | ||||||||
Balance of cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||
at end of year | 13,621 | 8,318 | 7,813 | ||||||||
Under Israeli GAAP, cash flows relating to investments in, and proceeds from the sale of, marketable securities classified as a current investment are presented as investing activities in the statements of cash flows, while under U.S. GAAP, these securities should be classified as operating activities.
67
j. | Adoption of SAB 108 Accounting for the Effects of Prior year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in current year financial statements |
In September 2006, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (SAB 108). SAB 108 addresses the diversity in practice of quantifying financial statement misstatements resulting in the potential build up of improper amounts on the balance sheet. SAB 108 provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. The SEC staff believes that registrants should quantify errors using both a balance sheet and an income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in quantifying a misstatement that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material. SAB 108 is effective for companies with fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006 and SAB 108 allows a one-time transitional cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings, in the first year of adoption, for errors that were not previously deemed material, but are material under the guidance in SAB 108.
Additionally, the use of the cumulative effect transition method requires detailed disclosure of the nature and amount of each individual error being corrected through the cumulative adjustment and how and when it arose. The Company has adopted SAB No. 108. The adoption of SAB No. 108 had an effect of NIS 2,665 thousand, net of tax, on the consolidated retained earnings due to the GAAP differences related to the leases from the Israeli administration, see note g above.
k. Recently issued accounting pronouncements in the Untied States:
1. SFAS 155 - Accounting for certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB statements No.133 and 140
In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an Amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140 (SFAS No. 155). SFAS No. 155 allows financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative and that otherwise would require bifurcation to be accounted for as a whole on a fair value basis, at the holders election. SFAS No. 155 also clarifies and amends certain other provisions of SFAS No. 133 and SFAS No. 140. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued in fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006 (January 1, 2007 for the Company). The adoption of SFAS No. 155 is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
2. FIN 48 Accounting for uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of SFAS No. 109
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109". FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Under FIN 48, the financial statement effects of a tax position should initially be recognized when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position would be sustained upon examination. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. The cumulative effect, if any, of applying the provisions of FIN 48 will be reported as an adjustment to the opening balance of
68
retained earnings in the period adopted. FIN 48 also requires additional disclosures about unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain income tax positions and a reconciliation of the change in the unrecognized benefit. In addition, FIN 48 requires interest to be recognized on the full amount of deferred benefits for uncertain tax positions. An income tax penalty is recognized as expense when the tax position does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid the imposition of a penalty. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of FIN 48 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.
3. SFAS 157 Accounting for fair value Measurement
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 (SFAS 157), Fair Value Measurements, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies in conjunction with other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. This Statement shall be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.
4. SFAS 159 Accounting for the Fair Value Option For Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 (SFAS 159), The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, to permit all entities to choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. An entity shall report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date, and recognize upfront costs and fees related to those items in earnings as incurred and not deferred. SFAS No. 159 applies to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 (January 1, 2008 for the Company), with early adoption permitted for an entity that has also elected to apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. An entity is prohibited from retrospectively applying SFAS No. 159, unless it chooses early adoption. SFAS No. 159 also applies to eligible items existing at November 15, 2007 (or early adoption date). The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 159 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.
5. EITF 06-03 Accounting for Presentation of Taxes Collected from Customers and remitted to Governmental Authorities
In June 2006, the Emerging Issues Task Force, reached a consensus on Issue No. 06-03, How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation)". EITF 06-03 relates to any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction. EITF 06-03 states that the presentation of the taxes, either on a gross or net basis, is an accounting policy decision that should be disclosed pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 22, Disclosure of Accounting Policies, if those amounts are significant. EITF 06-03 should be applied to financial reports for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006 (as of January 1, 2007 for the Company). The Companys policy is to recognize revenue net of VAT, accordingly. The Company does not expect that the adoption of EITF 06-03 will have a material effect on its financial position and results of operations.
69
Column A | Column B | Column C | Column D | Column E | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balance at beginning of period | (reductions) Additions charged to expenses | Deductions | Balance at end of period | |||||||||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts: | ||||||||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2006 | 16,914 | (123 | ) | - | 16,791 | |||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2005 | 16,148 | 840 | (74 | ) | 16,914 | |||||||||
Year ended December 31, 2004 | 13,696 | 3,102 | (650 | ) | 16,148 | |||||||||
70
(a) The following financial statements and supporting documents are filed with this report:
(i) | Consolidated Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2006 (including Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms). |
(ii) | Financial Statements of Mondi Business Paper Hadera Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
(iii) | Financial Statements of Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
(iv) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms on Schedule on Valuation and Qualifying Accounts. |
(v) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms on reconciliation to U.S. GAAP. |
(vi) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms for affiliated companies. |
(b) Exhibits:
1.1* | Memorandum of Association |
1.2** | Articles of Association Voting Agreement dated February 5, 1980 by and among Clal Industries Ltd., PEC Israel Economic Corporation and Discount Bank Investment Corporation Ltd. |
3.1*** | Voting Agreement dated February 5, 1980 by and among Clal Industries Ltd., PEC Israel Economic Corporation and Discount Bank Investment Corporation Ltd. |
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley. |
* | Previously filed as an exhibit to the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 1987, file No. 1-4212, and incorporated by reference herein. |
** | Previously filed as an exhibit to the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the SEC in June 2006 and incorporated by reference herein. |
*** | Incorporated by reference to the exhibit number 3.1 in the Companys form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 1987. |
71
The registrant 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.
