EX-99.1 2 exhibit_99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

ITURAN LOCATION AND CONTROL LTD. PRESENTS
RESULTS FOR THE FULL YEAR & FOURTH QUARTER 2017

Record 2017 results: revenue of $239m, net profit of $44m & EBITDA of $70m

AZOUR, Israel – February 27, 2018 – Ituran Location and Control Ltd. (NASDAQ: ITRN, TASE: ITRN), today announced its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

Highlights of 2017
·
Net subscribers adds amounted to 103,000, with 1,160,000 subscribers at year-end;
·
Revenue of $238.5 million, up 20% year-over-year;
·
Gross margins of 50.0% and operating margins of 23.7%;
·
EBITDA of $70.1 million (29.4% of revenues);
·
Generated $43.9 million in operating cash flow;
·
Total dividends of $20 million declared to shareholders for 2017;
·
Ended 2017 with $40.4 million in net cash (including marketable securities);

Highlights of the Fourth Quarter of 2017
·
Net subscribers adds in the quarter amounted to 23,000;
·
Revenue of $61.3 million, up 22% year-over-year;
·
Gross margins of 49.8% and operating margins at 23.9%;
·
EBITDA of $18.2 million or 29.7% of revenues;
·
Generated $14.7 million in operating cash flow;
·
Dividend of $5 million declared for the quarter;

Fourth Quarter 2017 Results
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $61.3 million, representing an increase of 22% from revenues of $50.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. 73% of revenues were from location based service subscription fees and 27% were from product revenues.

Revenues from subscription fees increased by 19% over the same period last year. The growth was driven primarily by the increase in the subscriber base, which expanded from 1,057,000 as of December 31, 2016, to 1,160,000 as of December 31, 2017.

Product revenues increased by 29% compared with the same period last year. While product revenues can be volatile between quarters, the main contribution to growth was the higher product sales in Israel.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $30.6 million (49.8% of revenues), an increase of 16% compared with $26.4 million (52.4% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2016.


 
The gross margin in the quarter on subscription fees improved to 67.0% compared with 65.5% in the same period last year. The gross margin in the quarter on products was 4.5% compared with 14.9% in the same period last year. The lower margin on products during the quarter was due to the mix of product sales in the quarter.

Operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $14.7 million (23.9% of revenues), an increase of 13% compared with an operating profit of $13.0 million (25.8% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Taxes in the quarter amounted to $5.3 million compared with taxes of $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The increase was due to tax assessments in Brazil and Israel of past year’s liabilities.

During the quarter, share in affiliates, net was an income of $3.0 million versus an income of $0.1 million in the same quarter of last year. The majority was due to a capital gain amounting to $2.3 million from an investment round at Bringg, one of Ituran’s early stage mobility technology companies, which was offset partially by Ituran’s share in Bringg’s results.
 
EBITDA for the quarter was a record $18.2 million (29.7% of revenues), an increase of 13% compared to an EBITDA of $16.0 million (31.9% of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Net profit was $9.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 (16.0% of revenues) or fully diluted EPS of $0.47, an increase of 6% compared with a net profit of $9.3 million (18.4% of revenues) or fully diluted EPS of $0.44 in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Cash flow from operations for the quarter was $14.7 million.

Full Year Results
Revenues for 2017 reached a record $238.5 million, an increase of 20% compared with revenues of $199.6 million in 2016. The subscriber base grew by 103,000 or 10%, net during 2017. 71% of revenues were from location based service subscription fees and 29% from product revenues.

Revenues from subscription fees increased by 20% over those of last year, driven primarily by the increase in the subscriber base. Product revenues increased by 19% over those of last year.

Gross profit for 2017 was $119.4 million (50.0% of revenues), an increase of 17% compared with $102.0 million (51.1% of revenues) in 2016.


 
The gross margin in the year on subscription fees improved to 66.7% compared with 65.5% in the same period last year. The gross margin in the quarter on products was 9.0% compared with 15.6% in the same period last year. The generally lower margin on products in 2017 was due to the product mix sold in Israel.

