zk1211136.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 

FORM 20-F

 
o
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Or
 
o
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011
 
Or
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Or
 
o
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of event requiring this shell company report
 
For the transition period from                  to                
 
Commission File number:   001-13128
 

 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 

 
N/A
ISRAEL
(Translation of Registrant’s
name into English)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
 
14 Hamelacha Street,
 Rosh Haayin 48091, Israel
(Address of principal executive offices)

 
 
 

 
 
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
        Title of each class        
 
        Name of each exchange on which registered        
Ordinary Shares, NIS 3.00 nominal value per share
 
 
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
 
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
None
 
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
 
None

 
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
4,860,024 Ordinary Shares, NIS 3.00 nominal value per share
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    
 
Yes o   No x
 
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    
 
Yes o   No x
 
Note—Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
 
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 x   No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
 
Yes x   No o
 
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 o
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer  x
 
 
2

 
 
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP x
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by
the International Accounting Standards Board  o
Other o
 
If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    
 
Item 17 o   Item 18 o
 
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 o   No x
 
 
3

 
 
Table of Contents
   
 
8
ITEM 1.      IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
8
ITEM 2.      OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
8
ITEM 3.      KEY INFORMATION
8
 
A.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
8
 
B.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
11
 
C.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
11
 
D.
RISK FACTORS
11
ITEM 4.      INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
30
 
A.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
30
 
B.      
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
36
 
C.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
45
 
D.
PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
45
ITEM 4A.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
46
ITEM 5.      OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
46
 
A.
OPERATING RESULTS
46
 
B.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
65
 
C.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
68
 
D.
TREND INFORMATION
70
 
E.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
73
 
F.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
74
ITEM 6.      DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
75
 
A.
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
75
 
B.
COMPENSATION
77
 
C.
BOARD PRACTICES
78
  D.        
EMPLOYEES
82
 
E.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
83
ITEM 7.      MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
84
 
A.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
84
 
B.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
85
 
 
4

 
 
 
C.        
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
86
ITEM 8.      FINANCIAL INFORMATION
86
 
A.        
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
86
 
B.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
87
ITEM 9.      THE OFFER AND LISTING
87
 
A.     
OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
87
 
B.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
89
 
C.
MARKETS
89
 
D.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
89
 
E.
DILUTION
89
 
F.
EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
89
ITEM 10.    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
90
 
A.
SHARE CAPITAL
90
 
B.
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
90
 
C.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
98
 
D.
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
100
 
E.         
TAXATION AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
100
 
F.
DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
104
 
G.
STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
104
 
H.
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
104
 
I.
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
105
ITEM 11.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET  RISK
105
ITEM 12.    DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES 108
108
ITEM 13.    DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
108
ITEM 14.    MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS 108
ITEM 15T. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
109
ITEM 16.    [RESERVED]
110
ITEM 16A.AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
110
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS.
110
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. 110
 
 
5

 
 
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS OF AUDIT COMMITTEES
111
ITEM 16E.  PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
111
ITEM 16F.  CHANGE IN THE REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
111
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
111
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE 113
  113
ITEM 17.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 113
ITEM 18.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 113
ITEM 19.    EXHIBITS 113
 
 
6

 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
As used in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, the terms "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" mean Pointer Telocation Ltd. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. The term "Pointer" means Pointer Telocation Ltd. excluding its subsidiaries and affiliates. We conduct our operations through two main segments. Through our Cellocator segment, we design, develop and produce leading mobile resource management products, including asset tracking, fleet management, and security products, for sale to third party operators providing mobile resource management services and to our Pointer segment. Through our Pointer segment, we act as an operator by bundling our products together with a range of services, including stolen vehicle tracking, fleet management, roadside assistance, car sharing and emergency home repair services for sale to insurance companies, fleets, and individual customers. For further information, please see "Item 4 —Information on the Company".

This Annual Report on Form 20-F, including, without limitation, information appearing under “Item 4 – Information on the Company” and “Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”, 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 use of the words “projects,” “expects,” “may,” “plans” or “intends,” or words of similar import, identifies a statement as “forward-looking.” The forward-looking statements included herein are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on the assumption that the Company will not lose a significant customer or customers or experience increased fluctuations of demand or rescheduling of purchase orders, that our markets will be maintained in a manner consistent with our historical experience , that our products will remain accepted within their respective markets and will not be replaced by new technology, that competitive conditions within our markets will not change materially or adversely, that we will retain key technical and management personnel, that our forecasts will accurately anticipate market demand, and that there will be no material adverse change in our operations or business. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions, and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, our business and operations are subject to substantial risks which increase the uncertainty inherent in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives or plans will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations or projections include the risks and uncertainties relating to our business described in this annual report at “Item 3D—Risk Factors.”  Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
 
7

 

On August 10, 2005, a 100 to 1 reverse stock split of our ordinary shares was effected. As a result of the reverse stock split, each one hundred shares of our ordinary shares with par value NIS 0.03 were converted into one ordinary share NIS 3.00. All share numbers in this annual report reflect this reverse split.

"Cellocator" is a trademark owned by us.  References in this annual report to “Dollars,” “U.S. Dollars” and “$” are to United States Dollars and references to “shekels" and “NIS” are to New Israeli Shekels, the Israeli currency.

PART I.
 
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
 
Not applicable.

OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
 
Not applicable.

KEY INFORMATION
 
 
A.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The selected financial data is incorporated by reference to Item 5A – Operating Results – Selected Financial Data of this annual report and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, which are set forth in Item 18Financial Statements and are incorporated by reference, and the other financial information appearing in Item 5 of this annual report. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP).
 
We derived the following selected consolidated financial data for each of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 from our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this annual report. The selected consolidated financial data (including balance sheet data) for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 have been derived from audited financial statements not included in this annual report.
 
 
8

 
 
Selected Financial Data Under U.S. GAAP:

Year Ended December 31,
 
(in thousands of U.S. Dollars – except weighted average number of ordinary shares,
and basic and diluted income (loss) per ordinary share)
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Statement of Income Data:
                             
Revenues:
                             
  Products
    31,140       25,415       20,038       30,645       15,821  
  Services
    54,778       48,448       45,287       46,010       35,806  
Total Revenues
    85,918       73,863       65,325       76,655       51,627  
Cost of revenues:
                                       
   Products
    18,283       14,175       10,774       16,392       9,414  
   Services
    37,249       31,264       26,645       29,869       23,034  
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,498       978       976       980       277  
Total Cost of Revenues
    57,030       46,417       38,395       47,241       32,725  
Gross profit
    28,888       27,446       26,930       29,414       18,902  
Operating Expenses:
                                       
Research and development, net
        3,082           2,532           2,817           2,511           1,675  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
      20,382         16,503         15,037         15,245         11,143  
Amortization of intangible assets
      1,821         1,774         1,942         2,365         1,841  
Impairment of intangible asset
      6,216         -         2,959         -         36  
Total operating income (loss)
    (2,613 )     6,637       4,175       9,293       4,207  
Financial expenses, net
    1,779       1,976       2,070       4,054       2,814  
Other income (expenses)
    77       21       16       22       (12 )
Income (loss) before tax on income
    (4,469 )       4,640         2,089         5,261         1,381  
Taxes on income
    2,383       1,524       887       640       353  
Income after taxes on income
    (6,852 )       3,116         1,202         4,621         1,028  
Equity in losses of affiliate
    1,634       1,158       677       -       -  
Net income (loss)
    (8,486 )       1,958         525         4,621         1,028  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
    41       828       2,632       2,248       1,366  
Net income (loss) attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd. Shareholders
    (8,527 )     1,130       (2,107 )     2,373       (338 )
Basic net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders
    (1.78 )       0.24       (0.44 )       0.51       (0.08 )
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders
    (1.79 )     0.22       (0.47 )     0.50       (0.08 )
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)
      4,789         4,768         4,753         4,679         4,271  
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)
      4,789         4,834         4,753         4,679         4,310  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Total assets
    89,338       103,430       96,973       102,599       100,236  
Net assets (liabilities) of continuing operations
    26,594       36,868       33,809       35,815       32,203  
Working capital (deficit)
    (14,928 )     (15,093 )     (12,206 )     (7,867 )     (15,327 )
Shareholders’ equity
    31,801       43,646       41,479       41,187       35,270  
Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders
    26,594       36,868       33,809       35,815       32,203  
Non controlling interest
    5,207       6,778       7,670       5,372       3,067  
Share capital
    3,353       3,280       3,266       3,266       3,139  
Additional paid-in capital
    119,147       118,512       118,348       118,015       116,910  
 
 
9

 
 
Operating Results
 
The following table presents, for the periods indicated, certain financial data expressed as a percentage of revenues for the line items discussed below:
 
    Year Ended December 31,  
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues
                 
Products
    36       34       31  
Services
    64       66       69  
Total Revenues
    100       100       100  
Cost of Revenues:
                       
Products
    21       19       16  
Services
    43       43       41  
Amortization of intangible
    2       1       1  
Total Cost of Revenues
    66       63       58  
Gross profit
    34       37       42  
Operating Expenses:
                       
Research and development costs, net
    4       3       4  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    24       22       23  
Total operating Expenses
    28       25       27  
                         
Amortization of intangible assets and Impairment of long lived assets
    9       2       8  
Operating income (loss)
    (3     9       7  
Financial expenses
    2       3       3  
Other income (expenses)
    -       -       -  
Income (loss) before
tax on income
    (5 )     6       3  
Taxes on income
    3       2       1  
Income (loss) after tax
    (8     4       2  
Equity in losses of affiliate
    2       1       1  
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
    (10 )     1       4  
Net income (loss) attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd. Shareholders)
    (10 )     2       (3 )
 
 
10

 
 
 
B.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
 
Not applicable.
 
 
C.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Not applicable.
 
 
D.
RISK FACTORS
 
We conduct our operations through two main segments. Through our Cellocator segment, we design, develop and produce leading mobile resource management products, that include asset tracking,  fleet management and security products for sale to third party operators providing mobile resource management  services world-wide, and to our Pointer segment. Through our Pointer segment, we act as an operator primarily in Israel, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil by bundling our products together with a range of services (which varies in each country), including stolen vehicle retrieval services and fleet management, roadside assistance, and car sharing services, in addition to emergency home repair services for sale to insurance companies, car fleets, and individual customers.

This annual report and statements that we may make from time to time may contain forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations, statements or projections. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations, statements or projections include the risks and uncertainties relating to our business described below.
 
 
11

 

Risk Factors relating to our Cellocator segment

Manufacturing of products by our Cellocator segment is highly complex, and an interruption by suppliers, subcontractors or vendors could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The products that we market, distribute and sell through our Cellocator segment are either manufactured or assembled at our own facility in Israel or, in certain cases, manufactured, surface mounted on printed circuit boards and assembled through supply agreements with third party subcontractors in Israel and abroad. Since 2010, we have been transitioning certain elements of our manufacturing and assembly process to third party subcontractors abroad. As a result, our control over the manufacturing process has been reduced to some degree and our dependence on third party manufacturers and producers has been increased. Consequently, as this transitioning continues, the number of factors over which we have only limited control will increase, which may have an adverse affect our future production and supply capabilities. Additionally, many of our products are the result of complex manufacturing processes, and are sometimes dependent on components with a limited source of supply.  As a result, we can provide no assurances that supply sources will not be interrupted from time to time.  Furthermore, our subcontractors or vendors may fail to obtain supply components and fail to deliver our products.  As a result, a failure to deliver by our subcontractors or vendors can result in decreased revenues. Such interruption or delay of our suppliers to deliver components or interruption or delay of our vendors or subcontractors to deliver our products could affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
The growth of our business depends on the success of our current and new products.

Our growth depends on the continued success of our existing products, as well as the successful design and introduction of new products. For example, as is the case with any product intended to prevent vehicle theft, over time, there may be an increased ability of unauthorized persons to detect, deactivate, disable or otherwise inhibit the effectiveness of our stolen vehicle retrieval, or SVR, or anti-theft products (although it is difficult to verify this fact). An increase in the ability of unauthorized persons to detect, deactivate, disable or otherwise inhibit the effectiveness of those products could adversely affect demand for our SVR and anti-theft products, which would consequently affect our revenues.

In addition, our ability to create new products and to sustain existing products is affected by whether we can successfully anticipate and respond to consumer preferences and business trends. The failure to develop and launch successful new products could hinder the growth of our business. Also, we may have to invest more resources in development than we originally intended. marketing can be longer than expected and there is no assurance of successful development or increased returns from a potential market, which may adversely affect our business.
 
Undetected defects in our products may increase our costs and impair the market’s acceptance of our products.

The development, enhancement and implementation of the complex products of our Cellocator segment entail substantial risks of product defects or failures.  Despite testing by us and our customers, errors may be found in existing or future products, resulting in delay or loss of revenues, warranty expense, loss of market share or failure to achieve market acceptance, severe damage to our reputation or any other adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, the complexities involved in implementing our products entail additional risks of performance failures. Any such occurrence could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
 
12

 
 
We rely on operators to market and deliver the products of our Cellocator segment.

Our revenues from consecutive end unit sales, future system upgrades, future infrastructure extensions and other sources, where applicable, are from countries in which third party operators, as well as the Pointer segment acting as an operator, conduct stolen vehicle recovery and fleet management services and are therefore dependent on their penetration rate and successful sale growth as well as the operators’ continuous success and their continuous decision to offer these products in their respective territories. Should we fail to maintain relationships with these third party operators, or these operators fail to successfully market and service our products, our business would be adversely affected.
 
Our Cellocator segment relies on limited suppliers to manufacture devices for our stolen vehicle retrieval and fleet management systems (also referred to as Mobile Resource Management Solutions).

While we have a diversified product base, offering some customers radio frequency devices and others cellular units together with GPS devices, we are still principally reliant on devices and components which we do not manufacture ourselves. Most of our components for the devices in our Cellocator products are manufactured for us by independent manufacturers abroad. Surface mounting on printed circuit boards is performed by two sub-contractors. Assembly is performed by us and by subcontractors located in Israel and abroad. There is no certainty that these subcontractors will be able to continue to provide us with manufacturing and assembly services in the future. Our reliance on independent contractors, especially those located in foreign countries, involves a number of risks, including:
 
 
·
reduced control over delivery schedules, quality assurance, manufacturing yields and cost
 
·
reduced manufacturing flexibility due to last moment quantity changes;
 
·
transportation delays;
 
·
political and economic disruptions;
 
·
the imposition of tariffs and export controls on such products;
 
·
work stoppages;
 
·
changes in government policies;
 
·
the loss of molds and tooling in the event of a dispute with a manufacturer; and
 
·
the loss of time, when attempting to switch from one assembly-manufacturer to another, thereby disrupting deliveries to customers.
 
 
13

 
 
Our agreements and understandings with our suppliers are generally short-term in nature and may be terminated with little or no notice. If a supplier of ours were to terminate its relationship with us, we may be compelled to seek additional sources to manufacture certain of the components of our systems or even to change the design of our products. Although we believe that most of the components of our systems may be readily acquired from numerous suppliers, we cannot assure you that we would be successful in entering into arrangements with other suitable independent manufacturers without significantly impairing our sales in the interim period. In addition, relying on third-party suppliers requires us to maintain solid relationships to ensure that they continue to work with us. Since we do not own these third party suppliers, we have little or no control over their methods of operation. Should we fail to maintain relationships with these third party suppliers, our business would be adversely affected.
 
We are subject to several risks as a result of obsolescence of product components.

Although we believe that most of the components of our systems may be readily acquired from numerous suppliers, a number of the components are, or are likely to become in the near term, obsolete. We cannot ensure the accessibility of substitute parts for such components. Consequently, where components become obsolete we will need to choose between entirely replacing products which contain obsolete parts or modifying existing products in a manner which will facilitate the incorporation of non-obsolete components. Both alternatives will require additional expenditure and reliance on third party manufacturers, and a failure to properly manage these additional costs and requirements could adversely affect our business.

We are subject to several risks as a result of the international sales of our Cellocator segment.

Systems based on our products are currently installed worldwide, with the majority of our products sold outside of Israel.  We are subject to the risks inherent in international business activities, including changes in the political and economic environment, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, foreign exchange controls, tariffs and other trade barriers and burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations. In addition, if for any reason, exchange, price controls or other restrictions on conversion of foreign currencies were to be imposed, the operations of our Cellocator segment could be negatively impacted. In some of our international operations, we experienced the following difficulties:

 
·
longer sales cycles, especially upon entry into a new geographic market;
 
·
foreign exchange controls and licenses;
 
·
trade restrictions;
 
·
changes in tariffs;
 
·
currency fluctuations;
 
·
economic or political instability;
 
·
international tax aspects;
 
·
regulation requirements; and
 
·
greater difficulty in safeguarding intellectual property.

 
14

 
 
We may not be able to successfully compete in the extremely competitive markets for our products.

Our Cellocator segment sells mostly GPS/GPRS based vehicle devices and radio frequency based vehicle devices. In the GPS/GPRS field there is strong competition with many manufacturers introducing vehicle devices with competitive prices and various performance features. These devices are offered to operators that provide fleet management and stolen vehicle recovery services and the competition is with respect to different aspects such as price, performance parameters, etc.

Should any of our competitors successfully provide a broader range of products with competitive pricing, our business results could be materially adversely affected. While we plan to continue improving our technology and products, and maintain our marketing efforts, we cannot guarantee that we will increase or maintain our customer base.

We may be unable to adequately protect our proprietary rights, which may limit our ability to compete effectively in the markets in which we operate.

Our success and our ability to compete in sales of products by our Cellocator segment depend on our proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of proprietary technology, know-how and trade secret laws, together with non-disclosure agreements and licensing arrangements to establish and protect proprietary rights in our products. We cannot assure you that these efforts will successfully protect our technology due to the following factors:

 
·
the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the extent that they are protected by the laws of the United States;
 
·
unauthorized third parties may attempt to copy or obtain and use the technology that we regard as proprietary;
 
·
if a competitor were to infringe on our proprietary rights, enforcing our rights may be time consuming and costly, diverting management’s attention and our resources;
 
·
measures like entering into non-disclosure agreements afford only limited protection; and
 
·
our competitors may independently develop or patent technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technology, duplicate our technologies or design around our intellectual property rights.

In addition, others may assert infringement claims against us. The cost of responding to infringement claims could be significant, regardless of whether the claims are valid.
 
We may see a decrease in demand for our products should OEM vehicle manufacturers begin embedding tracking and communication devices in their vehicles as part of their basic vehicle offerings.
 
Our stolen vehicle retrieval and mobile resource management products are primarily installed before or immediately after the initial sale of private or commercial vehicles. Consequently, should vehicle manufacturers develop and embed tracking and communication devices in their vehicles, there may be a decrease in demand for our own products.
 
 
15

 

Risk Factors relating to our Pointer segment

We may not be able to successfully compete in the extremely competitive markets for our services.

We face intense competition in all the markets in which we offer our services.
Should any of our competitors successfully provide a broader, more efficient or attractive combination of services to insurance companies, automobile owners, fleets, and car sharing users, in addition to such services as roadside assistance or emergency home repair, our business results could be materially adversely affected. For more information on our competitors, see Item 4B  - Competition.

Due to the significant penetration of mobile resource management services, or MRM, such as stolen vehicle retrieval services, asset-tracking services and fleet management services, as well as the moderate overall growth of these markets in the countries in which they are provided, we anticipate that revenues from MRM sales may increase in those countries. However, because of intense competition in those markets, we expect that our margins may decrease.
 
We rely on third party operators to provide our services in certain countries

In countries in which our subsidiaries conduct activities, we rely on subcontractors and police forces to provide our stolen vehicle retrieval services. This requires us to maintain solid relationships with these third party operators and governmental entities to ensure that they continue to work with us and provide a good service to our customers. Since we do not own these third party operators, we have little or no control over their effectiveness or methods of operation. Should we fail to maintain relationships with these third party operators, or should these operators fail to successfully market and service our products, including a failure to recover the stolen vehicles effectively and in a timely manner, it could negatively impact customers’ perception of the usefulness of our products and services and our business would be adversely affected.

In offering our services, we use fixed price contracts with our customers.

Our roadside services in Israel are offered at annually or monthly fixed price contracts, according to which we are generally paid a fixed price by insurance companies for each of their customers who subscribe to receive our services. Similarly, we are paid an annual fixed price by insurance companies for our emergency home repair services. Should operational expenses rise due to factors such as a rise in the price of gasoline, labor costs or any other materials necessary for our operations, our profit margins could suffer as a result. Since it is often difficult to predict future price rises in labor costs or other variable costs, our fixed price contracts may not adequately cover our future outlays. Additionally, the frequency by which subscribers may take advantage of our roadside services can vary unpredictably. Sustained adverse weather conditions, increased regional hostilities or acts of terrorism, poor road maintenance or increased theft ratio may increase customer usage of our services in any given year, thus reducing profit margins.
 
 
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Most of the stolen vehicle retrieval services, fleet management services, and services provided by our Pointer segment are offered at monthly fixed price contracts, according to which we are paid a fixed price each month by our customers who subscribe to receive our services. Should operational expenses rise due to factors such as a rise in the price of labor costs or any other materials necessary for our operations, our profit margins could suffer as a result. Since it is often difficult to predict future price rises in the cost of components or labor costs, our fixed price contracts may not adequately cover our future outlays.

Risk Factors Relating to Our Company

Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders have a history of losses.
 
With the exception of the years 2010, 2008, 2006 and 2003, Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders incurred a loss in each year of the Company's existence. The net loss attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders in 2011 was $8.5 million, consisting of a loss of $1.8 million resulting from continuing operations and $6.7 million in impairment of goodwill and intangible assets. Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders may continue to sustain net losses for the foreseeable future given the markets in which we operate. As a part of our strategy, we are focusing on the development of new businesses, products, technology and services in the territories in which we currently operate as well as in new territories. Investing in such new businesses may result in an increase in short term losses. If Pointer Telocation Ltd. shareholders may continue to sustain prolonged losses or losses from continuing operations, we may have to cease our operations.
 
Conditions and changes in the global economic environment may adversely affect our business and financial results.
 
The global economy in 2011 was adversely affected by stock market volatility, tightening of credit markets, concerns of inflation and deflation, decreased consumer confidence, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, adverse business conditions and liquidity concerns and business insolvencies. These events and related uncertainty about future economic conditions, including conditions in Europe, our primary Cellocator market, following the debt crisis there in 2011, could negatively impact our customers and, among other things, postpone their decision-making, decrease their spending and jeopardize or delay their ability or willingness to make payment obligations, any of which could adversely affect our business. Uncertainty about current global economic conditions could also cause volatility of our share price. We cannot predict the timing, strength or duration of this global economic downturn or subsequent recovery. In addition, while there has been a certain upturn in the worldwide automotive industry, this sector is cyclical in nature and difficult to predict. These factors, among other things, could limit our ability to maintain or increase our sales or recognize revenue from committed contracts and in turn adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
        If the current uncertainty in the general economy, the European economy in particular, and the automotive industries sector does not change or improve, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
 
 
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Changes in practices of insurance companies in the markets in which we provide our SVR services and sell our SVR products could adversely affect our revenues and growth potential.
 
We depend on the practices of insurance companies in the markets in which we provide our SVR services and sell our products. In Israel, insurance companies either mandate the use of SVR services and products for certain cars, or their equivalent, as a prerequisite for providing insurance coverage to owners of certain medium and high-end vehicles, or provide insurance premium discounts to encourage vehicle owners to subscribe to services and purchase products such as ours. In Argentina, insurance companies purchase or lease our products directly and subsequently require their customers to subscribe to our SVR services.
 
Therefore, we rely on insurance companies’ continued practice of:
 
 
· 
accepting vehicle location and recovery technology as a preferred security product; and
 
 
·
with respect to insurance companies in Argentina, deciding to purchase or lease SVR services products from us directly.
 
If any of these policies or practices change, revenues from sales of our SVR services and products could decline, which could adversely affect our revenues and growth potential.
 
A decline in sales of consumer or commercial vehicles in the markets in which we operate could result in reduced demand for our products and services.
 
Our stolen vehicle retrieval and mobile resource management products are primarily installed before or immediately after the initial sale of private or commercial vehicles.  Consequently, a reduction in sales of new vehicles could reduce our applicable market for stolen vehicle retrieval and mobile resource management products, and, consequentially, reduce the market for stolen vehicle retrieval services and mobile resource management services which utilize our products.  New vehicle sales may decline for various reasons, including an increase in new vehicle tariffs, taxes or gas prices, or an increased difficulty in obtaining credit or financing in the applicable local or global economy.  A decline in sales of new vehicles in the markets in which our Cellocator segment and Pointer segment operate could result in reduced demand for our products and services.
 
A reduction in vehicle theft rates may adversely impact demand for our SVR services and products.
 
Demand for our SVR services and products depends primarily on prevailing or expected vehicle theft rates. Vehicle theft rates may decline as a result of various factors such as the availability of improved security systems, implementation of improved or more effective law enforcement measures, or improved economic or political conditions in markets that have high theft rates. If vehicle theft rates in some or all of our existing markets decline, or if insurance companies or our other customers believe that vehicle theft rates have declined or are expected to decline, demand for our SVR services and products may decline.
 
 
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The introduction of products using new technology and the emergence of new industry standards and practices could negatively impact our business.

The wireless communications industry as a whole and specifically GPRS is characterized by rapid technological changes. The introduction of products using new technology and the emergence of new industry standards and practices could make our products less competitive and cause us to reduce the prices of our products. There are several wireless communications technologies, including HSPA, LTE, WiMax, personal communications services, specialized mobile radio and mobile satellite services which have been or may be implemented in the future for applications competitive with the applications we provide. Future implementation and technological improvements could lead to the production of systems and services which are competitive with, or superior to ours.

We cannot give any assurance that we will timely or successfully introduce or develop new or enhanced products and services, which will effectively compete with new systems available in the market. Our business will be negatively impacted if we do not introduce or develop technologically competitive products and services that respond to customer needs and are priced competitively.

We depend on a small number of customers.

Following our acquisition of the activities of Shagrir Towing Services, the customers which account for a significant part of the revenues of Shagrir Systems Ltd., or Shagrir, are Israeli insurance companies which offer our roadside assistance and towing services as part of their vehicle insurance policy packages which they sell to their customers, as well as Argentine insurance companies which require their customers to obtain stolen vehicle retrieval services as part of their vehicle insurance policy packages. Although in 2011 none of our customers comprised over 10% of our total revenues, the loss of even a small number of customers could materially affect our financial condition.
 
If the creditworthiness or the financial strength of the customers were to decline, there could be an adverse effect on our operating results and cash flows. Should geopolitical situations change in the countries where our customers operate, there could be additional credit risks.

Our operations rely on the use of information technology and any material security failure of that technology could harm our business.

Our operations, including the provision of mobile resource management services and our Cellocator segment, rely on the use of information technology and any material security failure of that technology or cyber attack could harm our business. We have implemented cyber security controls which involve the prevention, detection and recovery of data in the event of cyber security breaches. We perform regular effectiveness of control reviews of some of our systems as well as an annual external review of the degrees of effectiveness of the network security in our various departments. However, the internal controls we use over cyber security may not be sufficient to prevent significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the future, and we may also identify other conditions that could result in significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. In the event of a cyber attack, we could experience the corruption or loss of data, misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, including customer information, or operational disruption. This could result in substantial loss of revenues, response costs and other financial loss, and may subject us to litigation and cause damage to our reputation, for which we may not be covered under our current insurance policies.
 
 
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The use of our products is subject to international regulations.

The use of our products is subject to regulatory approvals of government agencies in each of the countries in which our systems are operated by our Pointer segment or by other operators, including the State of Israel. Our operators typically must obtain authorization from each country in which our systems and products are installed. While in general, operators have not experienced problems in obtaining regulatory approvals to date, the regulatory schemes in each country are different and may change from time to time. We cannot guarantee that approvals which our operators and our Pointer segment have obtained will remain sufficient in the view of regulatory authorities. In addition, we cannot assure you that operators of our systems and products will obtain licenses and approvals on a timely basis in all jurisdictions in which we wish to sell our systems or that restrictions on the use of our systems will not be unduly burdensome.

Our future operations depend on our ability to obtain additional financing.

We have historically financed our operations through public and private placements of equity and debt securities, cash generated from the sales of our systems, grants for research and development projects, loans and bank credit lines. We believe that our current assets, together with anticipated cash generated from operations and outstanding bank credit lines, will sufficiently allow us to continue our operations as a going concern for the foreseeable future. However, we cannot assure that if we are required to raise additional financing in the future that we will be able to obtain such financing on satisfactory terms, if at all, and if we are able to raise financing through the issuance of shares, this may result in the dilution of the interests of our current shareholders. In a series of investments, since March 2003 to date, we raised $42 million from investors. We have registered for resale securities issued and issuable in connection with such investments in our securities (for further information regarding the private placement transactions see Item 10Material Contracts). In May 2007 our registration statement on Form F-3 was declared effective, pursuant to an investment with a group of U.S. institutional investors consummated in April 2007, covering 1,207,500 of our ordinary shares (including 402,500 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued in connection with that transaction). Additionally, on June 7, 2010 our registration statement on Form F-3 was declared effective pursuant to which, we may sell from time to time, any combination of securities, as described in the prospectus, in one or more offerings up to a total of $25,000,000 or the equivalent denominated in foreign currencies or foreign currency units.
 
 
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As a result of the registration statements that we currently have outstanding and are currently filing, many or all of our investors who purchased our securities may elect to sell some or all of our securities. Should such sales be significant in volume or take place over a short period of time, our share price may decline significantly, and we may find it difficult to raise additional funding through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities. If our future capital requirements are greater than the cash we obtain from our business and available financing, if any, we may, among other things, be required to significantly reduce our research, development, product commercialization, marketing or other activities or even cease operations.

Over recent years, the securities markets in general have experienced increased volatility, which has particularly affected the securities and operations of many companies, including companies that have a significant presence in Israel. Although the volatility of these companies’ securities has often been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies, they may experience difficulties in raising additional financing required to effectively operate and grow their businesses. Such failure and the volatility of the securities markets in general may affect our ability to obtain additional financing at favorable terms.

Pointer, Shagrir and Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A have significant loans from Banks and others which they are required to repay in accordance with strict schedules that they may not be able to meet or that limit our operating and financial flexibility.

During 2011, 2010 and 2009 Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A, or Pointer Brazil, entered into loan agreements for an aggregate amount of $685,000 with several Brazilian banks in order to finance its operations. Should Pointer Brazil fail to repay the loans in accordance with the repayment schedule pertaining to the loans or if the Banks refuse to amend the relevant repayment schedule, the Banks may realize certain liens that were created in their favor, which in turn may have a material adverse affect on Pointer Brazil's financial condition. As of December 31, 2011 the amount outstanding under the loans is approximately $560,000.

As of December 31, 2011, Shagrir has in the aggregate approximately $16.3 million in outstanding loans from Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi. Despite the fact that Shagrir is cash positive, should Shagrir fail to repay the loans in accordance with the repayment schedule pertaining to each loan or should the banks refuse to amend the relevant repayment schedule, the banks may realize certain liens that were created in its favor by Shagrir. This could result in Shagrir having to divest itself of parts of its business and may result in the cessation of its operations.

As of December 31, 2011, Pointer has in the aggregate approximately $2.7 million in outstanding loans from Bank Hapoalim and unutilized credit facilities of $1.6 million. Should Pointer fail to repay the loans in accordance with the repayment schedule pertaining to each loan or if Bank Hapoalim refuses to amend the relevant repayment schedule, Bank Hapoalim may realize certain liens that were created in its favor, which in turn may have a material adverse affect on Pointer's financial condition.
 
 
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In January 2008 Pointer entered into credit facilities for an aggregate amount of $1 million with Israel Discount Bank B.M., in order to finance its working capital. As of December 31, 2011, $ 0.3 million of these credit facilities were utilized.

The credit facilities and loans described above contain a number of restrictive covenants that limit the operating and financial flexibility of Pointer and Shagrir. Please see Notes 11c and 11d to our consolidated financial statements for further information.  The covenants are required to be met on an annual basis. Failure to comply with any of the covenants could lead to an event of default under the agreements governing some or all of the credit facilities and loans, permitting the applicable lender to accelerate all borrowings. As of December 31, 2011, Pointer and Shagrir were in compliance with the restrictive financial covenants.

Our ability to continue to comply with these and other obligations depends in part on the future performance of our business. There can be no assurance that such obligations will not materially adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or the manner in which we operate our business. In particular, any noncompliance with performance-related covenants and other undertakings of our credit facilities could result in an acceleration of our outstanding debt under our credit facilities and restrict our ability to obtain additional funds, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

For further information on the loans described above, please see Item 5 – Liquidity and Capital Resources and Item 10Material Contracts.

We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if our goodwill or amortizable assets become impaired.
 
Our balance sheet contains a significant amount of goodwill and other amortizable intangible assets in long-term assets, totaling about $47.5 million at December 31, 2011.

        In 2011, we wrote-down our goodwill by an amount of $6.2 million due to the impact of changes in economic conditions and forecasted results of our Cellocator segment. In addition, we amortized $0.5 million of the development technology intangible assets acquired from Cellocator Ltd. in September 2007. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the obsolescence of certain older Cellocator technology.
 
In 2009 we amortized $3 million of customer related intangible assets attributable to our acquisition of Cellocator due to the decrease in activity of former customers of Cellocator as a result of the worldwide economic downturn.

No impairment losses were identified in 2010.

   We test goodwill for impairment at least annually and potentially more frequently in the event that indicators for potential impairment exist. We review our finite-lived intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable include a sustained decline in our share price, market capitalization or future cash flows, slower growth rates in our industry, termination of contracts assumed in connection with a merger or acquisition and obsolescence of acquired technology. In particular, the nature of the current worldwide economic instability and the potential impact of this on our business and our share price could require us to record a significant charge to earnings in our financial statements due to impairment of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets.  If that happens, then our results of operations will be negatively impacted for the period in which such determination was made.
 
 
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The Argentine government may enact or enforce measures to preempt or respond to social unrest or economic turmoil which may adversely affect our business in Argentina.

Our subsidiary, Pointer Localizacion Y Asistencia S.A., or Pointer Argentina, operates in Argentina, where government has historically exercised significant influence over the country’s economy. In 2008, Argentina faced nationwide strikes and protests from farmers due to increased export taxes on agricultural products, which disrupted economic activity and have heightened political tension. Future government policies to preempt, or in response to, social unrest may include expropriation, nationalization, forced renegotiation or modification of existing contracts, suspension of the enforcement of creditors’ rights, new taxation policies, customs duties and levies including royalty and tax increases and retroactive tax claims, and changes in laws and policies affecting foreign trade and investment. Such policies could destabilize the country and adversely and materially affect the economy, and thereby our business.  Additionally, due to agreements with the General Workers' Union in Argentina and the country's high inflation rate, we may be required to increase employee salaries at a rate which could adversely affect Pointer Argentina's business.
 
Any inability to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes−Oxley Act of 2002 regarding internal control attestation may negatively impact the report on our financial statements to be provided by our independent auditors.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. The SEC, as directed by Section 404(a) of the United States Sarbanes−Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules requiring public companies to include a management report assessing the Company’s effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in its annual report on Form 20−F. Our management may conclude that our internal controls over financial reporting are not effective. Such a conclusion could result in a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which could negatively impact the market price of our shares.

If it is determined that we are not in compliance with Section 404, we may be required to implement new internal control procedures and re−evaluate our financial reporting. We may experience higher than anticipated operating expenses as well as outside auditor fees during the implementation of these changes and thereafter. Further, we may need to hire additional qualified personnel in order for us to be compliant with Section 404. If we are unable to implement these changes effectively or efficiently, it could harm our operations, financial reporting or financial results and could result in our conclusion that our internal controls over financial reporting are not effective.
 
 
23

 
 
Under current Israeli law, we may not be able to enforce covenants not to compete and therefore may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of some of our former employees.
 
We currently have non-competition agreements with our employees.  These agreements prohibit our employees, if they cease working for us, from directly competing with us or working for our competitors for a certain period of time following termination of their employment agreements.  Recently, Israeli courts have required employers seeking to enforce non-compete undertakings of a former employee to demonstrate that the competitive activities of the former employee will harm one of a limited number of material interests of the employer which have been recognized by the courts, such as the secrecy of a company’s confidential commercial information or its intellectual property.  If we cannot demonstrate that harm would be caused to us, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of our former employees.
 
We may not be able to retain or attract key managerial, technical and research and development personnel that we need to succeed.

Our success has largely depended and will depend in the future on our ability to retain skilled professional and technical personnel and to attract additional qualified personnel in the future. The competition for such personnel is intense. We may not be able to retain our present personnel, or recruit additional qualified personnel, and our failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our major shareholder has a controlling stake in our company and is affiliated with three members of our board of directors.
 
Pursuant to a series of investments in the Company since March 2003, and the exercise of certain warrants, DBSI Investments Ltd., or DBSI, currently owns approximately 37.84% of our issued and outstanding shares or 32.95% on a fully diluted basis. As a result, DBSI has the ability to control material decisions requiring the approval of our shareholders.

Our board of directors currently consists of 6 members, of which three are affiliated with DBSI. As a result, DBSI has the ability to affect the decisions made by our full board of directors.
 