AMERICAN ISRAELI PAPER MILLS LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Lea Katz | |
Name: Lea Katz | ||
Title: Corporate Secretary |
Dated: June 28, 2007
72
Item 19(a)(i)
2006 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
---|---|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC | |
ACCOUNTING FIRM | 2 |
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: | |
Balance sheets | 3-4 |
Statements of income | 5 |
Statements of changes in shareholders' equity | 6 |
Statements of cash flows | 7-9 |
Notes to financial statements | 10-46 |
SCHEDULE - DETAILS OF SUBSIDIARIES AND | |
ASSOCIATED COMPANIES | 47 |
_________________
__________________________________
_________________
2
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Note | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
NIS in thousands (see note 1b.) | |||||||||||
A s s e t s | |||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | 8 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 1q | 13,621 | 8,318 | ||||||||
Marketable securities | 1f | -- | 11,416 | ||||||||
Accounts receivable: | 10a | ||||||||||
Trade | 168,050 | 150,409 | |||||||||
Other | 146,684 | 106,124 | |||||||||
Inventories | 10b | 62,109 | 63,999 | ||||||||
T o t a l current assets | 390,464 | 340,266 | |||||||||
INVESTMENTS AND LONG-TERM | |||||||||||
RECEIVABLES: | |||||||||||
Investments in associated companies | 2;8 | 375,510 | 428,957 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 7f | 6,490 | 5,655 | ||||||||
382,000 | 434,612 | ||||||||||
FIXED ASSETS: | 3 | ||||||||||
Cost | 1,109,239 | 1,057,911 | |||||||||
L e s s - accumulated depreciation | 708,416 | 677,977 | |||||||||
400,823 | 379,934 | ||||||||||
DEFERRED CHARGES, | |||||||||||
net of accumulated amortization | 1i | 946 | |||||||||
Total assets | 1,173,287 | 1,155,758 | |||||||||
/s/ Zvi Livnat | |
_____________________________________ Zvi Livnat |
)Chairman of the )Board of Directors |
/s/ Avi Brener | |
_____________________________________ Avi Brener |
) )Chief Executive Officer |
/s/ Israel Eldar | |
_____________________________________ Israel Eldar |
) )Controller |
Date of approval of the financial statements: 7 March 2007
3
December 31 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Note | 2006 | 2005 | |||||||||
NIS in thousands (see note 1b.) | |||||||||||
Liabilities and shareholders' equity | |||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
8 | ||||||||||
Credit from banks and others | 10c | 203,003 | 93,171 | ||||||||
Current maturities of long-term notes and long-term loans | 4a;b | 41,567 | 6,827 | ||||||||
Accounts payable and accruals: | 10d | ||||||||||
Trade | 96,273 | 90,512 | |||||||||
Dividend payable | 50,093 | ||||||||||
Other | 103,699 | 85,407 | |||||||||
T o t a l current liabilities | 444,542 | 326,010 | |||||||||
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: | |||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 7f | 41,613 | 45,783 | ||||||||
Loans and other liabilities | |||||||||||
(net of current maturities): | 4;8 | ||||||||||
Loans from banks | 4b | 33,515 | |||||||||
Notes | 4a | 190,005 | 227,811 | ||||||||
Other liabilities | 4c | 32,770 | 32,770 | ||||||||
T o t a l long-term liabilities | 297,903 | 306,364 | |||||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES | 9 | ||||||||||
T o t a l liabilities | 742,445 | 632,374 | |||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: | 6 | ||||||||||
Share capital (ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value: | |||||||||||
authorized - 20,000,000 shares; issued and paid: | |||||||||||
December 31, 2006 and 2005 - 4,032,723 and | |||||||||||
4,002,205 shares, respectively) | 125,257 | 125,257 | |||||||||
Capital surplus | 90,060 | 90,060 | |||||||||
Capital surplus resulting from tax benefit on exercise | |||||||||||
of employee options | 2,414 | 401 | |||||||||
Differences from translation of foreign currency | |||||||||||
financial statements of associated companies | (8,341 | ) | (813 | ) | |||||||
Retained earnings | 221,452 | 308,479 | |||||||||
430,842 | 523,384 | ||||||||||
T o t a l liabilities and shareholders' equity | 1,173,287 | 1,155,758 | |||||||||
4
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Note | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIS in thousands (see note 1b.) | |||||||||||||||
SALES | 10e; 14 | 530,109 | 482,461 | 482,854 | |||||||||||
COST OF SALES | 10f | 418,725 | 383,179 | 375,904 | |||||||||||
GROSS PROFIT | 111,384 | 99,282 | 106,950 | ||||||||||||
SELLING, MARKETING, ADMINISTRATIVE | |||||||||||||||
AND GENERAL EXPENSES: | 10g | ||||||||||||||
Selling and marketing | 31,366 | 30,482 | 30,595 | ||||||||||||
Administrative and general | 29,517 | *25,462 | *21,917 | ||||||||||||
60,883 | 55,944 | 52,512 | |||||||||||||
INCOME FROM ORDINARY OPERATIONS | 50,501 | 43,338 | 54,438 | ||||||||||||
FINANCIAL EXPENSES - net | 10h | 31,111 | 12,490 | 13,118 | |||||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES) - net | 10i | 37,305 | *4,444 | *(508) | |||||||||||
INCOME BEFORE TAXES ON INCOME | 56,695 | 35,292 | 40,812 | ||||||||||||
TAXES ON INCOME (EXPENSES) - net | 7 | 16,720 | 5,991 | 3,152 | |||||||||||
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS OF THE | |||||||||||||||
COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES | 39,993 | 29,301 | 37,660 | ||||||||||||
SHARE IN PROFITS (LOSSES) OF ASSOCIATED | |||||||||||||||
COMPANIES - net | 2 | (26,202 | ) | 16,414 | 25,072 | ||||||||||
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT, | |||||||||||||||
AT BEGINNING OF YEAR, OF AN ACCOUNTING | |||||||||||||||
CHANGE IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES | 13,791 | 45,715 | 62,732 | ||||||||||||
CUMULATIVE EFFECT, AT BEGINNING OF | |||||||||||||||
YEAR, OF AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE IN AN ASSOCIATED COMPANY | 1k | (461 | ) | ||||||||||||
NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR | 13,330 | 45,715 | 62,732 | ||||||||||||
(See Note 1b) NIS | |||||||||||||||
EARNINGS PER SHARE: | 1r;11 | ||||||||||||||
Primary: | |||||||||||||||
Before cumulative effect of a change in accounting policy | 3.42 | 11.43 | * | 15.77 | ** | ||||||||||
Cumulative effect, at beginning of year, of a change in | |||||||||||||||
accounting policy at loss of an associated company | (0.11 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income per share | 3.31 | 11.43 | * | 15.77 | ** | ||||||||||
Fully diluted: | |||||||||||||||
Before cumulative effect of a change in accounting policy | 3.39 | 11.35 | * | 15.44 | ** | ||||||||||
Cumulative effect, at beginning of year, of a change in | |||||||||||||||
accounting policy at loss of an associated company | (0.11 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net income per share | 3.28 | 11.35 | * | 15.44 | ** | ||||||||||
Number of shares used to compute the primary earnings per share | 4,025,181 | 3,999,867 | 3,978,936 | ||||||||||||
Number of shares used to compute the fully diluted earnings per share | 4,058,610 | 4,028,107 | 4,061,671 | ||||||||||||
* Reclassified
** As a result of implementing retroactively the change of accounting policy
5
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Share capital | Capital surpluses | Capital surplus resulting from tax benefit on exercise of employee options | Differences from currency translation resulting from financial statements of associated companies | Retained earnings | Total | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIS in thousands (see note 1b.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT JANUARY 1, 2004 | 125,257 | 90,060 | (1,122 | ) | 400,035 | 614,230 | ||||||||||||||
CHANGES IN 2004: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 62,732 | 62,732 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividend paid | (99,964 | ) | (99,964 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Exercise of employee options into shares | * | * | ||||||||||||||||||
Differences from currency translation resulting from | ||||||||||||||||||||
financial statements of associated companies | (1,685 | ) | (1,685 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2004 | 125,257 | 90,060 | (2,807 | ) | 362,803 | 575,313 | ||||||||||||||
CHANGES IN 2005: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 45,715 | 45,715 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividend paid *** | (100,039 | ) | (100,039 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Exercise of employee options into shares | * | 401 | 401 | |||||||||||||||||
Differences from currency translation resulting from | ||||||||||||||||||||
financial statements of associated companies | 1,994 | 1,994 | ||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2005 | 125,257 | 90,060 | 401 | (813 | ) | **308,479 | 523,384 | |||||||||||||
CHANGES IN 2006: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | 13,330 | 13,330 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dividend paid | (100,357 | ) | (100,357 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Exercise of employee options into shares | * | 2,013 | 2,013 | |||||||||||||||||
Differences from currency translation resulting from | ||||||||||||||||||||
financial statements of associated companies | (7,528 | ) | (7,528 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2006 | 125,257 | 90,060 | 2,414 | (8,341 | ) | 221,452 | 430,842 | |||||||||||||
* Represents an amount less than NIS 1,000.
** See note 2c.
*** Includes a dividend, declared in December 2005 and paid in January 2006, amounting to approximately NIS 50 million.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
6
(Continued) 1
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIS in thousands (see note 1b)
|
|||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
Net income for the year | 13,330 | 45,715 | 62,732 | ||||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to | |||||||||||
net cash provided by operating activities (A) | 39,775 | 42,845 | (15,637 | ) | |||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 53,105 | 88,560 | 47,095 | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
Purchase of fixed assets | (53,107 | ) | (71,080 | ) | (30,952 | ) | |||||
Deposit and Marketable securities | 11,582 | 51,003 | (42,000 | ) | |||||||
Associated companies: | |||||||||||
Granting of loans | (2,744 | ) | (779 | ) | |||||||
Collection of loans | 2,112 | 13,688 | |||||||||
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary consolidated in the past (B) | 2,004 | ||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets | 419 | 6,532 | 1,001 | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (38,994 | ) | (14,285 | ) | (59,042 | ) | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
Receipt of long-term loans from others | 40,000 | 1,746 | |||||||||
Repayment of long-term loans from banks | (1,277 | ) | (277 | ) | (383 | ) | |||||
Redemption of notes | (6,913 | ) | (6,680 | ) | (6,666 | ) | |||||
Dividend paid | (150,450 | ) | (49,946 | ) | (99,964 | ) | |||||
Short-term credit from banks - net | 109,832 | (18,613 | ) | (31,933 | ) | ||||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (8,808 | ) | (73,770 | ) | (138,946 | ) | |||||
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND | |||||||||||
CASH EQUIVALENTS | 5,303 | 505 | (150,893 | ) | |||||||
BALANCE OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT | |||||||||||
BEGINNING OF YEAR | 8,318 | 7,813 | 158,706 | ||||||||
BALANCE OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT | |||||||||||
END OF YEAR | 13,621 | 8,318 | 7,813 | ||||||||
7
(Continued) 2
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIS in thousands (see note 1b.)