Operating profit for 2017 was a record $56.5 million (23.7% of revenues), an increase of 18% compared with an operating profit of $48.0 million (24.1% of revenues) in 2016.

EBITDA for the year was a record $70.1 million (29.4% of revenues), an increase of 17% compared to an EBITDA of $59.6 million (29.9% of revenues) in 2016.

Share in affiliates, net was an income of $8.5 million in 2017, compared with a loss of $0.4 million last year. This included capital gains due to Ituran’s investment in Bringg in the amount of $4.6 million which was offset partially by Ituran’s share in Bringg’s results. The balance of the contribution to share in affiliates was primarily due to Ituran’s joint venture in Brazil and Argentina, Ituran Road Track.

Net income in 2017 was $43.8 million (18.4% of revenues) or fully diluted earnings per share of $2.09. This is an increase of 36% compared with a net income in 2016 of $32.1 million (16.1% of revenues) or fully diluted earnings per share of $1.53.

Cash flow from operations for 2017 was a record $43.9 million.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had net cash, including marketable securities, of $40.4 million or $1.93 per share. This is compared with $31.5 million or $1.50 per share as at December 31, 2016.

Dividend
For the fourth quarter of 2017, a dividend of $5.0 million was declared in line with the Company’s stated current policy of issuing at least $5 million on a quarterly basis.

For the full year of 2017, the total dividend declared including that of the fourth quarter of 2017, was $20 million, representing 46% of the full year net income.

Management Comment

Eyal Sheratzky, Co-CEO of Ituran said, “We are pleased with our fourth quarter results ending the strongest year in our history with record revenue and profit. Our growth has been driven primarily by the ongoing growth in our subscriber base which looks to Ituran for its high quality connected car and stolen vehicle recovery services. Our IRT joint venture also continues to perform well and made an increasingly positive contribution to our profit during the year.”


 
Continued Mr. Sheratzky, “Another highlight of 2017 was the investments into one of our early stage technology holdings, Bringg, which led us to record to a $4.6 million in capital gains in 2017. Earlier in the year, we founded the Tel-Aviv based DRIVE startup incubator and innovation center to promote the development of smart mobility technology, together with leading car companies, Mayer, Hertz, Honda and Volvo. We see transportation and mobility technology as the next frontier of major technological advancement in the coming decade, and we aim to position Ituran as central player in this sphere. We look forward to continued strong growth and increasing profitability in 2018 and beyond.”
 
Conference Call Information

 
The Company will also be hosting a conference call later today, February 27, 2018 at 9am Eastern Time. On the call, management will review and discuss the results, and will be available to answer investor questions.

To participate, please call one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin placing your calls a few minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

US Dial-in Number: 1 888 668 9141
ISRAEL Dial-in Number: 03 918 0609
CANADA Dial-in Number: 1 888 604 5839
INTERNATIONAL Dial-in Number:  +972 3 918 0609
at:
9:00am Eastern Time, 6:00am Pacific Time, 4:00pm Israel Time

For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay of the call will be available from the day after the call in the investor relations section of Ituran’s website.

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this report that are not historical facts as well as statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates" or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors.



 
About Ituran


Ituran is a leader in the emerging mobility technology field, providing value-added location-based services, including a full suite of services for the connected-car. Ituran offers Stolen Vehicle Recovery, fleet management as well as mobile asset location, management & control services for vehicles, cargo and personal security. Its products and applications are used by customers in over 20 countries. Ituran is also the founder of the Tel-Aviv based DRIVE startup incubator to promote the development of smart mobility technology.

Ituran's subscriber base has been growing significantly since the Company's inception to well over 1 million subscribers using its location based services with a market leading position in Israel and Brazil. Established in 1995, Ituran has over 1,700 employees worldwide, with offices in Israel, Brazil, Argentina, India, Canada and the United States.