 
24

 
 
Risk Factors Relating to our Ordinary Shares

We do not expect to distribute cash dividends.

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our Board of Directors will decide whether to declare any cash dividends in the future based on the conditions then existing, including our earnings and financial condition, and subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law – 1999, or the Israeli Companies Law. According to the Israeli Companies Law, a company may distribute dividends out of its profits, so long as the company reasonably believes that such dividend distribution will not prevent the company from paying all its current and future debts. Profits, for purposes of the Israeli Companies Law, means the greater of retained earnings or earnings accumulated during the preceding two years.

The market price of our ordinary shares has been, and may continue to be, very volatile.

The market prices of our ordinary shares have fluctuated widely. The following factors, among others, may significantly impact the market price of our ordinary shares:

 
·
changes in the global financial markets and U.S. and Israeli stock markets relating to turbulence amid stock market volatility, tightening of credit markets, concerns of inflation and deflation, decreased consumer confidence, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, adverse business conditions and general liquidity concerns;
 
·
macro changes and changes in market share in the markets in which we provide services and products;
 
·
announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors;
 
·
developments or disputes concerning patents or proprietary rights;
 
·
publicity regarding actual or potential results relating to services rendered by us or our competitors;
 
·
regulatory development in the United States, Israel and other countries;
 
·
events or announcements relating to our collaborative relationship with others;
 
·
economic, political and other external factors;
 
·
period-to-period fluctuations in our operating results; and
 
·
substantial sales by significant shareholders of our ordinary shares which are currently or are in the process of being registered.

In addition, the securities markets in general have experienced volatility, which has particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of companies that have a significant presence in Israel. This volatility has often been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies.

Our ordinary shares may be affected by limited trading volume and may fluctuate significantly in price.

Our ordinary shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or TASE. Our ordinary shares are traded on these markets in different currencies (U.S. Dollars on the NASDAQ and New Israeli Shekels on the TASE), and at different times (resulting from different time zones, different trading days and different public holidays in the United States and Israel). Trading in our ordinary shares has been limited and there can be no assurance that an active trading market for our ordinary shares will develop. As a result, this could adversely affect our shareholders' ability to sell our ordinary shares in short time periods, or possibly at all. Thinly traded ordinary shares can be more volatile than ordinary shares traded in an active public market. The average daily trading volume of our ordinary shares from January 1, 2012 to February 28, 2012 was 1,168 shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market and 1,527 shares on the TASE. The high and low bid price of our ordinary shares from January 1, 2012 to February 28, 2012 has been $2.85 and $4 respectively on the NASDAQ Capital Market and between NIS 10 (approximately $2.6) and NIS 15 (approximately $ 3.93) during the same period  on the TASE. Our ordinary shares have experienced, and are likely to experience in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares without regard to our operating performance. The trading prices of our ordinary shares on these two markets are expected to often differ, as a result of the factors described above and differences in exchange rates. Any decrease in the trading price of our ordinary shares on one of these markets could cause a decrease in the trading price of our ordinary shares on the other market. Furthermore, the delisting of our shares from the TASE, which will be effective as of April 17, 2012, may have an effect on the trading volume of our ordinary shares.
 
 
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Corporate governance controversies and new legislation in the United States could increase the cost of our operations.

As a result of corporate governance controversies in the United States and the legislative and litigation environment resulting from those controversies, the costs of being a public company in general have increased and may continue to increase in the near future. Legislation, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has had and may continue to have the effect of increasing the burdens and potential liabilities of being a public reporting company. This and other proposed legislation may increase the costs of compliance with this legislation and our insurance premiums.

Risk Factors Relating to Our Operations in Israel

Political, Military and Economic Conditions in Israel affect our operations.

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. Our headquarters, the headquarters of Shagrir and the Cellocator segment, are located in Israel, as well as the majority of the business activities of Shagrir and the manufacturing operations of our Cellocator segment, which account for the majority of our revenues. Consequentially, we are directly affected by the political, military and economic conditions affecting Israel.
 
Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a state of hostility has existed between Israel and the Arab countries in the region. This state of hostility has varied in degree and intensity over time. Although Israel has entered into peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, and various agreements with the Palestinian Authority, there has been a marked increase in violence, civil unrest and hostility, including armed clashes, between the State of Israel and the Palestinians, since September 2000. The establishment in 2006 of a government in the Gaza Strip by representatives of the Hamas militant group has created heightened unrest and uncertainty in the region. In mid-2006, Israel engaged in an armed conflict with Hezbollah, a Shiite Islamist militia group based in Lebanon, and in June 2007, there was an escalation in violence in the Gaza Strip. From December 2008 through January 2009, Israel engaged in an armed conflict with Hamas, which involved missile strikes against civilian targets in various parts of Israel and negatively affected business conditions in Israel. During 2011, Egypt went through significant political turbulence, following the resignation of Hosni Mubarak as president, due to protests throughout Egypt. The recent election of parties hostile to Israel to a New People's Assembly of Egypt may damage the current peaceful and diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt, which would affect the region as a whole. In addition, Israel is reported to be considering an attack on Iran which is widely believed to be developing nuclear weapons. Iran is also believed to have a strong influence among extremist groups in the region, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. These situations may potentially escalate in the future to more violent events which may affect Israel and us. Ongoing and revived hostilities with the Palestinians or Arab countries might require more widespread military reserve service by some of our employees, which could have an adverse effect on our business. The continued political instability in Egypt, Syria and the Middle-East as a whole, and hostilities between Israel and its neighbors and any future armed conflict, terrorist activity or political instability in the region could adversely affect our operations in Israel and adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares. Additionally, the political and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have contracts claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions.
 
 
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Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners could adversely affect our operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Since our manufacturing facilities are located mainly in Israel, we could experience disruption of our manufacturing due to acts of terrorism or any other hostilities involving or threatening Israel.  Furthermore, many of our employees and subcontractors are located in Israel, which could still face a renewal of civil unrest, terrorist activity and military action. Since we do not have a detailed disaster recovery plan that would allow us to quickly resume business activity, we could experience serious disruptions if acts associated with this conflict result in any serious damage to our facilities. Our business interruption insurance may not adequately compensate us for losses that may occur and any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot give any assurance that security and political conditions will not have such an effect in the future. Any future armed conflicts or political instability in the region would likely negatively affect business conditions and harm our results of operations.

Any downturn in the Israeli economy may have a significant impact on our business. Israel’s economy has been subject to numerous destabilizing factors, including a period of rampant inflation in the early to mid-1980’s, low foreign exchange reserves, fluctuations in world commodity prices, military conflicts and civil unrest. The revenues of Shagrir may be adversely affected if fewer vehicles are used as a result of an economic downturn in Israel, an increase in use of mass transportation, an increase in vehicle related taxes, an increase in the imputed value of vehicles provided as a part of employee compensation or other macroeconomic changes affecting the use of vehicles. In addition, our stolen vehicle retrieval services significantly depend on Israeli insurance companies mandating subscription to a service such as ours. If Israeli insurance companies cease to require such subscriptions, our business could be significantly adversely affected. We also rely on the renewal and retention of several operating licenses issued by certain Israeli regulatory authorities. Should such authorities fail to renew any of these licenses, suspend existing licenses, or require additional licenses, we may be forced to suspend or cease certain services that we provide.
 
 
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Many of our employees in Israel are required to perform military reserve duty.

All non-exempt male adult permanent residents of Israel under the age of 40, including some of our office holders and employees, are obligated to perform military reserve duty and may be called to active duty under emergency circumstances. In the past there have been significant call ups of military reservists, and it is possible that there will be additional call-ups in the future.  While we have operated effectively despite these conditions in the past, we cannot assess the impact these conditions may have on us in the future, particularly if emergency circumstances occur. Our operations could be disrupted by the absence for a significant period of one or more of our executive officers or key employees or a significant number of our other employees due to military service. Any disruption in our operations would harm our business.

We may be adversely affected by a change in the exchange rate of the New Israeli Shekel against the U.S. Dollar.  
 
Exchange rates between the NIS and the U.S. Dollar have fluctuated continuously in recent years. Exchange rate fluctuations, particularly larger periodic devaluations, may have an impact on our revenues and profitability and period-to-period comparisons of our results. In 2002 and 2005 the rate of devaluation of the NIS against the Dollar was 7.3% and 6.8% respectively, while in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the NIS appreciated in value in relation to the Dollar by 7.6%, 1.6%, 8.2%, 9%, 1.1%, 0.7% and 6%, respectively. In 2011, the devaluation rate of the NIS against the Dollar was 7.7% while the fluctuation during 2011 was between 5.2% revaluation and 7.7% devaluation. As of December 31, 2011, our revenues in NIS accounted for approximately 72% of our total revenues in 2011. Loans and utilized credit facilities in the amount of approximately $16.8 million, constituting approximately 77% out of our total loans and credit facilities, are also denominated in NIS. Approximately 79% of our expenses (primarily labor expenses of the operations of our Cellocator segment and Shagrir in Israel) are incurred in NIS.  Additionally, certain assets, as well as a portion of our liabilities, are denominated in NIS.  On the other hand, as of December 31, 2011, our sales, including sales of the products of our Cellocator segment, are generally denominated in U.S. Dollars and to a lesser extent in Euro, Argentinean Pesos, Brazilian Real and Mexican Pesos. Loans and credit facilities in the amount of approximately $4.2 million, constituting approximately 19% out of our total loans and credit facilities, are denominated in U.S. Dollars.

Our results may be adversely affected by the devaluation of the NIS in relation to the U.S. Dollar (or if such devaluation is on lagging basis) if our revenues in NIS are higher than our expenses in NIS and/or the amount of our assets in NIS are higher than our liabilities in NIS. Alternatively, our results may be adversely affected by appreciation of the NIS in relation to the Dollar (or if such appreciation is on a lagging basis), if the amount of our expenses in NIS are higher than the amount of our revenues in NIS and/or the amount of our liabilities in NIS are higher than our assets in NIS. We may utilize partial hedging to manage currency risk. For example, in 2011 we entered into a foreign currency hedging transaction to partially manage the risk related to salary expenses in 2011 and 2012. Therefore, to the extent our currency risk is not hedged or sufficient hedged, we may experience exchange rate losses which could significantly and negatively affect our business and results of operations.
 
 
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There can be no assurance that we will not incur losses from such fluctuations in the future.

For further discussion of the fluctuation of the U.S. Dollar to the NIS, please see Item 5 - Impact of Exchange Rate Fluctuations on Results of Operations, Liabilities and Assets, and Item 11 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
We may be adversely affected by a change of the Israeli and Argentine Consumer Price Index.

Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in the Israeli Consumer Price Index, or Israeli CPI, relates primarily to loans borrowed by us from banks and other lenders.  As of December 31, 2011, we had outstanding loans in the amount of $3 million linked to Israeli CPI. Therefore, we are exposed to the risk that the rate of Israeli CPI, which measures inflation in Israel, will exceed the rate of devaluation of the NIS in relation to the US Dollar or that the timing of this devaluation lags behind inflation in Israel. This would have the effect of increasing the Dollar cost of our borrowings.

By administrative order, certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations, relating primarily to the length of the work day, minimum wages, pension contributions, insurance for work-related accidents, procedures for dismissing employees, determination of severance pay and other conditions of employment are applicable to our employees. In accordance with these provisions, the salaries of our employees are partially indexed to the Israeli CPI. In the event that inflation in Israel will increase, we will have to increase the salaries of our employees in Israel respectively. As of December 31, 2011, we did not increase the salaries of our employees in Israel due to an increase in inflation. In Argentina, we are facing a similar situation, and accordingly, in 2011, due to an increase in inflation, we increased the salaries of some of our employees. There can be no assurance that we will not be adversely affected by such increase in salaries in the future.

We may not be eligible for programs or to receive grants provided to us from our participation in research and development, investments and other programs or we may be restricted from manufacturing products or transferring our intellectual property outside of Israel.

We have received certain grants and programs from the Israeli Government. Some of these programs may restrict our right to manufacture products or transfer our intellectual property outside of Israel. If we do not meet certain conditions in the future, we may have to refund payments previously received under these programs or pay fines.
 
 
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Changes in Israeli regulations may materially affect the business of T.M.C. Technologies Systems L.P.., or TMC LP, a subsidiary of Shagrir, and may inhibit Shagrir's ability to obtain repayment of the loan it has extended to the partnership.

Shagrir currently holds a 51% interest in TMC LP, which will provide advanced technological solutions for the collection of travel fares from taxi and transportation service fleets. To date, Shagrir has provided the partnership with a loan of $300,000.The business of TMC LP is subject to regulation and a change in Israeli regulations may materially affect TMC LP's business, as well as inhibiting Shagrir's ability to obtain repayment of the loan it has extended to the partnership.
 
Service and enforcement of legal process.

Service of process upon directors and officers of our company and the Israeli experts named herein, all of who reside outside the United States, may be difficult to effect within the United States. Furthermore, since the majority of our assets are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained against us in the United States may not be enforceable within the United States. We have been informed by our legal counsel in Israel, Yigal Arnon & Co., that there is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, in original actions instituted in Israel. However, subject to certain time limitations, Israeli courts may enforce United States final executory judgments for liquidated amounts in civil matters obtained after due trial before a court of competent jurisdiction (according to the rules of private international law currently prevailing in Israel) which enforces similar Israeli judgments, provided that: (i) due service of process has been effected; (ii) such judgments or the enforcement thereof are not contrary to the law, public policy, security or sovereignty of the State of Israel; (iii) such judgments were not obtained by fraud and do not conflict with any other valid judgment in the same matter between the same parties; and (iv) an action between the same parties in the same matter is not pending in any Israeli court at the time the lawsuit is instituted in the foreign court.
 
ITEM 4.     INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
 
 
A.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
 
The legal and commercial name of our company is Pointer Telocation Ltd.  We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel in July 17, 1991 under the name Nexus Telecommunications Systems Ltd. We changed our name to Nexus Telocation Systems Ltd. in December 1997 and to Pointer Telocation Ltd. in January 2006. The principal legislation under which we operate is the Israeli Companies Law, 5759-1999, as amended.

Our principal place of business is located at 14 Hamelacha Street Afek Industrial Park, Rosh Haayin, Israel, and our telephone number is 972-3-572-3111.  Our Web site is www.pointer.com. Information on our website is not part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this annual report.

In addition to our company's principal place of business as described above, the headquarters of our subsidiary Shagrir are located in Holon, Israel; the headquarters of our subsidiary Pointer Localization Y Asistencia, or Pointer Argentina, are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the headquarters of our subsidiary Pointer Recuperacion de Mexico, SA de CV, or Pointer Mexico are located in Mexico City, Mexico; the headquarters of our subsidiary Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A or Pointer Brazil are located in Sao Paulo, Brazil; the headquarters of our subsidiary S.C. Pointer S.R.L., or Pointer Romania, are located in Bucharest, Romania; the headquarters of our subsidiary, Pointer Telocation Inc., are located in Texas, USA; and the headquarters of our subsidiary Car2Go Ltd. are located in Tel Aviv, Israel.
 
 
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We are a leading provider of advanced command and control technologies for the automotive and insurance industries.

Until 2003, our business focused primarily on the development, manufacture and sale of stolen vehicle retrieval devices based on radio frequency and sale of software for command and control centers. In April 2003, our management decided to strategically focus on providing a range of additional services to automobile owners and insurance companies.

This strategy was implemented in the following years through several acquisitions in Israel and Argentina, and the establishment of subsidiaries and affiliates in Mexico, Romania and Brazil.

In April 2004, we purchased all of the outstanding and issued share capital of Shagrir (previously known as Pointer (Eden Telecom Group) Ltd.) not already held by us. At the time of the purchase, Shagrir was our local Israeli operator and service provider which mainly provided stolen vehicle retrieval and other security value-added services mainly for vehicle owners through a communication network based on our technology.

In February 2005, Shagrir purchased the assets and activities of Shagrir Towing Services, or Shagrir Towing, an Israeli company which provided roadside assistance and towing services in Israel. In order to finance Shagrir’s acquisition of Shagrir Towing, Shagrir received loans from several investors, including a convertible loan from a group of investors led by Gandyr Investments Ltd., or Gandyr. In November 2005, the group of investors led by Gandyr exercised their options to convert their loan into shares of Shagrir.

In July, 2011, 903 options granted under Shagrir's employee share option plan were exercised to purchase ordinary shares of Shagrir, and in January 2012, 2,480 options were exercised. As a result, our holdings in Shagrir were diluted and we currently hold approximately 54.48% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Shagrir. There currently remain no exercisable options to purchase ordinary shares of Shagrir.

In June 2004, we incorporated a Mexican company, Pointer Mexico, to serve as our local Mexican operator and service provider, and, as part of our Pointer segment, to provide stolen vehicle retrieval and fleet management services for vehicle owners using a communication network based on our technology. We currently hold 74% of the issued share capital of Pointer Mexico. In July 2009, Pointer Mexico commenced to sell the products of our Cellocator segment in Mexico as a local distributor, which became a substantial part of Pointer Mexico's revenues.
 
 
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In August 2005, we affected a 100 to 1 reverse stock split of our ordinary shares. As a result of the reverse stock split, each one hundred shares of the Company's ordinary shares with par value of NIS 0.03 each were converted into one ordinary share of NIS 3.00 par value.

On November 16, 2005, Pointer's ordinary shares began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol NXUS.  On February 21, 2006 our shares began trading under a new symbol, PNTR.

On December 19, 2006, Pointer's ordinary shares began trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Israel, or TASE, also under the symbol PNTR, and we became a dual listed company. Please see Item 9The Offer and Listing for further information about the trading of our ordinary shares.

In 2001, the Company purchased shares in Pointer Argentina (previously known as Tracsat S.A.), a corporation incorporated in Argentina. The Company currently holds 88% of the shares in Pointer Argentina.

In September 2007, we purchased the assets and activities of Cellocator Ltd., a private Israeli company active in the field of cellular location-based services and technology.  The consideration for the acquisition consisted of (i) $16.7 million in cash, (ii) 160,000 ordinary shares of the Company, and (iii) a non-tradable debenture from the seller with a fair value of $ 1,951,000, which was convertible into 160,000 ordinary shares of the Company. In January 2008, the seller decided not to convert the debenture, and as a result Cellocator and/or its shareholders hold, in the aggregate, approximately 3.4% of our issued and outstanding share capital. In September 2010, we paid $951,000 out of the principal amount of the non-tradable debenture plus accrued interest. A new debenture was entered into with MSY Assets Ltd., a company affiliated with the seller, for the remaining $1 million, plus interest at a rate of 4.4% per annum, which was paid in September 2011.

In July 2008, Shagrir, together with a Romanian third party, incorporated a Romanian company, Pointer Romania, to provide roadside assistance and towing services in Romania. As of December 31, 2011, Shagrir holds 50% of the issued share capital of Pointer Romania, and rest is held by third party Romanian shareholders. Pursuant to an amendment to the above agreement executed by Shagrir and Ovidiu Demetrescu, a Romanian national, dated January 1, 2012, Shagrir acquired an additional 15% of the issued share capital of Pointer Romania for nominal value. On July 11, 2008, Pointer Romania signed an agreement to provide roadside assistance services in Romania to a large Romanian-based petrol company, which in turn would offer the services to its customers, starting October 1, 2008, for over a period of two years. The Romanian-based petrol company was in breach of the agreement, and in November 2009, Pointer Romania commenced legal proceedings against the Romanian-based petrol company in a Romanian court to enforce the agreement. A judgment was handed-down in favor of Pointer Romania, awarding it approximately 30,000 Euro. The Romanian-based Petrol Company and Pointer Romania are currently in discussions for reaching a settlement.
 
 
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In August 2008, we incorporated a company in Brazil by the name of Cellocator Commercial S.A., which was later renamed Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A. As of December 31, 2011, we hold 48% of the share capital of Pointer Brazil with an option to acquire additional 4%.

In October 2008, we established a wholly-owned subsidiary in the United States, Pointer Telocation Inc.
 
On May 17, 2009 Shagrir purchased 51% of the share capital of Car2go Ltd., or Car2go, an Israeli company that offers car sharing services in urban areas in Israel. As part of the terms of the acquisition, Shagrir provided Car2go with a loan in the amount of up to $1.5 million (consisting of $241,000 in cash and $1.2 million in services). The loan was provided during 2010. The loan is linked to the Israeli CPI and bears an interest of 4%. Car2go will repay the loan in quarterly installments commencing on May 15, 2013. On February 28, 2012, Shagrir signed an agreement with the non-controlling shareholder of Car2go, pursuant to which Shagrir will invest NIS 3 million in cash or in services in consideration for 3,087 ordinary shares of Car2go. Following the issuance, Shagrir will hold 58.46% of Car2go. However, the terms of the agreement are such that if there is no additional investment in Car2go by a third party within two (2) years from signing, Shagrir's holding may be retroactively increased to 62.3%.
 
On October 28, 2010, Shagrir entered into an agreement with Carasso Motors Ltd., or Carasso. Carasso imports and distributes vehicles and spare parts, offers insurance plans, trade-in services and is the exclusive importer and distributor of Renault from France and Nissan from Japan. Pursuant to the agreement, Shagrir will provide products and installation services of anti-car-theft devices and other car accessories to Carasso.
 
As a result of the Company's acquisition of Cellocator and following a determination by the Company's management to control and manage the results of the Company’s business by means of two operating segments, in 2008 the Company began to present its operating results in two discrete business units, the Cellocator segment and the Pointer segment. Our Cellocator segment designs, develops and produces leading mobile resource management products that include asset tracking, fleet management and security products for sale to independent operators in 45 countries, as well as to our Pointer segment. Our Pointer segment acts as an operator primarily in Israel, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil by bundling our products together with a range of services, including stolen vehicle retrieval services fleet management and asset tracking services, and also provide roadside assistance services in Israel and Romania for sale primarily to automotive and insurance companies. See Item 4.BBusiness Overview for a further description of our business segments.
 
Following the acquisitions we made in Israel, the operations of Shagrir as part of our Pointer segment and the technology manufacturing of our Cellocator segment are currently the most significant operations we have, and are expected to account for the majority of our business and revenues in the foreseeable future. Please see Item 5.B. – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Liquidity and Capital Resources for a discussion of our capital expenditures and divestitures.
 
 
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Recent Developments.

Since January 1, 2011, the following material events have occurred:

Sale of Rider shares
 
Pursuant to an agreement dated June 28, 2010, or the Rider Agreement, Shagrir, together with Nativ Nehoray, or Nehoray, and Tishim veTeisha (99) Yizum veNihul Ltd., or Tishim veTeisha, incorporated a joint venture, Rider Mekvuzat Shagrir Ltd., or Rider, which was intended to provide Israeli insurance companies with various products and services which could be offered to their policy holders. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, Shagrir held 67% of the issued share capital of Rider.  Additionally, under the agreement, Shagrir agreed to provide a loan facility to Rider, the Rider Loan, of up to NIS 15 million. A total of NIS 4,619,000 was drawn down under the Rider Loan.
 
On July 10, 2011, Shagrir entered into a further agreement with Nehoray and Tishim veTeisha to terminate the Rider Agreement and to sell at nominal value all of Shagrir's shares in Rider to Nativ Nehoray Ltd., a company owned by Nehoray. In addition, Shagrir sold to Nehoray the rights to repayment of the Rider Loan plus interest and Consumer Price Index linkage differentials, totaling NIS 4,779,000, in consideration for NIS 1,205,000, to be paid to Shagrir in twenty-four monthly installments. As a result of the agreement, Shagrir recorded a capital loss in the amount of NIS 393,000.

Appointment of the Chief Executive Officer

In January 2011, we announced the appointment of Mr. David Mahlab, as our Chief Executive Officer effective as of February 1, 2011. Under the terms of his employment, Mr. Mahlab was granted 246,984 options at an exercise price of $7.00, in accordance with our 2003 share option plan, which will vest (subject to his continued employment) over a three year period commencing upon the effective date of his employment. Unless terminated for cause, we may only terminate Mr. Mahlab's employment by advance notice of between 6 - 12 months depending upon the length of Mr. Mahlab's engagement at the time of his termination. Mr. Mahlab may terminate his employment upon provision of 30 days notice. Mr. Mahlab is also entitled to an annual performance bonus of up to one year's salary which will be calculated in accordance with certain fixed criteria relating to our growth and profitability in the year preceding payment of the bonus.

Repayment of non-tradable debenture

As part of the Cellocator acquisition in 2008, we issued a non-tradable debenture with a fair value of $ 1,951,000 convertible into 160,000 of our Ordinary Shares. The debenture bears annual interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), to be accrued until the date of repayment. In September 2010, we paid $951,000 out of the principal of the non-tradable debenture plus accrued interest. A new debenture was entered into with MSY Assets Ltd., a company affiliated with the shareholders of Cellocator, for the remaining $1 million, plus interest at a rate of 4.4% per annum. The debenture was paid in full in September 2011.
 
 
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Purchase of chain of repair garages

In October 2011, Shagrir signed a definitive agreement to acquire the activities, intellectual property and goodwill of K.S. Operation Centers for Vehicles Ltd., an Israeli chain of car repair garages. The consideration of NIS 12 million for the acquisition was paid in January 2012 in accordance with an amendment dated January 1, 2012. Shagrir will leverage the acquired chain of car repair garages as a complementary service for its array of road side services.

Signing of partnership agreement with T.M.C. Transportation Ltd.
 
On November 24, 2011, Shagrir entered into a partnership agreement with T.M.C. Transportation Ltd., or TMC, a company specializing in providing advanced technological solutions for the collection of travel fares in taxi and transportation service fleets. TMC’s flagship product, SMARTAXI, is an advanced system which is installed in taxis and enables payment of travel fares by credit card. The partnership commenced its activity on January 1, 2012.

Shagrir currently holds a 51% interest in the new partnership, T.M.C. Technologies Systems L.P., or TMC LP, which will provide advanced technological solutions for the collection of travel fares from taxi and transportation service fleets. As part of the transaction, TMC transferred its activities, including its rights to the SMARTAXI system, to TMC LP, and Shagrir will provide the partnership with a loan of up to NIS 2.5 million in accordance with the partnership's needs. This loan will carry an annual interest rate of prime plus 4% and will be refunded to Shagrir from the partnership’s profits. The loan agreement terminates and replaces an earlier loan agreement between Shagrir and TMC pursuant to which Shagrir was to provide a loan to TMC in an amount of up to $350,000. The new loan to TMC LP will carry an annual interest rate of prime plus 4% and will be refunded to Shagrir from the partnership’s profits. To date, the outstanding loan amount to be repaid by TMC LP under the loan is $ 300,000.
 
Delisting from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

In January 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors resolved to delist our ordinary shares from the TASE. The delisting will be effective as of April 17, 2012, with the last trading date on the TASE being April 15, 2012.  The delisting in Israel will not affect our continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market in the United States.
 
 
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  B. 
  BUSINESS OVERVIEW
 
A. General
 
We are a leading provider of mobile resource management, or MRM products and services for the automotive and insurance industries.  Through our Cellocator segment, we design, develop and produce leading MRM products, which include devices for asset tracking, fleet management and security products for sale to third party operators providing MRM services in Europe, Latin America and Israel, as well as to our Pointer segment. For the communication systems required in our products, we utilize either radio frequency or GPRS/GSM technologies. Through our Pointer segment, we act as an operator primarily in Israel, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Romania by bundling our products together with a range of services including stolen vehicle retrieval services and fleet management services, and also provide roadside assistance services and emergency home repair services for sale to insurance companies, fleets and individual customers. In 2011, revenues generated by our Cellocator segment represented 20% of our total revenues, and revenues generated by our Pointer segment represented 80% of our total revenues.

 

 
Cellocator Segment

Our Cellocator segment designs, develops and produces leading MRM products, including asset tracking, fleet management, and stolen vehicle retrieval products.  Communications with our devices may be with various Radio Frequency (RF) and GSM/GPRS methods. Our Cellocator segment develops, manufactures and distributes these products to our Pointer segment in Latin America and Israel and to third party operators mainly in Europe and Latin America. These operators bundle our products with the services they provide.

Our Cellocator segment develops, manufactures and distributes the following products:
 
 
(i)
Asset tracking products

Our line of asset tracking products is designed to reduce an enterprise's financial losses incurred as a result of the often difficult task of successfully tracking cargo or equipment such as trailers, containers, construction and agriculture equipment. Our products support tracking, communication, and maintenance capabilities, providing enhanced functionality for advanced asset tracking of both mobile assets and assets without a constant power supply.

 
(ii)
Stolen vehicle retrieval, or SVR, products

Our SVR products are designed to prevent vehicles from being stolen and enable their retrieval through co-operation with law enforcement and private security agencies. Our products incorporate either a spread spectrum technology (SPSP) in the ISM frequency band, intended for self-deployed wide area networks (WAN), or  Cellular/ GPS technology communication systems in order to offer a total remote vehicle monitoring and retrieval solution.
 
 
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In the event that a vehicle is stolen, our operators are either alerted by our products through sensors located in the vehicle or are informed by the owners of the vehicles.  The products transmit information to a command & control center, or CCC.  Once the CCC receives the information transmitted by the products, operators can take the necessary steps to recover the vehicle using their personnel as well as law enforcement agencies and various subcontractors. Our SVR products can also include the option of a "distress key" that can be used by q driver to alert the CCC, which in turn locates the vehicle and immediately enables operators to provide the required services.

Our SVR products include the following remote monitoring and control solutions:
 
 
·
End units for installation in vehicles - We offer an end unit with input and output capabilities, which may be installed in a vehicle or on any asset that may be mobilized from one location to another. The end unit’s inputs are connected to sensors that may be installed in the vehicle or on the asset. Data from these inputs may be transmitted to the CCC. The CCC may send commands to the end unit activating certain outputs.  Installation and de-installation of end units in vehicles or on assets may be performed by either employees or subcontractors of the operator, usually in designated installation centers. Assets may include cargo or equipment that might not have an independent source of energy, such as (but not limited to) containers, field equipment, construction equipment, trailers and various cargo.
 
 
·
Command & Control Center - The CCC includes databases and software modules required for the execution of certain operations by the operator, as well as monitors on which the data collected from the end units is displayed and analyzed in order to determine the location of the vehicle. The CCC connects to the end units via radio frequency or cellular communications and commands can be transmitted to the end units from the CCC using either a commercial paging system or cellular networks.
 
 
·
Communication Infrastructure- Communication is accomplished by either the cellular network in each territory of operation or radio frequency infrastructure with base stations. These stations are dispersed throughout a specific territory and are connected to an existing communications infrastructure. Each base station is equipped with antennae which receives the end-unit’s signal and measures the angle from which the signal arrived for the purpose of locating the vehicle. These measurements, together with additional data received from the end units, are then converted into digital data and sent to the CCC. The location of the vehicle is established by either triangulation measurements from several base stations installed by the operator or by means of a GPS device in the vehicle.
 
 
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(iii)
Fleet management application products
 
Our fleet management products enhance utilization of vehicles and other mobile resources, as well as minimize operation costs, through fuel savings and efficiency. Our fleet management products include remote monitoring and control solutions that we also market as part of our SVR product line, as described above, such as the CCC and communication infrastructure. We also provide operators with end units that, when installed in a vehicle, monitor online the operating parameters of a vehicle fleet, retrieve data from various sensors in the vehicle utilizing a RS-232, CAN bus driver and controller, standard One-wire (Dallas) serial communication standards or analog and discrete ports, and report the results to the owners and managers of the fleet through web-based or OS-based monitoring and management location applications.
 
In addition, we provide the web access required for the execution of vehicular and fleet management operations, as well as  monitors on which location and other data collected from the end units is displayed, tracked, analyzed and reported, in order to determine location, utilization and certain functionalities (e.g. vehicle status and driving patterns such as speed).

Our Cellocator segment distributes and sells its products to our services segment and to third party operators and distributors in 45 countries worldwide. Third party operators that purchase cellular monitoring units, command and control software or our fleet management application products provide their customers services that are based on our products in their designated territories and in their licensed coverage area. They control the sales and marketing of the products as well as the accompanying services to their final customers pursuant to their specific business focus.

Pointer Segment
 
Our Pointer segment currently provides the following range of services:

 
(i)
Asset tracking services

Our asset tracking services in Israel, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil provide services to resources that have an intermittent source of energy or none. This places a special energy management requirement on MRM devices and the command and control software that monitors the resources.

 
(ii)
SVR services

We provide SVR services in Israel, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil through our local subsidiaries Shagrir, Pointer Argentina, Pointer Mexico and Pointer Brazil respectively. In providing SVR services we purchase products manufactured by our Cellocator segment and by third party operators, such as alarm systems.

 
(iii)
Fleet management services

 
Our fleet management services in Israel, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil are predominantly based on cellular communication, GPS location tools and web-based applications providing connectivity to the vehicle via products manufactured by our Cellocator segment. Our customers monitor their fleet vehicles using a web-based application that can monitor various  parameters such as (but not limited) vehicle location, speed and other inputs, and can receive reports and alerts, either automatically or upon request, via internet, GPRS or SMS.
 
 
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Shagrir, Pointer Brazil and Pointer Mexico are amongst the leading providers of fleet management services in Israel, Brazil and Mexico, respectively.

 
(iv)
Roadside assistance services
 
We also provide roadside assistance services including towing services, mobile automobile repair services, vehicle replacement services, selling and installing spare-parts and bodywork repairs.  We provide these services through our subsidiary Shagrir, which currently operates in Israel and Romania.

As of January 2012, Shagrir owned approximately 101 service cars, mobile garages and towing vehicles and approximately 280 replacement vehicles including car sharing services. Shagrir's fleet is dispatched to the vehicle that requires assistance through a sophisticated management and monitoring software application used by Shagrir's control center and connected via remote terminals located in service cars, mobile garages and towing vehicles. The services are usually carried out by employees of Shagrir; however, during periods of high demand, Shagrir uses independent subcontractors who render these services on behalf of Shagrir.

The primary subscribers for our roadside assistance services are referred to Shagrir by Israeli insurance companies. To a lesser extent, additional subscribers are comprised of fleet vehicle customers and private customers. Upon subscription, our roadside assistance services are generally available to the subscriber twenty-four hours a day, every day, depending on the type of insurance policy and the terms of the service contract with Shagrir.

 
(v)
Car sharing services

On May 17, 2009, Shagrir purchased 51% of the share capital of Car2go, an Israeli company that offers car sharing services in urban areas in Israel. Car2go spreads cars across reserved parking spaces mainly in the Gush Dan area in Israel, allowing members of the service to access diversified vehicles by swiping their membership card near the car, and driving away. When members no longer need to use the car, they return the car to its reserved parking space. The cars can be used for a few hours or a few days, with members only paying by use and without any long term commitment.
 
 
(vi)
Emergency home repair and other services

As of 2007, Shagrir, through one of its operation units,  provides insurance-related household plumbing repair services for insurance companies , including, among other things, installation, water damage repair, and replacement of water heaters.
 
 
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B. Sales and Marketing

Cellocator Segment

We employ an in-house sales and marketing team that directs the sale of the products of our Cellocator Segment to operators in various countries either directly or through distributors.

Pointer Segment

Israel

The sales and marketing team of Shagrir directs its sales and marketing efforts to promoting subscriptions to its roadside assistance and towing services mainly through Israeli insurance companies and, to a lesser extent, fleet vehicle customers. Our stolen vehicle retrieval services in Israel are marketed primarily through vehicle importers and, to a lesser extent, through fleet vehicle operators, leasing companies and private individuals. Other value added MRM services are marketed directly to fleet vehicle operators and private individuals who have already installed our products. Our fleet management services are marketed primarily to commercial fleets through our in-house sales and marketing team.

In addition, Shagrir's sales and marketing team captures and analyzes sales data from various sources including insurance companies and agents, fleet vehicle customers and private customers, which it then uses to formulate future sales and marketing strategies.

Argentina, Mexico, Romania and Brazil

In order to execute their sales and marketing initiatives, our Argentinean Mexican, Romanian and Brazilian subsidiaries, Pointer Argentina, Pointer Mexico, Pointer Romania and Pointer Brazil, respectively, employ in-house sales and marketing teams as well as third party contractors and distributors that focus their efforts on sales and marketing either directly to insurance companies, vehicle agents, fleet operators and car manufacturers, or indirectly, through insurance agents, vehicle distributors and vehicle financing corporations in their respective designated territories.
 
 
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C.  Patents and Licenses; Government Regulation

In Israel, we are not dependent on any patents or licenses that are material to our business or profitability, with the exception of the following licenses:

 
·
a business license to render towing and retrieval/extrication services under the Control of Commodities and Services (Vehicle Towing and Extrication) Order, 5734-1974, which is valid until December 31, 2012;

 
·
a license for the operation of mobile garages under the Control of Commodities and Services (Vehicle Garages and Factories) Order, 5730-1970, which is valid until December 31, 2012; and

 
·
a license to rent self-drive vehicles under the Control of Commodities and Services (Tour Transport, Special Transport and Vehicle Rental) Order, 5745-1995, which is valid until  December 31, 2012.

In May 1996, Shagrir was granted an operational license to operate our wireless messaging system over 2 MHz in the 966 to 968MHz radio spectrum band. Since 1999, this license has been renewed on a regular basis.