|
|||||||||||
(A) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided | |||||||||||
by operating activities: | |||||||||||
Income and expenses not involving cash flows: | |||||||||||
Share in losses (profits) of associated companies - net | 26,663 | (16,414 | ) | (25,072 | ) | ||||||
Dividend received from associated company | 19,616 | 21,761 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 31,957 | 31,604 | 28,633 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes - net | (5,755 | ) | (7,671 | ) | (10,096 | ) | |||||
Capital losses (gains) on: | |||||||||||
Sale of fixed assets - net | (28,823 | ) | (3,570 | ) | 508 | ||||||
Sale of subsidiary consolidated in the past (B) | (874 | ) | |||||||||
Losses (gains) on short-term deposits and investments | (166 | ) | 45 | (464 | ) | ||||||
Linkage and exchange differences (erosion) on principal of | |||||||||||
long-term loans from banks - net | (111 | ) | (26 | ) | |||||||
Linkage differences (erosion) on principal of notes | (415 | ) | 6,171 | 2,184 | |||||||
Linkage differences (erosion) on principal of long-term loans | |||||||||||
granted to associated companies | 178 | (975 | ) | (721 | ) | ||||||
43,255 | 29,966 | (5,054 | ) | ||||||||
Changes in operating asset and liability items: | |||||||||||
Increase in trade receivables | (17,641 | ) | (7,162 | ) | (2,279 | ) | |||||
Increase in other receivables | |||||||||||
(excluding deferred income taxes) | (1,661 | ) | (1,587 | ) | (12,037 | ) | |||||
Decrease (increase) in inventories | 1,890 | (1,612 | ) | 7,434 | |||||||
Increase in trade payables | 5,761 | 3,018 | 2,954 | ||||||||
Increase (decrease) in other payables and accruals | 8,171 | 20,222 | (6,655 | ) | |||||||
(3,480 | ) | 12,879 | (10,583 | ) | |||||||
39,775 | 42,845 | (15,637 | ) | ||||||||
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information | |||||||||||
Payments in cash during the year: | |||||||||||
Income taxes paid | 23,877 | 1,559 | 3,242 | ||||||||
Interest paid | 23,714 | 15,828 | 20,697 | ||||||||
8
(Concluded) 3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2005 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NIS in thousands (see note 1b) |
|||||
(B) Proceeds from sale of subsidiary consolidated in the past - | |||||
see also note 10h: | |||||
Assets and liabilities of the subsidiary consolidated in the | |||||
past at the date of its sale: | 509 | ||||
Working capital (excluding cash and cash equivalents) | 1,979 | ||||
Fixed assets | (1,358 | ) | |||
Long-term liabilities | 874 | ||||
Capital gain from the sale | 2,004 | ||||
(C) | Information on activities not involving cash flows: |
1) | Dividend declared by the Company in December 2005, in the amount of approximately NIS 50 million, was paid in January 2006. |
2) | Dividend declared by an associated company in December 2005 that the Companys share in this dividend amounts to NIS 2,650,000 was paid during 2006. |
3) | In 2004, equipment, which the Company had found to be unsuitable for its use, was retired. The retirement was made against the cancellation of the loan made available by the supplier in respect of said equipment. The retirement amounted to NIS 1,079,000. |
4) | In December 2006 a land was sold in consideration of approximately NIS 40 million, net of tax, betterment levy and other accompanying selling cost. This amount was transferred to a trustee at the date of the transaction execution and received during January 2007 see note 10i. |
9
AMERICAN ISRAELI PAPER
MILLS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements are drawn up in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Israel and in accordance with the Israeli Securities (Preparation of Annual Financial Statements) Regulations, 1993. The Companys financial statements are presented separately from these consolidated financial statements. The significant accounting policies, which, except for the changes in the accounting policy concerning revenue recognition, in an associated company, and after taking into consideration, by way of retrospective application, the change in accounting policy concerning the computation of net income per share, resulting from the first-time application, in 2006, of new accounting standards of the Israel Accounting Standards Board (hereafter - the IASB) and first-time application of clarification no. 7 in 2005, were applied on a consistent basis, as follows: |
As to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which is to be carried out in reporting periods commencing on January 1, 2008 and thereafter, see s. below. |
a. | General: |
1) | Activities of the Group |
American Israeli Paper Mills Limited and its subsidiaries (hereafter the Company) are engaged in the production and sale of paper packaging, in paper recycling activities and in the marketing of office supplies. The Company also has holdings in associated companies that are engaged in the production and sale of paper and paper products including the handling of solid waste (the Company and its investee companies hereafter the Group). Most of the Groups sales are made on the local (Israeli) market. For segment information, see note 14. |
2) | Use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting years. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
3) | Definitions: |
Subsidiaries companies over which the Company has control and over 50% of the ownership, the financial statements of which have been consolidated with the financial statements of the Company. |
Associated companies investee companies, which are not subsidiaries, over whose financial and operational policy the Company exerts material influence, the investment in which is presented by the equity method. Material influence is deemed to exist when the percentage of holding in said company is 20% or more, unless there are circumstances that contradict this assumption. |
Interested parties as defined in the Israeli Securities (Preparation of Annual Financial Statements) Regulations, 1993. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
b. | Basis of presentation of the financial statements |
The
Company draws up and presents its financial statements in Israeli currency (hereafter -
shekels or NIS). in accordance with the provisions of Israel Accounting Standard No. 12
Discontinuance of Adjusting Financial Statements for Inflation of
the IASB, which establishes principles for transition to nominal reporting, commencing
January 1, 2004 (hereafter - the transition date). Accordingly, amounts that
relate to non-monetary assets (including depreciation and amortization thereon),
investments in associated companies (see also below) permanent investments,
and equity items, which originate from the period that preceded the transition date, are
based on the data adjusted for the changes in the exchange rate of the dollar (based on
the exchange rate of the dollar at December 31, 2003), as previously reported. All the
amounts originating from the period after the transition date are included in the
financial statements at their nominal values. The financial statements of group companies which are drawn up in foreign currency, are translated into shekels or are remeasured in shekels for the purpose of inclusion in these financial statements, as explained in e. below. |
The sums of non-monetary assets do not necessarily reflect the realization value or an updated economic value, but rather only the reported sums of the said assets, as stated in (1), above. The term cost in these financial statements shall mean the cost in reported sums. |