For more information, please visit Ituran’s website, at: www.ituran.com

Company Contact   International Investor Relations
Udi Mizrahi
udi_m@ituran.com
VP Finance, Ituran
(Israel) +972 3 557 1348
 
Ehud Helft
ituran@gkir.com
GK  Investor & Public Relations
(US) +1 646 201 9246
 


 
ITURAN LOCATION AND CONTROL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
as of December 31, 2017

 


ITURAN LOCATION AND CONTROL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
As of December 31, 2017
 
Table of Contents
 
 
Page
Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
2-3
4
5
 

 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
US dollars
 
   
December 31,
 
(in thousands)
 
2017
   
2016
 
             
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
   
36,906
     
31,087
 
Investment in marketable securities
   
3,559
     
398
 
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts)
   
41,009
     
33,865
 
Other current assets
   
47,932
     
35,522
 
Inventories
   
14,244
     
14,351
 
     
143,650
     
115,223
 
                 
Long-term investments and debit balances
               
Investments in affiliated companies
   
14,839
     
11,975
 
Investments in other companies
   
1,382
     
85
 
Other non-current assets
   
939
     
1,515
 
Deferred income taxes
   
1,860
     
2,280
 
Funds in respect of employee rights upon retirement
   
9,627
     
7,868
 
     
28,647
     
23,723
 
                 
Property and equipment, net
   
39,047
     
35,644
 
                 
Intangible assets, net
   
38
     
23
 
                 
Goodwill
   
3,777
     
3,406
 
             
Total assets
   
215,159
     
178,019
 

2

 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


   
US dollars
 
   
December 31,
 
(in thousands)
 
2017
   
2016
 
             
Current liabilities
           
Credit from banking institutions
   
48
     
3
 
Accounts payable
   
23,264
     
18,624
 
Deferred revenues
   
12,796
     
10,762
 
Other current liabilities
   
29,644
     
26,738
 
     
65,752
     
56,127
 
                 
Long-term liabilities
               
Liability for employee rights upon retirement
   
14,062
     
11,751
 
Provision for contingencies
   
400
     
435
 
Deferred revenues
   
1,241
     
1,034
 
Other non-current liabilities
   
475
     
501
 
     
16,178
     
13,721
 
                 
Equity:
               
Stockholders' equity
   
125,790
     
102,229
 
Non - controlling interest
   
7,439
     
5,942
 
Total equity
   
133,229
     
108,171
 
         
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
   
215,159
     
178,019
 

3

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
   
US dollars
   
US dollars
 
 
Year ended
December 31,
   
Three months period
ended December 31,
 
(in thousands except per share data)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
                         
Revenues:
                       
Location-based services
   
169,752
     
141,940
     
44,468
     
37,267
 
Wireless communications products
   
68,773
     
57,634
     
16,822
     
13,094
 
     
238,525
     
199,574
     
61,290
     
50,361
 
Cost of revenues:
                               
Location-based services
   
56,572
     
48,916
     
14,683
     
12,850
 
Wireless communications products
   
62,569
     
48,627
     
16,030
     
11,139
 
     
119,141
     
97,543
     
30,713
     
23,989
 
                                 
Gross profit
   
119,384
     
102,031
     
30,577
     
26,372
 
Research and development expenses
   
3,160
     
2,895
     
716
     
813
 
Selling and marketing expenses
   
12,246
     
10,074
     
2,695
     
2,603
 
General and administrative expenses
   
47,590
     
40,228
     
12,494
     
10,115
 
Other expenses (income), net
   
(147
)
   
836
     
(1
)
   
(137
)
Operating income
   
56,535
     
47,998
     
14,673
     
12,978
 
Financing income (expenses), net
   
(989
)
   
2,056
     
(2,080
)
   
810
 
Income before income taxes
   
55,546
     
50,054
     
12,593
     
13,788
 
Income tax expenses
   
(17,705
)
   
(14,877
)
   
(5,317
)
   
(3,932
)
Share in gains (losses) of affiliated company, net
   
8,520
     
(449
)
   
3,033
     
105
 
Net income for the period
   
46,361
     
34,728
     
10,309
     
9,961
 
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
   
(2,567
)
   
(2,589
)
   
(485
)
   