Our Argentinean subsidiary, Pointer Argentina, is not dependent on any patent or license which is material to its business or profitability.

Most Latin American countries have dedicated a part of their radio spectrums for the ISM band for unlicensed services. However a local operator is required to obtain a specific license for its operations. As a result, Pointer Argentina obtains domestic licenses for the deployment of our systems in Argentina.

Our services through our Mexican and Brazilian subsidiaries, Pointer Mexico and Pointer Brazil, are based entirely upon Cellular Monitoring Units and therefore require no specific governmental licenses. We are currently registered by the federal commission to provide services.

Our Romanian subsidiary, Pointer Romania, requires and has obtained licenses to operate as a business in Romania.

Our Cellocator segment is required to obtain a license from the Israeli Ministry of Communications in order to manufacture, market and sell its products in Israel. We have received the required licenses for most of our products and are currently in the process of completing the process of receiving licenses for the rest of our products.
 
 
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While the use of our cellular monitoring units does not require regulatory approvals, the use of our radio frequency products is subject to regulatory approvals of government agencies in each of the countries in which systems incorporating such products are operated, including Israel. Our operators typically must obtain authorization from each country in which these systems are installed.  While, in general, applicants have not experienced problems in obtaining regulatory approvals to date, the regulatory schemes in each country are different and may change from time to time. We cannot guarantee that approvals which our operators have obtained are or will remain sufficient in the view of regulatory authorities. In addition, we cannot assure you that operators of our systems will obtain licenses and approvals on a timely basis in all jurisdictions in which we wish to sell our systems or that restrictions on the use of our systems will not be unduly burdensome.
 
D.  Competition

Cellocator Segment

Many companies manufacture vehicle devices based on GPS/Cellular technology. Significant differences from one GPS/Cellular device to another are mainly a result of proprietary firmware that enables applications (for monitoring, management and sensor-data inputs) and connectivity of products to their network, and only to a lesser extent a result of hardware and packaging.

In Europe and Latin America, our Cellocator segment sells mostly GPS/Cellular based vehicle devices and radio frequency based vehicle devices. In the GPS/Cellular field there is strong competition with many manufacturers introducing vehicle devices with competitive prices and various performance features. Our primary competitors in the GPS/Cellular based vehicle device market in Latin America include Skypatrol LLC, Digital Communications Technologies LLC (Antares GPS), Maxtrac, Continental GPS Tracking Ltd. and Portman Security System International Co. Ltd. Our competitors in Europe consist mainly of GPS Tracking Network Inc. (Enfora), Uab Teltonika, Falcom GmbH, Mobile Devices, Skope Solutions, Portman and Digicore Holdings Ltd.

Pointer Segment

In Israel, our primary competitors in providing roadside assistance and towing services are Drachim Road Side & Towing Services Ltd., Femi Premium Ltd. and Shlomo-SIXT Road Side Services & Garages Ltd. In addition, other companies which provide assistance services through insurance companies may attempt to compete with us. In the stolen vehicle retrieval and fleet management market, our main direct competitor is Ituran Location & Control Ltd., or Ituran.

 
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        Our primary competitors in the stolen vehicle retrieval services market in Argentina are LoJack Corporation, or LoJack, and Ituran. In Mexico, our primary competitors in the stolen vehicle retrieval market are LoJack, UDA and GRUPO CORPORATIVO MISANTI, SA DE CV. In Brazil, our primary competitors are LoJack, Ituran, Carsystems and Positron, leading providers of automatic vehicle location technologies and Sascar, a leading provider of GSM technology.
 
Additional competitors operate in Mexico, Brazil and in Argentina, however their positioning is not as strong as LoJack, Ituran, MISTANTI and Carsystems.

Some competitors in the stolen vehicle retrieval services market offer a similar solution to ours and others, like LoJack, use VHF based messaging unit without a wide area network, which is sold to customers and is connected via radio to local law enforcement communications networks.

In the fleet management services market, our prime competitors in Argentina are Megatrans SA and Sitrack.com Argentina SA, while in Mexico, we face competition mainly from Omnistar Pty Ltd. (Omnitrack) and Orbcomm Inc. (Inmosat). In Brazil, we face competition mainly from Sascar Tecnologia E Segurança Automotiva SA, Zatix SA and Qualcomm Inc. (Omnitracs). In the fleet management services market we have many competitors for the low-entry level services for monitoring vehicles. However, at the level that requires management (management such as analysis, reporting, diagnostics, driving patterns) fewer competitors operate in these countries but overall activities in this market remain intensive.

In addition, in the markets described above and other potential markets, primary mobile resource management  service providers who directly or indirectly compete with us employ other technologies, such as a hybrid combination of Cellular GPRS with two-way satellite communications. These systems rely on GPRS communications and when these are not available, switch to two-way satellite channel, to ensure constant communication availability.

E.  Seasonality

Our Cellocator segment is not significantly seasonal.

Our Pointer segment is not significantly seasonal.  In Israel, the demand for roadside assistance, towing services and replacement vehicles is moderately seasonal, as it is greatly impacted by weather conditions, with Shagrir usually receiving more service calls on winter and summer days and less service calls on spring and fall days. Furthermore, the demand for replacement vehicle services is greatly impacted by, and is directly proportional to, the number of vehicles being stolen and the number of car accidents in Israel at a certain time. The mobile resource management services market is not seasonal in Israel. The services provided by our Pointer segment in Argentina, Mexico, Romania and Brazil are also not significantly seasonal.
 
 
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Principal Markets

For the breakdown of our revenues by category of segments please see Item 5- Selected financial data.  The following is a breakdown of our revenues by category of activity, including the percentage of our total consolidated sales for each period:

   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
In thousands
   
% of our total sales
   
In thousands
   
% of our total sales
   
In thousands
   
% of our total sales
 
Services:
    54,778       64       48,448       66       45,287       69  
Products:
    31,140       36       25,415       34       20,038       31  
Total:
    85,918       100       73,863       100       65,325       100  

The following is a breakdown of our revenues by geographic region, including the percentage of our total consolidated sales for each period:

   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
In thousands
   
% of our total sales
   
In thousands
   
% of our total sales
   
In thousands
   
% of our total sales
 
Israel
    61,498       72       53,574       73       50,604       77  
Latin America
    12,856       15       11,483       16       6,325       10  
Europe
    10,275       12       7,553       10       7,376       11  
Other
    1,289       1       1,253       1       1,020       2  
Total
    85,918       100       73,863       100       65,325       100  
 
 
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C.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
 
We are organized under the laws of the State of Israel.  The following is a list of our currently active subsidiaries and affiliates, their countries of incorporation and our ownership interest in each of them:
 
NAME OF SUBSIDIARY
 
JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION
Pointer Localización y Asistencia S.A. (1)
 
Argentina
Shagrir System Ltd. (2)
 
Israel
Pointer Recuperacion Mexico S.A. (3)
 
Mexico
S.C. Pointer S.R.L. (4)
 
Romania
Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A.(5)
 
Brazil
Pointer Telocation Inc. (6)
 
USA
Car2go Ltd. (7)
  Israel
T.M.C Systems (2011) Ltd. (8)
  Israel
T.M.C. Technologies Systems, L.P. (9)
  Israel

(1)
We hold 88% of the issued and outstanding shares of Pointer Argentina.
(2)
We hold 54.48% of the issued and outstanding shares of Shagrir.
(3)
We hold 74% of the issued and outstanding shares of Pointer Mexico.
(4)
Shagrir holds 65% of the issued and outstanding shares of S.C. Pointer S.R.L.
(5)
We hold 48% of the issued and outstanding shares of Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A.
(6)
We hold 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Pointer Telocation Inc.
(7)
Shagrir holds 58.46% of the issued and outstanding shares of Car2go Ltd.
(8)
Shagrir holds 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of T.M.C Systems (2011) Ltd.
(9)
Shagrir holds a 50.99% partnership interest in T.M.C. Technologies Systems, LP.
 
 
D.
PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
 
Our executive offices, operational, research and development and laboratory facilities are located at 14 Hamelacha Street,  Rosh Ha'ayin 48091, Israel (a suburb of Tel Aviv) where we currently lease approximately 1,470 square meters with annual lease payments of approximately $280,000. Pointer Argentina’s offices and operations facility are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pointer Argentina currently leases 1,480 square meters (including 760 square meters used by its installation centers) with an annual lease payment of $230,000. Shagrir’s offices and main operations facility are located in Holon, Israel. Shagrir currently leases 5,820 square meters in Holon with annual rental fees of approximately $360,000. In addition, in February 2005, as part of the purchase by Shagrir of the assets of Shagrir Towing, Shagrir purchased the property of Shagrir Towing in Haifa (2,100 square meters) for approximately $389,000; and leases an additional property in Jerusalem, Israel (approximately 155 square meters) with annual rental fees of approximately $50,000.  Pointer Mexico’s offices and operations facility are located in Mexico City, Mexico. Pointer Mexico currently leases 400 square meters with an annual lease payment of $100,000. Pointer Brazil’s offices and operations facility are located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Pointer Brazil currently leases 524.8 square meters with an annual lease payment of $28,000. Pointer Romania’s offices and operations facility are located in Bucharest, Romania. Pointer Romania currently leases 150 square meters with an annual lease payment of $31,000. Car2go Ltd.’s offices are located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Car2go Ltd. currently leases 110 square meters with an annual lease payment of $19,000. As part of the purchase by Shagrir of the activity of K.S. Operation Centers for Vehicles Ltd. in October 2011, Shagrir leases a chain of car repair garages located in Holon, Raananna and Ashdod, Israel, totaling 6,430 square meters, with an annual lease payment of $226,000. For further information, please see Note 14d of our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
Not applicable.
 
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
 
 
A.
OPERATING RESULTS
 
The following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Item 3.D."Key Information–Risk Factors.”

Overview

We believe we are a leading provider of advanced mobile resource management products and services for the automotive and insurance industries. We conduct our operations through two main segments. Through our Cellocator segment, we design, develop and produce leading mobile resource management products, including asset tracking, fleet management and security products for sale to third party operators providing mobile resource management services worldwide, as well as to our Pointer segment. Through our Pointer segment, we act as an operator primarily in Israel, Romania, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil by bundling our products together with a range of services, including stolen vehicle retrieval services and fleet management services, and also provide roadside assistance services for sale to insurance companies, fleets and individual customers.

Our revenues are principally derived from (i) rendering services through our Pointer segment and (ii) sales of our systems and products through our Cellocator segment, as well as through our Pointer segment which bundles our products in the services it offers.

Our acquisition of Cellocator Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of cellular monitoring units, was intended to assist us in our objective to present new products to the market, improve our gross margin from cellular products and to achieve vertical efficiencies of scale by manufacturing our own units without being required solely to use third party subcontractors. As a result of the acquisition of Cellocator Ltd. in September 2007, Cellocator became a separate segment of our operations in 2008. The Cellocator segment is responsible for a significant part of our revenues.
 
 
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Following our acquisition of Shagrir in 2004, the acquisition of certain activities and assets of Shagrir Towing in 2005, and the acquisition of Cellocator Ltd. in 2007, we have expanded our operations and increased our revenues in Israel and abroad. Our revenues from customers in Israel in 2011 were $61.5 million, which constituted approximately 72% of our total revenues, in comparison to $53.6 million in 2010, which constituted approximately 73% of our total revenues. In 2011, our revenues from international customers were $24.4 million, which constituted approximately 28% of our total revenues, in comparison to $20.3 million in 2010, which constituted approximately 27% of our total revenues.

As a result of the acquisitions described above, the operations of Shagrir as part of our Pointer segment and the technology manufacturing of our Cellocator segment are currently our most significant operations, and are expected to account for the majority of our business and revenues in the foreseeable future.

Acquisitions and Initiatives

As part of our strategy, we have pursued and may continue to pursue acquisitions and other initiatives in order to offer new products or services to enhance our market position, globalization and strength. Our acquisitions are either acquisition of technology or of operators that provide services. As a result of our acquisitions, the total goodwill and other intangible assets in our balance sheets were $47.5 million and $60.4 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. See Item 4 – History and Development of the Company for further information on our acquisitions.
 
See Item 5 Costs and Expenses for further discussion on impairment loss recorded in 2011.

Research and Development

The research and development activities of our Cellocator segment involve the development of new products in response to an identified market demand. Research and development expenditures were $3 million, $2.5 million and $2.8 million in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Business Challenges / Areas of Focus

Our primary areas of focus and business include:

 
·
Continuing the growth, revenues and profitability of our products and services by the subsidiaries;

 
·
Enhancing the introduction and recognition of our new products, including the products of our Cellocator segment, into the markets;

 
·
Penetrating new markets, mainly in Latin America and Europe, through the products of our Cellocator segment, and strengthening our presence in existing markets by proposing a full scope of services;

 
·
Succeeding in selling diversified products in territories in which we already conduct activities, mainly in Latin America and Europe;

 
·
penetrating new territories; and

 
·
Achieving operating profitability of our Pointer segment affiliates by increasing the number of subscribers using our technology and expanding the services generated by roadside assistance, emergency home repair services and car sharing.

 
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Certain Issues Affecting our Results of Operations

The results of operations discussed herein include the operating results of Cellocator for the period from and including the acquisition of Cellocator Ltd. on September 18, 2007.

For most of 2005 and thereafter, we have consolidated 100% of the financial results of our subsidiary Shagrir. On November 30, 2005, a group of investors, led by Gandyr Investments Ltd., exercised their options to convert their loan of approximately $6.7 million into shares of Shagrir.

In July 2011, 903 options granted under Shagrir's employee share option plan were exercised to purchase shares of Shagrir, and in January 2012, 2,480 options were exercised. As a result, our holdings in Shagrir were diluted and we currently hold approximately 54.48% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Shagrir. There currently remain no exercisable options to purchase ordinary shares of Shagrir. Since 2006, Shagrir’s shareholder equity has become positive and we have allocated to the non-controlling interest their share in Shagrir’s net income, which materially negatively affects Pointer’s shareholders' income (loss) at such periods.

Effective January 1 2009, due to an amendment to the accounting principle ASC 810, “Consolidation”, we have retroactively adjusted our consolidated total equity and our consolidated net income to include the non-controlling interest.

Revenues

Products

The majority of our revenues from sale of products are generated through our Cellocator segment's sales of products manufactured by us and by third parties to our Pointer segment subsidiaries in Israel and Latin America and to third party operators worldwide. In addition, we generate revenues through our Pointer segment from sales of products that are bundled together with our services. The portion of the revenues we receive from the sale of products out of our total revenues increased since the fourth quarter of 2007 due to the acquisition of Cellocator and its inclusion in our operations beginning in September 2007. The portion of the revenues we receive from sale of products out of our total revenues decreased in 2009 due to the worldwide automotive market recession which commenced at the beginning of that year. The portion of revenues we receive from the sale of products out of total revenues increased in 2010 and 2011 due to the partial recovery of the global automotive market, but was offset by the reduction in the price of products in that market.
 
 
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Services
 
        We generate revenues through our Pointer segment from sales of our services primarily by our subsidiaries in Israel and Latin America. The services include mainly roadside assistance and towing services, stolen vehicle retrieval services, fleet management and other value added services. A majority of our revenues consist of subscription fees paid to us by our customers, which include insurance companies, commercial companies and individuals. In 2010 and 2011, due to very intense competition in the Israeli market, we faced price erosion that was partially offset by operational efficiency and cost reduction. Due to very intense competition in the Israeli market, we expect continuous price erosion in this market that may affect our business.
 
Costs and Expenses

Cost of Revenues
 
Cost of revenues referring to products includes expenses related to the cost of purchasing or manufacturing systems and products, including raw materials and components, salaries and employee benefits, subcontractors and consulting. Amortization and impairment of intangible assets is attributable to the Cellocator acquisition's intangible assets of developed technology. Cost of revenues referring to services consists primarily of the operational costs of our subsidiaries, which mainly include salaries and employee benefits, costs related to towing, mobile automobile repair vehicles and replacement vehicles, subcontractors, system maintenance, end unit installation, system communications, security and recovery, and the depreciation of fixed assets.

In 2011, we recorded an impairment loss in the amount $0.5 million reducing the development technology intangible assets purchased from Cellocator Ltd. in 2007 from a carrying amount of $ 701,000 to a fair value of $ 181,000. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the obsolescence of older Cellocator technology.
 
Operating Expenses

Research and Development Expenses.

Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, subcontractors and consulting in connection with our products.

Selling & Marketing Expenses.

Selling & marketing expenses consist primarily of expenses for salaries and employee benefits, sales commissions and other selling and marketing activities.

General and Administrative Expenses.

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits for executive, accounting, administrative personnel, professional fees, provisions for doubtful accounts, and other general expenses.

Amortization of intangible assets.

Finite-life intangible assets consist of customer lists and brand names. Intangible assets are amortized over their useful life using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or otherwise used up.
 
 
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Impairment of intangible asset
 
In 2011, we recorded an impairment loss in the amount $6.2 million reducing goodwill attributed to our acquisition of Cellocator Ltd.'s assets and activities in 2007 from a carrying amount of $8.7 million to a fair value of $2.5 million. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the changes in the economic conditions and forecasted results of our Cellocator segment.

In 2009, we recorded an impairment loss in the amount $3 million reducing customers related intangibles (attributed to the Company's acquisition of Cellocator in 2007) from a carrying amount of $3.2 to a fair value of $214,000. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the decrease in activity of the former customers of Cellocator.
 
No impairment losses were identified in 2010.

Financial Income (Expenses), Net.

Financial expenses consist mainly of bank charges and interest expenses, foreign currency transaction adjustments, revaluation of derivative instruments and others. Financial income consists of interest on short-term bank deposits.

Other Expenses, Net.

Other expenses, net relate primarily to items of income or expenses outside our ordinary course of business.
 
Tax expenses.
 
Tax expenses consists of federal, state, local taxes on the income of our business, and deferred income taxes. See Item 10.ETaxation and Government Programs for further information on taxation applicable to us.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s and its subsidiaries' accounts. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us, in certain instances, to use estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. The actual results could differ from those estimates and the use of different assumptions would likely result in materially different results of operations. Our accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. A “critical accounting policy” is one that is both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and requires management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
 
 
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The significant accounting policies and estimates, which we believe to be the most critical in understanding and evaluating our reported financial position and results of operations, include:
 
Revenue recognition
 
We generate revenues primarily from the provision of services, subscriber fees and sales of systems and products, mainly in respect of the areas of roadside assistance services, automobile repair and towing services, stolen vehicle recovery and other value added services. To a lesser extent, revenues are also derived from technical support services that we provide. We sell our systems primarily through a direct sales force as well as through resellers. Sales consummated by our sales forces and sales to resellers are considered sales to end-users.
 
Revenues from the sale of systems and products are recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, No. 104, "Revenue Recognition" ("SAB 104"), when delivery has occurred, persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, the vendor's fee is fixed or determinable, no further obligation exists and collectability is probable.

Service revenues including subscriber fees are recognized as services are performed, over the term of the agreement.

Deferred revenue includes amounts received under maintenance and support contracts, and amounts received from customers but not yet recognized as revenues.

In accordance with ASC 605-25, "Multiple-Element Arrangements" (formerly EITF 00-21, "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables"), revenue from certain arrangements may include multiple elements within a single contract. Our accounting policy complies with the requirements set forth in ASC 605-25, relating to the separation of multiple deliverables into individual accounting units with determinable fair values. We consider the sale of products and subscriber fees to be separate units of accounting.

When a sales arrangement contains multiple elements, such as hardware and services, the Company allocates revenue to each element based on a selling price hierarchy. The selling price for each deliverable is based on its vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE"), if available, third party evidence ("TPE") if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price ("ESP") if neither VSOE nor TPE is available.

Revenues from stolen vehicle retrieval services are recognized upon success, when the related stolen vehicle is recovered, and such recovery is approved by the customer or ratably over the term of the agreement.
 
 
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Revenues generated from technical support services, installation and de-installation are recognized when such services are rendered.
 
Generally, we do not grant rights of return. We follow ASC 605-15-25 "sales of product when right of return exists" (formerly FAS 48, "Revenue Recognition When Right of Return Exists"). Based on our experience, no provision for returns was recorded. 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined by evaluating the credit worthiness of each customer based upon specific information, including the aging of the receivables. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. In each period, we estimate the likelihood of collecting receivables and adjust the allowance accordingly.

Inventory

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined using the "moving average" method. Inventory consists of raw materials, work in process and finished products. Inventory write-offs are provided to cover risks arising from slow-moving items, technological obsolescence, excess inventories, and for market prices lower than cost.  
 
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets, Intangibles and Goodwill
 
 
(a)
Tangible and Intangibles Long-Lived Assets

Intangible assets consist of brand names, customer related intangibles, and developed technology. Intangible assets are stated at amortized cost. Intangible assets are amortized over their useful life using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or otherwise used up.
 
 
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Brand names are amortized over periods between two and nine years; customer related intangibles are amortized over periods between five and nine years; and developed technology is amortized over a five-year period.
 
We perform an impairment test for tangible and intangible long-lived assets (or assets group) whenever events or circumstances suggest that the assets may not be recoverable. Impairment is only deemed to have occurred if the sum of the forecasted undiscounted future cash flows related to the assets are less than their carrying value. If the forecasted undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value, then we must write down the carrying value to its estimated fair value based on forecasted discounted cash flows.

We use the income approach in order to determine the fair value of intangible assets, as no quoted price in active market exists for such assets. The income approach requires management to predict forecasted cash flows, including estimates and assumptions related to revenue growth rates and operating margins, future economic and market conditions. Our estimates of market segment growth and our market segment share and costs are based on historical data, various internal estimates and certain external sources, and are based on assumptions that are consistent with the plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying business. If future forecasts are revised, they may indicate or require future impairment charges. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from those estimates.

As required by ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements", starting January 1, 2009, the Company applies assumptions that marketplace participants would consider in determining the fair value of long lived assets (or assets groups).
 
In 2011, we recorded an impairment loss in the amount $0.5 million reducing the development technology intangible assets attributed to our purchase of Cellocator Ltd.'s assets and activities in 2007 from a carrying amount of $ 701,000 to a fair value of $ 181,000. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the obsolescence of certain older Cellocator technology.  The impairment was recorded under the “cost of revenues“ caption in the consolidated statement of operations. Assumptions in the fair value assessment included: the impact of changes in economic conditions and revenue forecast of Cellocator.
 
In 2009, we recorded an impairment loss in the amount $3 million reducing customers related intangibles (attributed to the Company's acquisition of Cellocator in 2007) from a carrying amount of $3.2 million to a fair value of $214,000. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the decrease in activity of former customers of Cellocator. The impairment was recorded in the "Operating Income" caption in the consolidated statement of operations. The customer's related intangible impairment is reflected in the Cellocator segment. The fair value of the customers related intangibles was determined by the income approach method. Assumptions in the fair value assessment included: the impact of changes in economic conditions, revenue forecast from the former customers of Cellocator, and the Company's weighted average cost of capital, or WACC.
 
No impairment losses were identified in 2010
 
 
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(b)
Goodwill impairment test
 
The company identifies several reporting units which are aggregated into two operative segments, the Cellocator segment and the Pointer segment.

As required by ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements", starting 2009, the Company applies assumptions that market place participants would consider in determining the fair value of each reporting unit.

We perform our annual impairment analysis of goodwill as of December 31 of each year, or more often if there are indicators of impairment present. We perform a two-step impairment test on goodwill at the level of the reporting units. In the first step, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value of the net assets, goodwill is considered not impaired, and we are not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets exceeds the fair value, then we must perform the second step, of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of goodwill. To determine the fair value used in Step 1, we use discounted cash flows. If and when we are required to perform a Step 2 analysis, determining the fair value of our net assets and our off-balance sheet intangibles would require us to make judgments that involve the use of significant estimates and assumptions.

We determined the fair value of each reporting unit using the income approach, which utilizes a discounted cash flow model, as we believe that this approach best approximates the reporting unit’s fair value at this time. Judgments and assumptions related to revenue, operating income, future short-term and long-term growth rates, weighted average cost of capital, interest, capital expenditures, cash flows, and market conditions are inherent in developing the discounted cash flow model. The material assumptions used for the income approach for 2010 were five years of projected net cash flows, a discount rate of 12% to 17% and a long-term growth rate of 2%-3%. We considered historical rates and current market conditions when determining the discount and growth rates to use in our analyses. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for our goodwill.
 
 
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We performed the annual impairment test as of December 31, 2011 and recorded goodwill impairment in the total amount of $6.2 million in connection with Cellocator reporting unit.  The material assumptions used for the income approach for 2011 were 5 years of projected net cash flows, a discount rate of 17% and a long-term growth rate of 3%.
 
No impairment losses were identified in the years 2010, 2009 or 2008.

We performed a sensitivity analysis for the two key assumptions used in our annual goodwill impairment test and determined that an increase in the estimated weighted average cost of capital of 2% and/or decrease of 1% in the long-term growth rate, would not result in the estimated fair value of any of the reporting units to fall below its carrying value. Based on the sensitivity analysis, none of our reporting units is at risk for goodwill impairment.
Other future events include decisions made in response to economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on our customer base, or a material negative change in our relationships with significant customers. If in the future we will be required to record an impairment of goodwill, our results of operations could be materially harmed and our equity could be decreased.
 
During 2008 and 2007, the Company reduced the goodwill balance at an amount of $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively due to realization of carryforward tax losses of a subsidiary, for which a valuation allowance was recognized upon acquisition. Starting 2009, the effects of changes outside of the measurement period to deferred tax asset valuation allowances recognized in a business combinations (including business combinations which occurred prior to January 1, 2009) are reported directly as a reduction of income tax expense as required by ASC 805.
 
Share based compensation

Stock-Based Compensation Expense.

The Company applies ASC 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" (formerly SFAS 123(R) "Share-Based Payment"). In accordance with ASC 718, all grants of employee’s equity based stock options are recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values. The fair value of graded vesting options, as measured at the date of grant, is charged to expenses, based on the accelerated attribution method over the requisite service period of each of the awards, net of estimated forfeitures.
 
    During the years ended December 31, 2011, December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expenses related to employee stock options in the amounts of $515,000, $121,000 and $367,000, respectively. See Notes 2(q) and 15 in our consolidated financial statements for additional information.
 
 
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We estimated the value of equity employee stock options on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing valuation model. The fair value of stock options awards, as determined on the date of grant, is affected by several factors including our share price, our share price volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends and the expected term of the options. If such factors change and we employ different assumptions for future grants, our compensation expense may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.

In addition, our compensation expense is affected by our estimate of the number of awards that will ultimately vest. In the future, if the number of equity awards that are forfeited by employees are lower than expected, the expenses recognized in such future periods will be higher.

Deferred income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes and uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes". Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided using the balance sheet liability method. Under this method, deferred taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and are measured using the enacted tax rate and laws that will be in effect when the difference is expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.

The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period enacted.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted an amendment to ASC 740-10 (formerly FIN 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes"- an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109). The update clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the Company's financial statements and prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.

The adoption of the amendment to ASC 740-10 did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2011, the Company did not record any liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company's policy is to recognize, if any, tax related interest as interest expenses and penalties as general and administrative expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with tax positions.
 
 
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The impact of recent Accounting Standards that are not yet in effect on the Company
 
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or the FASB), issued guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income, which amended existing guidance by allowing only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous financial statement, statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements, consisting of an income statement followed by a separate statement of other comprehensive income. The guidance requires retrospective application, and it is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB amended the guidance on the annual testing of goodwill for impairment. The amended guidance will allow companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. The guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements
 
 
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For more information on our selected financial data, see Item 3 – Key Information – Selected Financial Data
 
Analysis of our Operation Results for the Year ended December 31, 2011 as compared to the Year ended December 31, 2010

Revenues.  Revenues increased by $12 million, or 16%, from $74 million in 2010 to $86 million in 2011. The increase in total revenues in 2011 as compared to 2010 is primarily attributable to an increase in sales of both our Cellocator and Pointer segments.
 
The revenues from the sale of our products increased by $6 million, or 24%, from $25 million in 2010 to $31 million in 2011. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in the quantities of our products sold mainly to Europe and Latin America which was offset by a price reduction of our products in the Cellocator segment.
 
 
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The revenues from the sale of our services increased by $7 million, or 14.5%, from $48 million in 2010 to $55 million in 2011. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in revenues from services provided in the Israeli market and the revaluation of the average exchange rate of the NIS against the dollar by 4%.

Revenues from our services in 2011 accounted for 64% of our total revenues as compared with 66% in 2010. This change is primarily attributable to the increase in sales of our Cellocator segment.

Our international revenues in 2011 accounted for 28% of total revenues compared to 27% in 2010. The increase in international sales is primarily attributable to an increase in the sales of the Cellocator segment in 2011.  Sales to Latin America increased from $11.5 million in 2010 to $12.9 million in 2011; sales to Europe increased from $7.5 million in 2010 to $10.3 million in 2011; and sales to other countries were $1.3 million in 2011 and 2010.
 
Cost of Revenues. Our cost of revenues increased by $10.6 million to $57 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 as compared to $46.4 million for the same period in 2010. This increase of $10.6 million is primarily associated with an increase of $12 million in our revenues. In addition, during 2011 we recorded impairment loss in an amount of $0.5 million for our development technology intangible assets.
 
Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased by $1.6 million from $27.4 million in 2010 to $29 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenues gross profit accounted for 34% in 2011 compared to 37% in 2010. Our gross margin on product sales in 2011 was 41% compared to 44% in 2010. Gross margins on services were approximately 32% in 2011 compared to 35% in 2010. Price erosion for our Pointer segment services in the Israeli market and price reduction of the products sold by our Cellocator segment, both of which are attributable to an increase in competition, are the primary reasons for the increase in gross profit and decrease in gross margin on services and products.
 
Research and Development Costs. Research and development expenses in 2011 increased by $0.5 million from $2.5 million in 2010 to $3 million in 2011. As a percentage of revenues from the Cellocator segment the research and development costs accounted for 13% in 2011 compared to 11% in 2010. The increase is primarily attributable to our efforts in 2011 to develop and launch new products in the beginning of 2012.

Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing costs increased by $1.5 million to $8.9 million in 2011 from $7.4 million in 2010. The increase in 2011 resulted from an increase in the marketing efforts primarily of the Pointer segment in the Israeli market and penetration by the Cellocator segment of the American market.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $2.4 million to $11.5 million in 2011 from $9.1 million in 2010. The increase in 2011 resulted from increases in salary, stock-based compensation expenses related to management changes during 2011 and increases in expenses related to the sale of the Rider shares in July, 2011.
 
 
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Amortization of intangible assets and Impairment of long lived assets. Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of long lived assets were $8 million and $1.7 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively.  In 2011, we recorded a goodwill impairment loss in a total amount of $6.2 million.
 
Operating Profit (loss). As a result of the foregoing, we recorded in 2011 an operating loss of $2.6 million, compared to an operating profit of $6.6 million in 2010. The decrease in 2011 is attributable to an increase in our operating expenses and the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, as discussed above.
 
Financial Expenses (Net). Financial expenses decreased from $2 million in 2010 to $1.8 million in 2011.
 
Taxes on income.  Taxes on income were $2.4 million in 2011 compared to $1.5 million in 2010. The increase is mainly due to an increase in deferred tax liability resulting from  the recent repeal of a planned decrease in the Israeli corporate tax rate.
 
Equity in losses of our Brazilian affiliate. In 2011, we recorded equity in losses of the Brazilian affiliate in the amount of $1.6 million compared to $1.2 million in 2010 which relates to an increase in the Brazilian affiliate's activities in 2011.
 
Net Income (Loss). In 2011 we recorded a net loss of $8.5 million, compared to a net income of $2 million in 2010.
 
Net Income attributable to non controlling interests.  We recorded net income attributable to non-controlling interests in the amount of $0.04 million in 2011, compared to $0.8 million in 2010.
 
Net Income (Loss) attributable to Pointer shareholders. In 2011, we recorded net loss of $8.5 million, compared to a net income of $1.1 million in 2010.

Analysis of our Operation Results for the Year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the Year ended December 31, 2009

Revenues.  Revenues increased by $8.5 million, or 13%, from $65 million in 2009 to $74 million in 2010. The increase in total revenues in 2010 as compared to 2009 is primarily attributable to the upturn in the global economy and automotive industry worldwide, which affected an increase in sales of our Cellocator segment. In addition, the revaluation of the average exchange rate of the NIS against the US Dollar affected an increase in our revenues from our Pointer segment in the Israeli market.
 
The revenues from the sale of our products increased by $5.4 million, or 27%, from $20 million in 2009 to $25.4 million in 2010. This increase is primarily attributable to the increase in sales of our Cellocator segment.
 
The revenues from the sale of our services increased by $3 million, or 7%, from $45 million in 2009 to $48 million in 2010.

 
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Revenues from our services in 2010 accounted for 66% of our total revenues as compared with 69% in 2009. This change is primarily attributable to the increase in sales of our Cellocator segment.

Our international revenues in 2010 accounted for 27% of total revenues compared to 23% in 2009. The increase in international sales is primarily attributable to an increase in the sales of the Cellocator segment in 2010.  Sales to Latin America increased from $6.3 million in 2009 to $11.5 million in 2010; sales to Europe increased from $7.4 million in 2009 to $7.5 million in 2010; and sales to other countries increased from $1 million in 2009 to $1.3 million in 2010.

Cost of Revenues. Our cost of revenues increased by $8 million to $46 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 as compared to $38 million for the same period in 2009. This increase of $8 million is associated with an increase of $8.5 million in our revenues.

Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased by $0.5 million from $26.9 million in 2009 to $27.4 million in 2010. As a percentage of total revenues gross profit accounted for 37% in 2010 compared to 41% in 2009. Our gross margin on product sales in 2010 was 44% compared to 46% in 2009. Gross margins on services was approximately 35% in 2010 compared to 41% in 2009. Price erosion in the Israeli market is the primary reason for the increase in gross profit and decrease in gross margin on services.

Research and Development Costs. Research and development expenses in 2010 decreased by $0.3 million from $2.8 million in 2009 to $2.5 million in 2010. As a percentage of revenues from the Cellocator segment the research and development costs accounted for 11% in 2010 compared to 18% in 2009. The decrease is primarily attributable to our efforts in 2009 to develop and launch new products in 2010.

Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing costs increased by $1.2 million to $7.4 million in 2010 from $6.2 million in 2009. The increase in 2010 resulted from an increase in the marketing efforts primarily in the Israeli market.

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.3 million to $9.1 million in 2010 from $8.8 million in 2009.

Amortization of intangible assets and Impairment of long lived assets. Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of long lived assets decreased by $3.1 million from $4.9 million in 2009 to $1.8 million in 2010. In 2009, the amortization of intangible assets includes amortization of intangible assets related to our acquisitions. The $4.9 million attributed to amortization in 2009 includes a one-time impairment of $3 million in connection with the decrease in activity of former Cellocator customers that necessitated impairing intangible assets. As of December 31, 2010, the fair value of our reporting units significantly exceeded its carrying values therefore, no impairment losses were identified in 2010.
 
 
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Operating Profit. As a result of the foregoing, we recorded in 2010 a $6.6 million operating profit, compared to an operating profit of $4.2 million in 2009. The increase in 2010 is attributable to the impairment in the amount of $3 million in 2009 of the intangible assets related to the acquisition of Cellocator in 2007.

Financial Expenses (Net). Financial expenses decreased from $2.1 million in 2009 to $2 million in 2010. The decrease is mainly attributable to a decrease in bank charges and interest expenses.

Taxes on income.  Taxes on income were $1.5 million in 2010 compared to $0.9 million in 2009. In 2010 taxes on income include a decrease of $0.9 million in the deferred tax assets related to operating losses carried forward and increase of $0.6 million in deferred tax liability relating to other timing differences.

Equity in losses of our Brazilian affiliate. In 2010, we recorded equity in losses of the Brazilian affiliate in the amount of $1.2 million compared to $0.7 million in 2009.

Net Income. We recorded net income of $2 million in 2010 and $0.5 million in 2009.

Net Income attributable to non controlling interests.  We recorded net income attributable to non-controlling interests in the amount of $0.8 million in 2010, compared to $2.6 million in 2009.

Net Income (Loss) attributable to Pointer shareholders. In 2010, Pointer recorded net income of $1.1 million, compared to a net loss of $2.1 million in 2009.

Selected segment financial data:

As a result of the Company's acquisition of Cellocator in September 2007, in 2008 the Company commenced to organize its operating results into two separate business units, the Cellocator segment and the Pointer segment.  See Item 4.B – Business Overview.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on operating profit or loss. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in the financial statements.
 
     
2009
     
2010
     
2011
 
     
(in thousands of U.S.Dollars)
 
                         
Cellocator segment revenues
    24,199       23,533       15,380  
Pointer segment revenues
    68,709       58,627       54,187  
Intersegment adjustment
    (6,990 )     (8,297 )     (4,242 )
                         
Total revenue
    (5,366 )     73,863       65,325  
                         
Cellocator Segment operating profit (loss)
    1,520       2,839       (3,144 )
Pointer segments operating profit
    2,512       3,898       7,043  
Inter-segments adjustment
    241       (100 )     276  
Total operating profit (loss)
    (2,613 )     6,637       4,175  
 
 
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Revenues. Revenues of the Pointer segment increased by $10.1 million to $68.7 million from $58.6 million in 2010. The increase of 17% is primarily attributable to an increase in revenues from services in the Israeli market and the revaluation of the average exchange rate of the NIS against the dollar by 4%. Pointer segment revenues derive from services and the sale of products relating to those services provided by the Pointer segment. A portion of these products is obtained from our Cellocator segment and the rest is obtained from third parties.
 