c. | Principles of consolidation: |
1) | The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. A list of the main subsidiaries is presented in a schedule to the financial statements. |
2) | Intercompany transactions and balances, as well as profits on intercompany sales that have not yet been realized outside the Group, have been eliminated. |
d. | Inventories |
Raw
materials and supplies, finished goods, purchased products and maintenance and sundry
materials (including spare parts) are valued at the lower of cost or market (net of
processing costs and after deduction of a provision for obsolescence, where appropriate);
cost is determined on the moving average basis. Spare parts of the machinery and equipment that are not for current use, are presented under fixed assets. |
e. | Investments in associated companies: |
1) | The investments in these companies are accounted for by the equity method. According to this method, the Company records, in its statement of income, its share in the profits and losses of these companies that were created after acquisition, and, in its statement of changes in shareholders equity, its share in changes in capital surpluses (mostly translation differences relating to their investments in subsidiaries that present their financial statements in foreign currency) that were created after acquisition. |
2) | Profits on intercompany sales, not yet realized outside the Group, have been eliminated according to the percentage of the Companys holding in such companies. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
3) | The Company reviews at each balance sheet date whether any events have occurred or changes in circumstances have taken place, which might indicate that there has been an impairment of its investments in associated companies see h. below. |
4) | The excess of cost of the investment in associated companies over the equity in net assets at time of acquisition (excess of cost of investment) or the excess of equity in net assets of associated companies at time of acquisition over the cost of their acquisition (negative excess of cost of investment) represent the amounts attributed to specific assets upon acquisition, at fair value. The excess of cost of investment and the negative excess of cost of investment are presented at their net amount and are amortized over the remaining useful life of the assets. The average rate of amortization is 10%. |
5) | In accordance with the provisions of Standard No. 20 (As Amended), which is applied by the group companies since January 1, 2006, as of that date, amortization of goodwill at associated company, which until then was included under share in profits (losses) of associated companies, was discontinued. The amounts of amortization of goodwill, included under share in profits (losses) of associated companies, as above, for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 are NIS 4 million and NIS 4 million, respectively. |
f. | Marketable securities |
These securities are stated at market prices. |
The changes in value of the above securities are carried to financial income or expense. |
g. | Fixed assets: |
1) | Fixed assets are stated at cost, net of related investment grants. |
2) | Fixed assets of own manufacture are stated at cost, based on the direct costs with the addition of an appropriate portion of indirect production costs. |
3) | Borrowing costs in respect of credit applied to finance the construction of fixed assets - during the period until construction is completed - are charged to the cost of such assets. |
4) | The assets are depreciated by the straight-line method on the basis of their estimated useful life, as follows: |
Years | |||
---|---|---|---|
Buildings | 10-50 (mainly 33) | ||
Machinery and equipment | 7-20 (mainly 10 and 20) | ||
Vehicles | 5-7 (mainly 7) | ||
Office furniture and equipment | 3-17 (mainly 4) |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
5) | As to the change in the accounting treatment of property, plant and equipment, commencing January 1, 2007, resulting from the application of Israel Accounting Standard No. 27 of the IASB, Property, Plant and Equipment - see s(3) below. |
6) | As to the change in the accounting treatment of investment property, commencing January 1, 2007, resulting from the application of Israel Accounting Standard No. 16 of the IASB, Investment Property - see s(5) below. |
h. | Impairment of assets |
The Company assesses at each balance sheet date whether any events have occurred or changes in circumstances have taken place, which might indicate that there has been an impairment of non-monetary assets, mainly fixed assets and investments in associated companies. When such indicators of impairment are present, the Company evaluates whether the carrying value of the asset is recoverable from the cash flows expected from that asset. See note 2g. |
The recoverable value of an asset is determined according to the higher of the net selling price of the asset or its value in use to the Company. The value in use is determined according to the present value of anticipated cash flows from the continued use of the asset, including those expected at the time of its future retirement and disposal. |
When it is not possible to assess whether an impairment provision is required for a particular asset on its own, the need for such a provision is assessed in relation to the recoverable value of the cash-generating unit to which that asset belongs. |
i. | Deferred charges |
The item represents notes issuance costs, which are amortized over the period of the notes (see note 4a). |
As to the change from January 1, 2006 in the method of presenting and amortizing these charges see o(2) below. |
j. | Deferred income taxes: |
1) | Commencing January 1, 2005, the Company applies the IASBs Accounting Standard No. 19 Taxes on Income that prescribes the accounting treatment (recognition criteria, measurement, presentation and disclosure) required for taxes on income. |
For the most part, the provisions of this standard are the same as the accounting principles that the Company applied prior to implementing the new standard. |
2) | In accordance with the standard and with prior years policy, the Company recognizes deferred taxes in respect of temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities as reported in the consolidated financial statements and those taken into account for tax purposes; the standard requires that full recognition be given to deferred taxes in |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
respect of all taxable temporary differences, except for the temporary difference resulting from the initial recognition of goodwill and the temporary difference resulting from the initial recognition of an asset or a liability that has no effect on the profit or loss, whether for accounting or tax purposes, at that time (unless the temporary difference results from the initial recognition of a business combination). |
Deferred tax assets are recognized for all temporary differences that are tax deductible, up to the amount of the differences that are expected to be utilized in the future, against taxable income. As to the main types of differences, in respect of which deferred taxes have been included see note 7f. |