(704
)
Net income attributable to the  company
   
43,794
     
32,139
     
9,824
     
9,257
 
                                 
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Company’s stockholders
   
2.09
     
1.53
     
0.47
     
0.44
 
                                 
Basic and diluted weighted average Number of shares outstanding (in thousands)
   
20,968
     
20,968
     
20,968
     
20,968
 

4

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
US dollars
   
US dollars
 
   
Year ended
December 31,
   
Three months period
ended December 31,
 
(in thousands)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Cash flows from operating activities
                       
Net income for the period
   
46,361
     
34,728
     
10,309
     
9,961
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
                               
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of goodwill
   
13,519
     
11,635
     
3,537
     
3,065
 
Loss (gains) in respect of trading marketable securities
   
(397
)
   
(115
)
   
(196
)
   
(20
)
Increase in liability for employee rights upon retirement
   
1,025
     
890
     
198
     
(70
)
Share in losses (gains) of affiliated company, net
   
(8,520
)
   
449
     
(3,033
)
   
(105
)
Deferred income taxes
   
(516
)
   
(1,114
)
   
(248
)
   
(278
)
Capital (gain) losses  on sale of property and equipment, net
   
(1
)
   
(52
)
   
56
     
(34
)
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
   
(4,769
)
   
(4,552
)
   
4,139
     
2,918
 
increase in other current and non-current assets
   
(11,517
)
   
(5,033
)
   
(3,323
)
   
4,047
 
Decrease (increase) in inventories
   
1,632
     
(1,424
)
   
1,087
     
(698
)
Increase in accounts payable
   
3,751
     
5,884
     
2,084
     
1,048
 
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues
   
2,238
     
(1,122
)
   
(448
)
   
(2,779
)
Increase (decrease) in other current and non-current liabilities
   
1,101
     
1,298
     
566
     
(2,690
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
43,907
     
41,472
     
14,728
     
14,365
 
                                 
Cash flows from investment activities
                               
Increase in funds in respect of employee rights upon
                               
retirement, net of withdrawals
   
(844
)
   
(644
)
   
(225
)
   
(62
)
Capital expenditures
   
(16,159
)
   
(13,645
)
   
(5,363
)
   
(4,596
)
Investment in marketable securities
   
(8,623
)
   
(3,154
)
   
(2,016
)
   
(1,078
)
Investments in affiliated companies
   
(900
)
   
(8,920
)
   
(803
)
   
(1,739
)
Investments in other companies
   
(1,274
)
   
-
     
(213
)
   
-
 
Repayment of  loans from affiliated companies
   
6,982
     
1,512
     
2,677
     
1,512
 
Proceed from long term deposit
   
450
     
16
     
318
     
-
 
Sale of marketable securities
   
5,368
     
4,633
     
1,944
     
1,018
 
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
   
315
     
342
     
10
     
209
 
Net cash used in investment activities
   
(14,685
)
   
(19,860
)
   
(3,671
)
   
(4,736
)
                                 
Cash flows from financing activities
                               
Short term credit from banking institutions, net
   
23
     
(152
)
   
(102
)
   
-
 
Dividend paid
   
(22,645
)
   
(17,088
)
   
(5,032
)
   
(3,774
)
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest
   
(1,644
)
   
(994
)
   
(472
)
   
(54
)
Net cash provided by (used in)  in financing activities
   
(24,266
)
   
(18,234
)
   
(5,606
)
   
(3,828
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
   
863
     
693
     
(366
)
   
(346
)
Net Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
5,819
     
4,071
     
5,085
     
5,455
 
Balance of cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
31,087
     
27,016
     
31,821
     
25,632
 
Balance of cash and cash equivalents at end of period
   
36,906
     
31,087
     
36,906
     
31,087
 
 
Supplementary information on financing and investing activities not involving cash flows:
During the years 2017 and 2016, the company purchased property and equipment in an amount of US$ 373 thousand and US$ 224 thousand, respectively, using a directly related liability.

In November 2017, the Company declared a dividend in an amount of US$ 5 million. The dividend was paid in January 2018.
 
5