Revenues of the Cellocator segment in 2011 were $24.2 million (including $7 million of inter-segment revenues), as compared to $23.5 million in 2010 (including $8.3 million of inter-segment revenues). The increase of $0.7 million or 3% in the revenues of the Cellocator segment is primarily attributable to an increase in sales of our products mainly in Europe and Latin America.
 
Operating profit (loss).  Operating profit of the Pointer segment decreased by $1.4 million, from $3.9 million in 2010 to $2.5 million in 2011. This decrease of 36% is primarily attributable to the decrease in gross margin from 31% in 2010 to 29% in 2011 resulting from price erosion in the Israeli market and an increase in our operating expenses.
 
The operating loss of the Cellocator segment in 2011 was $5.4 million, compared to an operating profit of $2.8 million in 2010. The decrease is primarily attributable to an increase in our operating expenses and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets in an amount of $6.7 million.
 
Impact of Exchange Rate Fluctuations on Results of Operations, Liabilities and Assets
 
Our results of operations, liabilities and assets were mainly impacted by the fluctuations of exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and the New Israeli Shekel ("NIS"), and to a lesser extent between the U.S. Dollar and the Argentine Peso, the Mexican Peso, the Euro and the Brazilian Real. For a discussion regarding the functional and reporting currency of each of our subsidiaries see Note 2b of our consolidated financial statements.

We accomplished two significant acquisitions in Israel. Due to the acquisition of Shagrir and the SVR/FM activities, our business in Israel currently accounts for the majority of our Pointer segment business and revenues. The business in Israel, especially the activities acquired from Shagrir Towing, is mainly denominated in NIS. On the other hand, the majority of the revenues of the Cellocator segment are generated in U.S. Dollars with some expenses such as raw materials are mainly denominated in U.S. Dollars while some expenses such as labor and rental are denominated in NIS.  See "Item 3D- Risk Factors – We may be adversely affected by a change in the exchange rate of the New Israeli Shekel against the U.S. Dollar" for a discussion of the risks relating to income and expenses in U.S. Dollars and NIS.

For many years prior to 1986, the Israeli economy was characterized by high rates of inflation and devaluation of the Israeli currency against the U.S. Dollar and other currencies. However, since the institution by the Israeli government of an economic recovery program in 1985, inflation, while generally continuing, has been significantly reduced and the rate of devaluation has been substantially diminished and in some years reversed.

We believe that inflation in Israel and fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar - NIS exchange rate may have substantial effects on our business, and our net income.  Increased inflation may increase our NIS costs in Israel including among others salaries of our employees in Israel, costs of communications, subcontractors, rental, financial expenses associated with loans related to NIS and the Israeli CPI, and other expenses, which are paid in New Israeli Shekels. Regarding fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar – NIS exchange rate a devaluation of the NIS against the U.S. Dollar will reduce our NIS denominated revenues and expenses in U.S. Dollar terms and therefore may impact negatively our consolidated net income (losses). Revaluation of the NIS against the U.S. Dollar will increase our NIS denominated revenues and expenses in U.S. Dollar terms.  See "Item 3D- Risk Factors" for further information. Due to the potential off-set of the affects described above, we cannot evaluate the net impact on our results of operations.
 
 
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During 2011 and up to February 28, 2012, the exchange rate fluctuated from a low of NIS 3.363 to the U.S. Dollar to a high of NIS 3.854 to the Dollar.  The average high and low exchange rates between the NIS and U.S. Dollar during the most recent six months, as published by the Bank of Israel, were as follows:
 
MONTH
LOW
1 U.S. Dollar =
HIGH
1 U.S. Dollar =
September 2011
3.574
3.725
October 2011
3.602
3.763
November 2011
3.650
3.800
December 2011
3.727
3.821
January 2012
3.733
3.854
February 2012
3.700
3.803

The average exchange rate, 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
   
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2007
4.1081 NIS/$1
January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008
3.5878 NIS/$1
January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009
3.9326 NIS/$1
January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010
3.7330 NIS/$1
January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011
3.5781 NIS/$1

In 2007, the Israeli economy recorded positive inflation of approximately 3.4% where the NIS revalued against the U.S. Dollar by approximately 9%. We experienced increases in the costs of our Israel operations, as expressed in U.S. Dollars, in 2007. In 2008, the Israeli economy recorded positive inflation of approximately 3.8% where the NIS revalued against the U.S. Dollar by approximately 13%. We experienced increases in the costs of our Israel operations, as expressed in U.S. Dollars in 2008. In 2009, the Israeli economy recorded positive inflation of approximately 3.9%, where the NIS devalued against the U.S. Dollar by approximately 9.6%. As a result of the devaluation of the NIS, we experienced decreases in the costs of our Israel operations, as expressed in U.S. Dollars in 2009. In 2010, the Israeli economy recorded positive inflation of approximately 2.7%, where the NIS revalued against the U.S. Dollar by approximately 5%. As a result of the revaluation of the NIS, we experienced an increase in the revenues and in the costs of our Israel operations, as expressed in U.S. Dollars in 2010. In 2011, the Israeli economy recorded positive inflation of approximately 2.2%, where the NIS revalued against the U.S. Dollar by approximately 4%. As a result of the revaluation of the NIS, we experienced an increase in the revenues and in the costs of our Israel operations, as expressed in U.S. Dollars, in 2011.

Regarding our operations in Argentina and the fact that Pointer Argentina's revenues are not denominated in U.S. Dollars, we believe that inflation in Argentina and fluctuations in the exchange rate between U.S. Dollar and Argentinean Peso may have a significant effect on the business and overall profitability of Pointer Argentina and as a consequence, on the results of our operations. In 2007 the U.S. Dollar – Argentinean Peso exchange rate fluctuated between 3.062 and 3.149 Pesos to the Dollar. From January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, the value of the Argentinean Peso increased by approximately 2.84% against the U.S. Dollar. This increase had no material effect on our business during 2007.  In 2008 the U.S. Dollar – Argentinean Peso exchange rate fluctuated between 3.145 and 3.453 Pesos to the Dollar. From January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, the value of the Argentinean Peso increased by approximately 9.79% against the U.S. Dollar. This increase had no material effect on our business during 2008.  From January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, the value of the Argentinean Peso increased by approximately 2.84% against the U.S. Dollar. In 2009 the U.S. Dollar – Argentinean Peso exchange rate fluctuated between 3.453 and 3.80 Pesos to the Dollar. From January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009, the value of the Argentinean Peso increased by approximately 10.05% against the U.S. Dollar. In 2010 the U.S. Dollar – Argentinean Peso exchange rate fluctuated between 3.80 and 3.976 Pesos to the Dollar. From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the value of the Argentinean Peso increased by approximately 4.6% against the U.S. Dollar. From January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, the value of the Argentinean Peso increased by approximately 8.2% against the U.S. Dollar. From January 1, 2012 until February 28, 2012 the U.S. Dollar – Argentinean Peso exchange rate fluctuated between 3.9501 and 4.3469 Pesos to the Dollar.
 
 
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The fluctuations of the Mexican Peso and the Brazilian Real are not material to our business.

We are engaged from time to time in hedging expenses relating to foreign currency exchange rate and other transactions intended to manage the risks relating to foreign currency exchange rate or interest rate fluctuations. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 we entered into a foreign currency hedging transaction to manage risk related to salary expenses in NIS. In 2010, we entered into a foreign currency hedging transaction to manage risk related to receivables in Euro from customers. We may in the future undertake such transactions if management determines that such is necessary to offset the abovementioned risks.

Governmental and Fiscal Policies which May Affect Our Business

In recent years the market for vehicle leasing in Israel has grown. Employers often provide vehicles to their employees as benefits mainly through operating leasing companies. Such benefits are tax deductible for the employer, while the employees pay tax on the imported value of the car placed at their disposal. The regulations which determine the method of calculation of the imputed taxable value of the use of a car by an employee were recently amended and apply to cars provided to and leased by employees on end of January 1, 2010. Whereas under the formal rules, fixed amounts of taxable income were assigned to various categories of vehicles, the new regulations determine the imputed taxable income according to a certain percentage of the purchase price of the car. With respect to some car models, the new regulations will result in a high amount of imputed income to the employees, as compared to the previous rules. This result may adversely affect the overall demand for vehicles, although it is premature to assess the impact, if any, of the new regulations since leasing arrangements are customarily for three years.

Argentina’s ongoing debt crisis since 2001 has caused the government to implement fiscal and monetary policies, making it extremely difficult to receive credit from the banks. This policy may also contribute to the volatility of the exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar against the Argentinean Peso. In 2011, the volatility in the local and global financial system has had a negative impact on the Argentine economy, and could continue to adversely affect the conditions in the country in the foreseeable future.
 
 
B.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
As of December 31, 2011, we had a negative working capital of $14.9 million, our current assets to current liabilities ratio was 60% and we had cash and cash equivalents of $1.5 million and an unused credit facility of $4.2 million. We believe that we have access to sufficient capital to meet the Company's requirements for at least the next twelve months.
 
 
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Our credit facilities and loans contain a number of restrictive covenants that limit the operating and financial flexibility of Pointer and Shagrir.

Since our inception, our operations have been funded through capital contributions, bank loans, private and public placements, research and development grants from the Office of the Chief Scientist in Israel, the BIRD Foundation, the European Community and cash flow from operations. We no longer receive grants from the Office of the Chief Scientist in Israel, the BIRD Foundation or the European Community.

As a result, we expect to fund our operations through positive net cash provided by operating activities, capital contributions, bank loans, private and public placements and cash flow from our operations. These sources of liquidity consist of our long-term and short-term credit facilities, and our private placements with Israeli investors or investors, the latest of which we consummated in July 2008.

In 2011, we received a dividend from Shagrir in the amount of $3.6 million.

As of December 31, 2011, we had loans under long-term credit facilities (including current maturities) in the aggregate amount of approximately $18.5 million, of which $16.3 million was provided to our subsidiary Shagrir by Bank Hapoalim B.M. and $2.2 million was provided to Pointer to finance part of the Cellocator acquisition as referenced below. Of this aggregate amount, approximately $2.2 million are long-term loans in or linked to the U.S. Dollar from banks and other sources, $13.3 million are long-term loans denominated in NIS from a bank and other sources and $3 million are long-term loans denominated in NIS and adjusted to the Israeli consumer price index from banks and other sources. Pointer Brazil received from several Brazilian banks long terms loans denominated in Brazilian Real in an aggregate amount of $ 0.7 million mainly to finance the purchase of fixed assets. For further information regarding our consolidated long-term loans, loan maturity and interest rate structure, see Notes 11 and 12 to our consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2011, we had a short-term unutilized credit facility for available credit of approximately $4.2 million.

In September 2007, we obtained a loan of $5 million and credit facilities of $2 million with Bank Hapoalim B.M. in order to finance in part our acquisition of Cellocator. As of December 31, 2011, $0.8 million of the credit facility is available for use.

In January 2009, we received credit facilities of $1 million from Israel Discount Bank B.M. to finance our working capital. As of December 31, 2011, $0.6 million of the credit facility is available for use.
 
 
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In December 2011, we obtained a loan of $0.5 million from Bank Hapoalim B.M. in order to finance our investment in our subsidiaries and affiliates. In January 2012, we increased the credit facilities from Bank Hapoalim B.M. by $0.75 million to finance our investment in our subsidiaries and affiliates. Our aggregate credit facilities from Bank Hapoalim B.M. total $2.75 million.

In 2011, net cash provided by our continuing operating activities amounted to $8.5 million as compared to net cash provided from continuing operating activities of $6.5 million in 2010.

In 2011, net cash used in our continuing investing activities was $5.1 million as compared to $5.3 million in 2010. The decrease is primarily attributable to an increase in proceeds from sales of property and equipment which was offset by an increase in investments in our affiliates.

In 2011, net cash used in financing activities was $3.9 million as compared to $2.6 million in 2010. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in short term bank credit during 2011 which was offset by receipts of long term loans from banks and a decrease in dividend paid to non-controlling interest.

Current liabilities decreased from $38 million in 2010 to $37 million as of December 31, 2011, mainly due to a decrease in trade payables as of December 31, 2011. Long-term liabilities decreased from $21.7 million in December 31, 2010 to $20.2 million as of December 31, 2011 mainly due to repayments of long-term loans which was offset by an increase in long term deferred tax liability as a result of a reduction in the Israeli corporate tax rates in the coming years.

The acquisitions of Shagrir in 2004 and of Shagrir Towing in 2005 had a positive impact on our cash flow from our operating activities, which is offset by a negative impact on our cash flow used in financing activities. The acquisition of Cellocator in 2007 has had a positive impact on our cash flow from our operating activities, which is offset by a negative impact on our cash flow used in financing activities. However, we cannot assure, that any such net positive cash flows, if any, will sufficiently cover negative cash flows expected to be incurred by our other operative subsidiaries, and by our significant operating expenses, which we expect to incur in connection with our development and marketing of our systems and products, as well as increased investments in the deployment of our existing and new networks in different geographical regions around the world.

For further information relating to the abovementioned acquisitions see Item 10C – Material Contracts.

We believe that our current assets, together with anticipated cash generated from operations and the bank credit lines, will be sufficient to allow us to continue our operations as a going concern. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to    generate sufficient revenues from the sale of our services and products or succeed to obtain such additional sources of equity or debt financing. In raising additional funds, we may depend on receiving financial support from our principal shareholders or other external sources. We cannot assure you that they will continue to provide us with funds when requested, and that such funds, if any, will be sufficient to finance our additional cash requirements.
 
 
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Aside for the aforementioned long-term loans and credit facilities from banks, we have no firm commitments or arrangements for additional financing, and there can be no assurance that any such financing will be available on terms satisfactory to us, if at all. To the extent that our capital requirements exceed cash provided from operations and available financing (if any), we may, among other things, be required to reduce significantly research and development, product commercialization, marketing and/or other activities. Under certain circumstances, our inability to secure additional financing could cause us to cease our operations. Our business has also been harmed as a result of the current general duress and difficult global economic conditions in general and in particular of the automotive market and political conditions in certain countries and regions in which we operate, such as Europe.

For a discussion of certain commitments and contingent liabilities, see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements. For further information regarding investments in our Company see Item 4 – Recent Developments and Item 10C – Material Contracts.

Capital expenditures were $6 million in 2010 and $6.2 million in 2011.  In 2010, capital expenditures were used for purchasing property and equipment in the amount of $4.5 million and investment in our Brazilian affiliate, Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A, in the amount of $1.5 million. In 2011, capital expenditures were used for purchasing property and equipment in the amount of $4.5 million and investment in our Brazilian affiliate, Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A, in the amount of $1.7.

We estimate that our total capital expenditures for 2012 will be approximately $6 million, substantially all of which will relate to fixed assets that serve our roadside assistance and mobile resource management business as well as our pursuit of new business opportunities, of which approximately 53% is estimated to be spent in Israel and 47% in Latin America. We also will need to continue to provide our cash negative subsidiaries with financing until they have sufficient cash flows to run their operations. We expect to finance these expenditures primarily from our cash and cash equivalents, operating cash flow and our credit facilities. However, the actual amount of our capital expenditures will depend on a variety of factors, including general economic conditions, changes in the demand for our products, fluctuation of the U.S. Dollar against the NIS and the risks and uncertainties involved in doing business in Israel.
 
 
C.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
We invest a significant amount of our resources on our internal research and development operations. We believe that continued and timely development of new products and new applications as well as enhancements to our existing systems and products are necessary to compete effectively in the rapidly evolving market. We dedicate a significant portion of our resources to (i) introducing new products to market and advancing our products and systems; (ii) designing improvements to existing products and applications by working closely with our customer support department in order to implement suggestions received from our customers investing in improvements to our production methods and services provision in, and by working in tandem with our operation department; and (iii) improving the customer "friendliness" of our products.
 
 
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In order to facilitate future growth we are focusing on expanding our ability to enhance our existing systems and products and to introducing new versions and new products on a timely basis. Since we commenced operations we have conducted extensive research and development activities and we continue to improve our products including our Pointerware network, the software platform used by our Pointer segment subsidiaries for applications and for the provision of service to their customers. Our net expenditures for research and development programs during the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, totaled approximately $3 million and $ 2.5 million respectively. We expect that we will continue to commit substantial resources to research and development in the future. As of December 2011, we employed 24 persons in research and development. Our research and development expenses constituted approximately 13% of Cellocator sales in the year ended December 31, 2011 and 11% in the year ended December 31, 2010. For additional information concerning commitments for research development programs, see Note 13 of our consolidated financial statements.

The Government of Israel encourages research and development projects oriented towards products for export through the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of the State of Israel. Under the terms of Israel Government participation, a royalty of 2% to 5% of the net sales of products developed from a project funded by the Chief Scientist must be paid, beginning with the commencement of sales of products developed with grant funds and ending when 100% to 150% of the grant is repaid. The terms of the Israeli government participation also require that the manufacture of products developed with government grants be performed in Israel, unless a special approval has been granted. Separate Israeli government consent is required to transfer to third parties technologies developed through projects in which the government participates. Such restrictions do not apply to exports from Israel of products developed with such technologies. Royalty bearing grants received from the State of Israel for research and development were offset against our research and development costs.

We hold various United States patents relating to the use of Pointerware communications technology for various aspects of reverse paging and mobile location. We have not invested the annual payments required to maintain our patents, and we may lose in the near future or may have already lost our rights to this proprietary technology.

We currently have several pending patent applications. However, there can be no assurance that such patent applications will actually afford protection against competitors with similar technology. In addition, we cannot assure you that the patents issued to us will not be infringed, designed around by others or invalidated. Some foreign countries provide significantly less patent protection than the United States. Patent applications in the United States are maintained in confidence until patents are issue, and because publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature tends to lag behind actual discoveries by several months, we cannot be certain that we were the first creator of inventions covered by pending patent applications or the first to file patent applications on such inventions. There can also be no assurance that any application of our technologies will not infringe patents or proprietary rights of others or that licenses that might be required for our processes or products would be available on reasonable terms. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that challenges will not be instituted against the validity or enforceability of any patent owned by us or, if instituted, that such challenges will not be successful. The cost of litigation to uphold the validity and prevent infringement of a patent can be substantial.
 
 
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In addition to potential patent protection, we rely on the laws of unfair competition and trade secrets to protect our proprietary rights. We attempt to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information by non-disclosure agreements with our employees, consultants, customers, strategic partners and potential strategic partners. Although we intend to protect our rights vigorously, there can be no assurance that confidentiality obligations will be honored or that others will not independently develop similar or superior technologies or trade secrets. We believe that such measures provide only limited protection of our proprietary information, and there is no assurance that our proprietary technology will remain confidential or that others will not develop similar technology and use this technology to compete with us. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. To the extent that consultants, key employees or other third parties, such as prospective joint venture partners or subcontractors, apply technological information independently developed by them or by others to our projects, disputes may arise as to the proprietary rights to such information, which may not be resolved in our favor.

Our proprietary technology also includes software. Much of the software algorithms are also included and claimed in the patent applications for Pointerware communications technology. Although software protection is anticipated to be available in the United States, there can be no assurance that the software will have patent protection in the United States. Foreign patent protection for software is generally afforded lesser protection than in the United States. See Item 3.D – Risk Factors - We may be unable to adequately protect our proprietary rights, which may limit our ability to compete effectively

 
D.
TREND INFORMATION
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the selected financial data included above and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this annual report.
 
 
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Cellocator Segment

In 2006, we introduced to the mobile resource management market third party Cellular Monitoring Units which, utilizing advanced cellular modems with GPS, provide high functionality for mobile resource management services. Following our acquisition of Cellocator in 2007, we began manufacturing, among other things, our own units through our Cellocator segment and we no longer depend on any third party for manufacturing our units. These units are sold to a wide number of customers and are in use by our Pointer segment as part of its offering of services. These units enable us to provide versatile information as well as nationwide coverage, utilizing the cellular network in each territory, and are specially designed to operate in harsh conditions inside the vehicle. The design of the Cellocator unit takes into consideration the metallic envelope that surrounds the unit, the temperature and vibration stress to which it is exposed, the limited and unstable power supply that characterizes car power supplies generally, and specific installation requirements of the variety of cars available on the fleet management and stolen vehicle recovery markets, in addition to other verticals such as trailers and containers. The design reflects the above requirements with a high degree of reliability and flexibility. Since 2008, we have introduced several new units aimed at new vertical markets and have incorporated new functionalities such as asset tracking, cargo security, and car sharing among others. The expansion of the unit portfolio serves as the basic means for our Cellocator segment's future growth and allows for an increase in our customer base.
 
We have indentified three main trends in the device market during 2011: (i) ongoing price reduction due to increasing competition as well as the economic weakness mainly in Europe; (ii) a growing demand for technology that monitors driver behavior and provides safety and diagnostics applications; and (iii) an increase in vehicle manufacturers' involvement in the unit market due to various legislative efforts in Europe and Brazil to implement and require installation of such systems as E-Call and ERA GLONASS (both in Europe). In order to address these trends, our Cellocator segment introduced, in 2011, new products aimed at the low cost segment and the driver behavior safety market. We anticipate that the introduction of these products as well as introduction of new products expected to be made in 2012 will increase our Cellocator segment's competitive edge and hence its growth in the market.
 
As a result of our operations through our Cellocator segment, we have expanded our global sales of current and new devices, to both existing and new customers. Prices of high feature devices in the stolen vehicle retrieval market and fleet management market, such as the products sold by our Cellocator segment, are continuously decreasing due to increased competition and the reduction in the cost of components. Events affecting the global vehicle industry have a significant bearing on the demand for our products. We continue to closely monitor events affecting this industry. However, we cannot, at this point in time, estimate their impact.

Pointer Segment
 
        Following our acquisition of Shagrir in 2004 and the acquisition of certain activities and assets of Shagrir Towing Services in 2005, we have expanded our operations and increased our revenues from our services in Israel and internationally, such as providing roadside assistance and towing services, asset tracking, stolen vehicle retrieval, fleet management, and, most recently, emergency home repair services as well as our recent commencement in providing car sharing services
 
 
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During the past 5 years, our fleet management services have progressed from providing relatively simple vehicle tracking and tracing (determining the vehicle's location and  departure point) to offering sophisticated information gathering systems that can, among other things, (i) analyze sensor input to determine, among other things, engine status, door status, brakes, and transmission, (ii) analyze driving patterns, including determining acceleration, harsh braking, side turns or cornering, and (iii) trace various movable assets including cargo, field equipment, agriculture and construction equipment, which often do not have sufficient energy sources. There is growing demand from our significant customers for advanced services to be provided by our fleet management web-based application, including the generating of various reports and alerts which would adequately meet their specific operational requirements, as well as an increase in potential for demand for connectivity to their enterprise resource planning systems.

Such continuing demand for higher levels of professionalism and unique services for fleet management demands our continued investment in development of and adjustments to our fleet management web-based application as part of our ongoing services and to continuously provide efficient and advanced services for our significant customers. Significant customers in each region and market will base their choice of service provider on whether a provider can provide the capabilities and services which adequately meet their needs. Furthermore, our agreements with our customers generally cover a period of several years and in order to increase the chances of those customers renewing their agreements with us, we are committed to providing leading services to ensure customer satisfaction, which demands that we continuously invest in solutions and resources to maintain our services at a high level. For example, our stolen vehicle retrieval services include such additional functions as incorporating additional sensors, alarm systems, and driver identification features designed to prevent or decrease theft.

In providing our services, we may purchase products manufactured by our Cellocator segment and other accessories and components from third parties, and sell such products to customers as part of our services packages. As a result of Shagrir's acquisition of 51% of the share capital of Car2go in May 2009, our Pointer segment can now also offer car sharing services in urban areas in Israel. Despite current uncertainties in the global economy, the market for our services currently projects a stable outlook of growth and deployment in other vertical markets such as helicopters and boats.

The operations of Shagrir as part of our Pointer segment in Israel and the technology manufacturing of our Cellocator segment, which mainly sells its products internationally, are currently the most significant operations we have, and are expected to account for the majority of our business and revenues in the foreseeable future.
 
 
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E.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
The company has no off balance arrangement as described in this section.
 
 
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F.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
 
Contractual Obligations 
December 31, 2011 (in thousands USD)
       
Less
than 1
Year
   
1-3
Years
   
3-5
Years
   
More
than 5
Year
   
Total
 
                                     
Short term debt and other current liabilities
  1       13,208       -       -       -       13,208  
Long-term loans
  2       -       7,732       -       926       8,658  
Accrued severance pay
  3       -       -       -       1,152       1,152  
Management fees to DBSI
  4       52       -       -       -       52  
Operating lease obligations
  5       1,947       3,575       4       -       5,526  
Royalties to BIRD
  6       -       -       -       2,396       2,396  
Total contractual obligations
          15,207       11,307       4       4,474       30,992  

1 Short term debt and other current liabilities include short term bank credits and current maturities of long term loan, trade accounts payable for equipment and services that have already been supplied, deferred revenues, customer advance and other accrued expenses.
2 Long term loans include principal and interest payments in accordance with the terms of the agreements with Banks and other third parties. For further information please see Item 5B -- Liquidity and Capital Resources.
3 Accrued severance pay maturity depends on the date our employees will actually cease being employed.
4 We pay annual fees $180,000 in consideration for DBSI management services pursuant to an agreement with DBSI, which is automatically renewable every 12 months unless either party provides prior notice of termination three months prior to the beginning of a renewal term.
5 Operating lease obligations include rental payments of offices, cars, and other premises and equipment.
6 Royalties to BIRD include the amount received by BIRD foundation indexed as per the agreement, which the Company has undertaken to pay based on sales of a specific product.  The Company does not anticipate selling this product and therefore, does not anticipate paying these contingent royalties (See Note 14c to our Financial Statements).
 
 
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ITEM 6.     DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
 
 
A.
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
 
The executive officers, directors and key employees of the Company are as follows:

Name
Age
Position with Company
Yossi Ben Shalom
56
Chairman of the Board of Directors
David Mahlab
55
President and CEO
Gil Oren
60
External Director
Zvi Rutenberg
56
External Director
Barak Dotan
44
Director
Alicia Rotbard
66
Director
Yoel Rosenthal
57
Director
Dudy Marcus
38
Chief Technology Officer
Israel Ronn
55
General Manager, Cellocator Segment
Zvi Fried
47
Chief Financial Officer
 
Yossi Ben Shalom has served as our Chairman of the Board of Directors since April 2003. Mr. Ben Shalom was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Koor Industries Ltd. (KOR) from 1998 through 2000. Before that, Mr. Ben-Shalom served as Chief Financial Officer of Tadiran Ltd. Mr. Ben-Shalom was an active director in numerous boards, such as at NICE Systems (NICE), (computer telephony), Machteshim Agan (chemistry), and Investec Bank, amongst others.  Mr. Ben-Shalom was an active chairman in successful turnaround programs, such as Eurocar Israel, and American Express Israel. He participated in the creation of TDA VC fund (a joint venture between Tempelton and Tadiran). He was an active Chairman of Scopus - a technology company with sales of over $30 million. Yossi is a co-founder of DBSI Investments Ltd. Mr. Ben Shalom holds BA in Economics and MA in Business Management from Tel Aviv University.

David Mahlab has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since February 1, 2011. From 2009 until January 2011, Mr. Mahlab served as an independent business development. Mr. Mahlab is the co-founder of Scopus Video Networks (a company formerly traded on the Nasdaq Market), and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1995 until January 2007 and its chairman of the board from January 2007 until March 2009. Mr. Mahlab holds a BSc. and a MSc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, an MBA from Tel Aviv University and LLB from Tel Aviv University

Gil Oren has served on our board as an external director since July 2008. Mr. Oren is an independent business advisor. During the years 2002-2007 Mr. Oren served as the Chief Executive Officer of Ytong Industries Ltd.  During such years Mr. Oren also served on the Board of Directors of Ytong Industries Ltd., Nirlat Ltd., Aloni Conglomerate Ltd., Carmit Ltd., Orlite Industries Ltd. (in addition to serving as the Chief Executive Officer of such company), Orlite Millennium Ltd., Vulcan Casting Ltd., Urdan Industries Ltd.  Mr. Oren holds a B.A in accounting and economics from Tel Aviv University and a M.B.A from Tel Aviv University. Mr. Oren is also Certified Public Accountant. Upon his appointment as an external director the Company shall deem Mr. Oren as possessing accounting and financial expertise.

Zvi Rutenberg has served on our board as an external director since July 2008. Mr. Rutenberg currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the industrial division of Minrav Ltd, where he has served since May 2010. In May 2008 Mr. Rutenberg established Global Point Ltd., a company which provides management consultancy services for industrial companies.  Between May 1997 and May 2008, Mr. Rutenberg served as the Chief Executive Officer of Durabond Ltd., and from January 2004 until May 2008, he also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Durabond's sister company, Ashkalit Chemiprod Ltd.  Mr. Rutenberg holds a B.Sc in Industrial and Management Engineering from Ben Gurion University.
 
 
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Barak Dotan was appointed a director on our board in April 2003. Mr. Dotan is a co-founder of DBSI Investments Ltd., a private investment company that has made various investments in private and public companies. Before establishing DBSI Investments, Mr. Dotan worked as Product Manager for Jacada (Nasdaq: JCDA), formerly CST, a software company that provides a complete software infrastructure to transform legacy systems into e-business and wireless solutions, and thereafter managed private investments in high-tech and other areas. Mr. Dotan graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem summa cum laude with a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Business Management.

Alicia Rotbard, was appointed a director on our board in 2002. In 1989 she founded DOORS Information Systems, Inc. and served as its CEO until 2002. Since 1989 she served as President and CEO of Quality Computers Ltd. and from 1980 to 1985 she served as Deputy General Manager of the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange, where she managed the Computer Department and Operations. Ms. Rotbard holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Yoel Rosenthal was appointed a director on our Board in April 2003. He is a veteran accountant with over 20 years of experience.  Prior to joining D.B.S.I. Mr. Rosenthal was a founder and partner of a private accounting firm in Israel, Bruckner, Rosenthal, Ingber, He also held the position of Loan Officer for multinational corporations at the Bank of Montreal in the USA. Mr. Rosenthal received an MBA with honors from the University of California at Los Angeles and a BA in Economics and Accounting from Tel Aviv University.

Israel Ronn joined Pointer as the General Manager of the Product and Technology Business Division in August 2007 .Before joining Pointer, during the past 10 years, Mr. Ronn served as a CEO of several companies in US and Israel such as Telrad USA and Tenecs. He also led the merger of Tenecs and Congruency which created Telrad Connegy. Later he was the CEO of Cellmax Systems. Mr. Ronn holds a B.A. degree in Computer Science and Economics from Bar Ilan University and is a graduate of Tafnit Executive Business Administration Program.

Zvi Fried was appointed our Chief Financial Officer in February 2007. Prior to his appointment Mr. Fried was Chief Financial Officer of the publicly traded Chim Nir (TASE: CMNR) and Finance Director for Amdocs (Nasdaq: DOX). Mr. Fried is a certified public accountant and he holds a B.A. in Economics and a degree in Accounting from Bar Ilan University.

Dudy Marcus is our Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Markus joined the company in 2000, and since then has served in a wide range of technological and management positions. Since the acquisition of Cellocator in 2008, Mr. Markus has built and managed Cellocator’s R&D group as Cellocator VP R&D and has been responsible for our customer support and IT. Mr. Markus holds a B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Tel Aviv University and a Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
 
 
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B.
COMPENSATION
 
The aggregate direct remuneration paid to all persons as a group who served in the capacity of director or executive officer during the year ended December 31, 2011, was approximately $1.03 million, including amounts expended by us for automobiles made available to our officers, expenses reimbursed to officers (including professional and business association dues and expenses) and other fringe benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in Israel, but excluding amounts set aside or accrued to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits, which amounted to $120,000.

Options
 
In November 2003 the Company adopted an Employee Share Option Plan (2003) (the "Plan").  The Board of Directors of the Company approves, from time to time, increases to the number of shares reserved under the Plan. To date, the options under the Plan are and have been granted in accordance with Section 102 to the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance in the Capital Gains Track, all subject to the provisions of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance. The grant of options is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company. The exercise price of the options is set at the closing price of the share on the market on the date of grant.  The options usually vest over a period of four years and are valid for a period of five years from the date of grant.
On November 30, 2011, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Plan whereby in the event a cash dividend is paid out to the Company’s shareholders, the Board of Directors may adjust the exercise price of any options granted prior to the record date of the dividend distribution but not exercised as of such date.

As of December 31, 2011, 379,125 options are available for future grant under the Plan.

As of December 31, 2011, our officers and directors held options to purchase an aggregate of 281,141 of our ordinary shares at exercise prices ranging from $3.14 per share to $7.00 per share. Our options vest over a period of three to four years following grant and are conditional upon continued service.
 
For information concerning employee share option plan, see Note 14c of our consolidated financial statements
 
 
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C.
BOARD PRACTICES
 
Board of Directors

Our Articles of Association provide for a board of directors of not less than three or and not more than eleven members. Our board of directors is currently comprised of six members. Following the investment of DBSI in the Company, three of our directors are affiliated with DBSI. Each director is elected to serve until the next annual general meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor has been elected. Officers serve at the discretion of the board of directors. We are subject to the Israeli Companies Law – 1999, or the Israeli Companies Law, which entered into effect on February 1, 2000, as amended, and which requires the board of directors of a public company to determine the number of directors who shall possess accounting and financial expertise.

Under the Israeli Companies Law, a person who is already serving as a director is not permitted to act as a substitute director. Additionally, the Israeli Companies Law prohibits a person from serving as a substitute for more than one director. Appointment of a substitute director for a member of a board committee is only permitted if the substitute is a member of the board of directors and does not regularly serve as a member of such committee. If the committee member being substituted is an external director, the substitute may only be another external director who possesses the same expertise as the external director being substituted and may not be a regular member of such committee The term of appointment of a substitute director may be for one meeting of the board of directors or for a specified period or until notice is given of the cancellation of the appointment. To our knowledge, no director currently intends to appoint any other person as a substitute director, except if the director is unable to attend a meeting of the board of directors.

External Directors

Under the Israeli Companies Law, companies registered under the laws of the State of Israel, and the shares of which have been offered to the public in or outside of Israel, are required to appoint no less than two external directors. No person may be appointed as an external director if such person or the person’s relative, partner, employer or any entity under the person’s control, has or had, on or within the two years preceding the date of the person’s appointment, any affiliation with the company or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the company. The term “affiliation” includes:

 
·
an employment relationship;
 
·
a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis;
 
·
control; and
 
·
service as an office holder.

A person shall be qualified to serve as an external director only if he or she possesses accounting and financial expertise or professional qualifications. At least one external director must possess accounting and financial expertise. The conditions and criteria for possessing accounting and financial expertise or professional qualifications were recently determined in regulations promulgated by the Israeli Minister of Justice in consultation with the Israeli Securities Authority.
 
 
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Regulations have been recently promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law which now mandate that in the future when appointing an external director to the board of directors of a public company, in addition to the already existing requirements for such external director, such external director must either have "expertise in finance and accounting" or be "professionally qualified". Additionally, at least one of the external directors must have "expertise in finance and accounting".

A person is deemed to have “expertise in finance and accounting” if his or her education, experience and qualifications provide him or her with expertise and understanding in business matters - accounting and financial statements, in a way that allows him or her to understand, in depth, the company’s financial statements and to encourage discussion about the manner in which the financial data is presented.

The company's board of directors must evaluate the proposed external director's expertise in finance and accounting, by considering, among other things, his or her education, experience and knowledge in the following: (i) accounting and auditing issues typical to the field in which the company operates and to companies of a size and complexity similar to such company; (ii) a company's independent public accountants duties and obligations; (iii) preparing company financial statements and their approval in accordance with the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law.

A director is deemed to be “professionally qualified” if he or she meets any of the following criteria: (i) has an academic degree in any of the following professions: economics, business administration, accounting, law or public administration; (ii) has a different academic degree or has completed higher education in a field that is the company’s main field of operations, or a field relevant to his or her position; or (iii) has at least five years experience in any of the following, or has a total of five years experience in at least two of the following: (A) a senior position in the business management of a corporation with significant operations, (B) a senior public position or a senior position in public service, or (C) a senior position in the company's main field of operations. The board of directors here too must evaluate the proposed external director's "professional qualification" in accordance with the criteria set forth above.

The affidavit required by law to be signed by a candidate to serve as an external director must include a statement by such candidate concerning his or her education and experience, if relevant, in order that the board of directors may properly evaluate whether such candidate meets the requirements set forth in the regulations. Additionally, the candidate should submit documents and certificates that support the statements set forth in the affidavit.

Additionally, under the Israel Companies Law, a public company's board of directors must determine the minimum number of directors who have “expertise in finance and accounting” taking into account the type of company, its size, the extent of its activities and the complexity of the company's operations.