3) | Deferred tax balances are computed at the tax rates expected to be in effect at the time the deferred tax asset is utilized or the deferred tax liability is settled, based on the tax rates and the tax laws enacted, or substantively enacted, by the balance sheet date. |
4) | The current taxes, as well as the changes in the deferred tax balances, are included in the tax expenses or income in the reporting period. |
5) | Taxes that would apply in the event of disposal of investments in subsidiaries and associated companies have not been taken into account in computing the deferred taxes, as it is the Companys policy to hold these investments, not to realize them. |
6) | The Group may incur an additional tax liability in the event of an intercompany dividend distribution derived from approved enterprises profits see note 7a. No account was taken of this additional tax, since it is the Groups policy not to cause distribution of dividends, which would involve an additional tax liability to the Group in the foreseeable future. |
7) | In April 2005, the IASB issued Clarification No. 7 Accounting Treatment of the Tax Benefits, in Respect of Capital Instruments Granted to Employees, For Which No Compensation was Recognized. The provisions of this clarification apply to such tax benefits, which have not been allowed as a deduction through December 31, 2004. The clarification stipulates that, commencing on January 1, 2005, the tax benefit derived by the Company from the exercise of options granted to employees is to be carried to shareholders equity, in the period in which the benefit to the employees is allowed as a deduction for tax purposes. Formerly, the aforesaid tax saving was credited to the statement of income, as part of the taxes on income item. |
k. | Revenue recognition |
Commencing January 1, 2006, the company applies Israel Accounting Standard No. 25 of the IASB Revenue, which prescribes recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure criteria for revenues originating from the sale of goods purchased or manufactured by the company. |
Revenue is measured, as detailed below, at the fair value of the consideration received or the consideration that the company is entitled to receive, taking into account trade discounts and/or bulk discounts granted by the entity: |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
Revenue from sale of goods is recognized when all the following conditions have been satisfied: (a) the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have been transferred to the buyer; (b) the company retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold; (c) the amount of revenue can be measured reliably; (d) it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the company; and (e) the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably. |
Upon the application of the standard, an associated company separates the financing component embedded in revenue from sales made on credit for periods exceeding the customary credit period in its industry (mainly 90 days), that does not bear interest at the appropriate rate; the financing component is determined according to the amount by which the nominal amount of consideration for the transaction exceeds the present value of future cash payments in respect thereof, based on the customary market interest rate applicable to credit extended under similar terms. Revenue from the financing component is recognized over the credit period. Through December 31, 2005, the company did not separate the financing component in respect of sales made on credit, as above, and included within revenue from the sale on the date of recognition of such revenue. In accordance with the transitional provisions of the standard, on January 1, 2006 the company recognized an expense of NIS 1.1 million as a result of presentation in present value, resulting from the adjustment of trade receivables in respect of such credit transactions to their present value on the effective date of the standard, the share of the company at the adjustment effect as above was approximately NIS 0.5 million which is presented in these financial statements under Cumulative effect, at beginning of year, of an accounting change. |
l. | Shipping and handling costs |
Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of selling and marketing expenses. |
m. | Allowance for doubtful accounts |
The allowance is determined mainly in respect of specific debts doubtful of collection (see note 12b). |
n. | Derivate financial instruments |
Gains and losses on derivatives that are hedging existing assets or liabilities are recognized in income commensurate with the results from those assets or liabilities. |
o. | Financial instruments |
Commencing January 1, 2006, the Company applies Israel Accounting Standard No. 22 of the IASB Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation (hereafter - Standard 22), which prescribes the rules for presentation of financial instruments and the proper disclosure required therefore, as follows: |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
1) | Offset of financial instruments |
Financial assets and financial liabilities are presented on the balance sheet at their net amount, only when the Company has a legally enforceable right to effect such set off, and subject to the existence of intent to settle the asset and the liability on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. |
2) | In accordance with the transitional provisions of Standard 22, commencing January 1, 2006, in addition to the aforesaid, the financial statements include the following changes: |
The balance of deferred issuance costs, which at December 31, 2005 amounted to NIS 946 thousands, has been reclassified and presented as a deduction from the amount of the liabilities to which such expenses relate. Through December 31, 2005, deferred issuance costs were included under other assets and amortized according to the straight-line method. |
The change in the amortization method of deferred issuance costs, as above, do not have a material effect on the operating results in the reported years. |
p. | Share-based payment |
Commencing January 1, 2006, the company applies Israel Accounting Standard No. 24 of the IASB, Share-Based Payment (hereafter - Standard 24), which prescribes the recognition and measurement principles, as well as the disclosure requirements, relating to share-based payment transactions. |
Since the company has not granted any equity-settled awards, nor made modifications to existing grants, subsequent to March 15, 2005, the measurement criteria of the standard do not apply to past grants made by the company, and its application has not had any effect on the comparative figures included in these financial statements. |
q. | Cash equivalents |
The Company considers all highly liquid investments, which include short-term bank deposits that are not restricted as to withdrawal or use, the period to maturity of which did not exceed three months at time of deposit, to be cash equivalents. |
r. | Net income per share |
Commencing January 1, 2006, the company applies the provisions of Israel Accounting Standard No. 21 of the IASB, Earnings per Share. The computation of basic net income per share is generally based on earnings available for distribution to holders of ordinary shares, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. |