No person may serve as an external director if the person’s position or other business activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with the person’s responsibilities as an external director or may otherwise interfere with the person’s ability to serve as an external director. If, at the time external directors are to be appointed, all current members of the board of directors are of the same gender, then at least one external director must be of the other gender.
 
 
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External directors are to be elected by a majority vote at a shareholders’ meeting, provided that either:

 
·
the majority of shares voted at the meeting, including at least one-third of the shares held by non-controlling shareholders voted at the meeting, vote in favor of election of the director; or
 
·
the total number of shares held by non-controlling shareholders voted against the election of the director does not exceed one percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company.
 
The initial term of an external director is three years and may be extended for one additional term of three years. External directors may be removed only by the same percentage of shareholders as is required for their election, or by a court, and then only if the external directors cease to meet the statutory qualifications for their appointment, violate their duty of loyalty to the company or are found by a court to be unable to perform their duties on a full time basis. External directors may also be removed by an Israeli court if they are found guilty of bribery, fraud, administrative offenses in a company or use of inside information. Each committee of a company’s board of directors must include at least one external director.

An external director is entitled to compensation as provided in regulations adopted under the Israeli Companies Law and is otherwise prohibited from receiving any other compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with service provided as an external director.

In July 2008, Mr. Gil Oren and Mr. Zvi Rotenberg were elected to serve as the Company's external directors.

Audit Committee

Nasdaq Requirements

Our ordinary shares are listed for quotation on the NASDAQ Capital Market and we are subject to the NASDAQ Listing Rules applicable to listed companies. Under the current NASDAQ rules, a listed company is required to have an audit committee consisting of at least three independent directors, all of whom are financially literate and one of whom has accounting or related financial management expertise.  Ms. Alicia Rotbard and our two external directors, Mr. Gil Oren and Mr. Zvi Rutenberg qualify as independent directors under the current Nasdaq requirements, and all are members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Gil Oren is our “audit committee financial expert.”

Our Audit Committee assists our board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of our accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices and financial statements and the independence qualifications and performance of our independent auditors. The Audit Committee also has the authority and responsibility to oversee our independent auditors, to recommend for shareholder approval the appointment and, where appropriate, replacement of our independent auditors and to pre-approve audit engagement fees and all permitted non-audit services and fees.
 
 
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Israeli Companies Law Requirements

The Israeli Companies Law requires public companies to appoint an audit committee. The responsibilities of the audit committee include identifying irregularities in the management of the company’s business and approving related party transactions as required by law. An audit committee must consist of at least three directors, including the external directors of the company. The chairman of the board of directors, any director employed by or otherwise providing services to the company, and a controlling shareholder or any relative of a controlling shareholder, may not be a member of the audit committee.
 
Currently, Ms. Alicia Rotbard and our two external directors, Mr. Gil Oren and Mr. Zvi Rutenberg, serve as members of our audit committee.
 
Internal Auditor
 
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors must appoint an internal auditor, recommended by the audit committee. The role of the internal auditor is to examine, among other matters, whether the company’s actions comply with the law and orderly business procedure. Under the Israeli Companies Law, the internal auditor may be an employee of the company but not an office holder (as defined below), or an affiliate, or a relative of an office holder or affiliate, and he may not be the company’s independent accountant or its representative. Daniel Schapira Certified Public Accountant (ISR) serves as our internal auditor.
 
Remuneration Committee

The compensation payable to executive officers must be approved by a majority of the directors on our board.  In addition, Yossi Ben Shalom and Gil Oren are members of the committee of the board of directors for approving grants of options.

We have not entered into service contracts with any of the members of our board of directors.
 
 
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  D. 
  EMPLOYEES
 
The following table sets forth the number of our employees at the end of each of the last three years:

   
Israel
   
Other
   
Total
 
2011
                 
                   
Sales and Marketing
    124       40       164  
Administration
    44       22       66  
Research and Development
    24       -       24  
Other
    376       64       440  
Total
    568       126       694  
                         
2010
                       
                         
Sales and Marketing
    105       32       137  
Administration
    46       26       72  
Research and Development
    27       -       27  
Other
    401       75       476  
Total
    579       133       712  
                         
2009
                       
                         
Sales and Marketing
    93       29       122  
Administration
    38       24       62  
Research and Development
    21       1       22  
Other
    341       67       408  
Total
    493       121       614  

We have entered into employment contracts with substantially all of our employees, all of which contracts include non-competition, nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions relating to our proprietary information. We believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory. We are not party to any collective bargaining agreements. However, in Israel, certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations (including the Industrialists Association) are applicable to our employees by order of the Israeli Ministry of Labor. These provisions concern principally the length of the workday, minimum daily wages for professional workers, insurance for work-related accidents, procedures for dismissing employees, determination of severance pay, and other conditions of employment. We generally provide our employees in Israel benefits and working conditions beyond the required minimums. Additionally, due to agreements with the General Workers' Union in Argentina and the country's high inflation rate, we may be required to increase employee salaries at a rate which could adversely affect Pointer Argentina's business. For more information see Item 3.D – Risk Factors, General Risks relating to our Company.

 As a result of our acquisition of Cellocator in September 2007, we engaged approximately 30 of Cellocator’s employees. Most of the employees are employed by us under the success of their rights, and receive the same compensation as our other employees.
 
 
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Israeli law generally requires severance pay upon the retirement or death of an employee or termination of employment without due cause. We currently fund our ongoing severance obligations by contributing funds on behalf of our employees to a fund known as the “Managers’ Insurance” or to pension funds. This fund provides a combination of savings plan, life insurance and severance pay benefits to the employee, giving the employee a lump sum payment upon retirement and securing the severance pay, if legally entitled, upon termination of employment. We decide whether each employee is entitled to participate in the plan, and each employee who agrees to participate contributes an amount equal to 5% of his or her salary and the employer contributes between 13.3% and 15.8% of the employee’s salary. In addition, Israeli employees and employers are required to pay predetermined sums to the National Insurance Institute, an agency similar to the United States Social Security Administration. Since January 1, 1995, such amounts also include payments for national health insurance. The payments to the National Insurance Institute are approximately 14.5% of wages up to a specified amount, of which the employee contributes approximately 66% and the employer contributes approximately 34%.
 
 
E.
  SHARE OWNERSHIP
 
The following table details the number of our ordinary shares beneficially owned (including the shares underlying options or warrants held by such person that are exercisable within 60 days), by our directors and members of our senior management, as of March 22, 2012:
 
Name
 
Title/Office
 
As a % of Outstanding Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned(1)
 
Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned
Yossi Ben Shalom
 
Chairman of Board of Directors
 
37.84%
 
1,839,691(2)
David Mahlab
 
President and CEO
 
*
 
*
Gil Oren
 
External Director
 
*
 
*
Zvi Rutenberg
 
External Director
 
*
 
*
Barak Dotan
 
Director
 
37.84%
 
1,839,691 (2)
Alicia Rotbard
 
Director
 
*
 
*
Yoel Rosenthal
 
Director
 
*
 
*
Zvi Fried
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
*
 
*
Dudy Markus
 
Chief Technology Officer
 
*
 
*
Israel Ronn
 
General Manager of the Cellocator segment
 
*
 
*
             
All directors and officers as a group
     
37.84%
 
1,839,691
 
* Less than 1%.
 
(1)
The percentage of outstanding ordinary shares beneficially owned is based on 4,861,524 shares outstanding as of March 22, 2012. The number of shares beneficially owned by a person includes ordinary shares subject to options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2012.
(2)
As office holders of DBSI Investment Ltd., Messrs. Yossi Ben Shalom and Barak Dotan may be considered to be the beneficial holders of the 37.84% of our issued and outstanding shares held by DBSI Investment Ltd.
 
 
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Employee Share Option Plans

For information concerning employee share option plans, see Item 6- Directors, Senior Management and Employees- Compensation and Note 15c of our consolidated financial statements.
 
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
 
A.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
 
The following table and notes thereto set forth certain information as of, March 22, 2012, concerning the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d – 3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of ordinary shares by each person or entity who, to the best of our knowledge, beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares. The voting rights of our major shareholders do not differ from the voting rights of holders of all of our ordinary shares.
 
Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned*
 
Percent of Outstanding Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned*
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
1,839,691
 
37.84%
 
DBSI Investment Ltd. (1)
701,592
 
14.43%
 
Eurocom Holdings (1979) Ltd.
 
*
The percentage of outstanding ordinary shares beneficially owned is based on 4,861,524 shares outstanding as of March 22, 2012. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The number of shares beneficially owned by a person includes ordinary shares subject to options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 22, 2012. Such shares issuable pursuant to such options or warrants are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such options but not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. To our knowledge, the persons named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as owned by them.

 
(1)
As office holders of DBSI Investment Ltd., Messrs. Barak Dotan and Yossi Ben Shalom may be considered to be the beneficial holders of the 37.84% of our outstanding shares held by DBSI.
 
 
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As of March 22, 2012, there were approximately 33 record holders of our ordinary shares, including approximately 15 record holders in the United States (who held approximately 74.6% of our outstanding ordinary shares).
 
Changes in the percentages of ownership held by our various shareholders during the past three years were primarily results of investments during these years, conversion of debentures in March 2003, and our acquisition of Shagrir in 2004, and the acquisition of Cellocator in 2007. For further information regarding such investments and acquisition please see Item 4 – Information on the Company.

 
B.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Agreements with Shagrir
 
On February 25, 2004, we entered into an addendum to a cooperation agreement which was originally entered into on August 25, 1998 with Shagrir, which was at that time the operator of our system in Israel. Pursuant to such addendum, Shagrir renewed its commitment to purchase exclusively from our company end units for its stolen vehicle retrieval system. In 2004, Shagrir undertook to purchase end-units in an amount of $2.3 million, and in the following three years, in an amount no less than $4.2 million, while we undertook to expand Shagrir’s infrastructure network. On October 30, 2008, we entered into a second addendum to the agreement, which updated the product prices and did not include an undertaking to purchase a minimum amount of products or to exclusively purchase systems from our company.
 
On February 28, 2005 we consummated a management services agreement with Shagrir pursuant to which we provided Shagrir with management services with respect to its business for a period of 2 years beginning February 28, 2005, in consideration for a management fee of approximately $263,000 (NIS 1 million), subject to certain conditions. On February 28, 2007, we consummated a new management services agreement with Shagrir pursuant to which we provide Shagrir with management services with respect to its business, in consideration for a management fee of approximately $32,000 (NIS 120,000), subject to certain conditions. Please see Item 10 – Material ContractsLoan Agreements for further information.
 
 
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Management Agreement with DBSI Investments Ltd.

As part of a series of investments in the Company as of March 2003 by DBSI Investments Ltd., or DBSI, we entered into a management services agreement with DBSI dated April 2003.  Pursuant to the management agreement, DBSI provided us with management services with respect to our business for a period of three years, in consideration for a management fee of $180,000 per annum, to be paid in equal quarterly installments of $45,000. In August 1, 2011, the agreement was renewed for a period of 12 months.

Development Agreement with Car2go Ltd.

On December 8, 2009, Pointer entered into a development agreement with Car2go Ltd., according to which the Cellocator segment will develop a specific product for Car2go Ltd., in consideration for $40,000. 
 
Loan Agreement by and between Shagrir and T.M.C. Technologies Systems L.P.
 
As part of the partnership agreement between Shagrir and TMC, Shagrir has extended a loan to the new partnership, T.M.C. Technologies Systems, L.P., or TMC LP, of up to NIS 2.5 million in accordance with the partnership's needs. The loan to TMC LP will carry an annual interest rate of prime plus 4% and will be refunded to Shagrir from the partnership’s profits. The loan agreement terminates and replaces an earlier loan agreement between Shagrir and TMC pursuant to which Shagrir was to provide a loan to TMC in an amount of up to $350,000. As of March 2012, $300,000 has been borrowed. See Item 4 – Recent Developments for further information.
 
Loan Agreements with Pointer Brazil

On February 28, 2012, we signed a loan agreement with Pointer Brazil for a total amount of 763,500 Brazilian Real. The loan bears an annual interest rate of 19%. The loan is to be repaid in 36 monthly payments commencing in April 2012.

On March 20, 2012, we signed a loan agreement with Pointer Brazil for a total amount of 515,000 Brazilian Real. The loan bears an annual interest rate of 6%. The loan is to be repaid in 12 monthly payments commencing in April 2013.
 
 
  C. 
  INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
 
Not applicable
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
  A. 
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Our Consolidated Financial Statements, as required by this item, are found at the end of this annual report, beginning on page F 1.
 
Also included in this Report are the financial statements of Pointer do Brazil Commercial S.A. for the year ending December 31, 2011, beginning on page F-53.  As Pointer Brazil is a non-majority owned significant subsidiary which incurred equity losses accounting for more than 20% of our consolidated losses, we are required to include its financial statements in a separate report.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
As of December 31, 2011, there are several claims filed and pending against Shagrir, mainly by its customers. The claims are in an amount aggregating to approximately $170 million, and involve claims regarding malfunction of Shagrir's services and products, which occurred during the ordinary course of business.
 
 
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On November 15, 2011, a motion was filed in Israeli court for approval of a class action suit against TMC, the company with whom Shagrir formed the partnership TMC LP, and the credit card company Isracard Ltd., or Isracard, for an amount of NIS 6.7 million. The claim involves the allegation that Isracard collected fees, on its behalf and on behalf of TMC, from unknowing passengers who paid taxi fares by credit card using TMC's system, in contravention of applicable law regulating taxi fares, which prohibit collection from a passenger of any fares exceeding that displayed on the taxi meter. The respondents reject the claim amount and argue that actual amounts collected for the use of credit cards total no more than a few thousand NIS.
 
In addition, in November 2009, Pointer Romania commenced legal proceedings against a Romanian-based petrol company in a Romanian court for the enforcement of a $400,000 (260,000 Euro) agreement made between the parties on July 11, 2008 for the provision of roadside assistance services in Romania. A judgment was given in favor of Pointer Romania, awarding it 30,000 Euro. The parties are currently holding discussions for reaching a settlement.
 
As of December 31, 2011, there are several labor dispute claims filed and pending against Pointer Mexico, mainly by its employees, for an aggregate amount of approximately $16,000. The Company’s management is of the opinion that no material costs will arise to Shagrir or Pointer Mexico in respect of these claims and, therefore, no provision was recorded in the financial statements in respect of the claims.

 
B.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
 
For a description of significant events, which took place since the year ending December 31, 2011, see as incorporated by reference in Item 4 - Information on the CompanyHistory and Development of the Company above.
 
THE OFFER AND LISTING
 
 
A.
OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
 
Markets and Share Price History

Between June 1994 and April 1997, and commencing again on October 31, 1997 until August 2002, our ordinary shares were quoted on NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol NXUS. Between April 17, 1997, and October 30, 1997, and commencing again as of August 2002, the OTC Bulletin Board reported trading in our ordinary shares under the symbol NXUS which later changed to the symbol NXUSF. On November 16, 2005, our ordinary shares resumed trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol NXUS. On February 21, 2006 our ordinary shares began trading under a new symbol, PNTR.  The table below sets forth the high and low prices of our ordinary shares, as reported by NASDAQ Capital Market during the indicated periods.
 
 
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Period
 
High
   
Low
 
Last 6 calendar months
           
February 2012
    3.12       2.85  
January 2012
    4.00       3.17  
December 2011
    4.35       3.2  
November 2011
    4.5       3.9  
October 2011
    4.74       4.01  
September 2011
    4.38       3.71  
Financial quarters during the past two years
               
Fourth Quarter 2011
    4.74       3.20  
Third Quarter 2011
    5.00       3.71  
Second Quarter 2011
    6.42       4.43  
First Quarter 2011
    6.25       4.80  
Fourth Quarter 2010
    7.09       6.04  
Third Quarter 2010
    7.46       6.24  
Second Quarter 2010
    7.70       5.72  
First Quarter 2010
    7.52       6.41  
                 
Five most recent full financial years
               
2011
    6.42       3.20  
2010
    7.70       5.72  
2009
    7.00       2.73  
2008
    7.20       2.70  
2007
    14.53       6.00  
 
 
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On December 19, 2006, we commenced listing our ordinary shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in Israel under the symbol “PNTR”. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low reported sales prices, in NIS, of the ordinary shares on the TASE:
 
Period
 
High
   
Low
 
Last 6 calendar months
           
February 2012
    11       10  
 January 2012
    15       12  
December 2011
    14       13  
November2011
    16       14  
October 2011
    17       15  
September 2011
    16       13  
Financial quarters during the past two years
               
Fourth Quarter 2011
    17       13  
Third Quarter 2011
    18       13  
Second Quarter 2011
    22       15  
First Quarter 2011
    23       18  
Fourth Quarter 2010
    26       22  
Third Quarter 2010
    29       25  
Second Quarter 2010
    30       22  
First Quarter 2010
    30       24  
                 
Five most recent full financial years
               
2011
    23       13  
2010
    30       22  
2009
    27       11  
2008
    27       11  
2007
    58       23  

 
B.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
Not applicable

 
C.
MARKETS
 
Our shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "PNTR" and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the same symbol.

 
D.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
Not applicable

 
E.
DILUTION
 
Not applicable

 
F.
EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
 
Not applicable
 
 
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
 
A.
SHARE CAPITAL
 
Not applicable

 
B.
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
 
Our registration number at the Israeli Registrar of Companies is 52-004147-6.
 
Articles of Association

In September 2003, we adopted our Articles of Association, or Articles, as amended most recently in August, 2011. The objective of our company as stated in the Articles and in our Memorandum of Association is to engage in any lawful activity.

We have currently outstanding only one class of securities. Pursuant to a one-for-one hundred reverse stock split of our ordinary shares, effective as of August 2005, each share of our original Ordinary Shares with a par value of NIS 0.03 each was converted into one Ordinary Share with a par value of NIS 3.00 each. Accordingly, all shares and per share data in this annual report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split. No preferred shares are currently authorized.
 
Holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote per share, and are entitled to participate equally in the payment of dividends and share distributions and, in the event of our liquidation, in the distribution of assets after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors.

Our Articles may be amended by a resolution carried at a general meeting of shareholders with a majority of the voting power present or represented at the meeting. The shareholders rights may not be modified other than as expressly provided in the terms of issuance of the shares.

Our Articles require that we hold our annual general meeting of shareholders each year no later than 15 months from the last annual meeting, at a time and place determined by the board of directors, upon at least 21 or, if required by applicable regulations, 35 days, prior notice to our shareholders. No business may be commenced until a quorum of two or more shareholders holding at least one quarter of the voting rights are present in person or by proxy. Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy, and will be required to prove title to their shares as required by the Israeli Companies Law pursuant to procedures established by the board of directors. Resolutions regarding the following matters must be passed at a general meeting of shareholders:

 
·
amendments to our Articles (other than modifications of shareholders rights as mentioned above);
 
·
appointment or termination of our auditors;
 
·
appointment and dismissal of directors;
 
 
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·
approval of interested party acts and transactions requiring general meeting approval as provided in sections 255 and 268 to 275 of the Israeli Companies Law;
 
·
increase or reduction of our authorized share capital or the rights of shareholders or a class of shareholders- Sections 286 and 287 of the Israeli Companies Law;
 
·
any merger as provided in section 320 of the Israeli Companies Law; and
 
·
the exercise of the board of directors’ powers by a general meeting, if the board of directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is vital for our proper management, as provided in section 52(a) of the Israeli Companies Law.

A special meeting of our shareholders shall be convened by the board, at the request of any two directors or one quarter of the officiating directors, or by request of one or more shareholders holding at least 5% of our issued share capital and 1% of the voting rights, or by request of one or more shareholders holding at least 5% of the voting rights. Shareholders requesting a special meeting must submit their proposed resolution with their request. Within 21 days of receipt of the request, the board must convene a special meeting and send out notices setting forth the date, time and place of the meeting. Such notice must be given at least 35 days, prior to the special meeting.

The Israeli Companies Law-1999

We are subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law, which became effective on February 1, 2000. The Israeli Companies Law codifies the fiduciary duties that “office holders,” including directors and executive officers, owe to a company. An office holder, is defined in the Israeli Companies Law, as a (i) director, (ii) general manager, (iii) chief business manager, (iv) deputy general manager, (v) vice general manager, (vi) executive vice president, (vii) vice president, (viii) another manager directly subordinate to the managing director or (ix) any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of the forgoing positions without regard to such person’s title.

The Israeli Companies Law requires that an office holder of a company promptly disclose, no later than the first board meeting in which such transaction is discussed, any personal interest that he or she may have and all related material information known to him or her, in connection with any existing or proposed transaction by the company. In addition, if the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, as defined under Israeli law, the office holder must also disclose any personal interest held by the office holder’s spouse, siblings, parents, grandparents, descendants, spouse’s descendants and the spouses of any of the foregoing, or by any corporation in which the office holder is a 5% or greater shareholder, holder of 5% or more of the voting power, director or general manager or in which he or she has the right to appoint at least one director or the general manager. An extraordinary transaction is defined as a transaction not in the ordinary course of business, not on market terms, or that is likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities.
 
 
91

 

In the case of a transaction that is not an extraordinary transaction, after the office holder complies with the above disclosure requirement, only board approval is required unless the Articles of Association of the company provide otherwise. The transaction must not be adverse to the company’s interest. If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, then, in addition to any approval required by the Articles of Association, it must also be approved by the audit committee and by the board of directors, and, under specified circumstances, by a meeting of the shareholders.

Subject to certain exceptions provided for in the regulations to the Israeli Companies Law, agreements regarding directors’ terms of employment require the approval of the board of directors and the audit committee. In all matters in which a director has a personal interest, including matters of his/her terms of employment, he/she shall not be permitted to vote on the matter or be present in the meeting in which the matter is considered. However, should a majority of the audit committee or of the board of directors have a personal interest in the matter, then:

(a)             all of the directors are permitted to vote on the matter and attend the meeting in which the matter is considered; and
 
(b)             the matter requires approval of the shareholders at a general meeting.

According to the Israeli Companies Law, the disclosure requirements discussed above also apply to a controlling shareholder of a public company. Such requirements also apply to certain shareholders of a public company, with respect to private placements that will increase their relative holdings in the company. In general, extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, and agreements relating to employment and compensation terms of a controlling shareholder require the approval of the audit committee, the board of directors and the shareholders of the company. The term “controlling shareholder” is defined as a shareholder who has the ability to direct the activities of a company, other than if this power derives solely from the shareholder’s position on the board of directors or any other position with the company. The definition also includes shareholders that hold 25% or more of the voting rights if no other shareholder owns more than 50% of the voting rights in the company. In general, extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, and agreements relating to employment and compensation terms of a controlling shareholder, require the approval of the audit committee, the board of directors and the shareholders of the company.
 
The shareholder approval must either include  the majority of the shares held by disinterested shareholders who actively participate in the voting process (without taking abstaining votes into account) or, alternatively, the total shareholdings of the disinterested shareholders who vote against the transaction must not represent more than two percent of the voting rights in the company.
 
 
92

 

Private placements in a public company require approval by a company’s board of directors and shareholders in the following cases:

(a) A private placement that meets all of the following conditions:

(i) the private placement will increase the relative holdings of a shareholder that holds five percent or more of the company’s outstanding share capital, assuming the exercise of all of the securities convertible into shares held by that person, or that will cause any person to become, as a result of the issuance, a holder of more than five percent of the company's outstanding share capital.

(ii) 20 percent or more of the voting rights in the company prior to such issuance are being offered.

(iii) all or part of the consideration for the offering is not cash or registered securities, or the private placement is not being offered at market terms.

(b) A private placement that results in anyone becoming a controlling shareholder of the public company.

In addition, under the Israeli Companies Law, certain transactions or a series of transactions are considered to be one private placement.

Any placement of securities that does not fit the above description may be issued at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Under the Israeli Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to act in good faith towards the company and other shareholders and refrain from abusing his power in the company, including, among other things, voting in the general meeting of shareholders on the following matters:

 
·
any amendment to the Articles of Association;
 
·
an increase of the company’s authorized share capital;
 
·
a merger; or
 
·
approval of interested party transactions that require shareholder approval as provided in sections 255 and 268 to 275 of the Israeli Companies Law.

In addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder who knows that it possesses power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder who has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment office holder in the company is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company. The breach of such duty is governed by Israeli contract law. The Israeli Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty. The Israeli Companies Law requires that specified types of transactions, actions and arrangements be approved as provided for in a company’s articles of association and in some circumstances by the audit committee, by the board of directors and by the shareholders. The vote required by the audit committee and the board of directors for approval of these matters, in each case, is a majority of the disinterested directors participating in a duly convened meeting.

 
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Provisions Restricting Change in Control of Our Company

Tender Offer.  A person wishing to acquire shares or any class of shares of a publicly traded Israeli company and who would as a result hold over 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of a class of shares which are listed, is required by the Companies Law to make a tender offer to all of the company’s shareholders for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company.  If the shareholders who do not respond to the offer hold less than 5% of the issued share capital of the company, and more than half of the shareholders without a personal interest in accepting the offer approve the tender offer, all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. Notwithstanding the above, if those shareholders who do not approve constitute less than 2% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company, then the full tender will be accepted and all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. The Companies Law provides for an exception regarding the threshold requirement for a shareholder that prior to and following February 1, 2000, held over 90% of a company's issued and outstanding share capital. Furthermore, shareholders may petition the court to alter the consideration for the acquisition. However, subject to certain exceptions, the terms of the tender offer may state that a shareholder that accepts the offer waives such right.

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 holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company.  This rule does not apply if there is already another shareholder holding 25% or more of the voting rights in the company.  Similarly, the Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of 45% or more of the voting rights in the company, if there is no other shareholder holding 45% or more of the voting rights in the company.

Merger. The Companies Law permits merger transactions if approved by each party’s board of directors and the majority of each party’s shares voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders’ meeting called on at least 21 days’ prior notice, or 35 days’ prior notice to the extent required under the regulations to the Israeli Companies Law. Under the Companies Law, merger transactions may be approved by holders of a simple majority of our shares present, in person or by proxy, at a general meeting and voting on the transaction.  In determining whether the required majority has approved the merger, if shares of a company are held by the other party to the merger, or by any person holding at least 25% of the outstanding voting shares or 25% of the means of appointing directors of the other party to the merger, then a vote against the merger by holders of the majority of the shares present and voting, excluding shares held by the other party or by such person, or anyone acting on behalf of either of them, is sufficient to reject the merger transaction.  If the transaction would have been approved but for the exclusion of the votes of certain shareholders as provided above, a court may still approve the merger upon the request of holders of at least 25% of the voting rights of a company, if the court holds that the merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the value of the parties to the merger and the consideration offered to the shareholders.  Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, the 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 executed unless at least 30 days have passed from the receipt of the shareholders’ approval and 50 days have passed from the time that a proposal for approval of the merger has been filed with the Israeli Registrar of Companies. See “Item 10. Additional Information- Companies Law Amendment” below for a discussion of a recent amendment to the Israeli Companies Law which may impact our corporate governance practices as discussed herein.
 
 
94

 

Companies Law Amendment

Recently, the Israeli legislature, the Knesset, approved a new amendment to the Israeli Companies Law, or the Amendment, that came into effect during 2011. The main purpose of the Amendment is to revise and enhance existing provisions governing corporate governance practices of Israeli companies.

The main revisions under the Amendment are, among others, as follows:

Audit Committee. A majority of the Audit Committee must be comprised of “independent directors” (the criteria for which include, among other things, that such directors have not served as directors in the appointing company for over 9 years).  Any person regularly engaged by or rendering services to a controlling shareholder, or whose salary is primarily derived from a controlling shareholder, may not serve on the Audit Committee. Additionally, the Audit Committee is required to classify whether related party transactions are extraordinary or significant (where such a designation may have an effect on what additional approvals will be required).

External Directors. Under the Companies Law, a publicly traded company must have at least two external directors, for which strict criteria of independence apply.  Currently, an external director may serve (in general) for two fixed terms of three years. The initial three-year term of service of external directors can be extended, at the election of the company subject to certain conditions, by two additional three-year terms. External directors will be elected by a majority vote at a shareholders’ meeting, provided that either the majority of shares voted at the meeting, including at least one-half of the shares held by non-controlling shareholders voted at the meeting, vote in favor; or the total number of shares held by non-controlling shareholders voted against does not exceed two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company.

Extraordinary Transactions. Extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, and agreements relating to employment and compensation of a controlling shareholder, require shareholders’ approval that shall either include at least one-half of the shares held by disinterested shareholders participating in the vote, or, alternatively, the total shareholdings of disinterested shareholders voting against the transaction must not represent more than two percent of the voting rights. Agreements relating to engagement or provision of services for a period exceeding three years, including existing agreements, must generally be approved once every three years.
 
 
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Code of Corporate Conduct. A code of recommended corporate governance practices has been attached as an annex to the Israeli Companies Law. In the explanatory notes to the legislation, the Knesset noted that an "adopt or disclose non-adoption" regulation would be issued by the Israeli Securities Authority with respect to such code. As of the date of this Annual Report, the Israeli Securities Authority has not issued any regulations yet with respect to this code, and it has not been determined to what extent this code will be relevant to Israeli companies that are also listed on non-Israeli stock exchanges.

Fines. The Israeli Securities Authority shall be authorized to impose fines on any person or company performing an action specifically designated as a breach under the Amendment.

The Israeli Securities Law- 1968 and the Securities Law Amendment

On February 27, 2011, an amendment to the Israeli Securities Law- 1968, or the Securities Law, came into effect, , which applies to Israeli public companies, including companies the securities of which are also listed on NASDAQ Capital Market. The main purpose of the amendment, or the Securities Law Amendment, is to create an administrative enforcement procedure to be used by the Israeli Securities Authority, or ISA, to enhance the efficacy of enforcement in the securities market in Israel. The new administrative enforcement procedure may be applied to any company or person (including director, officer or shareholder of a company) performing any of the actions specifically designated as breaches of law under the Securities Law Amendment.

Furthermore, the Securities Law Amendment requires that the chief executive officer of a company supervise and take all reasonable measures to prevent the company or any of its employees from breaching the Israeli Securities Law. The chief executive officer is presumed to have fulfilled such supervisory duty if the company adopts internal enforcement procedures designed to prevent such breaches, appoints a representative to supervise the implementation of such procedures and takes measures to correct the breach and prevent its recurrence.

Under the Securities Law Amendment, a company cannot obtain insurance against or indemnify a third party (including its officers and/or employees) for any administrative procedure and/or monetary fine (other than for payment of damages to an injured party).  The Securities Law Amendment permits insurance and/or indemnification for expenses related to an administrative procedure, such as reasonable legal fees, provided that it is permitted under the company's articles of association.

We continue to examine the implications of the Securities Law Amendment. However, its effect and consequences, as well as our scope of exposure, are yet to be determined in practice. There is no assurance that we will not be required to take certain actions in order to enhance our compliance with the provisions of the Securities Law Amendment, such as adopting and implementing an internal enforcement plan to reduce our exposure to potential breaches of the Israeli Securities Law, or amending our articles of association to permit insurance and/or indemnification as contemplated by the Securities Law Amendment.
 
 
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Nasdaq Listing Rules and Home Country Practices

In accordance with Israeli law and practice and subject to the exemption set forth in Rule 5615(a)(3) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules, we follow the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law with respect to the following requirements:

 
·
Distribution of annual and quarterly reports to shareholders – Under Israeli law we are not required to distribute annual and quarterly reports directly to shareholders and the generally accepted business practice in Israel is not to distribute such reports to shareholders. We do however make our audited financial statements available to our shareholders prior to our annual general meeting and file quarterly financial results with the Securities Exchange Commission on Form 6-K.

 
·
Quorum – Under Israeli law, a company is entitled to determine in its articles of association the number of shareholders and percentage of holdings required for a quorum at a shareholders meeting. Our Articles provide that a quorum of two or more shareholders holding at least 25% of the voting rights in person or by proxy is required for commencement of business at a general meeting.

 
·
Approval of Related Party Transactions – All related party transactions are approved in accordance with the requirements and procedures for approval of interested party acts and transactions, set forth in sections 268 to 275 of the Israeli Companies Law, and the Regulations promulgated thereunder, which require audit committee approval and shareholder approval, as well as board approval, for specified transactions, rather than those approvals under the NASDAQ Listing Rules, which require approval by the audit committee or other independent body of our board.   Provided that our executive officers do not serve on our board, Israeli law does not require nor do we engage in the recommendation to, or determination by, independent members of our board of the compensation of our executive officers. See also Item 10B– Additional InformationMemorandum and Articles of Association– "The Israeli Companies Law", for further information on the approval of related party transactions.

 
·
Shareholder Approval – We seek shareholder approval for all corporate action requiring such approval in accordance with the requirements of the Israeli Companies Law, rather than the requirements for seeking shareholder approval under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635.

 
·
Independence of Directors – A majority of our board of directors is not comprised of independent directors as defined in Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ Listing Rules. Our board contains two independent directors in accordance with the provisions contained in Sections 239-249 of the Israeli Companies Law. Israeli law does not require nor do our independent directors conduct, regularly scheduled meetings at which only they are present.
 
 
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·
Nomination of our Directors – With the exception of our independent directors, our directors are elected for terms of one year or until the following annual meeting, by a general meeting of our shareholders. The nominations for director which are presented to our shareholders are generally made by our directors. Israeli law does not require the adoption of and our board has not adopted a formal written charter or board resolution addressing the nomination process and related matters.

 
·
Audit Committee- Our audit committee does not comply with all of the requirements of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605. Rather, our audit committee complies with all of the requirements under Israeli law. Israeli law does not require and our board has not adopted a formal written audit committee charter.

 
C.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
 
Acquisition of Cellocator Ltd.

In September 2007, we acquired the assets and activities of Cellocator Ltd. and Matan Y. Communication Tracking Systems Ltd. private Israeli companies active in the field of cellular location-based services and technology, for approximately US$18.6 million, consisting of (i) approximately US$ 16.7 million in cash; (ii) the issuance of 160,000 of our ordinary shares and (iii) a non-tradable convertible debenture from the seller with a face value of $1.9 million, which in January 2008 the seller determined in writing not to convert. In September 2010, we paid $951,000 out of the principal of the non-tradable debenture plus accrued interest. A new debenture was entered into with MSY Assets Ltd., a company affiliated with the seller, for the remaining $1 million, plus interest at a rate of 4.4% per annum, which was paid in full in September 2011.

Private Placements with U.S. Institutional Investors

On April 2, 2007, we entered into and consummated a share purchase agreement with a group of United States institutional investors for the purchase of 805,000 of our ordinary shares for an aggregate price of $8.5M. Pursuant to the transaction, the investors were also issued warrants to purchase 402,500 of our ordinary shares, such that for each one share purchased the investors were entitled to a warrant to purchase half a share. The warrants are exercisable into ordinary shares, at an exercise price per share of $12.6 and will be exercisable for a period of five years.

Loan Agreements

Shagrir

In 2005, in order to finance Shagrir’s acquisition of the roadside assistance and towing services provider, Shagrir Towing, Shagrir received loans of approximately $23 million from Bank Hapoalim B.M., and loans of approximately $22.5 million from a group of investors, including a loan of approximately $9 million provided by Shagrir Towing, a loan of approximately $11.5 million provided by a group of investors led by Gandyr and Egged Holdings Ltd., or Egged, and a loan of approximately $2 million provided by the Company.
 
 
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        By the end of 2008, Shagrir repaid all of these loans, other than the amounts owed to Bank Hapoalim, by means of available funds and through additional loans from Bank Hapoalim in NIS currency and at an interest rate of 2.1%-7.39%. As a result, as of December 31, 2011, Shagrir has in the aggregate approximately $16.3 million in outstanding loans to Bank Hapoalim. For further information, see Note 11 of our consolidated financial statements.
 
On May 17, 2009, as part of the acquisition of 51% of the share capital of Car2go by Shagrir, Shagrir agreed to provide Car2go with a loan in the amount of up to $1.5 million (consisting of $241,000 in cash and $1,206,000 in services). The loan was provided periodically throughout 2010 in accordance with specific requirements of Car2go. The loan is linked to the Israeli CPI and bears an interest of 4%. Car2go will repay the loan in quarterly installment commencing on May 15, 2013.
 
Pointer
 
        In order to finance our acquisition of Cellocator on September 18, 2007, Pointer received loan and credit facilities in the amount of $7 million from Bank Hapoalim, of which approximately $3 million remains outstanding as of December 31, 2011. The credit facility matures on 2013 and interest is payable at a determined rate above the London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor. For further information, see Note 11a of our consolidated financial statements. For additional Information see Item 9C – Acquisition of Cellocator Ltd.
 
        For further information regarding these loans, including related financial covenants, see Note 11c and 11d to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Management Services Agreement with Gandyr and Egged

On November 16, 2004, Shagrir entered into a management services agreement with Gandyr, Egged and others for the provision of management services to Shagrir in consideration for approximately NIS 1 million (approximately $270,000) per year. In February 2009, the parties entered into an amendment to this Agreement pursuant to which Egged and Legov (a member of the Gandyr group) would cease to provide management services to Shagrir, and would no longer be entitled to a management fee, thereby reducing the annual management fees to NIS 880,000.

Purchase agreement with K.S. Operation Centers for Vehicles Ltd. and Shimon Barzilay
 
On October 11, 2011, Shagrir signed a definitive agreement to acquire the activities, intellectual property and goodwill of K.S. Operation Centers for Vehicles Ltd., an Israeli chain of car repair garages. The consideration of NIS 12 million for the acquisition was paid in January 2012 in accordance with an amendment dated January 1, 2012. Shagrir will leverage the acquired chain of car repair garages as a complementary service for its array of road side services. For further information, see Note 1l of our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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Real Property Leases

For Information regarding our real property leases, please see Item 4― Information on the Company–Property, Plants and Equipment.

For a summary of other relevant contracts, see Item 4 ― Information on the Company― History and Development of the Company and Item 7 – Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions, which is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
D.
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
 
Under current Israeli regulations, any dividends or other distributions paid in respect of our ordinary shares purchased by nonresidents of Israel with certain non-Israeli currencies (including Dollars) and any amounts payable upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our affairs, as well as the proceeds of any sale in Israel of our securities to an Israeli resident, will be freely repatriable in such non-Israeli currencies at the rate of exchange prevailing at the time of conversion pursuant to the general permit issued under the Israeli Currency Law, 1978, provided that Israeli income tax has been paid on (or withheld from) such payments.  Because exchange rates between the NIS and the U.S. Dollar fluctuate continuously, U.S. shareholders will be subject to any such currency fluctuation during the period from when such dividend is declared through the date payment is made in U.S. Dollars.

Investments outside of Israel by the Company no longer require specific approval from the Controller of Foreign Currency at the Bank of Israel.

 
E.                TAXATION AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 
 
The following is a summary of some of the current tax law applicable to companies in Israel, with special reference to its effect on us and our subsidiaries. The following also contains a discussion of specified Israeli tax consequences to our shareholders and government programs from which we and some of our subsidiaries benefit. To the extent that the discussion is based on tax legislation that has not been subject to judicial or administrative interpretation, there can be no assurance that the views expressed in the discussion will be accepted by the tax authorities in question. 

The discussion is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal or professional tax advice and is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations.
 
 
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General Corporate Tax Structure
 
Israeli companies are subject to corporate tax at the rate of 24% in the 2011 tax year and 25% as of the 2012 tax year. However, the effective tax rate payable by a company which derives income from an Approved Enterprise (as further discussed below) may be considerably less.
 
Our effective corporate tax rate may exceed the Israeli tax rate. Our subsidiaries in Argentina, Mexico, USA, Romania, and Brazil will generally each be subject to applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxation, and we may also be subject to taxation in other jurisdictions where we own assets, have employees or conduct activities.  Because of the complexity of these local tax provisions, it is not possible to anticipate the actual combined effective corporate tax rate that will apply to us.

Special Provisions Relating to Taxation Under Inflationary Conditions

Under the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985 ("the Israeli law"), results for tax purposes are measured in real terms, in accordance with the changes in the Israeli Consumer Price Index ("Israeli CPI"). Accordingly, until 2002, results for tax purposes were measured in terms of earnings in NIS after certain adjustments for increases in the Israeli CPI. Commencing in taxable year 2003, the Company has elected to measure its taxable income and file its tax return under the Israeli Income Tax Regulations (Principles Regarding the Management of Books of Account of Foreign Invested Companies and Certain Partnerships and the Determination of Their Taxable Income), 1986. Such an election obligates the Company for three years. Accordingly, commencing in the taxable year 2003, results for tax purposes are measured in terms of earnings in Dollar.
 
In February 2008, the "Knesset" (Israeli parliament) passed an amendment to the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985, which limits the scope of the law starting 2008 and thereafter. Starting 2008, the results for tax purposes will be measured in nominal values, excluding certain adjustments for changes in the Consumer Price Index carried out in the period up to December 31, 2007. The amended law includes, inter alia, the elimination of the inflationary additions and deductions and the additional deduction for depreciation starting 2008.

Tax benefits under the 2010 Amendment
 
In December 2010, the "Knesset" (Israeli Parliament) passed the Law for Economic Policy for 2011 and 2012 (Amended Legislation), 2011, which prescribes, among others, amendments in the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 ("the Law"). The amendment became effective as of January 1, 2011. According to the amendment, the benefit tracks in the Law were modified and a flat tax rate applies to the Company's entire preferred income. The Company will be able to opt to apply (the waiver is non-recourse) the amendment and from then on it will be subject to the amended tax rates that are: 2011 and 2012 - 15% (in development area A - 10%), 2013 and 2014 - 12.5% (in development area A - 7%) and in 2015 and thereafter - 12% (in development area A - 6%).
 
 
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Israeli Transfer Pricing Regulations

On November 29, 2006, Income Tax Regulations (Determination of Market Terms), 2006, promulgated under Section 85A of the Tax Ordinance, came into effect (the “TP Regs”). Section 85A of the Tax Ordinance and the TP Regs generally require that all cross-border transactions carried out between related parties be conducted on an arm’s length principle basis and will be taxed accordingly.  The TP Regs are not expected to have a material effect on the Company.

Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969

Under the Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969, or the Industry Encouragement Law, Industrial Companies (as defined below) are entitled to the following tax benefits:

(a) Amortization of purchases of know-how and patents over eight years for tax purposes.

(b) The right to elect, under specified conditions, to file a consolidated tax return with other related Israeli Industrial Companies.

(c) Amortization of expenses incurred in connection with certain public securities issuances over a three-year period.
 
(d) Tax exemption for shareholders who held shares before a public offering on capital gains derived from the sale (as defined by law) of securities, if realized after more than five years from the public issuance of additional securities of the company. (As of November 1994, this exemption was repealed. However, it applies to some of our shareholders pursuant to a grand-fathering clause with respect to gains accrued before January 1, 2003.
 
(e) Accelerated depreciation rates on equipment and buildings.

Eligibility for benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not subject to receipt of prior approval from any governmental authority. Under the Industry Encouragement Law, an “Industrial Company” is defined as a company resident in Israel, at least 90% of the income of which, in any tax year, determined in Israeli currency, exclusive of income from government loans, capital gains, interest and dividends, is derived from an “Industrial Enterprise” owned by it. An “Industrial Enterprise” is defined as an enterprise whose major activity in a given tax year is industrial production activity.

We believe that we currently qualify as an Industrial Company within the definition of the Industry Encouragement Law. No assurance can be given that we will continue to qualify as an Industrial Company or that the benefits described above will be available in the future.
 
 
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 Israeli Capital Gains Tax
 
As of January 1, 2012, an individual is subject to a 25% tax rate on real capital gains derived from the sale of shares, as long as the individual is not a "substantial shareholder" (generally a shareholder who is the owner of10% or more in the right to profits, right to nominate a director or voting rights) in the company issuing the shares.
 
A substantial shareholder will be subject to tax at a rate of 30% in respect of real capital gains derived from the sale of shares issued by the company in which he or she is a substantial shareholder. The determination of whether the individual is a substantial shareholder will be made on the date that the securities are sold. In addition, the individual will be deemed to be a substantial shareholder if at any time during the 12 months preceding this date he had been a substantial shareholder.

For gains derived from the sale of an asset acquired before January 1, 2012, and sold on or after such date, other rates of tax will apply depending upon the length of time for which the asset was held.
 
Non-Israeli residents are exempt from Israeli capital gains tax on any gains derived from the sale of shares in an Israeli corporation publicly traded on the TASE and/or on a foreign stock exchange, provided such gains do not derive from a permanent establishment of such shareholders in Israel and that such shareholders did not acquire their shares prior to the issuer’s initial public offering. However, non-Israeli corporations will not be entitled to such exemption if an Israeli resident (i) has a controlling interest of 25% or more in such non-Israeli corporation, or (ii) is the beneficiary of or is entitled to 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli corporation, whether directly or indirectly.

In some instances where our shareholders may be liable to Israeli tax on the sale of their ordinary shares, the payment of the consideration may be subject to the withholding of Israeli tax at the source.

Pursuant to the treaty between the Governments of the United States and Israel with respect to taxes on income, or the U.S.-Israel tax treaty, the sale, exchange or disposition of our ordinary shares by a person who qualifies as a resident of the United States under the treaty and who is entitled to claim the benefits afforded to him by the treaty, will generally not be subject to Israeli capital gains tax. This exemption shall not apply to a person who held, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of the voting power in our company during any part of the 12 month period preceding the sale, exchange or disposition, subject to certain conditions. A sale, exchange or disposition of our shares by a U.S. resident qualified under the treaty, who held, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of the voting power in our company at any time during the preceding 12 month period would be subject to Israeli tax, to the extent applicable; however, under the treaty, this U.S. resident would be permitted to claim a credit for these taxes against the U.S. income tax with respect to the sale, exchange or disposition, subject to the limitations in U.S. laws applicable to foreign tax credits.
 
 
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Israeli Tax on Dividend Income
 
Non-residents of Israel are subject to income tax on income accrued or derived from sources in Israel.  These sources of income include passive income such as dividends, royalties and interest, as well as non-passive income from services rendered in Israel.  On distributions of dividends other than bonus shares, or stock dividends, to Israeli individuals and foreign resident individuals and corporations we would be required to withhold income tax at the rate of 25% (or 30% in the case of a substantial shareholder).  If the income out of which the dividend is being paid is attributable to an Approved Enterprise under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959, the rate is 15%.  A different rate may be provided for in a treaty between Israel and the shareholder’s country of residence.  Under the U.S.-Israel tax treaty, if the income out of which the dividend is being paid is not attributable to an Approved Enterprise, then income tax with respect to shareholders that are U.S. corporations holding at least 10% of our voting power in the twelve-month period preceding the distribution of such dividends, is required to be withheld at the rate of 12.5%. 
 
Residents of the United States will generally have taxes in Israel withheld at source. Such persons generally would be entitled to a credit or deduction for United States Federal income tax purposes for the amount of such taxes withheld, subject to limitations applicable to foreign tax credits.
 
 
F.
DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
 
Not Applicable

 
G.
STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
 
Not Applicable

 
H.
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
 
We are required to file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations thereunder applicable to foreign private issuers. Reports and other information filed by us with the SEC may be inspected and copied at the SEC's public reference facilities described below. As a foreign private issuer we are not required to file periodic information as frequently or as promptly as United States companies. Therefore, we publicly announce our year-end results promptly and file information with the SEC under the cover of Form 6-K as required. As a foreign private issuer, we are also exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and other provisions in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC without charge at the SEC’s public reference room, located at 100 F Street, N.E.,Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Branch of the SEC at such address, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at l−800−SEC−0330 for further information on the public reference room. In addition, such information concerning our company can be inspected and copied at the offices of the Israel Securities Authority at 22 Kanfei Nesharim St., Jerusalem, Israel.  As a foreign private issuer, all documents which were filed after November 4, 2002 on the SEC’s EDGAR system will be available for retrieval on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC facilities listed above. These SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services. We also generally make available on our own web site (www.pointer.com) all our interim and year-end financial statements as well as other information.  The information contained in, or incorporated into, our website is not part of this annual report.
 
 
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Any statement in this annual report about any of our contracts or other documents is not necessarily complete. If the contract or document is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, the contract or document is deemed to modify the description contained in this annual report. We urge you to review the exhibits themselves for a complete description of the contract or document.

 
I.
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
 
Not Applicable

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
 
                 In the course of our ordinary course of business, we are exposed to market risks that include fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and the Israeli CPI. Other than if we deem it to be necessary, we do not invest in derivative financial instruments or other market risk sensitive instruments.

The functional and reporting currency of Pointer is the U.S. Dollar ("Dollar"). The majority of Pointer's revenues is generated in or linked to Dollars and a substantial portion of its costs is incurred in Dollars. Therefore, the Dollar is the currency of the primary economic environment in which Pointer operates.
 
The functional and reporting currency of our Israeli subsidiary Shagrir and Car2go is their local currency, the New Israeli Shekel ("NIS").

The functional and reporting currency of our Argentinean subsidiary is its local currency, the Argentine Peso.
 
The functional and reporting currency of our Mexican subsidiary is its local currency, the Mexican Peso.

The functional and reporting currency of our Romanian subsidiary is its local currency, the Euro.
 
 
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The functional and reporting currency of our Brazilian affiliate is its local currency, the Brazilian Real.

The functional and reporting currency of our U.S. subsidiary is its local currency, the Dollar.

For all the subsidiaries the functional and reporting currency of which is not the Dollar, assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates and statement of operations items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Such translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component, other comprehensive income (loss), in shareholders' equity (deficiency).

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, accumulated foreign currency translation differences are $1 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

Foreign exchange risk

While Pointer's functional currency is the US Dollar, Pointer also has some non-US Dollar or non-US Dollar linked currency exposures. These exposures are mainly derived from Pointer’s non-US Dollar revenues and expenses and non-US Dollar accounts receivable, payments to suppliers and subcontractors, obligations in other currencies and payroll related expenses which are mainly incurred in NIS.

Our operating and pricing strategies take into account the changes in exchange rates which occur over time. However, there can be no assurance that future fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies will not have an adverse material effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

Pointer entered into derivative instrument arrangements (forward contracts) to hedge a portion of anticipated NIS payroll payments. As of December 31, 2010 Pointer had forward exchange contracts for the acquisition of approximately NIS 8 million in consideration for $2.1 million that matured during 2011. These derivative instruments are designated as cash flows hedges, as defined by ASC 815, as amended, and are all highly effective as hedges of these expenses when the salary is recorded. The effective portion of the derivative instruments is included in payroll expenses in the statements of income. Pointer excludes forward to spot differences from the OCI and recognizes such gains or losses in financial expenses. During 2011, there were no gains or losses recognized in earnings for hedge ineffectiveness, other than forward to spot differences.
As of December 31, 2011 the Company had forward exchange contracts for the acquisition of approximately NIS 14,000 in consideration for $3,900 that will mature during 2012.

Market risk was estimated as the potential change in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% change in the year-end US Dollar exchange rate.

Our revenues and expenses generated in NIS are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations between the NIS and the US Dollar. As of December 31, 2011 we had net assets of $23.5 million and net loss of $6.7 million, denominated in the NIS. Assuming an adverse foreign exchange rate fluctuation, we would experience a change in US Dollar revenues and net income. A hypothetical 10% devaluation of the US Dollar against the NIS would thus result in approximately a $725,000 net decrease in our earnings.
 
 
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Our revenues and expenses generated in Euro are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations between the Euro and the US Dollar. As of December 31, 2011 we had net assets of $0.7 million and net income of $4 million, denominated in the Euro. Assuming an adverse foreign exchange rate fluctuation, we would experience a change in Dollar revenues and net income. A hypothetical 10% devaluation of the Dollar against the Euro would thus result in approximately $470,000 net increase in our earnings.

Our revenues and expenses generated in Argentinean Pesos are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations between the Argentinean Pesos and the US Dollar. As of December 31, 2011 we had net assets of $2.9 million and net loss of $0.5 million, denominated in the Argentinean Pesos. Assuming an adverse foreign exchange rate fluctuation, we would experience a change in US Dollar revenues and net loss. A hypothetical 10% devaluation of the US Dollar against the Argentinean Pesos would thus result in approximately a $53,000 net decrease in our earnings.
 
Our revenues and expenses generated in Mexican Pesos are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations between the Mexican Peso and the US Dollar. As of December 31, 2011 we had a net loss of $0.8 million, denominated in the Mexican Peso. Assuming an adverse foreign exchange rate fluctuation, we would experience a change in US Dollar revenues and net loss. A hypothetical 10% devaluation of the US Dollar against the Mexican Peso would thus result in approximately an $82,000 net decrease in our earnings.
 
Interest rate risk

Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to loans we received from banks and other lenders.  Please see Item 5 – Impact of Exchange Rate Fluctuations for further information.  As of December 31, 2011, our outstanding loans bear variable interest rates of $2.5 million.

Israeli CPI

Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, relates primarily to loans borrowed by Shagrir from banks and other lenders. As of December 31, 2011, Shagrir has a total outstanding loan amount  of $3 million, which is linked to CPI.
 
 
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The table below details the balance sheet exposure by currency and interest rates:

     
Expected Maturity Dates
 
Interest        
2012
   
2013
   
2014
 
2015
 
2016 and thereafter
 
         
In Thousands
 
ASSETS:
                               
                                 
Cash - in U.S. Dollars
          19                      
Cash- in NIS
          1,088                      
Cash- In other currency:
          484                      
                                   
LIABILITIES:
                                 
                                   
Short-term bank credit in, or linked to, dollars
  3-4       1,901                      
Short-term bank credit in, or linked to, dollars
 
LIBOR + 4.25
      500                      
Long-term loans (including current maturities) In U.S. Dollars:
 
LIBOR +2
      800       800       600          
In NIS
  4 - 7.39       6,036       3,222       1,445          
In NIS linked to CPI
  2.1-5.48       2,610       470                  
In NIS - Prime + 0.95% variable interest
  4.45       1,342       1,210                  

DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

Not applicable.

PART II

DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

Not applicable.

MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not applicable.
 
 
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management of the Company, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as of December 31, 2011.  The term "disclosure controls and procedures," as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time period specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding adequate disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 
(b)
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 based on the framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
 
 
109

 

 
(c)
Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm.

Not Applicable.

 
(d)
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

[RESERVED]

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Gil Oren is our audit committee financial expert.

CODE OF ETHICS.

On June 22, 2003, our company adopted a code of ethics, which applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer and our principal accountant.  The text of this code is available free of charge upon written request addressed to: Quality Manager, Pointer Telocation Ltd., 14 Hamelacha Street, Rosh Ha'ayin, 48091 Israel, fax: +972-3-5719698.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by our principal auditors for the audit of the Company’s consolidated annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
   
USD in thousands
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Audit Fees(1)
    252       282  
Audit-Related Fees(2)
    6       4  
Tax Fees(3)
    17       25  
All Other Fees
    44       7  
 
(1) Audit fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and review of financial statements and services normally provided by the independent auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
 
(2) Audit-related fees are fees principally for services not provided in Audit Fees.
 
(3) Tax services fees consist of compliance fees for the preparation of original and amended tax returns, claims for refunds and tax payments.
 
 
110

 
 
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

Our Audit committee has approved all audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent public accountants, Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global. Pre-approval of an audit or non-audit service may be given as general pre-approval, as part of the audit committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of our independent auditors, or on an individual basis. Any proposed services exceeding general pre-approved levels also require specific pre-approval by our audit committee. The Audit Committee has not approved prohibited non-audit functions defined in section 201 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the rules of the Securities and Exchange Committee, and the Audit Committee considers whether proposed services are compatible with the independence of the public accountants. All the services provided by our independent accountants in 2011 were approved by our Audit Committee.

EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES.

Not applicable.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER ANDAFFILIATED PURCHASERS

None.

CHANGE IN THE REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules, as follows:

 
·
Under Israeli law we are not required to distribute annual and quarterly reports directly to shareholders, but we do however make our audited financial statements available to our shareholders prior to our annual general meeting and file quarterly financial results with the Securities Exchange Commission on Form 6-K.
 
 
111

 
 
 
·
As opposed to Rule 5620(c) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules, which sets forth a required quorum for a shareholders meeting, under Israeli law a company is entitled to determine in its articles of association the number of shareholders and percentage of holdings required for a quorum at a shareholders meeting. Our Articles, consistent with the Israeli Companies Law, provide that the quorum requirements for an adjourned meeting are the presence of a minimum of two shareholders present in person holding 25% of the voting power of the company.

 
·
All related party transactions are approved in accordance with the requirements and procedures for approval of interested party acts and transactions set forth in the Israeli Companies Law, and are not subject to the review process set forth in Rule 5630 of the NASDAQ Listing Rules. For a detailed discussion please see Item 10.B “Additional Information – NASDAQ Listing Rules and Home Country Practices".

 
·
We seek shareholder approval for all corporate action requiring such approval in accordance with the requirements of the Israeli Companies Law rather than under the requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules, including (but not limited to) the appointment or termination of auditors, appointment and dismissal of directors, approval of interested party acts and transactions requiring general meeting approval as discussed above and a merger.

 
·
A majority of our board of directors is not comprised of independent directors as defined in the NASDAQ Listing Rules, but our board of directors contains two external directors in accordance with the Israeli Companies Law. Israeli law does not require, nor do our external directors conduct, regularly scheduled meetings at which only they are present. In addition, with the exception of our external directors, our directors are elected for terms of one year or until the following annual meeting, by a general meeting of our shareholders. The nominations for director which are presented to our shareholders are also generally made by our directors. Israeli law does not require the adoption of and our board has not adopted a formal written charter or board resolution addressing the nomination process and related matters. Compensation of our directors and other officers is determined in accordance with Israeli law.

 
·
Our audit committee does not comply with all the requirements of Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. Rather, our audit committee complies with all of the requirements under Israeli law. Israeli law does not require and our board has not adopted a formal written audit committee charter. For further information please see Item 6 “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices".

        See Item 6 “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices” and Item 10.B “Additional Information – NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and Home Country Practices” for further information on the significant ways in which the registrant’s corporate governance practices differ from those followed by U.S. companies under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market.
 
 
112

 

ITEM 16H.             MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.
 
PART III

ITEM 17.                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Not Applicable.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Financial Statements required by this item are found at the end of this Annual Report, beginning on page F-1.
 
ITEM 19.                EXHIBITS
 
1.1
Memorandum of Association incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed with the Commission on June 10, 1994 (registration number 33-76576).

1.2
Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant.

2.1
Form of Convertible Debenture due September 18, 2010 of the Registrant incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Registrant's filed with the Commission on March 31, 2009.

4.2
Registration Rights Agreement among the Company and the Investors as defined therein, dated April 2, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on April 3, 2007.

4.3
Form of Ordinary Share Purchase Warrant issued to the investor parties to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated April 2, 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Report of Foreign Issuer on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on April 3, 2007.
 
 
113

 
 
4.4
English Translation of Hebrew Language Order Form and Warrant issued in Israeli Private Placement in January 2007, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Registrant's Form 20F/A, filed with the Commission on July 31, 2007.

4.5
Letter Agreement, by and among Pointer (Eden Telecom Group) Ltd. and Bank Hapoalim Ltd., dated November 16, 2004, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to Registrant's Form 20-F, filed with the Commission on June 30, 2005.

4.6
Management Services Agreement, by and among Shagrir Systems Ltd., Gandyr Investments Ltd., Egged Holdings Ltd. and other lenders therein, dated November 16, 2004, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Registrant's Form 20-F, filed with the Commission on June 30, 2005.

4.7
English Summary of Purchase Agreement by and among Shagrir Systems Ltd., K.S. Operation Centers for Vehicles Ltd. and Shimon Barzilay dated October 11, 2011, as amended by an amendment dated January 1, 2012.
 
8.1           A list of our subsidiaries.

12.1
Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

12.2
Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

13.1
Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

13.2
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

14.1
Consent of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer Certified Public Accountants (Israel).

14.2
Consent of Grant Thornton Argentina S.C. Certified Public Accountants (Argentina).

14.3
Consent of Salles, Sainz – Grant Thornton, S.C. Certified Public Accountants (Mexico).
 
14.4
Consent of Baker Tilly Brasil Certified Public Accountants (Brazil).
 
 
114

 
 
SIGNATURE

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.
 
POINTER TELOCATION LIMITED

By:/s/ Yossi Ben Shalom
      Yossi Ben Shalom
      Chairman of the Board of Directors

March 29, 2012
 
 
115

 
 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2011

IN U.S. DOLLARS

INDEX

 
Page
   
F-2
   
F-3 - F-4
   
F-5
   
F-6 - F-7
   
F-8 - F-10
   
F-11 - F-52

 
 

 
 
 
Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
3 Aminadav St.
Tel-Aviv 67067, Israel
 
Tel:  972 (3)6232525
Fax: 972 (3)5622555
www.ey.com
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

POINTER TELOCATION LTD.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pointer Telocation Ltd. ("the Company") and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the financial statements of certain subsidiaries, whose financial statements reflect total assets constituting 3.4% and 3.4% as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and total revenues constituting 5.5%, 4% and 6.5% of the related consolidated totals for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The financial statements of these companies were audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to amounts included for those subsidiaries, is based solely on the reports of the other auditors. The financial statements of POINTER DO BRASIL S.A. (an equity method investee in which the Company has an 48% interest), have been audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for POINTER DO BRASIL S.A.., is based solely on the report of the other auditors.  In the consolidated financial statements, the Company's investment in POINTER DO BRASIL S.A. is stated at $ 266 at December 31, 2011, and the Company's equity in the net income of POINTER DO BRASIL S.A. is stated at $1,634 , for the year then ended.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

We believe that our audits and the reports of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the reports of the other auditors, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Tel-Aviv, Israel
KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER
March 29, 2012
A Member of Ernst & Young Global
 
 
F - 2

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

U.S. dollars in thousands

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,468     $ 2,233  
Restricted cash
    123       133  
Trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ 1,383 and $ 1,439 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively)
    14,427       13,914  
Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses (Note 3)
    1,946       2,982  
Inventories (Note 4)
    4,467       3,739  
                 
Total current assets
    22,431       23,001  
                 
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
               
Long-term accounts receivable
    805       832  
Severance pay fund
    7,474       7,624  
Property and equipment, net (Note 5)
    10,839       11,255  
Investment in affiliate (Note 6)
    266       295  
Other intangible assets, net (Note 7)
    3,030       6,497  
Goodwill (Note 8)
    44,493       53,926  
                 
Total long-term assets
    66,907       80,429  
                 
Total assets
  $ 89,338     $ 103,430  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 3

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
           
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
           
Short-term bank credit and current maturities of long-term loans (Note 9)
  $ 13,208     $ 13,170  
Trade payables
    9,821       10,064  
Deferred revenues and customer advances
    6,890       7,806  
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses (Note 10)
    7,440       7,054  
                 
Total current liabilities
    37,359       38,094  
                 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
               
Long-term loans from banks (Note 11)
    7,715       11,526  
Long-term loans from shareholders and others (Note 12)
    943       957  
Other long-term liabilities (Note 13)
    2,895       842  
Accrued severance pay
    8,625       8,365  
                 
      20,178       21,690  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Note 14)
               
                 
EQUITY:
               
Pointer Telocation Ltd's shareholders' equity:
               
Share capital (Note 15) -
               
Ordinary shares of NIS 3 par value -
               
Authorized: 8,000,000 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010; Issued and outstanding: 4,860,024 and 4,771,181 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively
    3,353       3,280  
Additional paid-in capital
    119,147       118,512  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    837       3,292  
Accumulated deficit
    (96,743 )     (88,216 )
                 
Total Pointer Telocation Ltd's shareholders' equity
    26,594       36,868  
                 
Non-controlling interest
    5,207       6,778  
                 
Total equity
    31,801       43,646  
                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 89,338     $ 103,430  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 4

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except per share data)

   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Revenues (Note 19c):
                 
Products
  $ 31,140     $ 25,415     $ 20,038  
Services
    54,778       48,448       45,287  
                         
Total revenues
    85,918       73,863       65,325  
                         
Cost of revenues:
                       
Products
    18,283       14,175       10,774  
Services
    37,249       31,264       26,645  
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets (Note 1b)
    1,498       978       976  
                         
Total cost of revenues
    57,030       46,417       38,395  
                         
Gross profit
    28,888       27,446       26,930  
                         
Operating expenses:
                       
Research and development
    3,082       2,532       2,817  
Selling and marketing
    8,932       7,441       6,249  
General and administrative
    11,450       9,062       8,788  
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,821       1,774       1,942  
Impairment of goodwill and intangible asset
    6,216       -       2,959  
                         
Total operating expenses
    31,501       20,809       22,755  
                         
Operating income (loss)
    (2,613 )     6,637       4,175  
Financial expenses, net (Note 20a)
    1,779       1,976       2,070  
Other expenses, net (Note 20b)
    77       21       16  
                         
Income (loss) before taxes on income
    (4,469 )     4,640       2,089  
Taxes on income (Note 17)
    2,383       1,524       887  
                         
Income (loss) after taxes on income
    (6,852 )     3,116       1,202  
Equity in losses of affiliate
    1,634       1,158       677  
                         
Net income (loss)
    (8,486 )     1,958       525  
Less - net income attributable to non-controlling interest
    (41 )     (828 )     (2,632 )
                         
Net income (loss) attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd's shareholders
  $ (8,527 )   $ 1,130     $ (2,107 )
                         
Earnings per share attributable to Pointer Telocation Ltd's shareholders:
                       
Basic net earnings (loss) per share (Note 16)
  $ (1.78 )   $ 0.24     $ (0.44 )
                         
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share (Note 16)
  $ (1.79 )   $ 0.22     $ (0.47 )
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 5

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share data)
 
         
Pointer Telocation Ltd's Shareholders
                   
   
Number
of
   
Share
   
Additional paid-in
   
Accumulated other comprehensive
   
Accumulated
   
Non-
controlling
   
Comprehensive
   
Total
 
   
shares
   
capital
   
capital
   
income
   
deficit
   
interest
   
income
   
equity
 
                                                 
Balance as of January 1, 2009
    4,752,931     $ 3,266     $ 118,015     $ 1,773     $ (87,239 )   $ 5,372           $ 41,187  
                                                               
Stock-based compensation expenses
    -       -       333       -       -       32             365  
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest
    -       -       -       -       -       (871 )           (871 )
Non-controlling interest recorded as a result of business combination (see Note 1h)
    -       -       -       -       -       256             256  
Comprehensive income:
                                                             
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    -       -       -       (167 )     -       249     $ 82       82  
Realized losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
    -       -       -       (78 )     -       -       (78 )     (78 )
Unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
    -       -       -       13       -       -       13       13  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       (2,107 )     2,632       525       525  
Total comprehensive income
                                                  $ 542          
Balance as of December 31, 2009
    4,752,931       3,266       118,348       1,541       (89,346 )     7,670               41,479  
                                                                 
Issuance of shares in respect of Stock-based compensation
    18,250       14       43       -       -       -               57  
Stock-based compensation expenses
    -       -       121       -       -       -               121  
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest
    -       -       -       -       -       (2,250 )             (2,250 )
Comprehensive income:
                                                               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    -       -       -       1,598       -       530     $ 2,128       2,128  
Realized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
    -       -       -       29       -       -       29       29  
Unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
    -       -       -       124       -       -       124       124  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       1,130       828       1,958       1,958  
Total comprehensive income
                                                  $ 4,239          
Balance as of December 31, 2010
    4,771,181       3,280       118,512       3,292       (88,216 )     6,778               43,646  
                                                                 
Issuance of shares in respect of Stock-based compensation
    88,843       73       208       -       -       -       -       281  
Stock-based compensation expenses
    -       -       515       -       -       -       -       515  
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest
    -       -       -       -       -       (1,595 )     -       (1,595 )
Exercise of options in subsidiary
    -       -       (88 )     -       -       88       -       -  
Sale of subsidiary (Note 1j)
    -       -       -       -       -       426       -       426  
Comprehensive income:
                                                               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    -       -       -       (2,074 )     -       (531 )     (2,605 )     (2,605 )
Realized losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
    -       -       -       (219 )     -       -       (219 )     (219 )
Unrealized losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges
    -       -       -       (162 )     -       -       (162 )     (162 )
Net loss
    -       -       -       -       (8,527 )     41       (8,486 )     (8,486 )
Total comprehensive loss
                                                  $ (11,472 )        
Balance as of December 31, 2011
    4,860,024     $ 3,353     $ 119,147     $ 837     $ (96,743 )   $ 5,207             $ 31,801  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 6

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
U.S. dollars in thousands
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Accumulated unrealized gain on derivative instruments
  $ (213 )   $ 168  
Accumulated foreign currency translation differences
    1,050       3,124  
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ 837     $ 3,292  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 7

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands

   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ (8,486 )   $ 1,958     $ 525  
Adjustments required to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation, amortization and impairment
    12,710       5,568       8,252  
Accrued interest and exchange rate changes of debenture and long-term loans
    135       178       (85 )
Accrued severance pay, net
    487       (364 )     (400 )
Gain from sale of property and equipment, net
    (95 )     (93 )     (377 )
Equity in losses of affiliate
    1,634       1,158       677  
Amortization of stock-based compensation
    515       121       367  
Impairment loss of loan to minority shareholder in subsidiary (Note 1j)
    489       -       -  
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash
    10       (133 )     -  
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables, net
    (1,462 )     (1,618 )     1,995  
Decrease (increase) in other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses
    373       (436 )     (308 )
Decrease (increase) in inventories
    (1,035 )     (1,964 )     128  
Write-off of inventories
    304       185       124  
Deferred income taxes
    170       1,322       773  
Increase in long-term accounts receivable
    (177 )     (212 )     (493 )
Increase (decrease) in trade payables
    452       981       (413 )
Increase (decrease) in other accounts payable and accrued expenses
    2,457       (127 )     461  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    8,481       6,524       11,226  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Decrease in other accounts receivable
    -       -       279  
Purchase of property and equipment
    (4,445 )     (4,481 )     (3,442 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
    1,050       641       1,215  
Investments in affiliates
    (1,740 )     (1,490 )     (640 )
Acquisition of subsidiary (a)
    -       -       (38 )
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries (b)
    39       -       -  
                         
Net cash used in investing activities
    (5,096 )     (5,330 )     (2,626 )
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 8

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands

   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Cash flows from financing activities:
                 
                   
Receipt of long-term loans from banks
    8,384       5,090       -  
Repayment of long-term loans from banks
    (8,937 )     (7,016 )     (6,027 )
Repayment of long-term loans from others
    (1,071 )     (1,122 )     (32 )
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest
    (1,594 )     (2,250 )     (871 )
Proceeds from issuance of shares and exercise of warrants, net
    281       57       -  
Short-term bank credit, net
    (1,002 )     2,656       (983 )
                         
Net cash used in financing activities
    (3,939 )     (2,585 )     (7,913 )
                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (211 )     415       (186 )
                         
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (765 )     (976 )     501  
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
    2,233       3,209       2,708  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
  $ 1,468     $ 2,233     $ 3,209  

(a)
Acquisition of subsidiary:
                 
                     
 
Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at date of acquisition:
                 
                     
 
Working capital
  $ -     $ -     $ (112 )
 
Property and equipment
    -       -       60  
 
Customer list
    -       -       24  
 
Goodwill
    -       -       456  
 
Accrued severance pay, net
    -       -       (12 )
 
Non-controlling shareholders loan
    -       -       (122 )
 
Non-controlling interest
    -       -       (256 )
                           
      $ -     $ -     $ 38  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F - 9

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands

     
Year ended December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                     
(b)
Proceeds from sale of investments in previously consolidated subsidiaries:
                 
                     
 
The subsidiaries' assets and liabilities at date of sale:
                 
                     
 
Working capital (excluding cash and cash equivalents)
  $ 32     $ -     $ -  
 
Non-controlling interests
    426       -       -  
 
Loss from sale of subsidiaries
    (110 )     -       -  
 
Receivables for sale of investments in subsidiaries
    (309 )     -       -  
                           
      $ 39     $ -     $ -  
                           
(c)
Non-cash investing activity:
                       
                           
 
Purchase of property and equipment
  $ 309     $ 45     $ 221  
                           
(d)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow activity:
                       
                           
 
Cash paid during the year for:
                       
 
Interest
  $ 1,456     $ 1,462     $ 1,958  
                           
 
Income taxes
  $ -     $ 40     $ 87  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 
F - 10

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 1:-
GENERAL

 
a.
Pointer Telocation Ltd. ("the Company") was incorporated in Israel and commenced operations in July 1991. The Company conducts its operations through two main segments. Through its Cellocator segment, the Company designs, develops and produces leading mobile resource management products, including asset tracking, fleet management, and security products, for sale to third party operators providing mobile resource management services and to our Pointer segment. Through its Pointer segment, the Company acts as an operator by bundling its products together with a range of services, including stolen vehicle retrieval services and fleet management services, and also provides road-side assistance services in Israel for sale to insurance companies, fleets and individual customers.