In computing diluted net income per share, the weighted average number of shares to be issued, assuming that all dilutive potential shares are converted into shares, is to be added to the average number of ordinary shares used in the computation of the basic income (loss) per share. Potential shares are taken into account, as above, only when their effect is dilutive (reducing net income per share from continuing activities). |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
Comparative net income per share figures included in these financial statements reflect a retrospective application of the new standards computation directives. |
As to the data used in the computation of net income per share, as above - see note 11 |
s. | Recently issued accounting pronouncements inIsrael |
1) | Israel Accounting Standard No. 29 Adoption of International Reporting Financial Standards (IFRS)" |
In July 2006, the Israel Accounting Standards Board issued Israel Accounting Standard No. 29 Adoption of International Reporting Financial Standards (IFRS) (hereafter - Standard 29). Standard 29 stipulates that companies, which are subject to the Securities Law, 1968 and are required to report pursuant to regulations issued thereunder, shall draw up their financial statements under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) with effect from reporting periods commencing on January 1, 2008 (i.e. commencing the financial statements for the first quarter of 2008). Pursuant to the provisions of Standard 29, such companies and other companies may elect early adoption of the Standard, and prepare their financial statements under IFRS, commencing with the financial statements that are published subsequent to July 31, 2006. |
The standard prescribes that companies, which currently do not draw up their financial statements under IFRS, and are required or elect, as stated above, to prepare their financial statements for the first time under IFRS, shall apply the provisions specified in International Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 (IFRS 1) - First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards in making the transition. IFRS 1, which deals with first-time transition to reporting under IFRS, provides that, in the first annual financial statements that are drawn up under IFRS (including the interim financial statements for that year), all the latest IFRS standards in effect at the end of the reporting year in which the company reports under IFRS for the first time, shall be applied retrospectively (with the exception of certain exemptions and prohibitions, as referred to below). IFRS 1 specifies two groups of exceptions to the principle of retrospective application: (1) exemptions from mandatory retrospective application with regard to certain topics, while providing the option to utilize all or part of those exemptions, and (2) prohibitions concerning mandatory retrospective application with regard to defined topics. Pursuant to the provisions of IFRS 1, the first financial statements drawn up under IFRS shall include at least one years comparative data. Accordingly, a company that draws up its financial statements under IFRS for the first time for periods commencing after January 1, 2008, and elects to present comparative data for one year only, shall be required, pursuant to IFRS 1, to prepare an opening balance sheet as of January 1, 2007, which shall be drawn up under IFRS. In preparing this opening balance sheet, all the latest IFRS standards, as referred to above, with regard to recognition, non-recognition, classification and measurement of all the companys assets, liabilities and shareholders equity items, shall be applied. IFRS 1 also establishes certain disclosure requirements that apply to the annual financial statements that are drawn up for the first time under IFRS. Pursuant to these disclosure requirements, companies applying IFRS for the first time are required to explain what effect the transition from the previous generally accepted accounting principles to IFRS has had on the reported financial position, operating results and cash flows. Also, companies are required to include notes providing reconciliations of the data reported under the previous accounting principles, to the data reported under IFRS, in respect of their shareholders equity and statements of income (loss) as of certain dates and for certain prior periods. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
In addition, Standard 29 requires companies, which draw up their financial statements under IFRS for the first time for periods commencing after January 1, 2008, to disclose, in a note to their financial statements for 2007, the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2007 and income statement data for the year ended December 31, 2007, as they would appear after applying IFRS recognition, measurement and presentation rules. |
IFRS differ from general accounting principles accepted in Israel and, accordingly, financial statements drawn up under IFRS might reflect a financial position, operating results and cash flows that are significantly different from those presented in these financial statements. Application of IFRS requires a proper arrangement from the company, including making certain decisions relating to the manner of determining assets and liabilities at the transition date and with regard to setting an accounting policy for various topics. The company is currently assessing the implications of the transition to reporting under IFRS, including the date for first-time adoption of IFRS by the company. At this stage, the company is unable to estimate the effect that the adoption of IFRS will have on its financial statements. |
2) | Israel Accounting Standard No. 26 Inventory |
In August 2006, the IASB issued Israel Accounting Standard No. 26 - Inventory, which is based on International Accounting Standard No. 2. This standard prescribes the accounting treatment of inventory and provides guidelines for determining the cost of inventory and its subsequent recognition as an expense, including recognition and treatment of any write-down to net realizable value. |
The standard specifies the costs that are to be taken into account in determining the cost of inventory and the costs that may not be included in the cost of inventory, and requires that fixed production overheads be allocated based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. |
In determining the cost of inventory, the standard requires specific identification of the cost of certain items that are not ordinarily interchangeable and of goods and services that have been produced and segregated for specific projects. In other instances, the standard prescribes the exclusive use of the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method or the weighted average method. |
The standard also stipulates that the financing element in purchases of inventory on credit must be accounted for separately, whenever the actual arrangement includes a financing element. For instance, the difference between the purchase price on normal credit terms and the actual amount paid is to be recognized as interest expense over the financing period. |
This
standard shall be applicable to financial statements for periods commencing on or after
January 1, 2007. The standard is to be applied retrospectively, unless it is