The Company provides services, for the most part, in Israel, Argentina Mexico and Brazil, through its local subsidiaries and affiliates. Independent operators provide similar services in Latin America, Europe and other countries utilizing the Company's technology and operational know-how. The Company's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market and the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. On January 17, 2012, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has resolved to act to delist the Company's ordinary shares from trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange effective as of April 17, 2012.
 
 
b.
In 2011, the changes in the economic conditions and forecasted results of the Company's Cellocator segment led the Company to test the implied value of the Cellocator segment’s goodwill in accordance with ASC 350 "Intangibles - Goodwill and Others". As a result of the impairment test, the Company determined that the implied value attributable to Cellocator goodwill and development technology intangible assets should be lower by $6,216 and $520, respectively. These amounts were recorded in the 2011 Consolidated Statement of Operation under the captions "Impairment of goodwill and intangible asset" and "Amortization and impairment of intangible assets", respectively. See also notes 2g and 2i.

 
c.
The Company holds 55.99% of the share capital of Shagrir Systems Ltd. ("Shagrir"). Shagrir is engaged in the field of road side assistance, towing services and stolen vehicle recovery in Israel. (See note 2q)
 
 
d.
In July 2008, Shagrir incorporated a Romanian company, S.C. Pointer S.R.L. ("Pointer Romania"), to provide road-side assistance and towing services in Romania. Shagrir holds 50% of the share capital of Pointer Romania. On January 1, 2012, Shagrir signed an agreement with the Romanian shareholder, pursuant to which he transferred to Shagrir 15% of the issued share capital of the Romanian subsidiary.  As a result, Shagrir holds 65% of the share capital of Pointer Romania

 
e.
The Company holds 88% of the share capital of Pointer Localization Y Asistencia SA's (formerly: Tracsat S.A.) ("Pointer Argentina"). Pointer Argentina is the operator of the Company's systems and products that provide stolen vehicle recovery services in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 
F - 11

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 1:-
GENERAL (Cont.)

 
f.
The Company holds 74% of the share capital of Pointer Recuperacion de Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("Pointer Mexico"), the remaining 26% of the share capital being held by local Mexican partners. Pointer Mexico provides location, tracking and stolen vehicle recovery services to its customers in Mexico as well as distributing the Company's products.

 
g.
In August 2008 the Company incorporated a company in Brazil by the name of Pointer do Brazil S.A. ("Pointer Brazil"). As of December 31, 2011, the Company holds 48% of the share capital in Pointer Brazil, with an option to acquire an additional 4%. The option will expire in August 2013. Pointer Brazil will provide location, tracking and recovery of stolen vehicles services to its customers in Brazil. Currently, the affiliate has no significant revenues. The Company recorded equity in losses of Pointer Brazil in the amount of $1,600 and $1,200 in 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
 
h.
In October 2008, the Company established a wholly-owned subsidiary in the United States, Pointer Telocation Inc. Currently, the subsidiary has no significant revenues.

 
i.
On May 15, 2009, the Company's subsidiary Shagrir acquired ownership of 51% of the ordinary shares of Car2go Ltd., which is engaged in car sharing and motor vehicle rental.

The fair value of the consideration transferred on the date of the acquisition of Car2go totaled $ 3 in cash. In addition, Shagrir signed a loan agreement with Car2go pursuant to which Shagrir has committed to provide to the subsidiary a loan in an amount of up to $ 1,447 (consisting of $ 241 in cash and $ 1,206 in services). The loan was provided during 2010. The loan is linked to the Israeli CPI and bears an interest rate of 4%. Car2go will repay the loan in quarterly installments commencing on May 15, 2013. The Company recorded goodwill related to Car2go in the amount of $456.

 
j.
On June 28, 2010, Shagrir, together with an Israel resident (hereinafter the "minority shareholder") entered into an agreement for the establishment of an Israeli company named Rider from the Shagrir Group Ltd. ("Rider") for providing outsourcing services to insurance companies and others. The minority shareholder holds 33% and serves as Rider's CEO.
 
In the reported period, Shagrir recorded as part of its general and administrative expenses an impairment loss of the loan granted by Rider to the minority  shareholder  in the amount of NIS 1.75 million ($489), due to the fact that Rider will not meet the milestones pursuant to the agreement.

On July 10, 2011, Shagrir signed an agreement to sell its entire holdings in Rider to Native Nehoray Ltd. ("Nehoray") at par value. In addition, Shagrir sold to Nehoray the rights to receive payments from a loan that Shagrir had provided to Rider in the amount of NIS 4,779 thousands including interest and linkage to the Israeli CPI for NIS 1,293 thousands. As a result of the agreement, the Company recorded a capital loss in the amount of NIS 393 thousands ($110).

 
F - 12

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 1:-
GENERAL (Cont.)

 
k.
In November 2011, Shagrir, together with T.M.C Transportation Ltd. ("TMC"), signed an agreement for the establishment of a limited partnership, TMC Systems, LP ("the partnership"). The Company will hold 51% of the partnership's capital.  The activities of TMC will be transferred to the partnership. The partnership commenced its activity on January 1, 2012.

The partnership engages in solutions for the management, control and collection of travel fares from taxis and transportation service fleets.

Shagrir will grant a shareholders' loan to the partnership in an amount of up to NIS 2.5 million. This loan will carry an annual interest rate of prime plus 4%. As of December 31, 2011, Shagrir granted a loan to TMC in the amount of NIS 655 thousands which was transferred to the partnership, along with the activities of TMC, on January 1, 2012.

 
l.
On October 11, 2011, Shagrir entered into an agreement to acquire the activities of K.S Operation Centers for Vehicles Ltd. ("K.S") in consideration for an aggregate amount of NIS 12 million (as amended by an amendment dated January 1, 2012). Shagrir consummated the transaction in January 2012.
 
K.S is engaged in the operation of car repair garages, providing bodywork and paint services, as well as engaging in the sale of spare parts for motor vehicles.
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP").

 
a.
Use of estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant assumptions are employed in estimates used in determining values of intangible assets, tax assets and tax liabilities, warranty costs and stock-based compensation costs. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 
F - 13

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

 
b.
Financial statements in U.S. dollars:

The majority of the Company's revenues is generated in or linked to U.S. dollars ("dollar"). In addition, a substantial portion of the Company's costs is incurred in dollars. The Company's management believes that the dollar is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. Thus, the functional and reporting currency of the Company is the dollar.

For those subsidiaries whose functional currency has been determined to be their local currency (For Pointer Argentina- the Argentinean peso; for Pointer Mexico- the Mexican peso; for Shagrir, Car2Go and Rider - the new Israeli shekel ("NIS"); for Pointer Inc. - the dollar; for Pointer Romania- the Euro; for Pointer do Brazil S.A.- the Brazilian Real),  assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates and statement of operations items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year. Such translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component, other comprehensive income (loss), in shareholders' equity (deficiency).

Transactions and balances of the Company and certain subsidiaries, which are denominated in other currencies, have been remeasured into dollars in accordance with principles set forth in ASC 830, "Foreign Currency Matters". All exchange gains and losses from the remeasurements mentioned above, are reflected in the statement of operations as financial expenses or income, as appropriate.

 
c.
Principles of consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.

Intercompany transactions and balances including profits from intercompany sales not yet realized outside the Company have been eliminated upon consolidation.
 
Beginning January 1, 2009, changes in the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary with no change of control are treated as equity transactions, rather than step acquisitions or dilution gains or losses. Losses of partially owned consolidated subsidiaries shall be continued to be allocated to the non-controlling interests even when their investment was already reduced to zero.

The Company applies ASC 810-10, "Consolidation", which provides a framework for identifying Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") and determining when a company should include the assets, liabilities, non-controlling interests and results of activities of a VIE in its consolidated financial statements. According to ASC 810-10, the Company shall consolidate a VIE  when it has both (1) the power to direct the economically significant activities of the entity and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. The determination as to whether the Company should consolidate a VIE is evaluated continuously as changes to existing relationships or future transactions occur.

 
F - 14

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

The Company's assessment of whether an entity is a VIE and the determination of the primary beneficiary is a matter of judgment and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Such assessment involves estimation of whether an entity can finance its current activities until it reaches profitability, without additional subordinated financial support.

Pointer Romania is considered to be a Variable Interest Entity. As Shagrir has both the power to direct the economically significant activities of Pointer Romania, and the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to Pointer Romania, Shagrir is considered to be the primary beneficiary. Pointer Romania is consolidated in the Company's financial statements.
 
 
d.
Cash equivalents:

Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of three months or less at the date acquired.
 
 
e.
Inventories:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined using the "moving average" cost method. Inventory consists of raw materials, work in process and finished products. Inventory write-offs are provided to cover risks arising from slow-moving items, technological obsolescence, excess inventories, and for market prices lower than cost. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company and its subsidiaries wrote off approximately $ 304, $ 185 and $ 124, respectively. The write-offs are included in cost of revenues.

 
f.
Property and equipment:

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets at the following annual rates:

   
%
     
Installed products
 
20-33
Computers and electronic equipment
 
10 - 33 (mainly 33)
Office furniture and equipment
 
6 - 15
Motor vehicles
 
15 - 20 (mainly 20)
Network installation
 
10 - 33
Buildings
 
6.67
Leasehold improvements
 
Over the term of the lease including the option term

 
F - 15

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

 
g.
Goodwill:

Goodwill reflects the excess of the purchase price of the acquired activities over the fair value of net assets acquired. Pursuant to ASC 350, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other", goodwill is not amortized but rather tested for impairment at least annually, at the reporting unit level.

The Company identified several reporting units based on the guidance of ASC 350.

ASC 350 prescribes a two-phase process for impairment testing of goodwill. The first phase screens for impairment, while the second phase (if necessary) measures impairment.

Goodwill impairment is deemed to exist if the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value. In such case, the second phase is then performed, and the Company measures impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill to the implied fair value of that goodwill. An impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

The Company performed its annual impairment test as of December 31, 2011 and recorded goodwill impairment in the total amount of $6,216 in connection with the Cellocator reporting unit.  The material assumptions used for the income approach for 2011 were 5 years of projected net cash flows, a discount rate of 17% and a long-term growth rate of 3%. (See also Note 2t regarding fair value measurement).

No impairment losses were identified in the years 2010 and 2009.

 
h.
Identifiable intangible assets:

Intangible assets consist of the following: a brand name, customers related intangibles, developed technology and acquired patents. Intangible assets are amortized over their useful life using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or otherwise used up. Intangible assets are stated at amortized cost.

The brand names are amortized over a two to nine years period.
 
The customers related intangibles are amortized over a five- to nine-year period.
 
The developed technology is amortized over a five-year period.
 
Patents are amortized over an eight-year period.

 
F - 16

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

 
i.
Impairment of long-lived assets:

The Company's long lived assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC 360-10-35, "Property, Plant, and Equipment- Subsequent Measurement" whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. In 2009, the Company recorded an impairment loss in the amount $ 2,959 reducing customer related intangibles from a carrying amount of $ 3,173 to a fair value of $ 214. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the decrease in activity of the former customers of Cellocator. The impairment was recorded in the "Operating Income" caption in the consolidated statement of operations. The customer's related intangible impairment is reflected in the Cellocator segment. The fair value of the customers related intangibles was determined by the income approach method. Assumptions in the fair value assessment included: the impact of changes in economic conditions, revenue forecast from the former customers of Cellocator, and the Company's weighted average cost of capital ("WACC"). See also Note 2t regarding fair value measurement.

In 2011, the Company amortized $520 of the development technology intangible assets acquired from Cellocator Ltd. in September 2007 from a carrying amount of $ 701 to a fair value of $ 181. The circumstances leading to the impairment are attributed to the obsolescence of older Cellocator technology.  The impairment was recorded under the caption of "cost of revenues" in the consolidated statement of operations. Assumptions in the fair value assessment included: the impact of changes in economic conditions and the revenue forecast for the Cellocator segment.

No impairment losses were identified in 2010.
 
 
F - 17

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
 
 
j.
Provision for warranty:

The Company and its subsidiaries generally grant a one-year to three-year warranty for their products. The Company and its subsidiaries estimate the costs that may be incurred under its basic limited warranty and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time which product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect the warranty liability include the number of installed units, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim. The Company and its subsidiaries periodically assess the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjust the amounts as necessary. Changes in the Company's and its subsidiaries' product liabilities (which are included in other accounts payable and accrued expenses and other long term liabilities' captions in the Balance Sheet) during 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
 
   
Year ended
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Balance, beginning of the year
  $ 604     $ 462  
Warranties issued during the year
    548       492  
Settlements made during the year
    (278 )     (260 )
Expirations
    (150 )     (113 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (34 )     23  
                 
Balance end of year
  $ 690     $ 604  

 
k.
Revenue recognition:

The Company and its subsidiaries generate revenues from the provision of services, subscriber fees and sales of systems and products, mainly in respect of road-side assistance services, automobile repair and towing services, stolen vehicle recovery, fleet management and other value added services. To a lesser extent, revenues are also derived from technical support services. The Company and its subsidiaries sell the systems primarily through their direct sales force and indirectly through resellers. Sales consummated by the Company's sales forces and sales to resellers are considered sales to end-users.

Revenues from the sale of systems and products are recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 104, "Revenue Recognition" ("SAB No. 104"), when delivery has occurred, persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, the vendor's fee is fixed or determinable, no further obligation exists and collectability is probable.

Service revenues including subscriber fees are recognized as services are performed, over the term of the agreement.

Deferred revenue includes amounts received under maintenance and support contracts, and amounts received from customers but not yet recognized as revenues.

In accordance with ASC 605-25, "Multiple-Element Arrangements", revenue from certain arrangements may include multiple elements within a single contract. The Company's accounting policy complies with the requirements set forth in ASC 605-25, relating to the separation of multiple deliverables into individual accounting units with determinable fair values. The Company considers the sale of products and subscriber fees to be separate units of accounting.

When a sales arrangement contains multiple elements, such as hardware and services, the Company allocates revenue to each element based on a selling price hierarchy. The selling price for each deliverable is based on its vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE"), if available, third party evidence ("TPE") if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price ("ESP") if neither VSOE nor TPE is available.

 
F - 18

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

Revenues from stolen vehicle recovery services are recognized upon success, when the related stolen vehicle is recovered, and such recovery is approved by the customer or ratably over the term of the agreement.

Revenues generated from technical support services, installation and de-installation are recognized when such services are rendered.

Generally, the Company does not grant rights of return. The Company follows ASC 605-15-25 "sales of product when right of return exists". Based on the Company's experience, no provision for returns was recorded.

 
l.
Research and development costs:

Research and development costs are charged to expenses as incurred.

 
m.
Advertising expenses:

Advertising expenses are charged to the statement of operations as incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $ 822, $ 653 and $ 392, respectively.

 
n.
Deferred income taxes:

The Company accounts for income taxes and uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes". Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided using the balance sheet liability method. Under this method, deferred taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and are measured using the enacted tax rate and laws that will be in effect when the difference is expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.

The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period enacted.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted an amendment to ASC 740-10. The update clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the Company's financial statements and prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures.

 
F - 19

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

As of December 31, 2011, the Company did not record any liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company's policy is to recognize, if any, tax related interest as interest expenses and penalties as general and administrative expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with tax positions.

 
o.
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share:

Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share are computed based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted net earnings (loss) per share further include the dilutive effect of stock options outstanding during the year, in accordance with ASC 260, "Earnings Per Share". Part of the Company's outstanding stock options and warrants has been excluded from the calculation of the diluted earnings (loss) per share because such securities are anti-dilutive. The total weighted average number of shares related to the outstanding options and warrants excluded from the calculations of diluted earnings (loss) per share was 41,375, 0 and 12,404 for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 
p.
Accounting for stock-based compensation:

The Company applies ASC 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation". In accordance with ASC 718, all grants of employee equity based stock options are recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values. The fair value of graded vesting options, as measured at the date of grant, is charged to expenses, based on the accelerated attribution method over the requisite service period of each of the awards, net of estimated forfeitures.

As required by ASC 718, forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant, based on actual historical pre-vesting forfeitures, and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates.

During the years ended  December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expenses related to employee stock options in the amounts of $ 515, $ 121 and $ 367, respectively.

According to ASC 718, a change in any of the terms or conditions of the Company's stock options is accounted for as a modification. Therefore, if the terms of an award are modified, the Company calculates incremental compensation costs as the excess of the fair value of the modified option over the fair value of the original option immediately before its terms are modified, measured based on the share price and other pertinent factors existing at the modification date. For vested options, the Company recognizes any incremental compensation cost immediately in the period the modification occurs, whereas for unvested options, the Company recognizes, over the new requisite service period, any incremental compensation cost due to the modification and any remaining unrecognized compensation cost for the original award over its term.

 
F - 20

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

 
q.
Data related to options to purchase the Company shares:

 
1.
The fair value of the Company's stock options granted to employees and directors for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, with the following weighted average assumptions:

   
Year ended
December 31,
   
2011
 
2010
 
2009
             
Risk free interest rate
 
2%
 
1.13%
 
1.73%
Dividend yield
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Expected volatility
 
75%
 
76%
 
80%
Expected term (in years)
 
5
 
5
 
3.9
Forfeiture rate
 
2%
 
6%
 
10%

The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are expected stock price volatility and the expected option term. Expected volatility was calculated based upon actual historical stock price movements. The expected option term represents the period that the Company's stock options are expected to be outstanding and was determined for plain vanilla options, based on the simplified method permitted by SAB 107 and extended by SAB 110 as the average of the vesting period and the contractual term.

The Company adopted SAB 110 effective January 1, 2008 and will continue to apply the simplified method until enough historical experience is available to provide a reasonable estimate of the expected term for stock option grants. In a few limited cases the Company did not use the simplified method in measuring the fair value of modified awards, either when the options were deeply out of the money immediately before the modification or when the Company accelerated the vesting and extended the exercise period after an employee's resignation. Since in both instances the entire remaining contractual term of the options was relatively short, we assumed that the expected life to be the entire remaining contractual term.

The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with an equivalent term to the expected term of the options.

The Company has historically not paid dividends and has no foreseeable plans to pay dividends and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the option pricing model. The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record share-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest.

 
F - 21

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

 
2.
Data related to options to purchase Shagrir shares:

In July, 2011, 903 options granted under Shagrir's employee share option plan were exercised to purchase ordinary shares of Shagrir. As a result, our holdings in Shagrir were diluted and as of December 31, 2011 the Company held approximately 55.99% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Shagrir.

In January 2012, 2,480 options were exercised, thereby diluting the Company's holding to approximately 54.48% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Shagrir. There currently remain no exercisable options to purchase ordinary shares of Shagrir.

 
r.
Severance pay:

The liability of the Company and its subsidiaries in Israel for severance pay is calculated pursuant to Israel's Severance Pay Law based on the most recent salary of the employees multiplied by the number of years of employment as of balance sheet date and are presented on an undiscounted basis (the "Shut Down Method"). Employees are entitled to one month's salary for each year of employment, or a portion thereof. The liability for the Company and its subsidiaries in Israel is fully provided by monthly deposits with insurance policies and by accrual. The value of these policies is recorded as an asset in the Company's balance sheet.

The deposited funds may be withdrawn only upon the fulfillment of the obligation pursuant to Israel's Severance Pay Law or labor agreements. The value of the deposited funds is based on the cash surrendered value of these policies, and includes profits or losses accumulated to balance sheet date.

Severance pay expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $ 1,297, $ 352 and $ 282, respectively.

 
s.
Concentrations of credit risk:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company and its subsidiaries to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and derivatives.

The Company's cash and cash equivalents are invested primarily in deposits with major banks worldwide, mainly in the U.S. and Israel. However, deposits in the U.S. may be in excess of insured limits and are not insured in other jurisdictions. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand and, therefore, bear low risk. Management believes that the financial institutions that hold the Company's investments have a high credit rating.

 
F - 22

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

The Company's trade receivables include amounts billed to clients located mainly in Israel and South America and Europe. Management periodically evaluates the collectability of its trade receivables to reflect the amounts estimated to be collectible. An allowance is determined in respect of specific debts whose collection, in management's opinion, is doubtful. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded expenses in respect of such debts in the amount of $ 206, $ 156 and $ 756, respectively. As for major customers, see Note 19d.

The Company entered into foreign exchange forward contracts ("derivative instruments") intended to protect against the revaluation in value of forecasted non-dollar currency cash flows. These derivative instruments are designed to effectively hedge the Company's non-dollar currency exposure (see Note 2u below).

 
t.
Fair value measurements:

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company and its subsidiaries in estimating fair value disclosures for financial instruments:

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, other accounts receivable, short-term bank credit, trade payables and other accounts payable approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of such instruments.

Amounts recorded for long-term loans approximate fair values. The fair value was estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on the Company's incremental borrowing rates for similar type of borrowing arrangements.

The Company accounts for certain assets and liabilities at fair value under ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures". Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:

 
Level 1 -
Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;

 
Level 2 -
Significant other observable inputs based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity;

 
Level 3 -
Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity (for example cash flow modeling inputs based on assumptions).

 
F - 23

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The Company categorized each of its fair value measurements in one of these three levels of hierarchy.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are comprised of foreign currency forward contracts with a fair value of ($ 213) and $ 168 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and are classified as level 2.

The Company also measures certain financial assets, including equity method investments, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets are adjusted to fair value when they are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired. During 2011, and 2010 no other-than-temporary impairments were identified in relation to equity method investments.

Assets and Liabilities that are measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis subsequent to their initial recognition:

Disclosures for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value, on a nonrecurring basis, are required prospectively beginning January 1, 2009.
 
During 2011, such measurements of fair value related solely to an impairment loss of goodwill reducing its carrying amount from $ 8,750 to a fair value of $ 2,534 and impairment loss of development technology intangible assets, reducing its carrying amount from $ 701 to a fair value of $ 181. The Company used an income approach for measuring the fair value of the goodwill. See Note 2g and 2i for significant assumptions. As the fair value was measured using significant unobservable assumptions, the goodwill was classified as level 3 in ASC 820 fair value hierarchy.
 
During 2009, such measurements of fair value related solely to an impairment loss of customer relations intangible asset, reducing its carrying amount from $ 3,173 to a fair value of $ 214. The Company used an income approach for measuring the fair value of the customer relations. See Note 2i for significant assumptions. As the fair value was measured using significant unobservable assumptions, the customer relations asset was classified as level 3 in ASC 820 fair value hierarchy.

 
u.
Derivatives and hedging activities:

ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging" requires the Company to recognize all of its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, a company must designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation.

 
F - 24

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the line item associated with the hedged transaction in the period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item, if any, is recognized immediately in financial income/expense in the statement of operations.

The Company entered into derivative instrument arrangements (forward contracts) to hedge a portion of anticipated new Israeli shekel ("NIS") payroll payments. As of December 31, 2010 the Company had forward exchange contracts for the acquisition of approximately NIS 8,085 thousand in consideration for $ 2,100 that matured during 2011. These derivative instruments are designated as cash flows hedges, as defined by ASC 815, as amended, and are all highly effective as hedges of these expenses when the salary is recorded. The effective portion of the derivative instruments is included in payroll expenses in the statements of income. The company excludes forward to spot differences from the OCI and recognizes such gains or losses in financial expenses. During 2011, there were no gains or losses recognized in earnings for hedge ineffectiveness.
 
As of December 31, 2011 the Company had forward exchange contracts for the acquisition of approximately NIS 13,951 thousand in consideration for $ 3,860 that will mature during 2012.

At December 31, 2011, the Company expects to reclassify $ 213 of net losses on derivative instruments from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings during the next twelve months.

 
v.
Equity affiliates
 
The Company recognizes investment in equity affiliates under ASC 323, "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures". The Company recognizes its proportionate share of the income of equity affiliates. Losses of equity affiliates are recognized to the extent of our investment, advances, financial guarantees and other commitments to provide financial support to the investee. Any losses in excess of this amount are deferred and reduce the amount of future earnings of the equity investee recognized by the Company. As of December 31, 2011, there were no deferred losses related to equity investees.

 
F - 25

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

 
w.
Impact of recently issued Accounting Standards still not effective for the Company:

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income, which amended existing guidance by allowing only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous financial statement, statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements, consisting of an income statement followed by a separate statement of other comprehensive income. The guidance requires retrospective application, and it is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt the new standard from January 1, 2012.

In September 2011, the FASB amended the guidance on the annual testing of goodwill for impairment. The amended guidance will allow companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. The guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
 
NOTE 3:-
OTHER ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAID EXPENSES

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
             
Government authorities
  $ 200     $ 824  
Employees
    91       94  
Prepaid expenses
    1,258       1,427  
Former subsidiary's CEO (1)
    171       282  
Foreign currency derivatives
    -       168  
Others
    226       187  
                 
    $ 1,946     $ 2,982  

 
(1)
The balance as of December 31, 2011 in the amount of $ 171 is receivable from Nehoray, Rider's CEO, in accordance to the loan sold (see note 1i)

 
F - 26

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 4:-
INVENTORIES

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Raw materials
  $ 2,637     $ 2,002  
Work in process
    24       46  
Finished goods
    1,806       1,691  
                 
    $ 4,467     $ 3,739  
 
NOTE 5:-
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 
a.
Composition:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Cost:
           
             
Installed products
  $ 5,111     $ 4,409  
Computers and electronic equipment
    6,252       6,222  
Office furniture and equipment
    1,009       927  
Motor vehicles
    12,243       11,863  
Network installation
    4,164       4,736  
Buildings
    499       537  
Leasehold improvements
    1,273       1,237  
                 
      30,551       29,931  
                 
Accumulated depreciation:
               
                 
Installed products
    4,170       3,333  
Computers and electronic equipment
    5,241       5,312  
Office furniture and equipment
    577       545  
Motor vehicles
    5,142       4,844  
Network installation
    3,837       4,015  
Buildings
    35       27  
Leasehold improvements
    710       600  
                 
      19,712       18,676  
                 
Depreciated cost
  $ 10,839     $ 11,255  

 
b.
Depreciation expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $ 3,174, $ 2,815 and $ 2,377, respectively.

 
F - 27

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 6:-
INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATE

 
a.
In August 2008 the Company incorporated a company in Brazil by the name of Pointer do Brazil S.A. ("Pointer Brazil"). As of December 31, 2011, the Company holds 48% of the share capital in Pointer Brazil, with an option to acquire an additional 4%. The option will expire in August 2013.

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Invested in equity
  $ 3,830     $ 2,090  
Accumulated net loss
    3,564       1,795  
                 
Total investment in affiliate
  $ 266     $ 295  

 
b.
As of December 31, 2011, Pointer Brazil's total assets and liabilities are $ 4,121 and $ 2,844, respectively. The net loss for the year 2011 is $3,145.
 
NOTE 7:-
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 
a.
Other intangible assets, net:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Cost:
           
             
Patents
  $ 639     $ 639  
Developed technology
    4,890       4,890  
Customer related intangible
    15,321       16,265  
Brand name
    4,462       4,630  
                 
      25,312       26,424  
Accumulated amortization:
               
                 
Patents
    639       639  
Developed technology (see note 2i)
    4,708       3,211  
Customer related intangible
    13,745       13,231  
Brand name
    3,190       2,846  
                 
      22,282       19,927  
                 
Amortized cost
  $ 3,030     $ 6,497  

 
b.
Amortization and impairment expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $ 3,319, $ 2,753 and $ 5,879, respectively.

 
F - 28

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 7:-
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET (Cont.)

 
c.
Estimated amortization expenses for the years ending:

December 31,
     
       
2012
  $ 1,901  
2013
    472  
2014
    226  
2015
    221  
2016
    210  
         
    $ 3,030  
 
NOTE 8:-
GOODWILL

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Goodwill, beginning of the year
  $ 53,926     $ 51,220  
Additions in respect of acquisitions
    -       -  
Impairment of Goodwill (see note 2g)
    (6,216 )     -  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (3,217 )     2,706  
                 
Goodwill, end of year
  $ 44,493     $ 53,926  

As of December 31, 2011, $ 2,534 and $ 41,959 are attributable to the Cellocator segment and to the Pointer segment, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, $ 8,750 and $ 45,176 are attributable to the Cellocator segment and to the Pointer segment, respectively.

 
F - 29

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 9:-
SHORT-TERM BANK CREDIT AND CURRENT MATURITIES OF LONG-TERM LOANS FROM BANKS, SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHERS

Classified by currency, linkage terms and annual interest rates, the credit and loans are as follows:

 
Interest rate
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
   
2010
 
 
%
           
Short-term bank credit and loans:
                 
In USD
3 - 4
 
3 - 4
  $ 1,901     $ 3,435  
In, or linked to, dollars
LIBOR + 4.25
        500       -  
In Mexican Pesos
   
14.6
    -       35  
                       
            2,401       3,470  
Current maturities of long-term loans from banks, shareholders and others:
                     
In, or linked to, dollars
LIBOR + 2
 
LIBOR + 2
    800       800  
In, or linked to, dollars (see Note 12d)
4.4
 
4.4
    -       1,013  
In NIS linked to CPI
2.1-5.48
 
2.1-5.48
    2,610       2,545  
In NIS
4-7.39
 
4  - 7.39
    6,036       4,653  
In NIS - variable interest
4.45
 
4.45
    1,343       628  
In EURO
8-16
 
8-16
    18       61  
                       
            10,807       9,700  
                       
          $ 13,208     $ 13,170  
                       
Unutilized credit lines
        $ 4,207     $ 3,222  
 
NOTE 10:-
OTHER ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Employees and payroll accruals
  $ 4,256     $ 4,597  
Government authorities
    1,027       836  
Provision for warranty
    463       428  
Accrued expenses
    1,283       1,138  
Related party
    52       52  
Foreign currency derivatives
    213       -  
Others
    146       3  
                 
    $ 7,440     $ 7,054  

 
F - 30

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 11:-
LONG-TERM LOANS FROM BANKS

 
a.
Composition:

 
Interest rate
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
   
2010
 
 
%
           
                   
In, or linked to, dollars (see c below )
LIBOR + 2
 
LIBOR + 2
  $ 2,200     $ 3,000  
In NIS linked to CPI
2.1-5.48
 
2.1-5.48
    3,081       5,309  
In NIS - Prime + 0.95% variable interest
4.45
 
4.45
    2,552       1,972  
In NIS
4 - 7.39
 
4 - 7.39
    10,704       9,938  
                       
            18,537       20,219  
Less - current maturities
          10,789       8,627  
Less - discount
          33       66  
                       
          $ 7,715     $ 11,526  

 
b.
As of December 31, 2011, the aggregate annual maturities of the long-term loans are as follows:
 
       
2012 (current maturities)
  $ 10,789  
2013
    5,703  
2014
    2,045  
         
    $ 18,537  

 
c.
In respect of the bank loans provided to the Company for the purpose of funding the 2007 acquisition transaction, pursuant to which the Company acquired the activities and assets of Cellocator Ltd. ("Cellocator"), the Company is required to meet certain financial covenants as follows:

 
1.
The ratio of the shareholders equity to the total consolidated assets will not be less than 20% and the shareholders equity will not be less than $ 20,000, starting December 31, 2007.

 
2.
The ratio of the Company and its subsidiaries' debt (debt to banks, convertible debenture and loans from others that are not subordinated to the bank less cash) to the annual EBITDA will not exceed 5 in 2008, 4.5 in 2009 and 4 in 2010 and thereafter.

 
3.
The ratio of Pointer Telocation Ltd.'s debt (debt to banks, convertible debenture and loans from others was not subordinated to the bank less cash) to the annual EBITDA will not exceed 4 in 2008, 3.5 in 2009 and 2.5 in 2010 and thereafter.

As of December 31, 2011 the Company is in compliance with the financial covenants of its bank loan.

 
F - 31

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 11:-
LONG-TERM LOANS FROM BANKS (Cont.)

 
d.
Under the credit facility (in respect of the loans denominated in NIS) from the bank, Shagrir is required to meet financial covenants.
 
The financial covenants are:

 
1.
The ratio of the debt to the bank to the annual EBITDA will not exceed 5.5.

 
2.
The ratio of the annual EBITDA to the current maturities (the loan principal plus interest) of long-term loans from the bank will not be less than 1, at any time.

 
3.
The shareholders' equity, including loans from shareholders, will not be less than NIS 50 million, at any time

 
4.
Shagrir shall not declare any distribution of dividends without the prior written consent of the bank. Shagrir received such consent from the bank prior to its dividend distribution in March and December 2010.

As of December 31, 2011, Shagrir is in compliance with the financial covenants of its credit facility.
 
NOTE 12:-
LONG-TERM LOANS FROM SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHERS

 
a.
Long-term loans from shareholders and others - composition:

 
Interest rate
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
2011
   
2010
 
 
%
           
                   
In NIS linked to CPI (see c1 below)
4
 
4
  $ 157     $ 159  
In Euro (see c2 below)
8-16
 
8-16
    32       86  
In U.S. dollars (see d below)
4.4
 
4.4
    -       1,013  
Linked to Euro (see c3 below)
2
 
2
    35       35  
In U.S. dollars (see c4 below)
-
 
-
    737       737  
                       
            961       2,030  
Less - current maturities
          18       1,073  
                       
          $ 943     $ 957  

 
F - 32

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 12:-
LONG-TERM LOANS FROM SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHERS (Cont.)

 
b.
As of December 31, 2011, the aggregate annual maturities of the long-term loans from shareholders and others are as follow:

       
2012 (current maturities)
  $ 18  
2013
    16  
2014
    -  
2015
    -  
2016
    -  
Thereafter
    927  
         
    $ 961  

 
c.
1.
During 2008-2009, Shagrir's subsidiary received loan in an amount of $ 140 from its other non-controlling shareholders. The loan bears an annual interest rate of 4% and is linked to the Israeli CPI. According to the purchase agreement the loans will be repaid only after Shagrir's subsidiary will repay in full the loan it received from Shagrir. As of December 31, 2011, the balance of the loan is $ 157.

 
2.
During August and October 2008, and March 2010, Pointer Romania signed a vehicle capital lease agreement. The liability bears an annual interest rate of 8-16%. The loan will be repaid in 36 equal monthly payments.

 
3.
In September 2008, Pointer Romania received a loan of EURO 25,000 from its Romanian shareholder. The loan bears an annual interest rate of 2%.


 
4.
Pointer Mexico received a loan of $ 737 from its Mexican local partner in 2005 and 2004. No maturity date was set for the loan and it is not expected to be repaid before January 1, 2013.

 
d.
As part of the acquisition of Cellocator the Company issued a non-tradable debenture with a fair value of $ 1,951 convertible into 160,000 of the Company's ordinary shares. The debenture bears annual interest at the LIBOR, to be accrued until the date of repayment.  In September 2010, the Company repaid approximately $ 1,000 and signed an amendment to the convertible loan agreement pursuant to which the remaining amount of $ 1,000 will bear a fixed interest at an annual rate of 4.4%. The debenture was paid in full in September 2011.

 
F - 33

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 13:-
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Provision for warranty
  $ 226     $ 177  
Deferred taxes
    2,471       263  
Deferred revenues
    198       402  
                 
    $ 2,895     $ 842  
 
NOTE 14:-
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

 
a.
Charges:

 
1.
As collateral for its liabilities, the Company has recorded floating charges on all of its assets, including the intellectual property and equipment, in favor of banks.

 
2.
Shagrir recorded a first priority charge on all of its assets in favor of banks. Following the acquisition by Shagrir of Shagrir Towing Services Ltd, a second priority charge on all of Shagrir's assets was registered in the name of Shagrir Towing Services Ltd. and Shagrir (1985) Ltd. the sellers in this acquisition. This second prior charge was removed in September 2008. Following Shagrir's agreement with the Gandyr group dated November 15, 2004, a third priority charge was recorded on all of Shagrir's assets and a third priority fixed charge over the Company's rights to proceeds from several customers of Shagrir. The third priority charge was removed following the repayment of the loans to the Gandyr group in 2009.

 
b.
Collateral:

 
1.
To secure Shagrir's obligations for providing services to several of its customers, Shagrir provided such customers with a bank guarantee in the amount of about $ 2,446, in effect between January 2011 and January 2016.

 
2.
The Company obtained bank guarantees in the amount of $ 100 in favor of its lessor and customs.

 
3.
As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the use of $ 123 and $ 133, respectively, has been restricted following B.C.R.A. (Central Bank of Argentina) regulations, until the company completes the registration with local authorities of certain capital contributions.


 
F - 34

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 14:-
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)

 
c.
Royalties:

The Company has undertaken to pay royalties to the BIRD Foundation ("BIRD"), at the rate of 5% on sales proceeds of products developed with the participation of BIRD up to the amount received, linked to the U.S. dollar. The contingent obligation as of December 31, 2011 is $ 2,396. No royalties were accrued or paid during 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 
d.
Lease commitments:

The Company and its subsidiaries have leased offices, motor vehicles and locations for periods through 2016. Minimum annual rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

2012
  $ 1,947  
2013
    1,625  
2014
    1,238  
2015
    712  
2016
    4  
         
    $ 5,526  

Rent expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, were $ 2,626, $ 2,308 and $ 1,899, respectively.

 
e.
Litigation:

 
1.
As of December 31, 2011, several claims were filed against Shagrir, mainly by customers. The claims are in an amount aggregating to approximately $ 170. The substance of the claims is the malfunction of Shagrir's products, which occurred during the ordinary course of business. Shagrir's management, based on the opinion of its legal counsel, is of the opinion that no material costs will arise to Shagrir in respect to these claims.

 
2.
On November 15, 2011, a motion was filed in Israeli court for approval of a class action suit against T.M.C. Transportation Ltd. ("TMC Ltd."), the company with whom Shagrir formed the partnership TMC Technologies Systems LP, and the credit card company Isracard Ltd., ("Isracard"), for an amount of NIS 6.7 million. The claim involves the allegation that Isracard collected additional fees, on its behalf and on behalf of TMC Ltd., from unknowing passengers who paid taxi fares by credit card using TMC Ltd.'s system, in contravention of applicable law regulating taxi fares, which prohibit collection from a passenger of any fares exceeding that displayed on the taxi meter. The respondents reject the claim amount and argue that actual amounts collected for the use of credit cards total no more than a few thousand NIS.

 
F - 35

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 14:-
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)

 
f.
Commitments:

 
1.
On March 2, 2010, Pointer Argentina signed an amended contract with a significant insurance company. According to the terms of the agreement, Pointer Argentina has committed to obtaining a monthly recovery rate of 75% of the quantity of stolen automobiles when the number of end-users for that period exceeds 2,000. The percentage shall be measured annually, with the first review in April 2011 and then yearly reviews. If the degree of effectiveness required in the agreement is not achieved, Pointer Argentina shall pay the customer for each dollar below 75% of the total cost of the stolen vehicles.

 
As Pointer Argentina achieved the required effectiveness percentage as of December 31, 2011, no reserve has been accrued.

 
2.
The Company and DBSI Investment Ltd. ("DBSI"), an equity owner in the Company (see Note 18), have entered into a management services agreement pursuant to which DBSI shall provide management services in consideration of annual management fees of $ 180 for a period of three years commencing on August  1, 2011.

 
3.
During 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with Shagrir for the supply of the services and equipment required to set up reception bases to be positioned throughout Israel. An addendum to the agreement was entered into in 2004 (the "First Addendum"). The agreement was for a period of 10 years with an option to extend it by an additional 10 years. During 2008, the Company and Shagrir entered into a second addendum to the agreement that extended the agreement by a period of 5 years, until 2013.

 
4.
Shagrir entered into a management services agreement with its shareholders, pursuant to which the shareholders will grant management services to Shagrir, in consideration of NIS 1,000 per year linked to CPI. This amount is split between the Company (NIS 120) and the other shareholders of Shagrir.

 
5.
Under the credit facility from the Bank, Shagrir and the Company are required to meet financial covenants (see Note 11c and 11d).

 
F - 36

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 15:-
EQUITY

 
a.
Ordinary shares:

Ordinary shares confer upon their holders voting rights, the right to receive cash dividends and the right to participate in the distribution of excess assets upon liquidation of the Company.

 
b.
Issued and outstanding share capital:

 
1.
In January 2007, the Company completed a round of financing for the aggregate amount of $ 4,675, out of which, an amount of $ 2,586 was received as of December 31, 2006, in consideration for 425,000 of the Company's ordinary shares at a price per share of $ 11.0. Under the terms of the investment agreements, the investors were issued warrants to purchase up to 212,500 ordinary shares of the Company, with an exercise price of $ 13.0 per share. As of December 31, 2011 the warrants expired.

 
2.
On April 2, 2007, the Company entered into and consummated a share purchase agreement with a group of United States institutional investors for the purchase of 805,000 of the Company's ordinary shares for an aggregate price of approximately $ 8,500. Pursuant to the transaction, the investors were also issued warrants to purchase 402,500 of the Company's ordinary shares, such that for each one share purchased, the investors were entitled to a warrant to purchase half a share. The warrants are exercisable into ordinary shares, at an exercise price per share of $ 12.6 and will be exercisable for a period of five years.

 
3.
On July 18, 2008, the Company consummated a private placement of 140,056 of its ordinary shares to DBSI Investments Ltd., our principal shareholder, for an aggregate price of $ 1,000.

 
c.
Options:

 
1.
The Company grants, under the 2003 Employee share option plan, options to its employees, directors and service providers. The options are granted for a period of five years and usually have a vesting period of up to four years.

The Company granted options to Israeli participants in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 of the Israel Tax Ordinance related to the Capital Gains Tax Track.

On November 30, 2011, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Plan whereby in the event a cash dividend is paid out to the Company's shareholders, the Board of Directors may adjust the exercise price of any options granted prior to the record date of the dividend distribution but not exercised as of such date.
 
As of December 31, 2011, 379,125 Options are available for future grant under the Plan.

 
F - 37

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 15:-
EQUITY (Cont.)

 
2.
A summary of employee option activity under the Company's Stock Option Plans as of December 31, 2011 and changes during the year ended December 31, 2011 are as follows:

   
Number of options
   
Weighted-average exercise price
   
Weighted- average remaining contractual term
(in years)
   
Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
 
                         
Outstanding at
January 1, 2011
    168,500     $ 3.49              
Granted
    256,984     $ 6.91              
Exercised
    (88,468 )   $ 3.14              
Forfeited
    (16,000 )   $ 4.46              
                             
Outstanding at December 31, 2011
    321,016     $ 6.28       3.50     $ 14  
                                 
Exercisable at December 31, 2011
    56,532     $ 3.68       0.91     $ 13  
                                 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2011
    319,016     $ 6.30       3.52     $ 14  

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $ 6.91, $ 3.86 and $ 1.63, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value (the difference between the Company's closing stock price on the last trading day of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2011. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company's stock.

As of December 31, 2011, there was approximately $ 341 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company's stock option plans.

That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.76 years. Total grant-date fair value of options that vested during the year ended December 31, 2011 was approximately $ 172.

 
F - 38

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 15:-
EQUITY (Cont.)

 
3.
A summary of the status of the Company's employee stock options as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, and changes during the years then ended, are as follows:

   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
 
         
average
         
average
         
average
 
   
Amount
   
exercise
   
Amount
   
exercise
   
Amount
   
exercise
 
   
of options
   
price
   
of options
   
price
   
of options
   
price
 
                                     
Options outstanding at beginning of year
    168,500     $ 3.49       189,125     $ 3.45       218,245     $ 8.99  
Granted
    256,984     $ 6.91       3,000     $ 7.00       15,000     $ 3.14  
Exercised
    (88,468 )   $ 3.14       (18,250 )   $ 3.14       -     $    
Forfeited
    (16,000 )   $ 4.46       (5,375 )   $ 5.30       (44,120 )   $ 7.58  
                                                 
Options outstanding at end of year
    321,016     $ 6.28       168,500     $ 3.49       189,125     $ 3.45  
                                                 
Options exercisable at end of year
    56,532     $ 3.68       131,125     $ 3.45       112,063     $ 3.48  

The following table summarizes information relating to employees' stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2011, according to exercise price range:

   
Options outstanding
   
Options exercisable
 
Range of exercise price
 
Number outstanding at
December 31, 2011
   
Weighted average remaining contractual life
   
Weighted average exercise price
   
Number exercisable at
December 31, 2011
   
Weighted average exercise price
 
         
Years
                   
                               
3.14
    52,032       0.86     $ 3.14       46,532     $ 3.14  
4.80
    10,000       4.67     $ 4.80       -     $ -  
5.71-6.91
    9,000       1.22     $ 6.11       9,000     $ 6.11  
7.00
    249,984       4.09     $ 7.00       1,000     $ 7.00  
                                         
      321,016       3.50     $ 6.28       56,532     $ 3.68  

 
4.
On February 25, 2009, the Board of Directors resolved to issue to the Company's employees options convertible to 15,000 of the Company's ordinary shares, pursuant to the 2003 Employee Share Option Plan, which will vest in four equal annual installments over a period of four years, commencing as of the date of the grant, at an exercise price of $ 3.14 per share.

 
F - 39

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 15:-
EQUITY (Cont.)

 
5.
On February 25, 2009, the Board of Directors resolved to modify the price of 166,750 options granted to the Company's employees with the exercise price of 7.01-11.24 between the period of May 2005 and December 2007, convertible to 166,750 of the Company's ordinary shares, pursuant to the 2003 Employee Share Option Plan, at an exercise price of $ 3.14 per share

The expected incremental cost that the Company has to recognize in its financial statements, as a result of the repricing of the options as described above, is estimated at approximately $ 83. The incremental cost will be recorded in the financial statements until 2011 according to the remaining period of vesting.

 
6.
On March 24, 2010, the Board of Directors resolved to extend the exercise period of 40,000 options granted to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Company, by eighteen months until November 23, 2011. The exercise price of the options is $ 3.14 per share. As a result, the company recorded an additional amortization of stock compensation in the amount of $ 23.

 
7.
On October 13, 2010, the Board of Directors resolved to issue to one of our directors options exercisable to 3,000 of the company's ordinary shares, pursuant to the plan, which will vest in three equal annual installments over a period of three years, commencing as of date of the grant, at an exercise price of $ 7.00 per share.

 
8.
In January 2011, the Board of Directors appointed the Company's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective as of February 1, 2011. Under the terms of his employment, the new CEO was granted 246,984 options at an exercise price of $7.00, in accordance with our 2003 option plan, which will vest over a three year period, according to the vesting dates as stipulated in the employment agreement, commencing upon the effective date of his employment. The new CEO will also be entitled to an annual performance bonus of up to one year's salary which will be calculated in accordance with certain fixed criteria relating to the company's growth and profitability in the year preceding payment of the bonus.

 
9.
On August 31, 2011, the Board of Directors resolved to issue to the Company's Chief Financial Officer, options exercisable to 10,000 of the company's ordinary shares, pursuant to the plan, which will vest in four equal annual installments over a period of four years, commencing as of date of the grant, at an exercise price of $ 4.80 per share.

 
d.
Dividends:

Any dividend distributed by the Company will be declared and paid in dollars, subject to statutory limitations. The Company's policy is not to declare dividends out of tax exempt earnings.

Shagrir distributed dividends in an amount of approximately $ 3,649, out of which $ 1,595 was paid to non-controlling interests.

 
F - 40

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 16:-
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share:

   
Year ended
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Numerator:
                 
                   
Numerator for basic net earnings per share - Net income (loss)
  $ (8,527 )   $ 1,130     $ (2,107 )
Effect of diluting securities
    (33 )     (69 )     (106 )
                         
Numerator for diluted net earnings per share - Net income (loss)
  $ (8,560 )   $ 1,061     $ (2,213 )
                         
Denominator:
                       
                         
Denominator for basic net earnings per share - weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)
    4,789       4,768       4,753  
Effect of diluting securities (in thousands)
    -       66       -  
                         
Denominator for diluted net earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed exercises (in thousands)
    4,789       4,834       4,753  
                         
Basic net earnings (loss) per share
  $ (1.78 )   $ 0.24     $ (0.44 )
                         
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share
  $ (1.79 )   $ 0.22     $ (0.47 )
 
NOTE 17:-
INCOME TAXES

 
a.
Measurement of taxable income under the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985 ("the Law"):

Under the Law, through 2007, the Company's and Shagrir's results for tax purposes were measured in terms of earnings in NIS after certain adjustments for changes in the Israeli CPI. As explained in Note 2b, the financial statements are measured in dollars. The difference between the annual change in the Israeli CPI and in the NIS/dollar exchange rate causes a difference between taxable income and the income before taxes reflected in the financial statements. In accordance with paragraph 9(f) of SFAS No. 109, as primarily codified in ASC 740, the Company has not provided deferred income taxes on the above difference resulting from changes in exchange rates and indexing for tax purposes.

 
F - 41

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 17:-
INCOME TAXES (Cont.)

In February 2008, the "Knesset" (Israeli parliament) passed an amendment to the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985, which limits the scope of the law starting 2008 and thereafter. Starting 2008, the results for tax purposes will be measured in nominal values, excluding certain adjustments for changes in the Consumer Price Index carried out in the period up to December 31, 2007. The amended law includes, inter alia, the elimination of the inflationary additions and deductions and the additional deduction for depreciation starting 2008.

 
b.
Tax benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxation), 1969:

The Company is an "industrial company", as defined by the Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969, and, as such, is entitled to certain tax benefits, mainly accelerated depreciation of machinery and equipment, as prescribed by regulations published under the Income Tax Law (Inflationary Adjustments), 1985, the right to claim public issuance expenses in three annual installments and an annual deduction of 12.5% of patents and other intangible property rights as deductions for tax purposes.

 
c.
The Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 ("the Law"):

Under the Law, companies are entitled to various tax benefits by virtue of the "approved enterprise" and/or "beneficiary enterprise" status granted to part of their enterprises, as determined by the Law ("the Alternative Track"). The tax benefits and reduced tax rates consist of a tax exemption in the first two years and a reduced rate of 25% for a period of five years for the remaining benefit period.

The income qualifying for tax benefits under the Alternative Track is the taxable income of a company ("a beneficiary company") that has met certain conditions as determined by the Law, and which is derived from an industrial enterprise. The Law specifies the types of income that qualify for the tax benefits under the Alternative Track in respect of an industrial enterprise, Income from an industrial enterprise includes, among others, revenues from the production and development of software products and revenues from industrial research and development activities performed for a foreign resident (and approved by the Head of the Administration of Industrial Research and Development).

The Company's program for expansion of its plant was granted the status of an "approved program", in accordance with the Law, under the alternative track. According to this track, income derived from the approved enterprise is subject to the benefits and related conditions, as above.

The benefit period starts with the first year the approved enterprise/beneficiary enterprise earns taxable income, provided that 14 years have not passed since the approval was granted and 12 years have not passed since the enterprise began operating. In respect of expansion programs pursuant to Amendment No. 60 to the Law, the benefit period starts at the later of the year elected and the first year the Company earns taxable income provided that 12 years have not passed since the beginning of the year of election. The Company's benefit period for the approved enterprise status will end in 2010.

 
F - 42

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 17:-
INCOME TAXES (Cont.)

If dividends are distributed out of the tax exempt profits, mentioned above, the Company will become liable for tax at the rate applicable to its profits from the approved enterprise in the year in which the income was earned, as if it was not on the Alternative Track (tax at the rate of 0%). The Company's policy is not to distribute dividends as above.

In December 2010, the "Knesset" (Israeli Parliament) passed the Law for Economic Policy for 2011 and 2012 (Amended Legislation), 2011, which prescribes, among others, amendments in the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 ("the Law"). The amendment became effective as of January 1, 2011. According to the amendment, the benefit tracks in the Law were modified and a flat tax rate applies to the Company's entire preferred income. The Company will be able to opt to apply (the waiver is non-recourse) the amendment and from then on it will be subject to the amended tax rates that are as follows: 2011 and 2012 - 15% (in development area A - 10%), 2013 and 2014 - 12.5% (in development area A - 7%) and in 2015 and thereafter - 12% (in development area A - 6%).

 
d.
Tax rates applicable to the income of the Company:

Taxable income of the Company is subject to tax at the rate of 26% in 2009, 25% in 2010 and 24% in 2011.

On December 5, 2011, the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) passed the Law for Tax Burden Reform (Legislative Amendments), 2011 ("the Law") which, among others, cancels effective from 2012, the scheduled progressive reduction in the corporate tax rate. The Law also increases the corporate tax rate to 25% in 2012. In view of this increase in the corporate tax rate to 25% in 2012, the real capital gains tax rate and the real betterment tax rate were also increased accordingly.

The effect of the abovementioned changes increased deferred tax liabilities by approximately $ 1,174. The adjustment of the deferred tax balances resulted in a decrease in net income in 2011 of approximately $ 1,174, which was recorded in taxes on income and an increase in loss as of December 31, 2011 of approximately $ 1,174.

 
e.
Income (loss) before taxes on income:

   
Year ended
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Domestic
  $ (2,556 )   $ 6,681     $ 3,989  
Foreign
    (1,913 )     (2,041 )     (1,900 )
                         
    $ (4,469 )   $ 4,640     $ 2,089  

 
F - 43

 

POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 17:-
INCOME TAXES (Cont.)

 
f.
Deferred taxes:

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes, and amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the deferred tax liabilities and assets of the Company and its subsidiaries are as follows:

 
1.
Provided in respect of the following:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Reserves and accruals
  $ 544     $ 382  
Carryforward tax losses
    27,089       20,824  
Other temporary differences
    1,821       1,950  
                 
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
  $ 29,454     $ 23,156  
                 
Valuation allowance (3)
    (26,786 )     (18,639 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 2,668     $ 4,517  
                 
Goodwill
    (4,906 )     (4,664 )
Other temporary differences
    (233 )     (116 )
                 
Total deferred tax liabilities
  $ (5,139 )   $ (4,780 )
                 
Total deferred tax assets (Liabilities)
  $ (2,471 )   $ (263 )
                 
Domestic
  $ (2,471 )   $ (263 )
Foreign
    -       -  
                 
    $ (2,471 )   $ (263 )

 
2.
Deferred taxes are included in the consolidated balance sheets, as follows:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Long-term Liabilities
  $ (2,471 )   $ (263 )
                 
    $ (2,471 )   $ (263 )

 
F - 44

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 17:-
INCOME TAXES (Cont.)

 
3.
The Company and its subsidiaries (except Shagrir) have provided valuation allowances in respect of deferred tax assets resulting from tax losses carryforward and other temporary differences. Since the Company and its subsidiaries (except for Shagrir) have a history of losses, it is more likely than not that the deferred taxes regarding the losses carryforward and other temporary differences will not be realized in the foreseeable future.

 
4.
Reconciling items between the statutory tax rate of the Company and the effective tax rate:

   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Income (loss) before taxes, as reported in the consolidated statements of operations
  $ (4,469 )   $ 4,640     $ 2,089  
                         
Statutory tax rate
    24 %     25 %     26 %
                         
Theoretical tax expenses  on the above amount at the Israeli statutory tax rate
  $ (1,072 )   $ 1,160     $ 543  
Tax adjustment in respect of different tax rates in subsidiaries and changes in tax rates
    1,064       (83 )     (833 )
Operating carryforward losses for which a valuation allowance was provided
    2,219       576       1,159  
Realization of carryforward tax losses for which a valuation allowance was provided and change in valuation allowance in respect of deferred taxes
    -       (78 )     (551 )
Nondeductible expenses and other
    172       (51 )     569  
                         
    $ 2,383     $ 1,524     $ 887  

 
F - 45

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 17:-
INCOME TAXES (Cont.)

 
g.
Carryforward tax losses and deductions:

Carryforward tax losses of the Company totaled approximately $ 84,845 (including a capital loss in the amount of approximately $ 31,474) as of December 31, 2011. The carryforward tax losses have no expiration date.

Carryforward tax losses of Pointer Argentina are approximately $ 1,400 as of December 31, 2011. The carryforward tax losses will expire from 2014 to 2016.

Carryforward tax losses of Shagrir totaled approximately $ 14,406 as of December 31, 2011. The carryforward tax losses have no expiration date.

Carryforward tax losses of Pointer Mexico totaled approximately $ 6,412 as of December 31, 2011. The carryforward tax losses will expire from 2014 to 2021.

 
h.
Final tax assessments:

Tax assessments for the Company and Shagrir are considered final as of the 2007 tax year.
 
Tax assessments for Pointer Mexico are considered final as of the 2006 tax year.
 
Tax assessments for Pointer Argentina are considered final as of the 2008 tax year.

 
i.
Taxes on income (tax benefit) included in the consolidated statements of operations:

   
Year ended
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Current
  $ 5     $ (61 )   $ 107  
Deferred
    2,378       1,585       780  
                         
    $ 2,383     $ 1,524     $ 887  
                         
Domestic
  $ 2,378     $ 1,585     $ 780  
Foreign
    5       (61 )     107  
                         
    $ 2,383     $ 1,524     $ 887  

 
F - 46

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 18:-
BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

 
a.
Balances with related parties:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses:
           
             
DBSI (see Note 14f(2))
  $ 52     $ 52  
 
 
b.
Transactions with related parties:

   
Year ended
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Sales to affiliate (see Note 1g)
  $ 1,611     $ 410     $ -  
Management fees to DBSI (see Note 14f(2))
  $ 180     $ 180     $ 180  
 
NOTE 19:-
SEGMENT, CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

 
a.
General:

Commencing January 2008, the Company has two reportable segments that are related to continuing operations: the Cellocator segment and the Pointer segment.

The Cellocator segment designs, develops and produces leading mobile resource management products, including asset tracking, fleet management and security products for sale to third party operators providing mobile resource management services.

The Pointer segment acts as an operator by bundling the products of the Cellocator segment together with a range of services, including stolen vehicle retrieval services and fleet management services, and also provides road-side assistance services for sale to insurance companies, fleets and individual customers.

During 2008, as a result of the 2007 acquisition transaction in which the Company acquired Cellocator and following the determination of the CODM (chief operating decision maker), which is the Company's Chief Executive Officer, to control and manage the results of the Company's business by means of two segments, the Company began to produce discrete operating results of two business units, the Cellocator segment and the Pointer segment.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on operating profit or loss. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.

 
F - 47

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 19:-
SEGMENT, CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Cont.)

The Company applies ASC 280, Segment Reporting (formerly FAS 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information").
 
 
b.
The following presents segment results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011:

   
Cellocator segment
   
Pointer segment
   
Total
 
                   
Segments revenues
  $ 24,199     $ 68,709     $ 92,908  
Intersegments revenues
    (6,990 )     -       (6,990 )
                         
Revenues from external customers
  $ 17,209     $ 68,709     $ 85,918  
                         
Segments operating profit (loss)
  $ (5,366 )   $ 2,512     $ (2,854 )
                         
Segments assets
  $ 16,780     $ 74,146     $ 90,926  
                         
Depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses
  $ 8,224     $ 4,486     $ 12,710  
                         
Expenditures for assets
  $ 247     $ 4,198     $ 4,445  

The Pointer segment revenues include revenue from services in the amount of $ 54,681.

The following reconciles segment operating profit and segments assets to net operating profit and assets as reported in the consolidated statements of income:

Segments operating income
  $ (2,854 )
Intercompany losses on intersegment sales
    241  
         
Operating income
  $ (2,613 )
         
Segments assets
  $ 90,926  
Intercompany elimination
    (1,588 )
         
Total assets
  $ 89,338  

 
F - 48

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 19:-
SEGMENT, CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Cont.)

The following presents segment results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010:

   
Cellocator segment
   
Pointer segment
   
Total
 
                   
Segments revenues
  $ 23,533     $ 58,627     $ 82,160  
Intersegments revenues
    (8,297 )     -       (8,297 )
                         
Revenues from external customers
  $ 15,236     $ 58,627     $ 73,863  
                         
Segments operating profit
  $ 2,839     $ 3,898     $ 6,737  
                         
Segments assets
  $ 25,163     $ 80,112     $ 105,275  
                         
Depreciation and amortization expenses
  $ 1,360     $ 4,208     $ 5,568  
                         
Expenditures for assets
  $ 471     $ 4,010     $ 4,481  

The Pointer segment revenues include revenue from services in the amount of $ 48,334.

The following reconciles segment operating profit and segments assets to net operating profit and assets as reported in the consolidated statements of income:

Segments operating income
  $ 6,737  
Intercompany income on intersegment sales
    (100 )
         
Operating income
  $ 6,637  
         
Segments assets
  $ 105,275  
Intercompany elimination
    (1,845 )
         
Total assets
  $ 103,430  

 
F - 49

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 19:-
SEGMENT, CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Cont.)

The following presents segment results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2009:

   
Cellocator segment
   
Pointer segment
   
Total
 
                   
Segments revenues
  $ 15,380     $ 54,187     $ 69,567  
Intersegments revenues
    (4,242 )     -       (4,242 )
                         
Revenues from external customers
  $ 11,138     $ 54,187     $ 65,325  
                         
Segments operating profit (loss)
  $ (3,144 )   $ 7,043     $ 3,899  
                         
Segments assets
  $ 24,799     $ 73,922     $ 98,721  
                         
Depreciation and amortization expenses
  $ 4,503     $ 3,751     $ 8,254  
                         
Expenditures for assets
  $ 117     $ 3,325     $ 3,442  

The Pointer segment revenues include revenue from services in the amount of $ 45,118.

The following reconciles segment operating profit and segments assets to net operating profit and assets as reported in the consolidated statements of income:

Segments operating income
  $ 3,899  
Intercompany income on intersegment sales
    276  
         
Operating income
  $ 4,175  
         
Segments assets
  $ 98,721  
Intercompany elimination
    (1,748 )
         
Total assets
  $ 96,973  

 
F - 50

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 19:-
SEGMENT, CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Cont.)

 
c.
Summary information about geographical areas:

     
Year ended
December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                     
1.
Revenues *):
                 
                     
 
Israel
  $ 61,498     $ 53,574     $ 50,604  
 
Latin America
    12,856       11,483       6,325  
 
Europe
    10,275       7,553       7,376  
 
Other
    1,289       1,253       1,020  
                           
      $ 85,918     $ 73,863     $ 65,325  

 
*)
Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the end-customers.

     
December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                     
2.
Long-lived assets:
                 
                     
 
Israel
  $ 56,735     $ 70,166     $ 68,129  
 
Argentina
    1,179       1,356       1,371  
 
Mexico
    445       156       143  
 
Other
    3       -       -  
                           
      $ 58,362     $ 71,678     $ 69,643  

 
d.
In 2011, 2010 and 2009, none of our customer accounted above 10% of the Company's revenues.

 
F - 51

 
 
POINTER TELOCATION LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
 
NOTE 20:-
SELECTED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA

     
Year ended
December 31,
 
     
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
a.
Financial expenses, net:
                 
                     
 
Income:
                 
 
Interest on short-term bank deposits
  $ 15     $ 39     $ 7  
 
Other
    14       38       27  
                           
        29       77       34  
 
Expenses:
                       
 
Bank charges and interest expenses
    1,620       1,566       1,709  
 
Foreign currency transaction adjustments
    93       191       (78 )
 
Interest on long-term loans to others
    64       282       414  
 
Amortization of discount on long-term loans
    -       -       -  
 
Interest on debenture
    31       (6 )     39  
 
Change in fair value of foreign currency forward contracts
    -       20       20  
 
Other
    -       -       -  
                           
        1,808       2,053       2,104  
                           
      $ 1,779     $ 1,976     $ 2,070  
                           
b.
Other expenses, net:
                       
                           
 
Capital loss (gain)
  $ (33 )   $ 21     $ 16  
 
Loss from sale of subsidiaries
    110       -       -  
                           
      $ 77     $ 21     $ 16  

NOTE 21:-
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On February 28, 2012, Shagrir signed an agreement with the non-controlling shareholder of Car2go, pursuant to which Shagrir will invest NIS 3 million in cash or in services in consideration for 3,087 of Car2go's ordinary shares. Following the issuance, Shagrir will hold 58.46% of Car2go. However, the terms of the agreement provide that if there is no additional investment in Car2go by a third party within two (2) years from signing, Shagrir's holding may be retroactively increased to 62.3%.
 
 
F - 52

 
 
POINTER DO BRASIL S.A.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF 31ST. DECEMBER 2011 AND 2010

EXPRESSED IN U.S. DOLLARS
 
 
 

 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
 
To the Shareholders
POINTER DO BRASIL S.A..
 
1.
We have audited the balance sheet of POINTER DO BRASIL S.A.. ("the Company") as of 31st. December 2011, and the related statements of income, of changes in shareholders’ equity accounts and of cash flows for the years then ended, accompanied by explanatory notes, expressed in US Dollars.   These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.   Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

2.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).   Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatements.   An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.   We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.   Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.   Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statements presentation.   We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

3.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the company as of 31st. December 2011, the results of its operations, the changes in shareholders’ equity accounts and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

São Paulo, Brazil, 21st. March 2012.

RICARDO JULIO RODIL
ACCOUNTANT - CRC-1SP111444/O-1

BAKER TILLY BRASIL AUDITORES INDEPENDENTES S/S
CRC-2SP016754/O-1
 
 
B - 1

 

POINTER DO BRASIL COMERCIAL S.A.

BALANCE SHEETS

In thousand of US Dollars in

   
31st. December
 
   
2011
   
2010
(Unaudited)
 
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS
           
             
Cash and cash equivalents
    336       333  
Trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ 211)
    491       118  
Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses
    258       242  
Inventories
    785       271  
Total current assets
    1,870       964  
                 
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
               
Property and equipment, net
    2,251       787  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
    4,121       1,751  
                 
LIABILITIES
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
                 
Short-term bank credit and current maturities of long-term loans
    195       82  
Trade payables
    1,474       328  
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses
    786       202  
      2,455       612  
                 
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Long-term loans from banks
    377       132  
Other long-term liabilities
    12       39  
      389       171  
EQUITY
               
Share capital
    7,267       4,330  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    367       (150)  
Accumulated deficit
    (6,357 )      (3,212 )
      1,277       968  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
    4,121       1,751  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
 
B - 2

 
 
POINTER DO BRASIL COMERCIAL S.A..

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

In thousands of U.S. dollars

   
2011
   
2010
(Unaudited)
 
             
Revenues – Services Rendered
    3,802       311  
                 
Cost of Services Rendered
    (3,833 )     (405 )
                 
Gross profit
    (31 )     (94 )
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
               
                 
Selling and marketing
    (994 )     (685 )
General and administrative
    (2,065 )     (1,174 )
                 
OPERATING LOSS
    (3,090 )     (1,953 )
                 
Financial expenses, net
    (55 )     (42 )
Loss before taxes on income
    (3,145 )     (1,995 )
                 
Taxes on income
    -       -  
                 
LOSS FOR THE YEAR
    (3,145 )     (1,995 )
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
 
B - 3

 
 
POINTER DO BRASIL COMERCIAL S.A.
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

In thousands of U.S. dollars
 
   
Share capital
   
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
Retained earnings
   
Total
 
Balance as of January 1, 2010 (unaudited)
    1,378       (110 )     (1,217 )     51  
                                 
Issuance of shares
    2,952       -       -       2,952  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    -       (40 )     -       (40 )
Net loss
    -       -       (1,995 )     (1,995 )
                                 
Balance as of December 31, 2010 (unaudited)
    4,330       (150 )     (3,212 )     968  
                                 
Issuance of shares
    2,937       -       -       2,937  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    -       517       -       517  
Net loss
    -       -       (3,145 )     (3,145 )
                                 
Balance as of December 31, 2011
    7,267       367       (6,357 )     1,277  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
 
B - 4

 
 
POINTER DO BRASIL COMERCIAL S.A.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

In thousands of U.S. dollars
 
   
2011
   
2010
(unaudited)
 
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
             
Net income
    (3,145 )     (1,995 )
Adjustments required to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    332       122  
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables, net
    (432 )     (112 )
Increase in other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses
    (102 )     (215 )
Decrease (increase) in inventories
    (609 )     (248 )
Increase (decrease) in trade payables
    1,324       287  
Increase (decrease) in other accounts payable and accrued expenses
    733       94  
Decrease (increase) in other long term liabilities
    (25 )     37  
Net cash used in operating activities
    (1,924 )     (2,030 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
                 
Purchase of property and equipment
    (2,068 )     (803 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,068 )     (803 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
                 
Receipt of long-term loans from banks
    472       210  
Repayment of long-term loans from banks
    (45 )     (36 )
Proceeds from issuance of shares
    3,609       2,866  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    4,036       3,040  
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (41 )     17  
 Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    3       223  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
    333       110  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF THE YEAR
    336       333  
 
Cash paid during the year for:
           
Interest
    21       10  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
 
B - 5

 
 
POINTER DO BRASIL COMERCIAL S.A.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.
GENERAL

Pointer do Brasil Commercial S.A. ("the Company") was incorporated in Sao Paulo and commenced operations in August 2008.   The Company acts as an operator by bundling its products together with a range of services, including stolen vehicle retrieval services and fleet management services.
 
2.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, using the following significant accounting policies:

a. 
Use of estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.   Actual results could differ from those estimates.

b. 
Financial statements in U.S. Dollars:

The Company's revenues are generated in Brazilian Reals.   In addition, a substantial portion of the Company’s costs is incurred in the same currency.   Management believes that the Brazilian Real is the primary currency of the economic environment in which the Company operates.  Thus, the functional currency of the Company is the Brazilian Real.   The reporting currency is the US Dollar. Therefore, assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates and statement of operations items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the year.   Such translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments (comprehensive income) in shareholders' equity accounts.

c. 
Cash equivalents:

Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of three months or less as from the investment date.
 
 
B - 6

 

d. 
Inventories:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value.   Cost is determined using the "moving average" cost method.

e.
Allowance for doubtful accounts

The Company accrues allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses that may result from the inability of our customers to make required payments.   These allowances are based on customer payment practices and history, inquiries and other financial information.   If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.   Bad debt expense, net of recoveries, for fiscal year 2011 was approximately $211.

f. 
Property and equipment:

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation.   Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, at the following annual rates:

   
%
 
       
Computers and software
  20-33  
Office furniture and equipment
  20  
Motor vehicles
  20  
Installed products
  20  
Leasehold improvements
  20  

The Company periodically assesses the recoverability of the carrying amount of property and equipment, and provides for any possible impairment loss, based upon the difference between the carrying amount and fair value of such assets.   As of 31st. December 2011, no impairment losses have been identified.
 
g. 
Revenue recognition:

The Company generates revenues from the provision of services, subscriber fees and sales and installation of systems and products, mainly in respect of stolen vehicle recovery and fleet management services.

Service revenues including subscriber fees and installation are recognized as services are performed, over the term of the agreement.

Deferred revenue includes amounts received from customers but not yet recognized as revenues.
 
 
B - 7

 

In accordance with ASC 605-25, "Multiple-Element Arrangements" (formerly EITF 00-21, "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables"), revenue from certain arrangements may include multiple elements within a single contract.   The Company's accounting policy complies with the requirements set forth in ASC 605-25, relating to the separation of multiple deliverables into individual accounting units with determinable fair values.   The Company considers the sale of products and subscriber fees to be separate units of accounting.

Revenues generated from technical support services; installation and de-installation and their related costs are recognized when such services are rendered.

Generally, the Company does not grant rights of return.   The Company follows ASC 605-15-25 "sales of product when right of return exists" (formerly FAS 48, "Revenue Recognition When Right of Return Exists").   Based on the Company's experience, no provision for returns was recorded.
 
h.
Deferred income taxes:

The Company accounts for income taxes and uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes".   Deferred tax assets and liabilities are provided using the balance sheet liability method.   Under this method, deferred taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and are measured using the enacted tax rate and laws that will be in effect when the difference is expected to reverse.   The Company provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized.

The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period enacted.

ASC 740-10 (formerly FIN 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" - an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109), clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the Company's financial statements and prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.   It also provides guidance on accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures.
 
 
B - 8

 
 
As of 31st. December 2011, the Company did not record any liability for uncertain tax positions.   The Company's policy is to recognize, if any, tax related interest as interest expenses and penalties as general and administrative expenses.   For the year ended 31st. December 2011, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with tax positions.
 
3.
TRADE RECEIVABLES
(Amounts presented in thousands of US Dollars)

   
31st. December,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Accounts receivable
    702       118  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (211 )     -  
                 
Total trade receivables
    491       118  
 
4.
OTHER ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAID EXPENSES
(Amounts presented in thousands of US Dollars)

   
31ST. DECEMBER
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Prepaid expenses
    162       23  
Taxes receivable
    11       203  
Advances to suppliers
    85       -  
Employees
    -       16  
      258       242  
 
 
B - 9

 
 
5. 
FIXED ASSETS
(Amounts presented in thousands of US Dollars)

   
31st. December
       
   
2011
   
2010
       
   
Acquisition cost
   
Accumulated
depreciation
   
Net
   
Net
   
Annual
depreciation
rate %
 
Computers and SW
    705       (160 )     545       413     20-33  
Office furniture and equipment
    46       (15 )     31       52     20  
Motor vehicles
    43       (16 )     27       40     20  
Installed products
    1,858       (210 )     1,648       282     20  
      2,652       (401 )     2,251       787        
 
6. 
OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
(Amounts presented in thousands of US Dollars)

   
31st. December
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Payroll accruals
    387       136  
Deferred revenue
    22       31  
Installation, commission expenses and other accrued expenses
    377       35  
Total other current liabilities
    786       202  
 
7.
SHAREHOLDER´S EQUITY

a.
Ordinary shares:

Ordinary shares confer upon their holders voting rights, the right to receive cash dividends and the right to participate in the distribution of excess assets upon liquidation of the Company.

b.
Issued and outstanding share capital as at 31 December 2011:
 
Shareholder
 
Subscribed Shares
   
Thousands of US$ equivalent
 
Bracco do Brasil Empreendimentos e Participações Ltda.
    7.680.000       3,774  
Pointer Telocation Ltd.
    7.320.000       3,493  
Total
    15.000.000       7,267  
 
 
B - 10

 
 
8. 
INCOME TAXES

Corporate income taxes are calculated on taxable profits in accordance with the Brazilian income tax legislation at the rate of 25% (income tax) and 9% (social contribution).   Carryforward tax losses are allowed to be offset against future periods taxable income and are not subjected to prescriptive terms, but are restricted to 30% of taxable income of each year.

Taxes and social charges are subject to the review of the Brazilian authorities for final assessment.
 
9. 
DEFERRED TAX
(Amounts presented in thousands of US Dollars)

The Company continues to be in a loss making position and therefore Management believes that the provision for a significant portion of the deferred tax assets is required.   As a result, the Company has accrued a valuation allowance of approximately $1,454 during the period.

Income Tax Benefit

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes, and amounts used for income tax purposes.   Significant components of the Company´s deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows, in thousands of US Dollars:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
NOLs at the tax rate
    1,401       884  
Other temporary differences
    53       -  
Gross deferred tax asset before valuation allowance
    1,454       884  
Valuation allowance
    (1,454 )     (884 )
Net deferred tax assets
    -       -  

 
B - 11

 
 
Reconciling items between the statutory tax rate of the Company and the effective tax rate:

   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Loss before taxes, as reported in the consolidated statements of operations
    (3,145 )     (1,995 )
                 
Statutory tax rate
    34 %     34 %
                 
Theoretical tax expenses  on the above amount at the Brazilian statutory tax rate
    (1,069 )     (678 )
                 
Operating carryforward losses for which a valuation allowance was provided
    1,069       678  
                 
      -       -  
 
Carryforward tax losses and deductions:

Carryforward tax losses of the Company totaled approximately US$ 5,607,000 as of 31st.December 2011.   The carryforward tax losses have no expiration date.
 
B - 12