impracticable to determine the specific effects in a given period. At this stage the Company is examining the possible effect of the standard on its financial statements. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
3) | Israel Accounting Standard No. 27 Property, Plant and Equipment |
In September 2006, the IASB issued Israel Accounting Standard No. 27 - Property, Plant and Equipment, which is based on International Accounting Standard No. 16. This standard prescribes the accounting treatment for property, plant and equipment. The standard stipulates provisions for the recognition of an item of property, plant and equipment as an asset, the initial measurement of its cost, the measurement subsequent to initial recognition, as well as provisions regarding depreciation and derecognition of an item of property, plant and equipment. |
According to the standard, an item of property, plant and equipment that qualifies for recognition as an asset is to be measured at cost upon its initial recognition. The standard determines that the cost of an item of property, plant and equipment includes its purchase price (including import duties and non-refundable purchase taxes, after deducting trade discounts and rebates), costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management, as well as the initial estimate of the present value of the costs of dismantling and removing the item and restoring the site on which it is located (if the entity is obligated to do so). According to the standard, the cost of an item of property, plant and equipment is the cash price equivalent at the recognition date. Accordingly, if payment is deferred beyond normal credit terms, the difference between the cash price equivalent and the total payment is recognized as interest over the period of credit. |
Subsequent to the date of initial recognition, the standard allows for a choice between the cost method and the revaluation method as an accounting policy, which must be applied to all the items within a given class of property, plant and equipment. Under the cost method, an item of property, plant and equipment shall be carried at its cost, less any accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Under the revaluation method, an item of property, plant and equipment whose fair value can be measured reliably shall be carried at a revalued amount, being its fair value at the date of the revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses. |
An increase in the carrying amount of an item of property, plant and equipment, resulting from a revaluation, is to be credited directly to equity under the heading of Revaluation surplus. However, such increase shall be recognized in profit or loss to the extent that it reverses a revaluation decrease of the same asset previously recognized in profit or loss. |
On the other hand, a decrease in the carrying amount of an item of property, plant and equipment, resulting from a revaluation, is to be recognized in profit or loss. However, the decrease shall be debited directly to equity under the heading of Revaluation surplus, to the extent of any credit balance existing in the revaluation surplus in respect of that asset. |
The standard discusses the definition of a depreciable amount of an item of property, plant and equipment, its residual value and the period and method of depreciation. The standard stipulates that, for the purpose of depreciating property, plant and equipment, the amount initially recognized in respect of an item of property, plant and equipment should be allocated to its significant parts, and each such part should be depreciated separately. Nevertheless, different parts of an item of property, plant and equipment, with the same useful life and depreciation method, may be grouped for the purpose of depreciation. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
NOTE 1 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued):
According to the provisions of the standard, the residual value, the useful life and the depreciation method of an asset should be reviewed at least at each fiscal year-end; if there has been a change in the expected pattern of consumption of the future economic benefits embodied in the asset, the depreciation method shall be changed to reflect the changed pattern. Such a change shall be accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate. |
The standard is to be applied to financial statements for periods commencing on or after January 1, 2007, by way of retrospective application, with two exceptions. First, for a company that, upon the adoption of the standard, chooses the revaluation method as its accounting policy, the difference between the revalued amount of the asset and its carrying amount as of January 1, 2007 shall represent the revaluation surplus as of the said date. Second, if the initial cost of the asset does not include any removal and disposal costs, specific transitional provisions stipulated in the standard should be applied. |
The Company is currently examining the effect of the application of the standard on the financial statements. |
Recently, the IASB issued standard proposal No. 28 correction of transitional provisions stipulated in standard No. 27 and adjusting them to the IFRS1. |
4) | Israeli Accounting Standard No. 23 Accounting Treatment Applied to Transactions between an Entity and its Controlling Shareholder. |
In
December 2006, the IASB issued Accounting Standard No. 23 Accounting
Treatment Applied to Transactions between an Entity and its Controlling Shareholder.
The standard, which does not obligate entities that are not subject to the Securities Law, 1968, provides that assets and liabilities, in respect of which a transaction was carried out between an entity and its controlling shareholder, shall be measured at the date of transaction at their fair value, and the difference between fair value and the consideration set in the transaction shall be carried to shareholders equity. Those provisions replace the requirements of the Securities Regulations (Presentation of Transactions between an Entity and its Controlling Shareholder in Financial Statements), 1996, whereunder, assets transferred as above would be measured at their carrying amount in the transferors accounts, while the difference between this value and the consideration set in those transactions is carried to shareholders equity. |
Under the provisions of the standard, in case the difference between fair value and the consideration arises from a benefit granted by the controlling shareholder to the entity controlled thereby, the said difference shall be credited to capital surplus within the entitys shareholders equity; while in case the said difference arises from a benefit granted by the entity to its controlling shareholder, such difference shall be carried to the entitys retained earnings. |
In addition, the difference between the fair value of the asset and its carrying amount in the transferors accounts shall be recognized as a gain or loss in the transferors accounts. Under the standard, differences as above, arising in the financial statements of an entity as a result of a transaction with its controlling shareholder, and carried to retained earnings or capital surplus, shall constitute, from the controlling shareholders point of view , an owners withdrawal or an owners investment, respectively, and shall be presented accordingly in the financial statements of the controlling shareholder. |
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINA