SNT 20-F DEF-14A Report Dec. 31, 2009 | Alphaminr
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD
ALPHAMINR

SNT 20-F Report ended Dec. 31, 2009

Balance Sheet
Cash Flow
Income Statement
20-F 1 zk1008217.htm 20-F zk1008217.htm
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
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
OR
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
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 .................
Commission file number: 0-21388
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter
and translation of Registrant’s name into English)
Israel
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

P.O. Box 70, Industrial Zone, Yehud 56100, Israel
(Address of principal executive offices)

+972-3-5391444 (phone), +972-3-5366245 (fax)
P.O. Box 70, Industrial Zone, Yehud 56100, Israel
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number of Company Contact Person)
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 0.1 Par Value
NASDAQ Global Market
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:
Ordinary Shares, par value NIS 1.0 per share …….…10,396,548
(as of December 31, 2009)

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
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 o 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
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

This Annual Report on Form 20-F is incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s Registration Statements on Form S-8, File Nos. 333-127340 and 333-164696.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
1
1
1
1
A.
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
1
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
2
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
2
D.
Risk Factors
2
11
A.
History and Development of the Company
11
B.
Business Overview
12
C.
Organizational Structure
23
D.
Property, Plants and Equipment
23
24
24
A.
Operating Results
24
B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
39
C.
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses
42
D.
Trend Information
43
E.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
43
F.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
43
44
A.
Directors and Senior Management
44
B.
Compensation
47
C.
Board Practices
47
D.
Employees
54
E.
Share Ownership
54
56
A.
Major Shareholders
56
B.
Related Party Transactions
58
C.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
59
59
A.
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
59
B.
Significant Changes
60
61
A.
Offer and Listing Details
61
B.
Plan of Distribution
62
C.
Markets
62
D.
Selling Shareholders
62
E.
Dilution
62
F.
Expenses of the Issue
62
62
A.
Share Capital
62
B.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
62
C.
Material Contracts
66
D.
Exchange Controls
66
E.
Taxation
66
F.
Dividends and Paying Agents
77
G.
Statements by Experts
77
H.
Documents on Display
77
I.
Subsidiary Information
78
78
79
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INTRODUCTION

Magal Security Systems Ltd. is a leading international solutions provider of safety, security, site management and intelligence gathering and compilation solutions and products.  Based on more than 25 years of experience and interaction with customers, we have developed a unique set of solutions and products, optimized for perimeter, outdoor and general security applications.  Our turnkey solutions are typically integrated and managed by sophisticated modular command and control software, supported by expert systems for real-time decision support.  Our portfolio of critical infrastructure protection and site protection technologies includes a variety of smart barriers and fences, fence mounted detectors, virtual gates, buried and concealed detection systems and a sophisticated protection package for sub-surface intrusion.  A world class innovator in the development of closed circuit television, intelligence video analysis and motion detection technology for outdoor operation, we have successfully installed customized solutions and products in more than 75 countries worldwide.  Our ordinary shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market and on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol “MAGS.”  Our address on the Internet is www.magal-s3.com .  The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.  As used in this annual report, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” mean Magal Security Systems Ltd. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.
We have trademark rights in the United States and other national jurisdictions arising out of our trademark registrations, applications and/or use of the following trademarks and service marks: SENSTAR-STELLAR logo, the S logos, SENSTAR-STELLAR, SENSTAR-STELLAR (and design) SENSTAR, STELLAR, STELLAR SYSTEMS, STELLAR SYSTEMS (and design), PANTHER, GUIDAR, REPELS, SENNET, PERIMITRAX,  INTELLI-FLEX, INTELLI-FIELD, X-FIELD, OMNITRAX, STARLED, STARNET, FRONTLINE, E-FIELD, E-FLEX, ARMOURFLEX,  SIMPL, CROSSFIRE, FLASH, FLARE, SENTRAX, OMNITRAX, XFIELD, DTR, DreamBox, Magal logo and all other marks used to identify particular products and services associated with our businesses. Any other trademarks and trade names appearing in this annual report are owned by their respective holders.
Our consolidated financial statements appearing in this annual report are prepared in U.S. dollars and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.  All references in this annual report to “dollars” or “$”are to U.S. dollars and all references in this annual report to “NIS” are to New Israeli Shekels.  The representative exchange rate between the NIS and the dollar as published by the Bank of Israel on December 31, 2009 was NIS 3.775 per $1.00.
Statements made in this annual report concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are summaries of such contracts, agreements or documents and are not complete descriptions of all of their terms.  If we filed any of these documents as an exhibit to this annual report or to any registration statement or annual report that we previously filed, you may read the document itself for a complete description of its terms.
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains various “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, and within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.  Such forward-looking statements reflect our current view with respect to future events and financial results.  Forward-looking statements usually include the verbs, “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “understands" and other verbs suggesting uncertainty.  We remind readers that forward-looking statements are merely predictions and therefore inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors and involve known and unknown risks that could cause the actual results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  We have attempted to identify additional significant uncertainties and other factors affecting forward-looking statements in the Risk Factors section which appears in Item 3.D “Key Information -Risk Factors.”
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IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
KEY INFORMATION
A. Selected Consolidated Financial Data .
The following selected consolidated financial data for and as of the five years ended December 31, 2009 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  We have derived the following selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2008 and 2009 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 from our consolidated financial statements set forth elsewhere in this annual report that have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  We have derived the following selected consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006 from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report.  The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with and are qualified entirely by reference to Item 5 “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report.
Year Ended December 31,
2005 (1)
2006 (1)
2007 (1)(2)
2008 (2)
2009 (2)
(in thousands except per share data)
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues
$ 58,385 $ 63,600 $ 62,695 $ 57,105 $ 54,518
Cost of revenues
36,658 37,236 38,156 37,559 33,331
Gross profit
21,727 26,364 24,539 19,546 21,187
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net
5,265 5,378 5,310 5,556 4,816
Selling and marketing, net
12,385 11,603 11,073 12,953 10,864
General and administrative
4,965 5,547 6,057 10,243 8,372
Impairment of goodwill and other
intangible assets
- - - 2,772 -
Post employment and termination benefits
- - 904 2,582 -
Total operating expenses
22,615 22,528 23,344 34,106 24,052
Operating income (loss)
(888 ) 3,836 1,195 (14,560 ) (2,865 )
Financial expenses, net
813 864 2,059 1,314 1,568
Income (loss) before income taxes
(1,701 ) 2,972 (864 ) (15,874 ) (4,433 )
Income taxes (tax benefit)
(28 ) 943 276 3,066 864
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(1,673 ) 2,029 (1,140 ) (18,940 ) (5,297 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net
(1,538 ) (1,219 ) 3,022 (13,662 ) 4,216
Net income (loss)
$ (3,211 ) $ 810 $ 1,882 $ (32,602 ) (1,081 )
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest
- - - - 54
Net income (loss) attributable to Magal’s shareholders
$ (3,211 ) $ 810 $ 1,882 $ (32,602 ) $ (1,135 )
Basic net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
$ (0.17 ) $ 0.20 $ (0.11 ) $ (1.82 ) $ (0.52 )
Basic net earnings (loss)per share from discontinued operations
(0.15 ) (0.12 ) 0.29 (1.32 ) 0.41
Basic net earnings (loss) per share
$ (0.32 ) $ 0.08 $ 0.18 $ (3.14 ) $ (0.11 )
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
$ (0.17 ) $ 0.20 $ (0.11 ) $ (1.82 ) $ (0.52 )
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
$ (0.15 ) $ (0.12 ) 0.29 (1.32 ) 0.41
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share
$ (0.32 ) $ 0.08 $ 0.18 $ (3.14 ) $ (0.11 )
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic net earnings per share
9,883 10,384 10,395 10,397 10,397
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing diluted net earnings per share
9,900 10,442 10,431 10,397 10,399
- 1 -
As of December 31,
2005 (1)
2006 (1)
2007 (1)
2008
2009
(in thousands)
Consolidated Balance Sheets Data :
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 10,099 $ 4,908 $ 9,205 $ 16,835 $ 11,869
Short and long-term bank deposits,  restricted deposits, marketable securities and escrow deposit
18,853 22,053 26,972 8,137 1,847
Working capital
35,071 39,884 41,526 16,240 20,467
Total assets
101,842 103,681 126,157 90,537 60,650
Short-term bank credit (including current maturities of long-term loans)
21,715 17,821 20,737 23,995 10,058
Long-term bank loans
1,653 7,399 3,095 2,282 548
Total shareholders’ equity
56,950 58,150 65,578 30,718 32,309
(1)
In December 2007, we disposed of our U.S. based video monitoring business.  Accordingly, the operating results, balance sheet and cash flows relating to the video monitoring operations were presented in our statements of income, balance sheets and cash flows as discontinued operations, and the comparative operating results for prior years were reclassified.
(2)
In September 2009, our Board of Directors resolved to discontinue the operations of the European integration subsidiary that we acquired in September 2007.  The subsidiary was sold in December 2009.  Accordingly, operating results and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, as well as the capital gain resulting from the sale, were reclassified to disclose the results of that subsidiary as discontinued operations.
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness.
Not applicable.

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds.
Not applicable.

D. Risk Factors.
Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty.  You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below before investing in our ordinary shares.  If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.  In that case, the value of our ordinary shares could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
- 2 -
Risks Related to Our Business
Unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely affect our customers, which directly impacts our business and results of operations.
Our operations and performance depend on our customers, including those from the governmental sector, having adequate resources to purchase our products.  The recent turmoil in the credit markets and the global economic downturn generally adversely impacted our customers and potential customers.  Although global economic conditions have begun to stabilize or improve, the markets in which we operate remain weak.  Customers have reduced and may continue to reduce their purchasing activities in response to lack of credit, economic uncertainty and concern about the stability of markets in general, and have reduced or delayed purchases of our products.  As a result of slow moving inventory due to the recent global economic slowdown, we may be required in the future to record additional impairment charges relating to the carrying value of our intangible assets, increase our reserves for doubtful accounts and further write-down our tax assets.  In addition, the fair value of some of our assets may decrease further as a result of the weak economy and as a result, we may be required to record further impairment charges in the future. If global economic and market conditions or economic conditions in key markets remain weak or weaken further, our financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.
Our revenues depend on government procurement procedures and practices.  A substantial decrease in our customers’ budgets would adversely affect our results of operations.
Our products are primarily sold to governmental agencies, governmental authorities and government-owned companies, many of which have complex and time consuming procurement procedures.  A substantial period of time often elapses from the time we begin marketing a product until we actually sell that product to a particular customer.  In addition, our sales to governmental agencies, authorities and companies are directly affected by these customers’ budgetary constraints and the priority given in their budgets to the procurement of our products.  A decrease in governmental funding for our customers’ budgets would adversely affect our results of operations.  This risk is heightened during periods of global economic slowdown.
Accordingly, governmental purchases of our systems, products and services may decline in the future as the governmental purchasing agencies may terminate, reduce or modify contracts or subcontracts if:
●
their requirements or budgetary constraints change;
●
they cancel multi-year contracts and related orders if funds become unavailable;
●
they shift spending priorities into other areas or for other products; or
●
they adjust contract costs and fees on the basis of audits.
Any such event may have a material adverse affect on us.
The loss of one or more of our key customers would result in a loss of a significant amount of our revenues.
A relatively few customers account for a large percentage of our revenues.  For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009, revenues generated from sales to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, or MOD, and Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF, accounted for 15.0%, 10.8% and 19.6%, respectively, of our revenues.  The MOD, IDF or any of our other major customers may not maintain their volume of business with us or, if such volume is reduced, other customers generating similar revenues may not replace the lost business.  The loss of one our more of our key customers without replacement by a customer or customers of similar volume would have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
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We depend on large orders from a relatively small number of customers for a substantial portion of our revenues.  As a result, our revenues and operating results may vary from quarter to quarter.
We receive large orders from a relatively small number of customers and our revenues and operating results are subject to substantial periodic variations.  Individual orders from customers can represent a substantial portion of our revenues in any one period and significant orders by a customer during one period may not be followed by further orders from the same customer in subsequent periods.  As a result, our revenues and operating results for a specific quarter may not be indicative of our future performance and quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results may not be meaningful, making it difficult for investors to evaluate our future prospects based on the results of any quarter.  In addition, we have a limited order backlog, which makes revenues in any quarter substantially dependent upon orders we deliver in that quarter.
We may be adversely affected by our long sales cycles.
We have in the past and expect in the future to experience long time periods between initial sales contacts and the execution of formal contracts for our products and completion of product installations.  The cycle from first contact to revenue generation in our business involves, among other things, selling the concept of our technology and products, developing and implementing a pilot program to demonstrate the capabilities and accuracy of our products, negotiating prices and other contract terms, and, finally, installing and implementing our products on a full-scale basis.  This cycle entails a substantial period of time, sometimes as much as one or more years, and the lack of revenues during this cycle and the expenses involved in bringing new sales to the point of revenue generation may put a substantial strain on our resources.
Our failure to retain and attract personnel could harm our business, operations and product development efforts.
Our products require sophisticated research and development, marketing and sales and technical customer support.  Our success depends on our ability to attract, train and retain qualified research and development, marketing and sales and technical customer support personnel.  Competition for personnel in all of these areas is intense and we may not be able to hire sufficient personnel to achieve our goals or support the anticipated growth in our business.  If we fail to attract and retain qualified personnel, our business, operations and product development efforts would suffer.
Our financial results may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.
We sell most of our products in North America, Europe and Israel.  Our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros and NIS, while a portion of our expenses, primarily labor expenses, is incurred in NIS and Canadian Dollars.  Additionally, certain assets, especially trade receivables, as well as part of our liabilities are denominated in NIS.  As a result, fluctuations in rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and non- U.S. dollar currencies may affect our operating results and financial condition.  The dollar cost of our operations in Israel may be adversely affected by the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar.  In addition, the value of our non-U.S. dollar revenues could be adversely affected by the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against such currencies.  In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the NIS appreciated by approximately 9.0%, 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively, against the U.S. dollar, which had an adverse affect on our results of operations.  In 2008, the Euro depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 5.3%, while in 2007 and 2009 the Euro appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 11.7% and 3.5%, respectively.
In addition, the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Canada is influenced by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar.  In 2008, the Canadian dollar depreciated against the U.S. dollar by approximately 19.7%, while in 2007 and 2009 the Canadian dollar appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 18.4%  and 16.6%, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, foreign currency fluctuations had an adverse impact on our results of operations and we recorded foreign exchange losses, net of $792,000, $246,000 and $1,138.000, respectively.  Our results of operations may continue to be materially adversely affected by currency fluctuations in the future.
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If we do not receive Israeli MOD approvals necessary for us to export the products we produce in Israel, our revenues may decrease.
Israel’s defense export policy regulates the sale of a number of our systems and products.  Current Israeli policy encourages export to approved customers of defense systems and products, such as ours, as long as the export is consistent with Israeli government policy.  A license is required to initiate marketing activities.  We are also required to obtain a specific export license for any hardware exported from Israel.  We may not be able to receive all the required permits and licenses for which we may apply in the future.  If we do not receive the required permits for which we apply, our revenues may decrease.
We are subject to laws regulating export of “dual use” items (items that are typically sold in the commercial market, but that also may be used in the defense market) and defense export control legislation.  Additionally, our participation in governmental procurement processes in Israel and other countries is subject to specific regulations governing the conduct of the process of procuring defense contracts.  Furthermore, solicitations for procurements by governmental purchasing agencies in Israel and other countries are governed by laws, regulations and procedures relating to procurement integrity, including avoiding conflicts of interest and corruption in the procurement process.  We may not be able to respond quickly and effectively to changing laws and regulations and any failure to comply with such laws and regulations may subject us to significant liability and penalties.
We face risks associated with doing business in international markets.
A large portion of our sales is to markets outside of Israel.  For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, approximately 75.0%, 78.8% and 76.2%, respectively, of our revenues were derived from sales to markets outside of Israel.  A key component of our strategy is to continue to expand in such international markets.  Our international sales efforts are affected by costs associated with the shipping of our products and risks inherent in doing business in international markets, including:
●
different and changing regulatory requirements in the jurisdictions in which we currently operate or may operate in the future;
●
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
●
export restrictions, tariffs and other trade barriers;
●
difficulties in staffing, managing and supporting foreign operations;
●
longer payment cycles;
●
difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;
●
political and economic changes, hostilities and other disruptions in regions where we currently sell or products or may sell our products in the future; and
●
seasonal reductions in business activities.
Negative developments in any of these areas in one or more countries could result in a reduction in demand for our products, the cancellation or delay of orders already placed, difficulty in collecting receivables, and a higher cost of doing business, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
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Reduction in Israeli government spending or changes in priorities for homeland security products may adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and prospects.
Historically a significant portion of our revenues were from sales to the Israeli government and our financial condition, operating results and prospects would be adversely affected by Israeli government budget cutbacks or spending reductions.  We believe that the success and growth of our business will continue to depend to a certain extent upon our successful procurement of Israeli government contracts.  The award of additional contracts from the Israeli government could be adversely affected by spending reductions or budget cutbacks at government agencies that currently use or are likely to use our products.  The Israeli government may reduce its expenditures for homeland security or change its defense priorities in the coming years.  Our programs may be affected in the future if there is a reduction in Israeli government defense spending for our programs or a change in priorities to products other than ours.  Accordingly, changes in government contracting policies, budgetary constraints and delays or changes in the appropriations process could have an adverse affect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to implement our growth strategy and may not be able to successfully integrate the operations of acquired businesses into our business.
As part of our growth strategy, we intend to acquire or invest in complementary (including competitive) businesses, products and technologies.  We may not be able to consummate any acquisition or investment in the future.  In addition, the process of integrating acquired assets into our operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and may absorb significant management attention that would otherwise be available for the ongoing development of our business.
We may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition.  Moreover, future acquisitions by us could result in potentially dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities and amortization expenses related to identifiable intangible assets, any of which could materially adversely affect our operating results and financial position.  Acquisitions also involve other risks, including risks inherent in entering markets in which we have no or limited prior experience. Our failure to successfully integrate the operations of an acquired business or to retain key employees of acquired businesses and integrate and manage our growth may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation or prospects.
We may not be able to protect our proprietary technology and unauthorized use of our proprietary technology by third parties may impair our ability to compete effectively.
Our success and ability to compete depend in large part upon protecting our proprietary technology.  We have approximately 15 patents and have patent applications pending.  We also rely on a combination of trade secret and copyright law and confidentiality, non-disclosure and assignment-of-inventions agreements to protect our proprietary technology.  It is our policy to protect our proprietary rights in our products and operations through contractual obligations, including confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with certain employees, distributors and agents, suppliers and subcontractors.  These measures may not be adequate to protect our technology from third-party infringement, and our competitors may independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to ours.  Additionally, our products may be sold in foreign countries that provide less protection to intellectual property than that provided under U.S. or Israeli laws.
Claims that our products infringe upon the intellectual property of third parties may require us to incur significant costs, enter into licensing agreements or license substitute technology.
Third parties may in the future assert infringement claims against us or claims asserting that we have violated a patent or infringed upon a copyright, trademark or other proprietary right belonging to them.  Any infringement claim, even one without merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources to defend against the claim.  In addition, we purchase components for our turnkey products from independent suppliers.  Certain of these components contain proprietary intellectual property of these independent suppliers.  Third parties may in the future assert claims against our suppliers that such suppliers have violated a patent or infringed upon a copyright, trademark or other proprietary right belonging to them.  If such infringement by our suppliers or us were found to exist, a party could seek an injunction preventing the use of their intellectual property.  Moreover, a successful claim of product infringement against us or a settlement could require us to pay substantial amounts or obtain a license to continue to use such technology or intellectual property.  Infringement claims asserted against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
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Undetected defects in our products may increase our costs and impair the market acceptance of our products.
The development, enhancement and implementation of our complex systems entail substantial risks of product defects or failures.  Despite testing by us and our customers, errors may be found in existing or new products, resulting in delay or loss of revenues, warranty expense, loss of market share or failure to achieve market acceptance.  Moreover, the complexities involved in implementing our systems entail additional risks of performance failures.  We may encounter substantial delays or other difficulties due to such complexities.  Any such occurrence could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the potential harm to our reputation that may result from product defects or implementation errors could be damaging to us.
The market for our products is characterized by changing technology, requirements, standards and products, and we may be adversely affected if we do not respond promptly and effectively to these changes.
The market for our products is characterized by evolving technologies, changing industry standards, changing regulatory environments, frequent new product introductions and rapid changes in customer requirements.  The introduction of products embodying new technologies and the emergence of new industry standards and practices can render existing products obsolete and unmarketable.  Our future success will depend on our ability to enhance our existing products and to develop and introduce, on a timely and cost-effective basis, new products and product features that keep pace with technological developments and emerging industry standards and address the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers.  In the future:
●
we may not be successful in developing and marketing new products or product features that respond to technological change or evolving industry standards;
●
we may experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction and marketing of these new products and features; or
●
our new products and product features may not adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace and achieve market acceptance.
If we are unable to respond promptly and effectively to changing technology, we will be unable to compete effectively in the future.
If subcontractors and suppliers terminate our arrangement with them, or amend them in a manner detrimental to us, we may experience delays in production and implementation of our products and our business may be adversely affected.
We acquire most of the components utilized in our products, including our turnkey solutions, from a limited number of suppliers.  We may not be able to obtain such items from these suppliers in the future or we may not be able to obtain them on satisfactory terms.  Temporary disruptions of our manufacturing operations would result if we were required to obtain materials from alternative sources, which may have an adverse effect on our financial results.  In addition, the installation of our fence mounted vibration detection systems in Israel is outsourced primarily to two subcontractors.  If either or both of such subcontractors were to be unable or unwilling to continue to perform such services, we would have to identify and qualify one or more substitute subcontractors to perform such services.  This could cause delays in the implementation of our fence mounted vibration detection systems in Israel, the costs associated with installing such systems may increase and our business may be adversely affected.
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We currently benefit from government programs and tax benefits that may be discontinued or reduced in the future, which would increase our future tax expenses.
We currently benefit from grants and tax benefits under Israeli government programs, which require us to meet specified conditions, including, but not limited to, making specified investments from our equity in fixed assets and paying royalties with respect to grants received.  In addition, some of these programs restrict our ability to manufacture particular products or transfer particular technology outside of Israel.  If we fail to comply with these conditions in the future, the benefits we receive could be cancelled and we could be required to refund any payments previously received under these programs, including any accrued interest, or pay increased taxes or royalties.  Such a result would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.  The Israeli government has reduced the benefits available under these programs in recent years and these programs and benefits may be discontinued or curtailed in the future.  If the Israeli government ends these programs and benefits, our business, financial condition, results of operations and net income could be materially adversely affected.
We may fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting , which could result in material misstatements in our financial statements.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposes certain duties on us and our executives and directors.  Our efforts to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 governing internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, which started in connection with our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006, have resulted in increased general and administrative expense and a diversion of management time and attention, and we expect these efforts to require the continued commitment of significant resources.  Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires (i) management’s annual review and evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting and (ii) an attestation report by our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, in connection with the filing of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for each fiscal year.
In 2008, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting with respect to a former subsidiary that was subsequently sold during 2009.  We may identify material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in the future.  Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements.  Any such failure could also adversely affect the results of our management’s evaluations and annual auditor reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.  Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in investigation or sanctions by regulatory authorities and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, investor confidence in our reported financial information and the market price of our ordinary shares.
Risks Relating to Our Ordinary Shares
Volatility of the market price of our ordinary shares could adversely affect our shareholders and us.
The market price of our ordinary shares has been, and is likely to be, highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, including the following:
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actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results or those of our competitors;
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announcements by us or our competitors of technological innovations or new and enhanced products;
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developments or disputes concerning proprietary rights;
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introduction and adoption of new industry standards;
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changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
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market conditions or trends in our industry;
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changes in the market valuations of our competitors;
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announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions;
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entry into strategic partnerships or joint ventures by us or our competitors;
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additions or departures of key personnel;
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political and economic conditions, such as a recession or interest rate or currency rate fluctuations or political events; and
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other events or factors in any of the countries in which we do business, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters or responses to such events.
In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for Israeli companies and home defense companies in particular, has been highly volatile.  Many of these factors are beyond our control and may materially adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares, regardless of our performance.  In the past, following periods of market volatility, shareholders have often instituted securities class action litigation relating to the stock trading and price volatility of the company in question.  If we were involved in any securities litigation, it could result in substantial cost to us to defend and divert resources and the attention of management from our business.
We do not expect to distribute dividends in the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain our current and any future earnings to finance operations and expand our business and, therefore, do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.  According to the Israeli Companies Law, a company may distribute dividends out of its profits (as defined by the Israeli Companies Law), provided that there is no reasonable concern that such dividend distribution will prevent the company from paying all its current and foreseeable obligations, as they become due, or otherwise upon the permission of the court.  In the event cash dividends are declared, such dividends will be paid in NIS.  The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and would depend on various factors, including our operating results, financial condition, future prospects and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.  You should not rely on an investment in our company if you require dividend income from your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Location in Israel
Political, economic and military instability in Israel may disrupt our operations and negatively affect our business condition, harm our results of operations and adversely affect our share price.
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel, and our principal executive offices and some of our manufacturing and research and development facilities are located in Israel.  As a result, political, economic and military conditions affecting Israel directly influence us.  Any major hostilities involving Israel, a full or partial mobilization of the reserve forces of the Israeli army, the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners, or a significant downturn in the economic or financial condition of Israel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Israel and its Arab neighbors have engaged in a number of armed conflicts.  A state of hostility, varying from time to time in intensity and degree, has led to security and economic problems for Israel.  Major hostilities between Israel and its neighbors may hinder Israel’s international trade and lead to economic downturn.  This, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and business.  Since September 2000, there has been an increase in unrest and terrorist activity in Israel of varying levels of severity.  In recent years, there has been an escalation in violence among Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Authority and other groups.  Since June 2007, when Hamas effectively took control of the Gaza Strip, there have been extensive hostilities along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip.  Hamas has launched hundreds of missiles from the Gaza Strip against Israeli population centers, which led to an armed conflict between Israel and Hamas during December 2008 and January 2009.  Ongoing violence between Israel and the Palestinians as well as tension between Israel and neighboring Syria and Lebanon or Iran may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
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Furthermore, we could be adversely affected by the interruption or reduction of trade between Israel and its trading partners.  Some countries, companies and organizations continue to participate in a boycott of Israeli companies and others doing business with Israel or with Israeli companies.  As a result, we are precluded from marketing our products to these countries, companies and organizations.  Foreign government defense export policies towards Israel could also make it more difficult for us to obtain the export authorizations necessary for our activities.  Also, over the past several years there have been calls in Europe and elsewhere to reduce trade with Israel.  Restrictive laws, policies or practices directed towards Israel or Israeli businesses may have an adverse impact on our operations, our financial results or the expansion of our business.
Our results of operations may be negatively affected by the obligation of our personnel to perform reserve military service.
Many of our employees and some of our directors and officers in Israel are obligated to perform annual reserve duty in the Israeli Defense Forces and may be called for active duty under emergency circumstances at any time.  If a military conflict or war arises, these individuals could be required to serve in the military for extended periods of time.  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 other employees due to military service.  Any disruption in our operations could adversely affect our business.
Your rights and responsibilities as a shareholder will be governed by Israeli law and differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders under U.S. law.
We are incorporated under Israeli law. The rights and responsibilities of holders of our ordinary shares are governed by our memorandum of association and articles of association and by Israeli law. These rights and responsibilities differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations.  In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith in exercising his or her rights and fulfilling his or her obligations toward the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing his power in the company, including, among other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on certain matters.  Israeli law provides that these duties are applicable in shareholder votes on, among other things, amendments to a company's articles of association, increases in a company’s authorized share capital, mergers and interested party transactions requiring shareholder approval.  In addition, a controlling shareholder of an Israeli company or a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or who has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of a director or executive officer in the company has a duty of fairness toward the company.  However, Israeli law does not define the substance of this duty of fairness.  Because Israeli corporate law has undergone extensive revision in recent years, there is little case law available to assist in understanding the implications of these provisions that govern shareholder behavior.
Service and enforcement of legal process on us and our directors and officers may be difficult to obtain.
Service of process upon our directors and officers and the Israeli experts named herein, all of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States.  Furthermore, since substantially all of our assets, all of our directors and officers and the Israeli experts named in this annual report are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or these individuals or entities may not be collectible within the United States.
There is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act in original actions instituted in Israel.  However, subject to certain time limitations and other conditions, Israeli courts may enforce final judgments of United States courts for liquidated amounts in civil matters, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of those and similar acts.
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As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, we may follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain NASDAQ requirements.  We follow Israeli law and practice instead of NASDAQ rules regarding the director nomination process, compensation of executive officers and the requirement that our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of The NASDAQ Listing Rules.  We follow Israeli law and practice instead of NASDAQ rules regarding the director nomination process, compensation of executive officers and the requirement that our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.  As a foreign private issuer listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, we may also follow home country practice with regard to, among other things, the composition of the board of directors and quorum at shareholders’ meetings.  In addition, we may follow home country practice instead of the NASDAQ requirement to obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events (such as for the establishment or amendment of certain equity-based compensation plans, an issuance that will result in a change of control of the company, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or more interest in the company and certain acquisitions of the stock or assets of another company).  A foreign private issuer that elects to follow a home country practice instead of NASDAQ requirements must submit to NASDAQ in advance a written statement from an independent counsel in such issuer’s home country certifying that the issuer’s practices are not prohibited by the home country’s laws.  In addition, a foreign private issuer must disclose in its annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission each such requirement that it does not follow and describe the home country practice followed by the issuer instead of any such requirement.  Accordingly, our shareholders may not be afforded the same protection as provided under NASDAQ’s corporate governance rules.
Information on the Company
A. History and Development of the Company.
We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel on March 27, 1984 under the name Magal Security Systems Ltd.  We are a public limited liability company under the Israeli Companies Law, 5739-1999, and operate under this law and associated legislation.  Our principal executive offices and primary manufacturing and research and development facilities are located near Tel Aviv, Israel, in the Yehud Industrial Zone.  Our mailing address is P.O. Box 70, Industrial Zone, Yehud 56100, Israel and our telephone number is +972-3-539-1444.  Our agent for service of process in the United States is Senstar Inc., 13783 Park Center Road, Suite 316, Herndon, Virginia 20171.  Our address on the Internet is www.magal-S3.com .  The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.
We are a leading international solutions provider of safety, security, site management and intelligence gathering and compilation solutions and products.  Based on 25 years of experience and interaction with customers, we have developed a unique set of solutions and products, optimized for perimeter, outdoor and general security applications.  Our turnkey solutions are typically integrated and managed by sophisticated modular command and control software, supported by expert systems for real-time decision support.  Our portfolio of critical infrastructure protection and site protection technologies includes a variety of smart barriers and fences, fence mounted detectors, virtual gates, buried and concealed detection systems and a sophisticated protection package for sub-surface intrusion.  A world class innovator in the development of CCTV, IVA and motion detection technology for outdoor operation, we have successfully installed customized solutions and products in more than 75 countries worldwide.
Due to the need to reduce cost and operate more efficiently and effectively, in June 2009 we determined to consolidate certain activities that were operated out of different locations in North America.  As a result, we consolidated the manufacturing, product development and technical support function of our California subsidiary with our operations in Ottawa, Canada.  All products that historically have been manufactured in the United States through subcontractors continue to be produced by subcontractors, however the process is managed out of our facilities in Ottawa, Canada.  The sales and marketing activities of our California subsidiary were moved to, and are managed from, our office in Herndon, Virginia, which is in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  The transitions described above were completed in June 2009.  A small team of three people are still operating temporarily out of our facility in Fremont, California, which has been put up for sale or for lease.
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The nature of the business and management of the European subsidiary that we purchased in 2007 required us to invest an inordinate amount of management time and effort, which we believed was not justified in light of the financial results of this subsidiary.  As a result, we determined to dispose of such subsidiary and in December 2009, we sold all of our interests in the European subsidiary.  We received total proceeds of Euro 2.9 million (approximately $4.2 million) for the sale, including repayment in full of Euro 1.8 million (approximately $2.6 million) of loans granted by us to the European subsidiary.  In addition, Euro 620,000 (approximately $920,000) that we had deposited in escrow as a contingent purchase price in connection with our acquisition of the European subsidiary was released back to us in connection with our sale of the subsidiary.
Recent key personnel changes. Mr. Yoav Stern, who was appointed as our acting President as of November 10, 2008 and as our acting President and chief executive officer as of March 1, 2009, served in such positions until May 2009.  On June 3, 2009, our Board of Directors appointed Mr. Eitan Livneh as our President and chief executive officer, commencing August 2, 2009.  On April 16, 2009, Ms. Lian Goldstein, our former Vice President – Finance and chief financial officer, resigned from such offices and was replaced by Mr. Zev Morgenstern.  On December 1 2009, Mr. Morgenstern resigned from such offices.  Mr. Morgenstern remained with our company until January 31, 2010.  Mr. Ilan Ovadia replaced Mr. Morgenstern and since February 1, 2010, has served as our Senior Vice President – Finance and chief financial officer.  Mr. Israel (Relik) Shafir, was appointed as our Vice President Business Development on October 2009 and resigned from such office on March 15, 2010.
Capital expenditures. Our capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 were approximately $890,000, $1.4 million and $2 million, respectively.  These expenditures were principally for the renovation and expansion of our offices and production facilities in Israel, as well as for computers, other machinery, commercial vehicles and equipment.  The increase in our capital expenditures in 2008 compared with 2007 is primarily attributable to major renovations at our executive offices and factory in Israel that commenced in 2008..  The high level of capital expenditures in 2009 was primarily attributable to the conclusion of the renovation and expansion work that we commenced in 2008 as well as the implementation of a new ERP system and an upgrade of our computer systems in Israel.
B. Business Overview.
Overview and Strategy
We develop, manufacture, market and sell comprehensive computerized security systems to high profile customers.  Our systems are used in more than 75 countries to protect sensitive facilities, including national borders, military bases, power plant installations, airports, seaports, prisons, industrial sites and municipalities from intrusion, crime, sabotage or vandalism to infrastructure, assets and personnel.
Based on 25 years of experience and interaction with customers, we have developed a comprehensive set of solutions and products, optimized for perimeter, outdoor and general security applications.  Our portfolio of mission critical infrastructure and site protection technologies includes a variety of smart barriers and fences, fence mounted detectors, virtual gates, buried and concealed detection systems and a sophisticated protection package for sub-surface intrusion.  As a world class innovator in outdoor video motion detection, or VMD, and IVA applications, we deliver comprehensive IP technology and traditional CCTV solutions.
Our integrated solutions are based on a broad in-house product portfolio, complemented by OEM and third party products.  A typical turnkey solution is integrated and managed by Fortis - a sophisticated, geographical information system, or GIS, based command and control system.
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A typical turnkey project consists of the following phases:
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Studying and understanding customers’ requirements and conducting an environmental and site analysis;
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Conducting a terrain survey;
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Detailed planning that is focused and tailored around the users – first responders and operators in the command and control center(s);
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Implementation - manufacturing, purchasing, integration, testing and installing the project;
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Commissioning and training; and
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Post-sales support.
Our revenues are principally derived from:
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Sales of security products;
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Installation of comprehensive security solutions derived from process bids leading to fixed-price contracts; and
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Services and maintenance, based on post sale maintenance contracts.
Our primary objective is to become a leading international solution provider of safety, security and site management solutions and products.  To achieve this objective, we are implementing a business strategy incorporating the following key elements:
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Leverage existing customer relationships. We believe that we have the capability to offer certain of our customers a comprehensive security package.  As part of our product development process, we seek to maintain close relationships with our customers to identify market needs and to define appropriate product specifications.  We intend to expand the depth and breadth of our existing customer relationships while initiating similar new relationships.
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Refine and broaden our product portfolio. We have identified the security needs of our customers and intend to enhance our current products’ capabilities, develop new products, acquire complementary technologies and products and enter into OEM agreements with third parties in order to meet those needs.
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Refine and broaden our integration and turnkey delivery capabilities. As a solution provider we depend on our capability to tailor specific solutions for each customer.  Our integration building blocks and our execution skills are key factors in achieving our growth and profitability.
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Enter new markets and strengthen presence in existing markets . We intend to continue to penetrate new geographic markets by various means, including the establishment of alliances with local distributors and international integrators of security systems.  We also intend to increase our marketing efforts in our existing markets and to acquire or invest in complementary businesses.
Emerging Opportunity
The rapid introduction of digital communication and information technology into the security market provides the opportunity to consolidate safety and site management with security applications.  Cities and municipalities, air and sea ports, chemical factories and critical infrastructure sites are already implementing and enjoying the benefits of this approach to security management.  The integration allows users to share dispersed sensors (such as cameras and emergency buttons), IT systems, traffic management tools and other resources and feed them into a single command and control platform.  Users from different functions within organizations can now share the same information, allowing for improved communication and coordination, whether it is a routine operation or crisis situation.  We believe that we are well positioned and on the forefront of this emerging market opportunity.
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Products and Services
General
Our products are focused around outdoor and perimeter intrusion detection system, or PIDS, applications utilizing our outdoor safety and site management products and systems.  Our products are categorized into four families of systems:
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Perimeter security systems, consisting of a mix of PIDS technologies with physical barrier solutions;
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CCTV systems;
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Command and control systems; and
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Miscellaneous systems tailored for specific vertical market needs.
Perimeter Security Systems
Perimeter security systems enable customers to monitor, limit and control access by unauthorized personnel to specific regions or areas.  High-end perimeter systems are sophisticated in nature and are used by correctional facilities, military installations, power companies and other high security installations.  We believe that we are a leading provider of security systems and maintenance in this industry.
Our line of perimeter security systems utilizes sophisticated sensor devices to detect and locate intruders and identify the nature of intrusions.  Our perimeter security systems have been installed along thousands of kilometers of borders and facility boundaries throughout the world, including more than 600 correctional institutions in the United States and prisons in several other countries.  In addition, we have installed several hundred kilometers of high security smart perimeter systems along Israel’s borders.
Our line of outdoor perimeter security systems consists of the following:
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Taut wire – hybrid perimeter intrusion detection systems with physical barrier;
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Fence mounted vibration detection systems – mechanical, copper wire sensors or fiber optic sensors;
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Smart barriers – a variety of: robust detection grids, gates and innocent looking fences, designed to protect water passages, VIP residences and other outdoor applications;
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Buried cable sensors;
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Electrical field disturbance sensors (volumetric); and
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Microwave sensors.
Taut Wire Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems
Our taut wire perimeter systems consist of wire strung at high tension between anchor posts.  Sensor posts are located at the middle between anchor posts.  These sensor posts contain one or more devices that detect changes in the tension being exerted on and by the taut wires.  Any force applied against these wires or released from them (such as by cutting) that is not within the parameters designed into the sensors themselves or programmed into the central control units, automatically triggers an alarm.  We use taut wire perimeter systems as both an integral component of intruder detection systems and as a physical barrier to infiltration.
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Our sealed sensors are not affected by radio frequency interference, climatic or atmospheric conditions, or electrical transients from power lines or passing vehicles.  The sensors self-adjust to, or remain unaffected by, extreme temperature variation, minor soil movements and other similar environmental changes that might trigger false alarms in less sophisticated systems.  Our taut wire perimeter systems are designed to discriminate automatically between fence tension changes typically caused by small animals or violent weather and forces more typically exerted by a human intruder.
Our taut wire perimeter systems offer customers a wide range of installation options.  Sensor posts can be as far as 200 feet apart, with relatively inexpensive ordinary fence anchor posts between them.  These systems may stand alone, be mounted on a variety of fence posts or added to an existing wall or other structure, or mounted on short posts, with or without outriggers.
Taut wire perimeter systems have been approved by various Israeli and U.S. security and military authorities.  We have installed several hundred kilometers of these perimeter systems along Israel’s borders to assist in preventing unauthorized entry and infiltration.  Our taut wire perimeter systems are typically sold for between $60 to $150 per meter.
Fence Mounted Vibration Detection Systems
We offer various types of vibration detection systems.  While less sensitive than taut wire installations, the adaptability of these systems to a wide range of pre-existing barrier structures makes these products viable alternatives for cost-conscious customers.  Our vibration detection devices are most effective when installed on common metal fabric perimeter systems, such as chain link or welded mesh.  In our BARRICADE system, electro-mechanical sensors are attached to fence panels approximately three meters apart on any of several common types of fence structures.  Once attached to the fence, each sensor detects vibrations in the underlying structures.  The sensor system’s built-in electro-mechanical filtering combines with system input from a weather sensor to minimize the rate of false alarms from wind, hail or other sources of nuisance vibrations.
Intelli-FLEX, Intelli-FIBER and fence protection systems, or FPS, microprocessor-based triboelectric and electric cable fence sensors are vibration sensitive transducers.  These systems detect any attempt to cut, climb or penetrate the fence and have microphonic properties.  The microphonic feature permits audio to be used for low-cost alarm assessment, providing users with an additional tool for determining the nature of an attempted intrusion.  Our vibration detection system is typically sold for between $10 to $60 per meter.
Buried Cable Sensor
Omnitrax is a fifth generation, covert outdoor perimeter security intrusion detection sensor that generates an invisible radar detection field around buried sensor cables.  An alarm is emitted and the exact location identified within one meter if an intruder disturbs the field.  Targets are detected by their conductivity, size and movement and the digital processor is able to filter out common alarms caused by environmental conditions and small animals.  The Omnitrax system is sold for between $40 to $80 per meter.
Electrical Field Disturbance Sensors
Terrain following volumetric sensors can detect intrusions before the intruder touches the sensor.  They can be installed on buildings, free-standing posts, existing fences, walls or rooftops, and will sense changes in the electrostatic field when events, such as intruders penetrating through the wires, take place.  The system’s tall, narrow, well contained detection zone allows the sensor to be installed in almost any application and minimizes nuisance alarms caused by nearby moving objects.  Our flagship product is X-Field; it consists of a set of four or eight parallel field sensing wires and is sold for between $100 and $190 per meter.  We also offer a deployable volumetric sensor, used to protect military forces deployed on short notice who need fast reaction with minimal effort.
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Microwave Products
We also offer a range of bi-static microwave products that are designed for stable, reliable operation in extreme outdoor environments.  Coverage distances range from 180 meters to 450 meters.
CCTV Systems
We have a proven track record in delivering CCTV and IVA solutions that are designed for use in outdoor applications.
DreamBox
At the heart of our CCTV solution, we typically supply an integrated control system which seamlessly integrates real time video with other sensors (such as PIDS) and information layers.  For example, a megapixel VMD camera covering a wide area can automatically start tracking a suspect detected by the PIDS.  In parallel, the IP camera can increase the streamed video frame rate and alarm the control center guard to examine the intruder.  Our investments in IVA tools help eliminate dependency on constant human monitoring.  Automatic tools and algorithms extract abnormalities and only irregular events are transferred and analyzed for verification.  This approach saves bandwidth and storage and more importantly requires human intervention only when needed.  Our unique to the industry IVA / VMD has been developed to meet the challenge of the outdoor environment (such as weather effects, moving objects like trees, glare and flashing lights).
DreamBox is a real-time all-in-one multimedia analysis and management platform that is designed for use in outdoor security applications.  It supports both analog and IP cameras and integrates many CCTV related applications into one box.  DreamBox has a built in autonomous network switch that supports a unique meshed distributed architecture to enable data sharing, processing and storage between all units on the network.  These features ensure high data redundancy, no single points of failure and no need for a central server.
DreamBox fits any sensitive critical site that requires real-time multi-media surveillance, providing strong motion detection and analysis.  It is ideal for outdoor applications where cameras are covering wide areas and data may be dispersed in multiple locations, yet the entire site needs to function as a single, coherent and centrally managed data center.
DreamBox has a proven track record in high-end vertical markets that require outdoor security such as military bases, government organizations, airports, seaports, mass transportation, correctional facilities, utilities and industrial sites.
DreamBox does not try to compete with other commercial off-the-shelf CCTV products and solutions.  We are focused on high-end customers who cannot rely on standard indoor products and requires tailored, modular and flexible solutions at an affordable price.
MTC-1500E
MTC-1500E is a high-end yet affordable, dual technology (thermal and charge-coupled device) outdoor surveillance system.  A high-quality image rendered by the thermal sensor provides long distance detection and recognition of humans in day, night and under poor visibility conditions.  The two cameras are mounted on a single pedestal and controlled through an agile and accurate pan-tilt-zoom-focus engine.
The MTC-1500E is suitable for the protection of any critical object or site.  Markets for the system include airports, seaports, critical border crossings, utilities (such as oil, gas, refineries and water dams), prisons, municipalities and city protection applications.
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MSS-1500
MSS-1500 is a dual camera (day and night) system designed for outdoor rapid deployment operations.  The system is tailored for law enforcement, security and special operations forces.  It enables camera installation close to the required observation area and communicates data to a remote center.  The deployable element has a low footprint for concealed operation and can be put into operation within less than five minutes.
The system has been designed and packaged to support defense, law enforcement and security special operations in various vertical markets and scenarios.  These applications include intelligence-based operations for border protection, homeland security and fighting organized crime.  Other applications include securing VIPs while they commute or providing surveillance protection of exposed perimeter zones in construction sites.
MagCam
The MagCam is a combination of day/night camera and illuminator installed within a DTR taut wire perimeter intrusion detection system to provide complete and uniform fence surveillance under both very bright daylight and total darkness.  Combined with the DTR taut wire system’s alarm, the system displays a clear view of the alerted section and its neighboring sections, enabling the operator to verify and asses the relevant region.  Connecting the MagCam to our DreamBox provides an exceptional second intrusion detecting layer based on sophisticated outdoor video analytics, such as virtual fence algorithms.
Command and Control Systems
The development of communication and IT technology has significantly affected the security market.  Multiple security systems and technologies, sometimes supplied by different vendors, can now be integrated into a unified command and control system.  We offer two types of command and control systems:
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Sentient - a basic security management system, or SMS; and
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Fortis – a high-end comprehensive command and control system
Sentient
Sentient is pre-integrated with a range of our PIDS sensors and can begin operating immediately without any software installation.  The system also provides tools for adaptation to a specific site by adding maps, assigning zones and sensor icons to maps.  Sentient is our new generation basic SMS application, replacing multiple legacy systems.
Fortis
FORTIS is a comprehensive, wide area and real time command and control solution, designed for entities requiring management of security, safety and dispatching.  It is designed to manage all daily routines and site activities, security, regular and irregular events as well as crisis situations.
FORTIS architecture integrates with legacy systems and sensors from the physical level through a configuration and business logic layer and up to the situational awareness and management levels.  It is based on a strong GIS engine, which creates a common layer for inputs, outputs and presentation.  The GIS engine enables the display of synchronized information in time and space across all screens such as location of mobile forces, located alarms from stationary sensors, video of related cameras, pop-ups of associated radar screens and managed voice communication related to the managed area.  Real-time information enables security personnel to respond immediately, while maintaining a full two-way communication and situational awareness between the command and control center(s) and the first responders.
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During 2009, we consolidated other command and control systems (such as our legacy MagNet command and control system) into the Fortis.  The target markets for Fortis are municipalities, city protection applications and as part of other integrated solutions supplied by us, for use in airport, border and homeland security applications.
Miscellaneous Systems
Sub-Terrain Protection
We offer an innovative, covert security system known as PipeGuard that is designed to protect underground pipelines, safes and other buried assets from theft, vandalism and third-party damage, based on leading edge advanced technologies.
A PipeGuard solution will include an array of standalone sensors, all communicating within a meshed network that senses any attempt to dig close to the protected assets.  It can be easily integrated into a full turnkey solution, including perimeter intrusion protection, ground or air patrols and alarm monitoring and control.  PipeGuard combines geophones with advanced technology recognition algorithm capabilities based on the analysis of seismic signals to effectively filter out false alarms.  This intelligent signal processing provides a high probability of detection and low false and nuisance alarm rates.
We believe that the target markets for PipeGuard are in the western and developed countries where environmental issues are, or will become, regulated.  PipeGuard is an ideal solution for identifying leakages from existing oil and gas pipes in order to avoid third party damages.
Life Safety / Duress Alarm Products
Our products include high reliability, personal, portable duress alarm systems to protect personnel in prisons.  These products identify individuals in distress and can pinpoint the location of the distress signal with an indoor-to-outdoor and floor-to-floor accuracy unmatched by any other product.
Flash personal emergency alarm systems, or Flash, and flare personal emergency locating systems, or Flare, use radio frequency technology to provide a one touch emergency system that is so small it can be worn on a belt.  The systems, sold mainly to prisons, consist of transmitters that send distress signals to receivers mounted throughout the building.  Receivers relay the signal to a central location, indicating that someone requires assistance and their location in the building.  The systems employ automated testing procedures that help to reduce maintenance costs.  The hardware and software was developed and researched in the United States and competes against infrared and other similar technologies.
Our personal alarm system uses an ultrasonic based emergency notification and communication system.  The system, sold mainly to prisons in the United States, allows individuals moving throughout a facility to quickly indicate their exact location in a crisis situation.
Marketing, Sales and Distribution
We believe that our reputation as a vendor of high-security products in one of the world’s most security conscious countries often provides us and our sales representatives with direct access to senior government and corporate officials in charge of security matters elsewhere.
Our sales efforts focus on:
●
Products (mainly PIDS).  Products are sold indirectly through system integrators and distribution channels.  Due to the sophistication of our products, we often need to approach end-users directly and be in contact with system integrators, however the sale is directed through a third party; and
●
Solutions.  This part of the business deals with end-customers or high-end system integrators.  We offer a full comprehensive solution, which includes our in-house portfolio of products and products manufactured by third parties.  Solutions are focused around our core strategy (outdoor security, safety and site management).  We take responsibility for the full turnkey solution and we provide our home-made products, OEM products and third party sourced products, as needed by the customer.
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We have sales offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, China, Romania, Columbia and Spain, as well as in our two main offices in Israel and Canada.  These offices serve the growing needs of local, state and federal homeland security requirements and focus on marketing and selling products as well as comprehensive solutions.
Perimeter Security Systems
We generally sell our PIDS to distributors and systems integrators for various geographic territories or for specific projects.  In addition to marketing activities, some of our distributors and system integrators also provide installation and maintenance services for our products.  We currently have over 50 distributors and system integrators who resell these systems.  We occasionally use agents to find suitable distributors and pay finders’ fees to these agents for their services.
CCTV Systems and Command and Control Systems
Our marketing efforts for our security management and control systems, DreamBox and turnkey projects consists of direct contacts with potential customers.  We offer the MagNet, Fortis and DreamBox products primarily as part of comprehensive turnkey project solutions or, at the customer’s preference, as stand-alone products.
Pipeline Security Systems
The target markets for our pipeline security systems include oil and gas companies, owners and operators of pipelines or communication cables and governmental agencies engaged with security and environmental issues.
Life Safety
We market our personal emergency location systems directly to potential customers, mainly correctional facilities in North America.
The following table shows the breakdown of our consolidated revenues for the calendar years 2007, 2008 and 2009 by operating segment:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
(In thousands)
Perimeter products
$ 43,781 $ 41,126 $ 39,066
Turnkey projects
18,487 15,727 15,416
Other
427 252 36
Total
$ 62,695 $ 57,105 54,518
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Customers
The following table shows the geographical breakdown of our consolidated revenues for the calendar years 2007, 2008 and 2009:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
(In thousands)
Israel
$ 15,663 $ 12,097 $ 12,968
North America
14,869 15,648 13,763
Europe
18,342 15,603 10,808
South and Latin America
6,818 4,542 3,986
Africa
1,199 1,319 1,567
Others
5,804 7,896 11,426
Total
$ 62,695 $ 57,105 $ 54,518
For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, revenues generated from sales to the MOD and IDF accounted for 15%, 10.8% and 19.6%, respectively, of our revenues.  We cannot assure you that the MOD, IDF or any of our other major customers will maintain their volume of business with us or that, if such volume is reduced, other customers generating similar revenues will replace the lost business.  The loss of one or more of our key customers without replacement by a customer or customers of similar volume would have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Support and Maintenance
Our systems are installed by us or by the customer after appropriate training, depending on the size of the specific project and the location of the customer’s facilities, as well as on the customer’s prior experience with our systems.  We generally provide our customers with training on the use and maintenance of our systems.  This training is conducted either on-site or at our facilities.  In addition, some of our local perimeter security systems customers have signed maintenance contracts with us.  For systems installed outside of Israel, maintenance is provided by an independent third party, by distributors or by the end-user.  We also provide services, maintenance and support on an “as needed” basis.
The life expectancy of a high-security perimeter system is approximately ten years.  Consequently, many miles of perimeter systems need to be replaced each year.
During 2009, we derived approximately 6.3 % of our total revenues from maintenance and services.  We generally provide a 12 to 24 month warranty on most of our products.
Research and Development; Royalties
We place considerable emphasis on research and development to improve our existing products and technology and to develop new products and technology.  We believe that our future success will depend upon our ability to enhance our existing products and technology and to introduce on a timely basis new commercially viable products and technology addressing the needs of our customers.  We intend to continue to devote a significant portion of our personnel and financial resources to research and development.  As part of our product development process, we seek to maintain close relationships with our customers to identify market needs and to define appropriate product specifications.  Our development activities are a direct result of the input and guidance we receive from our marketing personnel during our annual meetings with such personnel.  In addition, the heads of research and development for each of our development centers discussed below meet annually to identify market needs for new products.
Our research and development expenses during 2007, 2008 and 2009 were approximately $5.3 million, $5.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively.  In addition to our own research and development activities, we also acquire know-how from external sources.  We cannot assure you that any of our research and development projects will yield profitable results.
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We have the following two development centers, each of which develops products and technologies based on its area of expertise:
●
In Israel - we develop a wide range of products including our taut wire, mechanical vibration, video and high-end SMS, command and control systems and PipeGuard; and
●
In Canada - we develop our buried cable sensors, fence mounted vibration detection systems, mechanical, copper and fiber-optic fence sensors, electrostatic volumetric detection, medium to high-end control systems, microwave detection, personal alarm systems and small to medium control systems.
Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor
We have historically sought co-financing of our development projects from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, or the OCS.  We are obligated to pay royalties to the OCS, amounting to 3% to 4.5% of revenues derived from sales of the products funded with these grants and ancillary services, up to an amount equal to 100% of the grants received, linked to the U.S. dollar.  All grants received after January 1, 1999 also bear interest equal to the 12 month LIBOR rate.  The obligation to pay these royalties is contingent on actual sales of the products, and in the absence of such sales, no payment is required.  We paid royalties amounting to $143,000, $125,000 and $172,000 in the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.  As of December 31, 2009, our aggregate contingent obligation to the OCS amounted to $1.2 million.
The terms of these grants require that the manufacture of products developed with these grants be performed in Israel and prohibit transferring technology developed with grants without the prior consent of the Research Committee of the OCS.  We cannot assure you that, if requested, the OCS will grant such consent.  Each application to the OCS is reviewed separately, so we cannot assure you that the Israeli Government will continue to support our research and development.
Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program
Introduced by the Canadian Government in the 1980s, the Scientific Research and Experimental Development, or SR&ED, tax incentive program is intended to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes to conduct applied research and development in Canada that will lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products, processes, principles, methodologies or materials.  The SR&ED program gives claimants cash refunds and/or tax credits for their expenditures on eligible research and development work done in Canada.  Qualifying expenditures may include wages, materials, machinery, equipment, travel and training expenses, property taxes, utility expenses, some overhead and SR&ED contracts from experimental development, applied research, basic research and support work.
Under the SR&D tax incentive program, Canadian-controlled private corporations are entitled to an investment tax credit of 35% for the first $2 million in qualified expenditures and 20% on any excess amount.  Other Canadian corporations, proprietorships, partnerships, and trusts are entitled to an investment tax credit of 20% of all qualified expenditures.  For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, our Canadian subsidiary recognized $160,000, $234,000 and $259,000, respectively, of investment tax credits. As of December 31, 2009, our Canadian subsidiary made a full valuation allowance in respect of such investment tax credits.
Manufacturing and Supply
Our manufacturing operations consist of designing and developing our products, fabricating and assembling components and finished products, quality control and final testing.  Substantially all of our manufacturing operations are currently performed at our facilities in Yehud, Israel and Ottawa, Canada.  See Item 4D., “Information on the Company - Property, Plants and Equipment.”
We acquire most of the components utilized in our products, including our turnkey products, and certain services from a limited number of suppliers and subcontractors.  We cannot assure you that we will continue to be able to obtain such items from these suppliers on satisfactory terms.  Alternative sources of supply are available, and therefore we are not dependent upon these suppliers and subcontractors.  We also maintain an inventory of systems and spare parts in order to enable us to overcome potential temporary supply shortages until an alternate source of supply is available.  Nevertheless, temporary disruptions of our manufacturing operations would result if we were required to obtain materials from alternative sources, which may have an adverse effect on our financial results.
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Competition
The principal factors affecting competition in the market for security systems are a system’s high probability for detection and low probability of false and nuisance alarms.  We believe that a manufacturer’s reputation for reliable equipment is a major competitive advantage, and that such a reputation will usually be based on the performance of the manufacturer’s installed systems.  Additional competitive factors include quality of customer support, maintenance and price.  We believe that we are competitive with respect to these factors and that we have a good reputation in the markets in which we compete.
Several companies, including Elbit Systems Ltd., Elfar Ltd. and RB-Tec Ltd. in Israel, and Detektion Security Systems Inc., Fiber Sensys, Future Fiber Technologies Pty, Geoquip Ltd., Herras, Remsdaq, Siemens AG and Southwest Microwave Inc., outside of Israel, produce high-security detection systems.
There are a number of companies that have developed video motion detection systems, including Bosch, Geutebruck GmbH, Ioimage Ltd., Nice Systems Ltd., ObjectVideo Inc. and Siemens AG.
We believe that our principal competitors for DreamBox systems are DVTel Inc, Indigo, Nice Systems Ltd. and Verint Systems Inc.
We believe that our principal competitors for our security management systems include, among others, C. MER Industries Ltd., Dornier, EADS N.V., Elbit Systems Ltd., Honeywell Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Nice Systems Ltd, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, Raytheon Company, Siemens AG and 4D.
We believe that our principal competitor for the PipeGuard system is an Australian company, Future Fibre Technologies Pty. Ltd.
We believe that our principal competitors for personal emergency location systems are Actall Corp. and Visonic Networks.
Some of our competitors and potential competitors have greater research, development, financial and personnel resources, including governmental support, or more extensive business experience than we do.  We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain the quality of our products relative to those of our competitors or continue to develop and market new products effectively.
Intellectual Property Rights
We have approximately 15 patents issued and have patent applications pending in the United States and in several other countries and have obtained licenses to use proprietary technologies developed by third parties.  We cannot assure you:
●
that patents will be issued from any pending applications, or that the claims allowed under any patents will be sufficiently broad to protect our technology;
●
that any patents issued or licensed to us will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented; or
●
as to the degree or adequacy of protection any patents or patent applications may or will afford.
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In addition, we claim proprietary rights in various technologies, know-how, trade secrets and trademarks relating to our principal products and operations.  We cannot assure you as to the degree of protection these claims may or will afford.  It is our policy to protect our proprietary rights in our products and operations through contractual obligations, including confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with certain employees and distributors.  We cannot assure you as to the degree of protection these contractual measures may or will afford.  Although we are not aware that we are infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others, we cannot assure you that an infringement claim will not be asserted against us in the future.  We believe that our success is less dependent on the legal protection that our patents and other proprietary rights may or will afford than on the knowledge, ability, experience and technological expertise of our employees.  We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to protect our proprietary technology.  The unauthorized use of our proprietary technology by third parties may impair our ability to compete effectively.  We could become subject to litigation regarding intellectual property rights, which could seriously harm our business.
We have trademark rights associated with our use of Flash and Intelli-FLEX, and rights obtained by trademark registration for Flare, Perimitrax, Panther, Intelli-FIELD, Senstar, Senstar-Stellar and the Senstar-Stellar logo, Sentrax, Omnitrax, Xfield, DTR, DreamBox and the Magal logo.
Government Regulations
Israel’s defense export policy regulates the sale of a number of our systems and products.  Current Israeli policy encourages export to approved customers of defense systems and products, such as ours, as long as the export is consistent with Israeli government policy.  A license is required to initiate marketing activities.  We are also required to obtain a specific export license for any hardware eventually exported from Israel.  We cannot assure you that we will receive all the required permits and licenses for which we may apply in the future.
In 2007, an Israeli law regulating export of “dual use” items (items that are typically sold in the commercial market, but that also may be used in the defense market) came into effect.  In addition, a new Defense Export Control Law was adopted in 2007 and the law’s supplemental regulations became effective in February 2008.  Such laws enhance enforcement of export control legislation, provide certain exemptions from license requirements and broaden certain areas of licensing, particularly with respect to transfer of technology.  In addition, our participation in governmental procurement processes in Israel and other countries is subject to specific regulations governing the conduct of the process of procuring defense contracts.  Furthermore, solicitations for procurements by governmental purchasing agencies in Israel and other countries are governed by laws, regulations and procedures relating to procurement integrity, including avoiding conflicts of interest and corruption in the procurement process.
In addition, antitrust laws and regulations in Israel and other countries often require governmental approvals for transactions that are considered to limit competition.  Such transactions may include cooperative agreements for specific programs or areas, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
C. Organizational Structure.
We, or one of our subsidiaries, own 100% of the outstanding capital stock of subsidiaries operating in Canada, the United States, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Columbia and Romania, and 76% of the outstanding share capital of our Spanish subsidiary.
D. Property, Plants and Equipment.
Our principal facility in Israel is a two-story 2,533 square meter facility located on a 4,352 square meter parcel in the Yehud Industrial Zone, which is owned by us and registered in our name.  Approximately 600 square meters are devoted to administrative, marketing and management functions and approximately 700 square meters are used for engineering, system integration and customer service.  We use the remaining 1,233 square meters for production management and production operations, including manufacturing, assembly, testing, warehousing, shipping and receiving.  In 2007, we entered into a lease for a one-story 810 square meter facility located on a 1,820 square meter parcel in the Yehud Industrial Zone for $80,000 per year for use in production and operations.  The lease is for a period of 23 years.  The products that we manufacture at our facilities in the Yehud Industrial Zone include our taut-wire intrusion detection systems, our vibration detection systems, our video-motion detection systems, MagNet, Fortis, DreamBox, PipeGuard, MTC-1500, MSS-1500 and other perimeter systems.
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We own a 33,000 square foot facility in Carp, Ontario, Canada.  Approximately 9,000 square feet are devoted to administrative, marketing and management functions, and approximately 8,000 square feet are used for engineering, system integration and customer service.  We use the remaining 16,000 square feet for production operations, including cable manufacturing, assembly, testing, warehousing, shipping and receiving.  We own an additional 182,516 square feet of vacant land adjacent to this property, which is being held for future expansion.  We also rent 358,560 square feet of land near this facility for use as an outdoor sensor test and demonstration site for our products including the Perimitrax/Panther 2000 and Omnitrex buried cable intrusion detection systems, the Intelli-Field electro static detection system, the X-Field volumetric system, the Intelli-FLEX microphonic fence detection system, Flash and Flare, and various perimeter monitoring and control systems.  The rent for this site is Canadian $3,500 per year plus taxes under a lease that expires in November 2014.  In addition, we lease a 1,900 square foot facility adjacent to our Carp, Ontario property for Canadian $22,800 per year plus taxes for use as additional storage and system integration space under a month to month tenancy.
We own a 20,000 square foot facility in Fremont, California that formerly served as a manufacturing and sales facility.  We are currently seeking to sell or lease this facility.
We also lease small offices in Germany, Mexico, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom and in Virginia in the United States, for our sales and marketing entities.  The aggregate annual rent for such offices was approximately $0.2 million in 2009.
We believe that our facilities are suitable and adequate for our current operations and the foreseeable future.
ITEM 4A . Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
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.”
A. Operating Results.
Overview
We develop, manufacture, market and sell complex computerized security systems.  Our systems are used in more than 75 countries to protect aircraft, national borders and sensitive facilities, including military bases, power plant installations, airports, postal facilities, prisons and industrial locations from terrorism, theft and other security threats.  Our revenues are principally derived from:
●
installation of comprehensive security solutions for which revenues are generated from long-term fixed price contracts;
●
sales of security products; and
●
services and maintenance, which are performed either on a fixed-price basis or pursuant to time-and-materials based contracts.
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Business Challenges/Areas of Focus
Our primary business challenges and areas of focus include:
●
continuing the growth of revenues and profitability of our perimeter security system line of products;
●
enhancing the introduction and recognition of our new products into the markets;
●
penetrating into new markets and strengthening our presence in existing markets; and
●
succeeding in selling our comprehensive turnkey solutions.
Our business is subject to the effects of general global economic conditions.  If general economic conditions or economic conditions in key markets remain weak or weaken further, demand for our products could be adversely affected.
Key Performance Indicators and Sources of Revenues
Our management believes that our revenues, sources of revenues and operating income are among the key performance indicators for our business.  Our revenues from our principal lines of business for the three years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
(In thousands)
Perimeter products
$ 43,781 $ 41,126 $ 39,066
Turnkey projects
18,487 15,727 15,416
Other
427 252 36
Total
$ 62,695 $ 57,105 54,518
Our operating income (loss) from our principal lines of business for the three years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
(In thousands)
Perimeter products
$ 2,260 $ (9,337 ) $ (1,070 )
Turnkey projects
(844 ) (5,230 ) (1,812 )
Other
(193 ) 7 17
Eliminations
(28 ) - -
Total
$ 1,195 $ (14,560 ) $ (2,865 )
Cost and Expenses
Cost of revenues. Our cost of revenues for perimeter products consists of component and material costs, direct labor costs, subcontractors costs, shipping expenses, overhead related to manufacturing and depreciation.  Our cost of revenues for turnkey projects consists primarily of component and material costs, subcontractor costs, direct labor costs and overhead related to the turnkey projects.  Our cost of revenues for “other” consists primarily of direct labor costs and material costs relating to our maintenance services.
Our gross margin is affected by the proportion of our revenues generated from perimeter products, turnkey projects and other.  Our revenues from perimeter products generally have higher gross margins than our other segments.
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Research and development expenses, net. Research and development expenses, net consists primarily of expenses for on-going research and development activities and other related costs.
Selling and marketing expenses. Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of commission payments, compensation and related expenses of our sales teams, attendance at trade shows and advertising expenses and related costs for facilities and equipment.
General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salary and related costs associated with our executive and administrative functions, legal and accounting expenses, allowances for doubtful accounts and bad debts and other miscellaneous expenses.  Staff costs include direct salary costs and related costs, such as severance pay, social security and retirement fund contributions, vacation and other pay.
Depreciation and Amortization . The amount of depreciation and amortization attributable to our business segments for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
(In thousands)
Perimeter products
$ 1,087 $ 782 $ 1,166
Turnkey projects
117 409 38
Other
3 - -
Total
$ 1,207 $ 1,191 $ 1,204
Financial Expenses, Net. Financial expenses, net include exchange rate differences arising from changes in the value of monetary assets and monetary liabilities stated in currencies other than the functional currency of each entity, currency and hedge transactions, interest charged on loans from banks as well as interest income on our cash and cash equivalents and short term investments.
Tax expense .  Tax expense consists of federal, state and local taxes on the income of our business.  Our taxable income in Israel was subject to corporate tax at the statutory rate of 29% in 2007, 27% in 2008 and 26% in 2009.  The rate was reduced to 25% in 2010, and will be further reduced to 24% in 2011, 23% in 2012, 22% in 2013, 21% in 2014, 20% in 2015 and 18% in 2016 and thereafter.
Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and the use of different assumptions would likely result in materially different results of operations.  Critical accounting policies are those that are both most important to the portrayal of our financial position and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.  Although not all of our significant accounting policies require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments or estimates, the following policies and estimates are those that we deem most critical:
Revenue Recognition
We generate our revenues mainly from (i) installation of comprehensive security systems for which revenues are generated from long-term fixed price contracts; (ii) sales of security products; and (iii) services and maintenance, which are performed either on a fixed-price basis or as time-and-materials based contracts.
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Revenues from installation of comprehensive security systems are generated from fixed-price contracts according to which the time between the signing of the contract and the final customer acceptance is usually over one year. Such contracts require significant customization for each customer’s specific needs and, as such, revenues from this type of contract are recognized in accordance with ASC 605-35 Revenue Recognition -Construction-Type and Production-Type Projects" (formerly Statement of Position ("SOP") No. 81-1, "Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts"), using contract accounting on a percentage of completion method. Accounting for long-term contracts using the percentage-of-completion method stipulates that revenue and expense are recognized throughout the life of the contract, even though the project is not completed and the purchaser does not have possession of the project Percentage of completion is calculated based on the “Input Method.”
Project costs include materials purchased to produce the solutions, related labor and overhead expenses and subcontractor’s costs.  The percentage to completion is measured by monitoring costs and efforts devoted using records of actual costs incurred to date in the project compared to the total estimated project requirement, which corresponds to the costs related to earned revenues.  The amounts of revenues recognized are based on the total fees under the agreements and the percentage of completion achieved.  Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are first determined, in the amount of the estimated loss on the entire contract.
Estimated gross profit or loss from long-term contracts may change due to changes in estimates resulting from differences between actual performance and original forecasts.  Such changes in estimated gross profit are recorded in results of operations when they are reasonably determinable by management, on a cumulative catch-up basis.
We believe that the use of the percentage of completion method is generally appropriate as we have the ability to make reasonably dependable estimates of the extent of progress towards completion, contract revenues and contract costs.  In addition, executed contracts include provisions that clearly specify the enforceable rights regarding services to be provided and received by the parties to the contracts, the consideration to be exchanged and the manner and the terms of settlement, including in cases of termination for convenience.  In most cases we expect to perform our contractual obligations and our customers are expected to satisfy their obligations under the contract.
Fees are payable upon completion of agreed upon milestones and subject to customer acceptance. Amounts of revenues recognized in advance of contractual billing are recorded as unbilled accounts receivable.  The period between most instances of advanced recognition of revenues and the customers' billing generally ranges between one to six months.  As of December 31, 2009, we had recorded $5.9 million of such unbilled receivables.
Although our basic accounting policy is percentage-of-completion, the completed-contract method is used for certain contracts when we cannot make reasonably dependable estimates for such contracts or if inherent hazards make estimates doubtful.  Inherent hazards are conditions and events that do not occur in the normal course of business.  Under the completed-contract method, billings and costs are accumulated on the balance sheet under the caption “cost incurred on long term contracts” while the contract is in progress, but no revenue is recognized until the contract is completed or substantially completed.  When revenues and costs are recognized based upon substantial completion of the contract, an accrual is recorded for the estimated remaining costs to be incurred and for the estimated amounts of any unresolved claims or disputes related to the contract that are probable of payment.  During 2008, we concluded that certain projects in Africa carried out by our European subsidiary that we purchased in 2007 are not typical compared to our other projects and identified inherent hazards related to these projects and a delay in payments from the customer.  As a result, we concluded that we could not make reasonably dependable estimates in order to calculate the percentage of completion of these projects and therefore, in 2008 we began to apply the completed contract method to these projects.  In December 2009 we disposed of our European subsidiary. Consequently, as of December 31, 2009 we have not used the completed-contract method when computing our revenues.  We sell security products to customers according to customers’ orders without installation work. The customers do not have a right to return the products. Revenues from security product sales are recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements" 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.
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Services and maintenance are performed under either fixed-price based or time-and-materials based contracts. Under fixed-price contracts, we agree to perform certain work for a fixed price. Under time-and-materials contracts, we are reimbursed for labor hours at negotiated hourly billing rates and for materials. Such service contracts are not in the scope of  ASC 605-35, and accordingly, related revenues are recognized in accordance with SAB No. 104, as those services are performed or over the term of the related agreements provided that, an evidence of an arrangement has been obtained, fees are fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.
Deferred revenue includes unearned amounts under installation service contracts, service contracts and maintenance agreements.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value.  We periodically evaluate the quantities on hand relative to historical and projected sales volumes, current and historical selling prices and contractual obligations to maintain certain levels of parts.  Based on these evaluations, inventory write-offs are provided to cover risks arising from slow-moving items, discontinued products, excess inventories, market prices lower than cost and adjusted revenue forecasts.  Cost is determined as follows:
●
Raw materials, parts and supplies - using the “first-in, first-out” method.
●
Work-in-progress and finished products - on the basis of direct manufacturing costs with the addition of allocable indirect manufacturing costs.
During 2007, 2008 and 2009, we recorded inventory write-offs from continuing operations in the amounts of $646,000, $2.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively.  Such write-offs were included in cost of revenues.
Income taxes
We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740 "Income Taxes" (formerly SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes")  This statement prescribes the use of the liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.  We provide a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to their estimated realizable value.
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate.  This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes.  These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet.  We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and we must establish a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.  Increases in the valuation allowance result in additional expense to be reflected within the tax provision in the consolidated statement of income.
At December 31, 2009, we had a deferred tax asset of $272,000 attributable to our subsidiaries.  We had total estimated available carryforward tax losses of $18.8 million with respect to our operations in Israel.  As of December 31, 2009, we recorded a full valuation allowance on these carryforward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization . As of December 31, 2009, our subsidiaries had estimated total available carryforward tax losses of $9.5 million, which may be used as an offset against future taxable income for periods ranging between 12 and 20 years.  As of December 31, 2009, we recorded a full valuation allowance for our subsidiaries’ carryforward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization.  Utilization of U.S. net operating losses may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state provisions.  The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization.
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Goodwill
Goodwill has been recorded as a result of past acquisitions and represents the excess of the cost over the net fair value of the assets of the businesses acquired.  We operate in two operating segments, which also constitute our two reporting units (“Projects” and “Perimeter”).  Goodwill was allocated to the two reporting units.  All remaining goodwill as of December 31, 2009 is allocated to the Perimeter reporting unit.  We follow ASC 350, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other" (originally issued as SFAS 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets").
ASC 350 requires goodwill to be tested for impairment, at the reporting unit level, at least annually or between annual tests in certain circumstances, and written down when impaired, rather than being amortized.  We perform our annual goodwill impairment test at December 31 of each year, or more often if indicators of impairment are present.
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. In the first phase of impairment testing, goodwill attributable to each of the reporting units is tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second phase is then performed. The second phase of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Fair value is determined using discounted cash flows, based on the income approach, as we believe that this approach best approximates the reporting unit’s fair value at this time. Significant estimates used in the methodologies include estimates of future cash flows, future short-term and long-term growth rates and weighted average cost of capital for each of the reportable units.
The material assumptions used for the income approach for 2009 were five years of projected net cash flows, a discount rate of 15.1% and a long-term growth rate of 1%. We considered historical rates and current market conditions when determining the discount and growth rates to use in our analysis.  If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for our goodwill.
Effective 2009, as required by ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and disclosures" (formerly SFAS 157, "Fair Value Measurements," we apply assumptions that market place participants would consider in determining the fair value of a reporting unit.
During 2007 and 2009, no impairment losses were identified.  In 2008, following our annual impairment test of goodwill, we determined that the fair value of our European subsidiary had decreased and that as a result, goodwill in the amount of $8.4 million established in connection with its acquisition in September 2007 had been impaired.  Following the 2008 annual impairment test, we also determined that the fair value of our U.S. subsidiary had significantly declined and that as a result, goodwill in the amount of $2.4 million attributable to the subsidiary had been impaired.
Impairment of long lived assets
Our long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC 360 “Property, Plant, and Equipment” (formerly SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets") whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a group of assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of a group of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the group to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the group. If such group of assets is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value.
During 2007 and 2009, no impairment losses were identified.  In 2008, we determined that $1.7 million of intangible assets attributable to customers of our European subsidiary had been impaired and as a result, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.7 million attributable to such intangible assets.  As of December 31, 2008, following such impairment, we had $2.5 million of intangible assets attributable to customers of our European subsidiary.  In addition, impairment of other intangible assets amounted to approximately $351,000 in 2008 attributable to the write-off of certain know-how.
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Functional Currency and Financial Statements in U.S. Dollars
We have determined that our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar.  As of October 1, 2006, our functional currency changed from the U.S. dollar to NIS.  Translation adjustments resulting from translating our financial statements from NIS to the U.S. dollar are reported as a separate component in shareholders’ equity.  As of December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, our foreign currency translations totaled $2.6 million, $3.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
Accordingly, as of December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, we recorded accumulated foreign currency translation income (expense) of approximately $3.5 million, ($3.3 million) and $1.4 million, respectively, included in our balance sheets as part of “accumulated other comprehensive income.”  As of 2007, 2008 and 2009, foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $5.8 million, $2.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively, were included under “accumulated other comprehensive income.”
The first step in the translation process is to identify the functional currency for each entity included in the financial statements.  The accounts of each entity are then “re-measured” in its functional currency.  All transaction gains and losses from the re-measurement of monetary balance sheet items are reflected in the statement of operations as financial income or expenses, as appropriate.
After the re-measurement process is complete the financial statements are translated into the reporting currency, which is the U.S. dollar, using the current rate method.  Equity accounts are translated using historical exchange rates.  All other balance sheet accounts are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date.  Statement of operations amounts have been translated using the average exchange rate for the year. The resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Concentrations of credit risk
Financial instruments that are potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, short and long-term bank deposits, marketable securities, unbilled accounts receivable, trade receivables, long-term trade receivables and long-term loans.
Of our cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and short-term and long-term bank deposits at December 31, 2009, $ 7.1million was invested in major Israeli and U.S. banks and approximately $6.6 million was invested in other banks, mainly with BBVA Bancomer, Deutsche Bank and RBC Royal Bank.  Cash and cash equivalents invested in the United States may be in excess of insured limits and are not insured in other jurisdictions.  Generally these deposits maybe redeemed upon demand and therefore bear low risk.
The short-term and long-term trade receivables and the unbilled accounts receivable of our company and our subsidiaries are derived from sales to large and solid organizations located mainly in Israel, the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.  We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and to date have not experienced any material losses.  An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined with respect to those amounts that we have determined to be doubtful of collection and in accordance with an aging policy.  In certain circumstances, we may require letters of credit, other collateral or additional guarantees.  During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, we recorded ($68,000), $755,000 (not including $468,000 recorded under discontinued operations) and ($153,000) of expenses (income) related to doubtful accounts, respectively.  The increase in expenses related to doubtful accounts in 2008 was primarily a result of the global economic downturn, which had an adverse influence on the liquidity of some of our clients.  As of December 31, 2009, our allowance for doubtful accounts amounted to $0.9 million.
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A loan granted to a third party entity in connection with a possible future cooperation between us and the entity is secured by a personal guarantee of the beneficial owner of the entity.  However, in 2008 we evaluated the anticipated repayment of the loan and due to anticipated difficulties in implementation of the projects for which the loan was provided, we estimated that 50% of the loan will not be repaid and therefore, recorded a provision of $550,000 attributable to the loan.  In 2009, we further evaluated the anticipated repayment of this loan and due to the current global economic climate and the prospects of the projects for which the loan was provided, we determined that the loan will not be repaid in full and therefore recorded an additional provision of $319,000 attributable to this loan.  See Note 12 h to the consolidated financial statements.
We have no significant off-balance sheet concentration of credit risks, such as foreign exchange contracts or foreign hedging arrangements, except derivative instruments, which are detailed below.
Derivative instruments
ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging" (formerly SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities"), requires us to recognize all of our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position 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.
To protect against the change in the forecasted foreign currency cash flows of certain sale arrangements resulting from changes in the exchange rate, from time to time we have entered into forward contracts to hedge portions of our forecasted revenue and unbilled accounts receivable denominated in foreign currencies.  We have designated the forward instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.
For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges (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 other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
We recorded $666,000, $291,000 and $0 as financial expenses related to forward contracts transactions in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Fair value of financial instruments
Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" (formerly SFAS 157), except as it applies to the nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities subject to ASC 820-10-50-8A (formerly FSP 157-2). We chose to adopt the delay of the effective date of ASC 820 for one year for goodwill and customers related intangible assets. Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted ASC 820 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.
ASC 820 clarifies that 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
-
Includes other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3
-
Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.
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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.
Due to the nature of our customers and products, our revenues are often generated from a relatively small number of large orders.  Consequently, individual orders from individual customers can represent a substantial portion of our revenues in any one period and significant orders by any customer during one period may not be followed by further orders from the same customer in subsequent periods.  Our revenues and operating results may, therefore, vary substantially from period to period.  Consequently, we do not believe that our revenues and operating results should necessarily be judged on a quarter-to-quarter comparative basis.
Results of Operations
The following table presents certain financial data expressed as a percentage of revenues for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Revenues
100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
Cost of revenues
60.9 65.8 61.1
Gross profit
39.1 34.2 38.9
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net
8.5 9.7 8.8
Selling and marketing, net
17.7 22.7 19.9
General and administrative
9.7 17.9 15.4
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
-- 4.9 -
Post employment and termination benefits
1.4 4.5 -
Operating income (loss)
1.9 (25.5 ) (5.2 )
Financial expenses, net
(3.3 ) (2.3 ) (2.9 )
(Loss) before income taxes
(1.4 ) (27.8 ) (8.1 )
Income taxes
0.4 5.4 1.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations
(1.8 ) (33.2 ) (9.7 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net
4.8 (23.9 ) 7.7
Net income (loss)
3.0 % (57.1 )% (2.0 )%

Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2008
Revenues. Revenues decreased by 4.5% from $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $54.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.  Revenues from sales of perimeter systems decreased by 5.0% from $41.1 million in 2008 to $39.1 million in 2009, primarily due to a reduction in sales in Western Europe as a result of the global economic slowdown and reduced spending in such market.  Revenues from security turnkey projects decreased by 2.0% from $15.7 million in 2008 to $15.4 million in 2009, primarily due to a reduction in system installations by our Canadian subsidiary.  Other revenues (mostly service revenues and revenues derived from newly developed products) decreased by 85.7% from $252,000 in 2008 to $36,000 in 2009.  We anticipate that our revenues will increase in 2010 as a result of anticipated improvements in the global economy .
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Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues decreased by 11.3% from $37.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $33.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the U.S. dollar value of our non-U.S. dollar denominated expenses as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates in 2009, as well as a more favorable mix of products and projects.  Cost of revenues also benefited from the rationalization of costs and consolidation of the North American business into one unit during the second quarter of 2009.  In 2008 and 2009, our cost of revenues also includes a loss provision attributable to two strategic projects that had a negative gross margin, which loss was lower in 2009 compared to 2008.  Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues decreased from 65.8% in 2008 to 61.1% in 2009, primarily due to a more favorable mix of products and projects in 2009 compared to 2008 and a decrease in inventory write-off from $2.0 million in 2008 to $1.4 million in 2009, despite the lower volume of sales in 2009 compared to 2008.  Our cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues was also positively impacted by the decline in the average NIS/U.S. dollar exchange rate in 2009, as the percentage of our cost of revenues denominated in NIS is higher than the percentage of revenues denominated in NIS.
Research and development expenses, net. Research and development expenses, net decreased by 13.3% from $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The decrease in research and development expenses is primarily attributable to the decrease in the number of our U.S. subsidiary’s research and development staff due to the consolidation of the North American business into one unit and the decline in the average exchange rate of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2009, which reduced the U.S. dollar value of our NIS denominated expenses.  Research and development expenses, net amounted to 9.7% of revenues in 2008, compared to 8.8% in 2009.  We anticipate that our research and development expenses will not materially change in 2010.
Selling and marketing expenses, net. Selling and marketing expenses, net decreased by 16.1% from $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $10.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The decrease in selling and marketing expenses in 2009 was primarily due to the decrease in the number of our U.S. subsidiary’s selling and marketing staff due to the consolidation of the North American business into one unit.  Sales commissions also decreased in 2009 due to a different mix of revenues in 2009 compared to 2008.  The decrease in selling and marketing expenses is also attributable to the decline in the average exchange rate of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2009, which reduced the U.S. dollar value of our NIS denominated expenses.  Selling and marketing expenses, net amounted to 22.7% and 19.9% of revenues in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
General and administrative expenses .  General and administrative expenses decreased from $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of 18.3%.  The decrease in general and administrative expenses in 2009 was primarily due to an approximately $0.9 million decrease in the allowance for doubtful accounts in such period.  In 2008, we significantly increased the allowance for doubtful accounts as a result of the global economic downturn, which had an adverse affect on the liquidity of some of our customers.  In 2009, costs associated with our compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (including the implementation of internal controls) as well as other audit and legal expenses also decreased by approximately $1.0 million.  The decrease in general and administrative expenses is also attributable to the decline in the average exchange rate of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2009, which reduced the U.S. dollar value of our NIS denominated expenses. General and administrative expenses amounted to 17.9% of revenues in 2008 compared to 15.4% in 2009.
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets .  In  2008, following our annual impairment test of goodwill and long lived assets, we determined that the fair value of our European subsidiary acquired in September 2007 had decreased and that as a result, goodwill in the amount of $8.4 million had been impaired.  As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2008, we recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $8.4 million.  In addition, we determined that $1.7 million of intangible assets attributable to customers of our European subsidiary had been impaired and as a result, we recorded a $1.7 million impairment charge.  The goodwill and intangible assets impairment is classified as a discontinued operation.  Following the 2008 annual impairment test, we also determined that the fair value of our U.S. subsidiary had significantly declined and that as a result, goodwill in the amount of $2.4 million attributable to the U.S. subsidiary had been impaired.  Impairment of other intangible assets amounted to approximately $351,000 in 2008 attributable to the write-off of certain know-how.   We did not record any impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2009.
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Post employment and termination benefits. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we recorded a post employment and termination benefits expense of $2.6 million, or 4.5% of our total revenues, related to benefits payable to our former president and chief executive officer as well as other senior employees in connection with their retirement from their respective offices.  We did not record any post employment and termination benefits expense in 2009.
Operating income (loss) .  We had an operating loss of $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to an operating loss of $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009.  The operating losses of our three business segments for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2008
2009
(In thousands)
Perimeter products
$ (9,337 ) $ (1,070 )
Turnkey projects
(5,230 ) (1,812 )
Other
7 17
Total
$ (14,560 ) $ (2,865 )
The operating loss of our perimeter products segment decreased from $9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of a decrease in the U.S. dollar value of our non- U.S. dollar denominated expenses as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates in 2009, as well as a more favorable mix of products.  Cost of revenues and operating expenses had also decreased due to the rationalization of costs and consolidation of the North American business into one unit in during the second quarter of 2009.  The operating loss of our turnkey projects segment decreased from $5.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2008 to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, primarily as a result of a more profitable mix of projects in 2009.  In 2008 and 2009, we also recorded a loss provision attributable to two strategic projects that had a negative gross margin, which loss was lower in 2009 compared to 2008.  Our operating results from other operations increased from an operating income of $7,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008 to operating income of $17,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Financial expenses, net. Financial expenses, net, increased from $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of 19.3%.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in foreign exchange losses, net that was offset in part by a gain from the sale of marketable securities compared to a loss from the sale of marketable securities in 2008.
Income taxes. We recorded an income tax expense of $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to an income tax expense of $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of valuation allowances recorded in 2009 with respect to our Canadian subsidiary’s investment tax credit asset, due to the uncertainty of its future realization.  In 2008, we recorded a full valuation allowance with respect to our carryforward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization.
Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2007
Revenues. Revenues decreased by 8.9% from $62.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to $57.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.  Revenues from sales of perimeter systems decreased by 6.1% from $43.8 million in 2007 to $41.1 million in 2008, primarily due to a reduction in sales in Israel and the United States as a result of the global economic slowdown and reduced spending in the U.S. market.  Revenues from security turnkey projects decreased by 14.9% from $18.5 million in 2007 to $15.7 million in 2008.  The decrease is primarily attributable to the cancellation and postponement of certain projects in Latin America.  Other revenues (mostly service revenues and revenues derived from newly developed products) decreased by 41% from $427,000 in 2007 to $252,000 in 2008.
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Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues decreased by 1.6% from $38.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to $37.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily due the decrease in revenues.  Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues increased from 60.9% in 2007 to 65. 8% in 2008, primarily due to an inventory write-off of $2.0 million in 2008 following the cancellation of a project in Latin America and the write-off of certain products and equipment associated with our North American research and development and manufacturing activities, compared to an inventory write-off $646,000 in 2007.  Our cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues was also adversely impacted by the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2008, which increased the U.S. dollar value of our NIS-denominated expenses and the higher percentage of cost of revenues denominated in NIS compared to U.S. dollars.  The gross margin of our other subsidiaries was adversely affected by a decrease in their revenues, while their cost of revenues decreased by a smaller percentage due to fixed costs.  In 2008, our cost of revenues also includes a loss provision attributable to two strategic projects that had a negative gross margin.
Research and development expenses, net. Research and development expenses, net increased by 4.6% from $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, to $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The increase in research and development expenses is primarily attributable to the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2008 that increased the U.S. dollar value of our NIS denominated expenses by 12.8%.  In addition, we invested additional funds in the development and further improvement of our products in 2008, mainly the Fortis integrated command and control system.  This increase was offset in part by a decrease in the number of our U.S. subsidiary’s research and development staff.  Research and development expenses, net amounted to 8.5% of revenues in 2007, compared to 9.7% in 2008.
Selling and marketing expenses, net. Selling and marketing expenses, net increased by 17.0% from $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to $13.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The increase in selling and marketing expenses in 2008 was primarily due to an increase in sales commissions due to a different mix of revenues recorded in 2008 compared to 2007.  The increase in selling and marketing expenses is also attributable to the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2008, which increased the U.S. dollar value of our NIS denominated expenses by 12.8%.  Selling and marketing expenses, net amounted to 17.7% and 22.7% of revenues in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
General and administrative expenses .  General and administrative expenses increased from $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, an increase of 69.1%.  The increase in general and administrative expenses in 2008 was primarily due to an increase in our allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $0.8 million as a result of the recent global economic downturn, which had an adverse affect on the liquidity of some of our customers.  In addition, we recorded a provision of $550,000 related to a loan granted to a third party following our determination that the full amount of the loan will not be repaid.  In 2008, costs associated with our compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (including the implementation of internal controls) and other audit expenses increased by approximately $600,000.  The increase in general and administrative expenses is also attributable to the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2008, which increased the U.S. dollar value of our NIS denominated expenses by 12.8%.  General and administrative expenses amounted to 9.7% of revenues in 2007 compared to 17.9% in 2008.
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets .  In  2008, following our annual impairment test of goodwill and long lived assets, we determined that the fair value of our European subsidiary acquired in September 2007 had decreased and that as a result, goodwill in the amount of $8.4 million (including $3.3 million attributable to amounts prepaid on account of future earn-out payments) had been impaired.  As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2008, we recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $8.4 million.  In addition, we determined that $1.7 million of intangible assets attributable to customers of our European subsidiary had been impaired, and as a result, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.7 million.  The impairment of goodwill and intangible assets related to our European subsidiary were classified as a discontinued operation following the sale of our European subsidiary in December 2009.  Following the 2008 annual impairment test, we also determined that the fair value of our U.S. subsidiary had significantly declined and that as a result, goodwill in the amount of $2.4 million attributable to the U.S. subsidiary had been impaired.  Impairment of other intangible assets amounted to approximately $351,000 in 2008 attributable to the write-off of certain know-how.  We did not record any impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2007.
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Post employment and termination benefits. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we recorded a post employment and termination benefits expense of $2.6 million, or 4.5% of our total revenues, related to benefits payable to our former president and chief executive officer and other senior employees in connection with their retirement from their respective offices.  For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recorded a post employment and termination benefits expense of $904,000, or 1.4% of our total revenues, related to benefits payable to the former chairman of our board of directors in connection with his retirement.
Operating income (loss) .  We had operating income of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to an operating loss of $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The operating income (loss) of our three business segments for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2007
2008
(In thousands)
Perimeter products
$ 2,260 $ (9,337 )
Turnkey projects
(844 ) (5,230 )
Other
(193 ) 7
Eliminations
(28 ) -
Total
$ 1,195 $ (14,560 )
The operating income of our perimeter products segment decreased from $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to an operating loss of $9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of the decrease in revenues of this segment, compared with a smaller decrease in cost of revenues due to the fixed-cost portion of our expenses.  The decrease in 2008 is also due to a $2.8 million impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets charge, an increase in doubtful debt expenses and the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2008, which increased our NIS denominated expenses by 12.8%.  The operating loss of our turnkey projects segment increased from $844,000 in the year ended December 31, 2007 to an operating loss of $5.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of a loss provision that we recorded in 2008 attributable to two strategic projects that had a negative gross margin as well as the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar in 2008 as described above.  Our operating results from other operations improved from an operating loss of $193,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007 to operating income of $7,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Financial expenses, net. Financial expenses, net, decreased from $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of 36.2%.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest expenses, net, recorded on long and short-term debt, a decrease in forward contract losses and a decrease in foreign exchange losses compared with 2007.  The decrease was offset in part by a loss of $442,000 attributable to our investments in marketable securities.
Income taxes. We recorded an income tax expense of $276,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to an income tax expense of $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily as a result of an increase in the valuation allowance that we recorded with respect to our carryforward tax losses in 2008.  In 2008, we recorded a full valuation allowance with respect to our carryforward tax losses compared with a partial allowance recorded in 2007, due to the uncertainty of their future realization.  The increase was offset in part by a decrease in tax expenses with respect to prior years.
Seasonality
Our operating results are characterized by a seasonal pattern, with a higher volume of revenues towards the end of the year and lower revenues in the first part of the year.  This pattern, which is expected to continue, is mainly due to two factors:
●
our customers are mainly budget-oriented organizations with lengthy decision processes, which tend to mature late in the year; and
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●
due to harsh weather conditions in certain areas in which we operate during the first quarter of the calendar year, certain services are put on hold and consequently payments are delayed.
See also Item 3.D. “Key Information–Risk Factors.”  Our revenues are dependent on government procurement procedures and practices, and because we receive large product orders from a relatively small number of customers, our revenues and operating results are subject to substantial periodic variations.
Impact of Inflation and Currency Fluctuations on Results of Operations, Liabilities and Assets
We sell most of our products in North America, Europe and Israel.  Our financial results, which are reported in U.S. dollars, are affected by changes in foreign currency.  Our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros and NIS, while a portion of our expenses, primarily labor expenses, is incurred in NIS and Canadian Dollars.  Additionally, certain assets, especially trade receivables, as well as part of our liabilities are denominated in NIS.  As a result, fluctuations in rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and non- U.S. dollar currencies may affect our operating results and financial condition.  The dollar cost of our operations in Israel may be adversely affected by the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar.  In addition, the value of our non-U.S. dollar revenues could be adversely affected by the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against such currencies.
The appreciation of the NIS in relation to the U.S. dollar has the effect of increasing the U.S. dollar value of any unlinked assets and the U.S. dollar amounts of any unlinked liabilities and increasing the U.S. dollar value of revenues and expenses denominated in other currencies.  Conversely, the depreciation of the NIS in relation to the U.S. dollar has the effect of reducing the U.S. dollar value of any of our liabilities which are payable in NIS (unless such costs or payables are linked to the U.S. dollar).  Such depreciation also has the effect of decreasing the U.S. dollar value of any asset that is denominated in NIS or receivables payable in NIS (unless such receivables are linked to the U.S. dollar).  In addition, the U.S. dollar value of revenues and expenses denominated in NIS would increase.  Because foreign currency exchange rates fluctuate continuously, exchange rate fluctuations may have an impact on our profitability and period-to-period comparisons of our results.  The effects of foreign currency re-measurements are reported in our consolidated financial statements in current operations.
The following table presents information about the rate of inflation in Israel, the rate of depreciation or appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar, and the rate of inflation of Israel adjusted for the devaluation:
Year ended
December 31,
Israeli inflation
rate %
NIS depreciation
(appreciation)
rate %
Israeli inflation adjusted
for devaluation
(appreciation) %
2005
2.4
6.8
(4.4)
2006
(0.1)
(8.2)
8.1
2007
3.4
(9.0)
12.4
2008
3.8
(1.1)
4.9
2009
3.9
(0.7)
4.6

In addition, the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Canada is influenced by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar.  In 2008, the Canadian dollar depreciated against the U.S. dollar by approximately 19.7%, while in 2007 and 2009 the Canadian dollar appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 18.4% and 16.6%, respectively.
We recorded foreign currency exchange losses, net of $792,000, $246,000 and $1,138.000 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.  We cannot assure you that in the future our results of operations may not be materially adversely affected by currency fluctuations.
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To manage this risk, from time to time, we have entered into forward exchange contracts to hedge some of our foreign currency exposure relating to revenue and unbilled accounts receivable denominated in foreign currencies.  We have designated the forward instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.  For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges (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 other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
We recorded $666,000, $291,000 and $0 of financial expenses attributable to forward exchange contracts transactions for the year ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Conditions in Israel
We are incorporated under the laws of, and our principal executive offices and manufacturing and research and development facilities are located in, the State of Israel.  See Item 3D “Key Information – Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our Location in Israel” for a description of governmental, economic, fiscal, monetary and political policies or factors that have materially affected or could materially affect our operations.
Effective Corporate Tax Rate
Israeli companies are generally subject to income tax on their worldwide taxable income.  The applicable rate for 2009 was 26%.  The rate was reduced to 25% in 2010, and will be further reduced to 24% in 2011, 23% in 2012, 22% in 2013, 21% in 2014, 20% in 2015 and 18% in 2016 and thereafter.  However, certain of our manufacturing facilities have been granted “Approved Enterprise” status under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959, as amended, commonly referred to as the Investments Law, and, consequently, are eligible, subject to compliance with specified requirements, for tax benefits beginning when such facilities first generate taxable income.  The tax benefits under the Investments Law are not available with respect to income derived from products manufactured outside of Israel.  We have derived, and expect to continue to derive, a substantial portion of our income from our Approved Enterprise facilities.  Subject to certain restrictions, we are entitled to a tax exemption in respect of income derived from our approved facilities for a period of two years, commencing in the first year in which such income is earned, and will be entitled to a reduced tax rate of 10% to 25% for an additional five to eight years depending on our compliance as a foreign investors’ company.  If we do not qualify as a foreign investors’ company, we will instead be entitled to a reduced rate of 25% for an additional five years, rather than eight years.  A foreign investors’ company is defined in the Investments Law as a company in which more than 25% of its shareholders are non-Israeli residents.  Pursuant to the Investments Law, a foreign investors’ company may enjoy benefits for a period of up to ten years (the actual length of the benefits period is graduated based on the percentage of foreign ownership).
Our effective corporate tax rate may substantially exceed the Israeli tax rate.  Our U.S. subsidiaries will generally be subject to applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxation, and we may also be subject to taxation in the other foreign jurisdictions in which 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, which will apply to us.
As of December 31, 2009, we had a deferred tax asset of $272,000 attributable to our subsidiaries.  We had total estimated available carryforward tax losses of $18.8 million with respect to our operations in Israel to offset against future taxable income.  We have recorded a full valuation allowance over such carryforward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization.  As of December 31, 2009, our subsidiaries had estimated total available carryforward tax losses of $9.5 million, which may be used as an offset against future taxable income for periods ranging between 12-20 years.  As of December 31, 2009, we recorded a full valuation allowance for our subsidiaries’ carryforward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization.  Utilization of U.S. net operating losses may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state tax law provisions.  The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization.
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Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC 810, "Consolidation," which, among other things, (i) requires ongoing reassessments of whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and eliminates the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity; (ii) amends certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity; and (iii) requires enhanced disclosure that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an entity’s involvement in a variable interest entity. The update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after November 15, 2009. We do not expect the adoption of the update to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC 605-25, "Revenue Recognition – Multiple-Element Arrangements", that provides amendments to the criteria for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements to:
●
a)
Provide updated guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the deliverables in an arrangement should be separated and how the consideration should be allocated;
●
b)
Require an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices ("ESP") of deliverables if a vendor does not have vendor-specific objective evidence of selling price ("VSOE") or third-party evidence of selling price ("TPE");
●
c)
Eliminate the use of the residual method and require an entity to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method; and
●
d)
Require expanded disclosures of qualitative and quantitative information regarding application of the multiple-deliverable revenue arrangement guidance.
The mandatory adoption is January 1, 2011, however, we may elect to early adopt the provisions prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements beginning January 1, 2010.  We are currently evaluating the resulting impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
From our inception until our initial public offering in March 1993, we financed our activities mainly through cash flow from operations and bank loans.  In March 1993, we received proceeds of $9.8 million from an initial public offering of 1,380,000 ordinary shares.  In February 1997, we raised $9.4 million from a follow-on offering of 2,085,000 ordinary shares and in April 2005, we raised an additional $14.9 million from a follow-on offering of 1,700,000 ordinary shares.  The proceeds from these offerings together with cash flow from operations and our credit facilities are our main sources of working capital.
The nature of the business and management of the European subsidiary that we purchased in 2007 required us to invest an inordinate amount of management time and effort, which we believed was not justified in light of the financial results of this subsidiary.  As a result, we determined to dispose of such subsidiary and in December 2009, we sold all of our interests in the European subsidiary. We received total proceeds of Euro 2.9 million (approximately $4.2 million) for the sale, including repayment in full of Euro 1.8 million (approximately $2.6 million) of loans granted by us to the European subsidiary.  In addition, Euro 620,000 (approximately $920,000) that we had deposited in escrow as a contingent purchase price in connection with our acquisition of the European subsidiary was released back to us in connection with our sale of the subsidiary.
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Our working capital at December 31, 2008 and 2009, was $16.2 million and $ 20.5 million, respectively.  Cash and cash equivalents amounted to $16.8 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $11.9 million at December 31, 2009.  Short-term and long-term bank deposits, marketable securities, restricted bank deposits and escrow deposits amounted to $1.8 million at December 31, 2009 compared to $8.1 million at December 31, 2008.  Our cash and cash equivalents, short and long-term bank deposits and marketable securities are held mainly in U.S. dollars, Euros and NIS.
We expect to fund our short-term liquidity needs, including our obligations under our credit facilities, other contractual agreements and any other working capital requirements, from cash and cash equivalents, operating cash flows and our credit facilities.  We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, including bank facilities, bank deposits, marketable securities and our expected cash flows from operations in 2010 will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements through 2010.  However, our liquidity could be negatively affected by a decrease in demand for our products, including the impact of potential reductions in customer purchases that may result from the current general economic climate.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented:
Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by continuing operations
286 $ 1,093 $ 5,651
Net cash used in discontinued operations
9,615 (378 ) 120
Net cash provided by operating activities
9,901 715 5,771
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(464 ) 6,639 3,988
Net cash provided by (used in)financing activities
(5,477 ) 2,665 (14,494 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
337 (2,389 ) (231 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
4,297 7,630 (4,966 )
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
4,908 9,205 16,835
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
$ 9,205 16,835 11,869
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $5.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $0.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2008 and $9.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2009 was primarily attributable to $1.2 million of depreciation and amortization expenses, a $0.3 million write-off of a long-term loan, $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense, a decrease in trade receivables of $3.9 million, a decrease of $3.9 million in inventories, a decrease of $0.8 million in deferred income taxes, a $2.0  million decrease in other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses, an increase of $0.6 million in customer advances and a $0.4 million increase in accrued severance pay, which was offset in part by a decrease of $0.6 million in unbilled accounts receivable, a decrease of $0.9 million in trade payables, a decrease of $1.6 million in other account payable and accrued expenses and by a gain from discontinued operations of $4.2 million.  Net cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2008 was primarily attributable to a loss from discontinued operations of $13.7 million, a $2.8 million non-cash goodwill and other intangible assets impairment charge, $1.2 million of depreciation and amortization expenses, a decrease in trade receivables of $10.6 million, a decrease in inventories of $2.0 million, an increase of $2.4 million in deferred income taxes, a decrease of $1.2 million in customer advances and a decrease of $1.7 million in accrued interest and exchange differences on marketable securities and short-term and long-term bank deposits.  This was offset in part by a decrease in trade payables of $1.7 million and an increase in unbilled accounts receivables of $1.2 million.  Net cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2007 was primarily attributable to net cash provided by discontinued operations of $9.6 million, an increase of $3.1 million in trade receivables, an increase of $1.8 million in unbilled accounts receivable, an increase of $1.5 million in accrued interest on marketable securities and short-term and long-term bank deposits and depreciation and amortization expenses of $1.2 million.  This was offset in part by a decrease in customer advances of $0.7 million, a decrease in other accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1.7 million, an increase of $1.8 million in long-term trade receivables, an increase of $1.5 million of inventories and an increase of $0.8 million of deferred income taxes and a gain from discontinued operations of $3.0 million.
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Net cash provided by investing activities was approximately $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to approximately $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 and net cash used in investing activities of approximately $464,000 for the year ended December 2007.  In the year ended December 31, 2009, we received proceeds of $2.9 million from the sale of our European subsidiary, $1.3 million and $0.9 million from the sale of short-term bank deposits and marketable securities, respectively, and $0.9 million from the release of an escrow deposit, which amounts were offset in part by purchases of $2.0 million of property and equipment and $27,000 of know-how and patents.  In the year ended December 31, 2008, we received proceeds of $3.8 million from the sale of marketable securities and $11.1 million from the sale of short-term bank deposits, which were offset in part by purchases of $1.4 million and $2.0 million of short-term bank deposits and marketable securities, respectively.  In addition, we purchased $1.4 million of property, plant and equipment and $ 29,000 of know-how and patents.  In the year ended December 31, 2007, we acquired a European integration company for $4.1 million and purchased $5.5 million of marketable securities, $4.4 million of escrow deposits and $890,000 of property and equipment, which was offset by proceeds of $5.6 million from the sale of marketable securities and $5.7 million from the sale of short-term bank deposits.
In the year ended December 31, 2009, net cash used in financing activities was $14.5 million, primarily attributable to a decrease of $14.5 million in short-term bank credits and the repayment of a $0.8 million long-term bank loan, which was offset by net cash provided by discontinued operations of $0.8 million.  In the year ended December 31, 2008, net cash provided by financing activities was $2.7 million, primarily due to an increase of $7.0 million in short-term bank credits, which was offset by the repayment of $4.3 million of long-term bank loans.  In the year ended December 31, 2007, net cash used in financing activities was $5.5 million, primarily due to the repayment of $7.2 million of short-term bank credits and repayment of $796,000 of long-term bank loans, which was offset in part by net cash provided by discontinued operation of $2.5 million and from the receipt of $43,000 from the exercise of employee stock options.
We had capital expenditures of approximately $890,000, $1.4 million and $2.0 million in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.  These capital expenditures were principally for computers, other machinery and equipment and for expanding and renovating our facilities.  We estimate that our capital expenditures for 2010 will total approximately $1.3 million, substantially all of which will relate to our perimeter security and project segments.  We expect to finance these expenditures primarily from our cash and cash equivalents, operating cash flows and our credit facilities.   However, the actual amount of our capital expenditures will depend on a variety of factors, including general economic conditions.
Credit Lines and Other Debt
We currently have credit lines with Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M., or BLL, Union Bank of Israel Ltd., or Union Bank, and Bank Hapoalim B.M totaling $23.7 million in the aggregate, of which $ 6 million are reserved exclusively for guarantees.  There are no restrictions as to our use of any of these credit lines.  In January 2010 we entered into a new credit arrangement with these banks and granted the banks a first degree fixed change over our registered but unissued share capital and goodwill and a first degree floating charge over all of our assets and rights.  Our loans under these credit lines are denominated in dollars and NIS.  As part of the restructuring of our credit arrangements we have concluded and repaid in full all of our credit facilities with Mizrahi Tefahot Bank B.M.  As of December 31, 2009, we are not under any obligation to maintain financial ratios or other terms in respect of our credit lines.
In addition, our subsidiaries currently have credit lines with Bank Leumi USA, Royal Bank of Canada, and Deutsche Bank, totaling $3.6 million in the aggregate.
Our Canadian subsidiary, which is primarily engaged in sale of perimeter products and turnkey projects, has undertaken to maintain general covenants and the following financial ratios and terms in respect of its outstanding credit lines: a quick ratio of not less than 1.25:1; a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of not greater than 0.75:1; and tangible net worth of at least $9.0 million.  As of December 31, 2009, our Canadian subsidiary was in compliance with these ratios and terms.
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As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately $10.7 million available under our credit lines.  In addition, our subsidiaries had approximately $1.4 million available under their credit lines.
As of December 31, 2009, our outstanding balances under our credit lines in Israel consisted of:
●
Short-term NIS-denominated loans of approximately $7.7 million, bearing interest at an average rate of 4.75%;
●
Long-term U.S. dollar-denominated loan of approximately $1.1 million, bearing interest at an average rate of 0.87%;
●
Long-term NIS-denominated loan of approximately $0.1 million, bearing interest at an average rate of 2.0%; and
●
Several bank performance and advance payment guarantees totaling approximately $4.6 million, at an annual cost of 0.6%-1.25%.
As of December 31, 2009, the outstanding balances under our subsidiaries’ credit lines consisted of:
●
Long-term loan of approximately $0.2 million, bearing interest at a fixed rate of 5.45%.  The loan is payable in 20 quarterly installments of $47,200, commencing February 2006.  We have guaranteed the full amount of this loan;
●
Long-term loan of approximately $1.0 million, bearing interest at a fixed rate of 5.45%.  The loan was due in one installment in November 2010. We prepaid the loan in January, 2010 ; and
●
Short-term Canadian dollar-denominated loan of approximately $0.5 million, bearing interest at an average rate of 2.75%.
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses.
Government Grants
We participate in programs sponsored by the Israeli Government for the support of research and development activities.  In the past we have received royalty-bearing grants from the OCS for certain of our research and development projects for perimeter security products.  We did not obtain any grants from the OCS for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  We are obligated to pay royalties to the OCS amounting to 3%-4.5% of revenues derived from sales of the products funded with these grants and ancillary services, up to 100% of the grants received, linked to the U.S. dollar.  All grants received after January 1, 1999 also bear interest equal to the 12 month LIBOR rate.  The obligation to pay these royalties is contingent on actual sales of the products, and in the absence of such sales no payment is required.
For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, we paid the OCS royalties in the amount of $143,000, $125,000 and $172,000, respectively.  These royalties related to sales of perimeter security products and management security systems.  As of December 31, 2009, we had a contingent obligation to pay royalties to the OCS in the amount of approximately $1.2 million upon the successful sale of perimeter security products developed using research and development programs sponsored by the OCS.
The Israeli Government, through the Fund for the Encouragement of Marketing Activities, or the Fund, awarded us grants for overseas marketing expenses during the years 2001 to 2003.  To date, we have received an aggregate of $253,000 in grants from the Fund.  Under the terms of the grants, we are obligated to pay certain royalties on the increase in export sales from the year the grant was received and the following year, up to the amount of the grants we received.  During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, we did not pay any royalties.  As of December 31, 2009, we had a remaining contingent obligation to the Fund of $82,000.
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Investment Tax Credit
Our Canadian subsidiary is eligible for investment tax credits for its research and development activities and for certain current and capital expenditures.  For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, our Canadian subsidiary recognized $160,000, $234,000 and $259,000, respectively, of investment tax credits.
In addition, as of December 31, 2009, our Canadian and U.S. subsidiaries had available investment tax credits of approximately $1.1 million to reduce future federal and provincial income taxes payable.  These credits will expire in 2025 through 2029. As of December 31, 2009, our subsidiaries made a full valuation allowance in respect of such investment tax credits.
D. Trend Information.
In recent years consolidation in the defense industry has affected competition, resulting in an increase in the relative size and resources of our competitors.  We adapt to evolving market conditions by adjusting our technology and business strategy.  We also anticipate increased competition in defense markets due to declining defense budgets in certain countries.  While the recent global financial developments have reduced defense spending, we believe in our ability to compete on the basis of our technology and systems development capabilities that offer customers tailored solutions for their technological and operational needs.
We believe that increased security concerns have spurred expenditure in the critical infrastructure and city protection markets as well as in the area of security as an integral part of building management systems.  We also believe that we will benefit from the need of system integrators and manufacturers to bridge the gap between security and IT requirements and to interface with different systems in a scalable, reliable and secure manner.
We cannot assure you that the MOD, IDF or any of our other major customers will maintain their volume of business with us or that, if such volume is reduced, other customers of similar volume will replace the lost business.  The loss of one or more of these existing customers without replacement by a customer or customers of similar volume would have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
As of December 31, 2009, our backlog amounted to approximately $17.8 million, of which approximately $15.1 million is expected to be delivered by the end of 2010 and $2.7 million is expected to be delivered by the end of 2011.  As of March 31, 2010, our backlog amounted to approximately $29.7 million, of which approximately $21.6 million is expected to be delivered by the end of 2010 and $8.1 million is expected to be delivered by the end of 2011.
See also discussion in Item 5A. “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - Operating Results.”
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.
We are not a party to any material off-balance sheet arrangements.  In addition, we have no unconsolidated special purpose financing or partnership entities that are likely to create material contingent obligations.
F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations .
The following table summarizes our minimum contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2009 and the effect we expect them to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods.
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Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations
Total
Less than 1 year
1-2 years
3-5 years
More than 5 years
(in thousands)
Long-term bank debt obligations
$ 2,372 $ 1,824 $ 548 $ - $ -
Operating lease obligations
$ 3,182 $ 807 $ 778 $ 234 $ 1,363
Purchase obligations
Other long-term liabilities reflected on our balance sheet under U.S. GAAP
$ 3,562 - - - $ 3,562
Total
$ 9,116 $ 2,631 $ 1,326 $ 234 $ 4,925
In addition, we have guaranteed advance payments and the performance of our work to certain of our customers (usually government entities).  Such guarantees are required by contract for our performance during the installation and operational period of projects throughout Israel and the rest of the world.  The guarantees for installation typically expire soon after certain milestones are met and guarantees for operations typically expire proportionally over the contract period.  The maximum potential amount of future payments we could be required to make under our guarantees at December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2010 were $4.6 million and $4.1million, respectively.  We have not recorded any liability for such amounts as we expect that our performance will be acceptable and to date, no performance bank guarantees have been exercised against us except with respect to our dispute relating to a project in Eastern Europe.  See Item 8.A - “Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information-Legal Proceedings.”
Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A. Directors and Senior Management.
Set forth below are the name, age, principal position and a biographical description of each of our directors and executive officers:
Name
Age
Position
Jacob Perry
66
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Eitan Livneh
56
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hagai Katz
59
General Manager, Israel Division, Senior Vice President - Marketing
Asaf Even-Ezra
44
Senior Vice President –Worldwide Sales
Yehonatan Ben-Hamozeg
51
Senior Vice President – Product Development and Projects
Ilan Ovadia
43
Senior Vice President – Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Jacob Even-Ezra (1)(3)
79
Director
Nathan Kirsh
78
Director
Shaul Kobrinsky(1)(2)(3)
58
External Director
Zeev Livne (3)
65
Director
Jacob Nuss(2)
62
Director
Barry Stiefel
60
Director
Anat Winner (1)(2)
51
External Director
(1)  Member of our Investment Committee.
(2)  Member of our Audit Committee.
(3)  Member of our Mergers and Acquisitions Committee.

Messrs. Perry, Even-Ezra, Kirsh, Livne, Nuss and Steifel will serve as directors until our 2010 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.  Mr. Kobrinsky and Ms. Winner will serve as external directors pursuant to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law for three-year terms until our 2010 annual general meeting of shareholders.
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Mr. Jacob Even-Ezra is the father of Mr. Asaf Even-Ezra.  There are no other family relationships among our directors and senior executives.
Jacob Perry has served as the chairman of our board of directors since January 2008.  Prior thereto, Mr. Perry served as the deputy chairman of our board of directors from 2006 and has served as a director of our company since December 2002.  From 1995 to December 2002, Mr. Perry served as the President and chief executive of Cellcom Israel Ltd., one of Israel’s leading cellular phone operators.  Mr. Perry served 29 years with the Israeli General Security Service, and served as its director from 1988 until 1995.  Mr. Perry has also served as a coordinator to the Israeli Prime Minister on the subject of prisoners of war and missing persons.  He was a board member of El-Al Israel Airlines and a member of the management of many public organizations.  Mr. Perry is also a chairman of the board of directors of Mizrahi Tefahot Bank B.M. Mr. Perry serves as a director of Tamarind Technologies, and New Kopel, an Israeli vehicle and car service group.  Mr. Perry holds a B.A. degree in Oriental Studies and History of the Jewish People from Tel-Aviv University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Eitan Livneh has served as our president and chief executive officer since August 2009.  Prior to joining our company and from February 2007, Mr. Livneh served as President and chief executive officer of Tadiran Telecom Ltd., a leading Israel-based telecommunications company.  Between January 2000 and February 2007, Mr. Livneh was the chief executive officer of Elgo Irrigation Ltd., and prior to that, a general manager at Packer Plada Group Ltd.  From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Livneh was vice president, marketing and assistant to the President of Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd.  Mr. Livneh holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Business Administration from Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Hagai Katz has served as our general manager, Israel division and corporate vice president - marketing and products since January 2009.  Prior to joining our company and from 2007, Mr. Katz served as the chief executive officer of Transtech Airport Solutions Ltd.  From 2004 to 2007 Mr. Katz  served as the chief executive officer of UAV Tactical Systems Ltd., based in the United Kingdom.  Prior to that, Mr. Katz served in a number of leading technology companies, including NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE), where he served in various senior positions including chief operating officer and President of its video analytics division.  Mr. Katz holds a B.A. degree in Computer Sciences from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and an M.Sc. degree in Business Engineering from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Asaf Even-Ezra has served as our senior vice president – worldwide sales since December 2008  Mr. Even-Ezra joined our company in 1995 and served as our vice president - Israel and West European sales and marketing from 1998 to July 2007 and as our executive vice president - sales and marketing from July 2007 to December 2008.  Mr. Even-Ezra holds a B.A. degree and an M.B.A. degree in Business, both from the New York Institute of Technology.
Yehonatan Ben-Hamozeg has served as our senior vice president – product development and projects since January 2009.  Mr. Ben Hamozeg joined our company in December 2002 and served as our vice president - integrated systems development until January 2009.  Before joining our company, Mr. Ben Hamozeg served in the IDF for 24 years and retired as a Colonel.  Mr. Ben Hamozeg holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Statistics and an M.B.A. degree in Business Management, both from Haifa University.
Ilan Ovadia joined our company in December 2009 as our chief financial officer and secretary and has served as our senior vice president - finance, chief financial officer and secretary since February 2010.  Prior to joining our company, Mr. Ovadia served for four years as executive vice president, chief financial officer and vice president of human resources of Haifa Chemicals Ltd.  From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Ovadia served as the chief financial officer and vice president of Operations of Elgo Irrigation Ltd.  Mr. Ovadia also served as financial manager of Shapir Marine and Civil Engineering Ltd., an infrastructure and contracting company, and as the financial manager of Hapach Metal Industries Ltd., an Israeli public company.  Mr. Ovadia is qualified as a Chartered Public Accountant (Israel) and served as a senior portfolio coordinator at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.  Mr. Ovadia holds a B.A. degree in Accounting and Economics and an M.B.A. degree (magna cum laude), both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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Jacob Even-Ezra has served as a director since 1984 and is a member of our investment committee.  From 1984 until December 2007, Mr. Even-Ezra served as the chairman of our board of directors.  From 1984 until 2006, Mr. Even-Ezra also served as our chief executive officer, and from 1987 until 1990 he also served as our president.  Mr. Even-Ezra is currently a member of the Executive Council and the Management Committee of Tel Aviv University.  From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Even-Ezra also served as the chairman of the Israel Export Institute.  Mr. Even-Ezra holds a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
Nathan Kirsh has served as a director since 1984.  Mr. Kirsh is an independent investor.  Mr. Kirsh serves as one of the trustees of the Eurona Foundation, the beneficial owner of 100% of the ordinary shares of our company that are held by Mira Mag Inc.  Mr. Kirsh holds a B.S. degree in Commerce from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Barry Stiefel , has served as a director since November 2008.  Mr. Stiefel served as a director of one of our UK subsidiaries from 1986 to 1990.  Since 2001, Mr. Stiefel has served as a consultant for a variety of companies, including Premedia Limited and its subsidiaries.  From 1990 until 2001, Mr. Stiefel was the chief executive officer of Meridian VAT Reclaim Group, which he founded.  Between 1985 and 1990, Mr. Stiefel served as consultant in the field of trade finance.  From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Stiefel served as finance director of Fisher Brothers Lumber Company Limited, a South African company.  Mr. Stiefel holds a B.Sc degree in Mathematics and Chemistry and a B.A. degree in Accounting, both from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.  Mr. Stiefel is a chartered accountant in South Africa, and is registered as an auditor (not in public practice) in the United Kingdom.
Zeev Livne has served as a director since July 2004.  Mr. Livne has served as the chairman of Livne Strategic Consultants Ltd. since 2001.  Prior to that, Mr. Livne served in the IDF for 39 years and retired as a Major General.  During his long military career with the IDF, Mr. Livne served as the Defense Attaché to the United States and Canada from 1997 to 2001, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister of Israel from 1996 to 1997 and Ground Force Commander from 1994 to 1996.  From 1992 to 1994 Mr. Livne established the IDF Home Front Command and served as its first Commander.  Mr. Livne serves on the board of directors of PAZKAR Ltd., a private Israeli company.  Mr. Livne holds a B.A. degree in History from Tel Aviv University and an M.A. degree in Geography from the University of Haifa.
Shaul Kobrinsky has served as an external director since July 2004 and is the chairman of our audit committee and a member of our investment committee.  Mr. Kobrinsky has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Urdan Industries Ltd., an investment and holding company since 1997.  Since 2003, Mr. Kobrinsky has served as senior managing director of Alagem Capital Group a Beverly Hills based investment group.  From 1989 to 1997, Mr. Kobrinsky served as chief executive officer of Cargal Ltd., an Israeli company that manufactures corrugates.  Prior to that and from 1984, Mr. Kobrinsky served as deputy managing director of Clal Industries Ltd., a holding and investment company.  Mr. Kobrinsky serves as an external director and a member of the audit committee of Scope Metal Trading Ltd., a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.  Mr. Kobrinsky holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Tel Aviv University.  Mr. Kobrinsky is a member of the Antitrust Court of the State of Israel.
Jacob Nuss has served as a director since 1993 and is a member of our audit committee.  Mr. Nuss has served as the vice president - internal auditing of IAI since 2004, and served as IAI’s deputy vice president - internal auditing from 1999 to 2003.  From 1993 to 1999, Mr. Nuss served as the director of finance of IAI’s electronics group.  From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Nuss served as assistant to the chairman of the board of directors of IAI.  Mr. Nuss has served in various financial management capacities at IAI since 1975.  Mr. Nuss holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Business Management from Bar Ilan University and an M.B.A. degree in Business from Tel Aviv University.  Mr. Nuss holds a certificate in internal auditing.
Anat Winner has served as an external director since July 2004 and is a member of our audit committee and our investment committee.  Ms. Winner has been self employed as a business advisor since July 2003.  Ms. Winner also serves as a director of Internet Gold-Golden Lines Ltd. (NASDAQ: IGLD) and B Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ: BCOM).  From October 2001 to May 2003, Ms. Winner served as chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Israel News Ltd.  From 1999 to October 2001, Ms. Winner served as chief financial officer of DBS Satellite Services (1998) Ltd. (YES), an Israeli company that is engaged in setting up and operating broadcasting satellite television television systems.  From 1995 to 1998, Ms. Winner served as chief financial officer of Eurocom Cellular Communications Ltd., an Israeli company that is engaged in importing and marketing cellular phones.  From 1989 to 1995, Ms. Winner served in various finance positions, including chief financial officer of the Seed Company (1939) Ltd.  From 1984 to 1989 Ms. Winner served as a senior audit manager with Ronel Stetner & Co., certified public accountants in Israel.  Ms. Winner holds a B.A. degree in Accounting and Economics from Haifa University and has been a certified public accountant in Israel since 1987.
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B. Compensation
During the year ended December 31, 2009, our executive officers and directors as a group (consisting of 19 persons, of whom 6 retired during 2009 and subsequent to December 31, 2009) earned aggregate compensation of approximately $2.1 million for their services as officers and directors, of which $1.9 million was paid in 2009.  As of December 31, 2009, the aggregate amount set aside or accrued for pension, retirement, recreation payments and vacation or similar benefits for our directors and executive officers was approximately $1.4 million.  In addition, we have provided automobiles to our executive officers at our expense, and Mr. Jacob Even-Ezra, a director, is reimbursed for the costs of a chauffeur.
Since January 1, 2008, we pay Mr. Perry, the chairman of our board of directors, a monthly payment of NIS 50,000 (approximately $13,245), which amount is linked to the Israeli consumer price index and subject to a 10% annual increase, and he is also entitled to an annual bonus based on our performance and customary social benefits.
We pay our external directors and our independent directors (directors who are not employees of our company or officers or employees of any entity that beneficially owns 5% or more of our ordinary shares) an annual fee of NIS 59,100 (approximately $15,656) and a fee of NIS 2,200 (approximately $583) for each board or committee meeting that they attend.  Such amounts are linked to the Israeli consumer price index and are updated on a semi-annual basis and accordingly, were adjusted to reflect changes in the Israeli consumer price index in February and August 2009 and February 2010.
As of December 31, 2009, our directors and executive officers as a group, then consisting of 15 persons, held options to purchase an aggregate of 966,000 ordinary shares, having exercise prices ranging from $3.48 to $8.56.  Generally, the options vest over a two to four years period.  Of such options, options to purchase 18,000 ordinary shares expire in December 2010; options to purchase 83,336 ordinary shares expire in August 2014; options to purchase 24,500, 19,250, 19,250 and 7,000 ordinary shares expire in January, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively; options to purchase 300,000 ordinary shares expire in three equal portions of 100,000 ordinary shares each in August 2013, 2014 and 2015; options to purchase 24,500, 24,500, 48,500, 58,500 and 22,000 ordinary shares expire in April, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively; options to purchase 34,000, 58,000, and 58,000 ordinary shares expire in December, 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively; options to purchase 20,833 expire in each of February 2014, November 2014, February 2015, May 2015, August 2015, November 2015, February 2016, May 2016 and August 2016, or earlier upon termination of employment as an executive officer or service as a director of our company.  All of such options were granted under our 2003 Stock Option Plan.  See this Item 6E. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees - Share Ownership - Stock Option Plans.”
We follow Israeli law and practice instead of the requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules regarding the compensation of our chief executive office and other executive officers.  See Item 16G. “Corporate Governance.”
C. Board Practices
Introduction
According to the Israeli Companies Law and our Articles of Association, the management of our business is vested in our board of directors.  The board of directors may exercise all powers and may take all actions that are not specifically granted to our shareholders.  Our executive officers are responsible for our day-to-day management.  The executive officers have individual responsibilities established by our chief executive officer and board of directors.  Executive officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, subject to any applicable agreements.
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Election of Directors
Our articles of association provide for a board of directors of not less than three and not more than 11 members, as may be determined from time to time at our annual general meeting.  Our board of directors is currently composed of eight directors.
Our directors (except the external directors, as detailed below), are elected by our shareholders at our annual general meeting and hold office until the next annual general meeting.  All the members of our board of directors (except the external directors), may be reelected upon completion of their term of office.  Our annual general meetings of shareholders are held at least once every calendar year, but not more than 15 months after the last preceding annual general meeting.  In the intervals between our annual general meetings of shareholders, the board of directors may from time to time appoint a new director to fill a casual vacancy or to add to their number, and any director so appointed will remain in office until our next annual general meeting of shareholders and may be re-elected.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, our board of directors is required to determine the minimum number of directors who must have “accounting and financial expertise,” as such term is defined in regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law.  Our board of directors has determined that at least one director must have “accounting and financial expertise.”  Our board of directors has further determined that Ms. Anat Winner has the requisite “accounting and financial expertise.”
We do not follow the requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules regarding the nomination process of directors, and instead, we follow Israeli law and practice, in accordance with which our directors are recommended by our board of directors for election by our shareholders.  See Item 16G. “Corporate Governance.”
External and Independent Directors
External directors .  The Israeli Companies Law requires Israeli companies with shares that have been offered to the public in or outside of Israel to appoint at least two external directors.  The Israeli Companies Law provides that a person may not be appointed as an external director if the person, or the person’s relative, partner, employer or an entity under that person’s control, has or had during the two years preceding the date of appointment any affiliation with the company, or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the company.  The term “relative” means a spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, child or child of spouse or spouse of any of the above.  In general, the term “affiliation” includes an employment relationship, a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis, control and service as an office holder.  Regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law include certain additional relationships that would not be deemed an “affiliation” with a company for the purpose of service as an external director. In addition, no person may serve as an external director if the person’s position or other activities create, or may create, a conflict of interest with the person’s responsibilities as director or may otherwise interfere with the person’s ability to serve as director.  If, at the time an external director is appointed, all current members of the board of directors are of the same gender, then that external director must be of the other gender.  A director of one company may not be appointed as an external director of another company if a director of the other company is acting as an external director of the first company at such time.
At least one of the elected external directors must have “accounting and financial expertise” and any other external director must have “accounting and financial expertise” or “professional qualification,” as such terms are defined by regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law.  However, Israeli companies listed on certain stock exchanges outside Israel, including The NASDAQ Global Market, such as our company, are not required to appoint an external director with “accounting and financial expertise” if a director with accounting and financial expertise who qualifies as an independent director for purposes of audit committee membership under the laws of the foreign country in which the stock exchange is located serves on its board of directors.  All of the external directors of such a company must have “professional qualification.”
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The external directors are elected by shareholders at a general meeting.  The shareholders voting in favor of their election must include at least one-third of the shares of the non-controlling shareholders of the company who voted on the matter.  This minority approval requirement need not be met if the total shareholdings of those non-controlling shareholders who vote against their election represent 1% or less of all of the voting rights in the company.
In general, external directors serve for a three-year term and may be reelected to one additional three-year term.  However, Israeli companies listed on certain stock exchanges outside Israel, including The NASDAQ Global Market, such as our company, may appoint an external director for additional terms of not more than three years subject to certain conditions.  Such conditions include the determination by the audit committee and board of directors, that in view of the director’s professional expertise and special contribution to the company’s board of directors and its committees, the appointment of the external director for an additional term is in the best interest of the company.  External directors can be removed from office only by the same special percentage of shareholders that can elect them, or by a court, and then only if the external directors cease to meet the statutory qualifications with respect to their appointment or if they violate their fiduciary duty to the company.
Each committee of the board of directors that is authorized to exercise powers vested in the board of directors must include at least one external director and the audit committee must include all the external directors.  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 such service.
Independent Directors .  In general, NASDAQ Listing Rules require that the board of directors of a NASDAQ-listed company have a majority of independent directors and that its audit committee have at least three members and be comprised only of independent directors, each of whom satisfies the respective “independence” requirements of NASDAQ and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, foreign private issuers, such as our company, may follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.  On June 30, 2006, we provided NASDAQ with a notice of non-compliance with respect to the requirement to maintain a majority of independent directors, as defined under NASDAQ Listing Rules.  Instead, under Israeli law and practice we are required to appoint at least two external directors, within the meaning of the Israeli Companies Law, to our board of directors.  However, despite such notification of non-compliance, we maintain a majority of independent directors.  In addition, in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ, we have the mandated three independent directors, as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ, on our audit committee.
Pursuant to a recent amendment to the Israeli Companies Law, an Israeli company whose shares are publicly traded may elect to adopt a provision in its articles of association pursuant to which a specified part of its board of directors will be comprised of individuals complying with certain independence criteria prescribed by the Israeli Companies Law.  Such independent directors shall have all the qualifications of an outside director; however, he or she is not subject to the “accounting and financial expertise” or “professional qualification” requirements and may be elected and removed from office by a simple majority vote of the general shareholders meeting.  We have not included such a provision in our articles of association.
Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Winner and Mr. Kobrinsky qualify both as independent directors under the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ and as external directors under the requirements of the Israeli Companies Law.  Our board of directors has further determined that Messrs. Nuss and Livne qualify as independent directors under the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ.
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Audit Committee
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors of any public company must establish an audit committee.  The audit committee must consist of at least three directors and must include all of the external directors.  The audit committee may not include the chairman of the board of directors; any director employed by the company or providing services to the company on an ongoing basis; or a controlling shareholder or any of the controlling shareholder’s relatives.  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.  Under Israeli law, an audit committee may not approve an action or a transaction with a controlling shareholder, or with an office holder, unless at the time of approval two external directors are serving as members of the audit committee and at least one of the external directors was present at the meeting in which an approval was granted.
In addition, the NASDAQ Listing Rules require us to establish an audit committee comprised of at least three members, all of whom must be independent directors, each of whom is financially literate and satisfies the respective ‘‘independence’’ requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ and one of whom has accounting or related financial management expertise at senior levels within a company.
Our audit committee consists of three board members who satisfy the respective “independence” requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, NASDAQ and Israeli law for audit committee members.  Our audit committee is currently composed of Messrs. Shaul Kobrinsky and Jacob Nuss and Ms. Anat Winner.  The audit committee meets at least once each quarter.  Our audit committee charter is available on our website at www.magal-s3.com .
Investment Committee
Our board of directors has established an investment committee, which is responsible for the investment of our cash and our hedging transactions.  The investment committee is currently composed of Messrs. Jacob Even-Ezra and Shaul Kobrinsky and Ms. Winner.
Mergers and Acquisitions Committee
Our board of directors has established a mergers and acquisitions committee, which is responsible for the examination and review of merger and acquisition opportunities and making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to such opportunities.  The mergers and acquisitions committee is currently composed of Messrs. Jacob Even-Ezra, Zeev Livne and Shaul Kobrinsky.
Internal Auditor
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors of a public company must appoint an internal auditor nominated by the audit committee.  The role of the internal auditor is to examine whether the company’s actions comply with the law, integrity and orderly business practice.  Under the Israeli Companies Law, the internal auditor may not be an interested party, an office holder, or an affiliate, or a relative of an interested party, office holder or affiliate, nor may the internal auditor be the company’s independent accountant or its representative.  Mr. Daniel Shapira, Certified Public Accountant (Israel) is our internal auditor.
Directors’ Service Contracts
There are no arrangements or understandings between us and any of our subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of our directors, on the other hand, providing for benefits upon termination of their employment or service as directors of our company or any of our subsidiaries.
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Approval of Related Party Transactions Under Israeli Law
Fiduciary Duties of Office Holders
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 director, general manager, chief business manager, deputy general manager, vice general manager, other manager directly subordinate to the general manager or any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of the foregoing positions without regard to such person’s title. An office holder’s fiduciary duties consist of a duty of care and a fiduciary duty. The duty of care requires an office holder to act at a level of care that a reasonable office holder in the same position would employ under the same circumstances. This includes the duty to utilize reasonable means to obtain (i) information regarding the appropriateness of a given action brought for his approval or performed by him by virtue of his position and (ii) all other information of importance pertaining to the foregoing actions. The fiduciary duty includes (i) avoiding any conflict of interest between the office holder’s position in the company and any other position he holds or his personal affairs, (ii) avoiding any competition with the company’s business, (iii) avoiding exploiting any business opportunity of the company in order to receive personal gain for the office holder or others, and (iv) disclosing to the company any information or documents relating to the company’s affairs that the office holder has received due to his position as an office holder.
Disclosure of Personal Interests of an Office Holder; Approval of Transactions with Office Holders
The Israeli Companies Law requires that an office holder promptly, and no later than the first board meeting at which such transaction is considered, disclose any personal interest that he or she may have and all related material information known to him or her and any documents in their position, in connection with any existing or proposed transaction by us. In addition, if the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, that is, a transaction other than in the ordinary course of business, other than on market terms, or likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities, 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 or a relative is a 5% or greater shareholder, director or general manager or in which he or she has the right to appoint at least one director or the general manager.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, all arrangements as to compensation of office holders who are not directors require approval by the board of directors, and exculpation, insurance and indemnification of, or an undertaking to, indemnify an office holder who is not a director requires both board of directors and audit committee approval.  The compensation of office holders who are directors must be approved by our audit committee, board of directors and shareholders.
Some transactions, actions and arrangements involving an office holder (or a third party in which an office holder has an interest) must be approved by the board of directors or as otherwise provided for in a company’s articles of association, however, a transaction that is adverse to the company’s interest may not be approved. In some cases, such a transaction must be approved by the audit committee and by the board of directors itself, and under certain circumstances shareholder approval may be required. A director who has a personal interest in a transaction that is considered at a meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee may not be present during the board of directors or audit committee discussions and may not vote on the transaction, unless the transaction is not an extraordinary transaction or the majority of the members of the board or the audit committee have a personal interest, as the case may be. In the event the majority of the members of the board of directors or the audit committee have a personal interest, then the approval of the general meeting of shareholders is also required.
Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder; Approval of Transactions with Controlling Shareholders
The disclosure requirements that apply to an office holder also apply to a transaction in which a controlling shareholder with respect to his or her personal interest in any existing or proposed transaction by us.  The Israeli Companies Law provides that an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder or an extraordinary transaction with another person in whom the controlling shareholder has a personal interest or a transaction with a controlling shareholder or his relative regarding terms of service and employment, must be approved by the audit committee, the board of directors and shareholders.  The shareholder approval for such a transaction must include at least one-third of the shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction who voted on the matter (not including abstentions).  The transaction can be approved by shareholders without this one-third approval if the total shareholdings of those shareholders who have no personal interest and voted against the transaction do not represent more than one percent of the voting rights in the company.
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Under the Companies Regulations (Relief from Related Party Transactions), 5760-2000, promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law, as amended, certain extraordinary transactions between a public company and its controlling shareholder(s) do not require shareholder approval.  In addition, under such regulations, directors’ compensation and employment arrangements in a public company do not require the approval of the shareholders if both the audit committee and the board of directors agree that such arrangements are solely for the benefit of the company. Also, employment and compensation arrangements for an office holder that is a controlling shareholder of a public company do not require shareholder approval if certain criteria are met. The foregoing exemptions from shareholder approval will not apply if one or more shareholders holding at least 1% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the company’s voting rights, objects to the use of these exemptions provided that such objection is submitted to the company in writing not later than fourteen days from the date of the filing of a report regarding the adoption of such resolution by the company pursuant to the requirements of the Israeli Securities Law, 5328-1968. If such objection is duly and timely submitted, then the transaction or compensation arrangement of the directors will require shareholders’ approval as detailed above.
In addition, a private placement of securities requires the approval of the board of directors and shareholders of the company if (i) the private placement will cause a person to become a controlling shareholder or (ii) 20% or more of the company’s outstanding share capital prior to the private placement are offered and the payment for which (in whole or in part) is not in cash or registered securities or that is not under market terms, and the private placement will increase the relative holdings of a shareholder that holds 5% or more of the company’s outstanding share capital or will cause any person to become a holder of more than 5% of the company’s outstanding share capital.  Other than as described, under Israeli law private placements require the approval of the board of directors.
The Israeli 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 25% or greater shareholder of the company. This rule does not apply if there is already another 25% or greater shareholder of the company. Similarly, the Israeli 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 hold greater than a 45% interest in the company, unless there is another shareholder holding more than a 45% interest in the company. These requirements do not apply if, in general, (i) the acquisition was made in a private placement that received shareholder approval, (ii) was from a 25% or greater shareholder of the company which resulted in the acquirer becoming a 25% or greater shareholder of the company, if there is not already a 25% or greater shareholder of the company, or (iii) was from a shareholder holding a 45% interest in the company which resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder of a 45% interest in the company if there is not already a 45% or greater shareholder of the company.
If, as a result of an acquisition of shares, the acquirer will hold more than 90% of a public company’s outstanding shares or a class of shares, the acquisition must be made by means of a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares or a class of shares. If less than 5% of the outstanding shares are not tendered in the tender offer, all the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer. The Israeli Companies Law provides for appraisal rights if any shareholder files a request in court within three months following the consummation of a full tender offer. If more than 5% of the outstanding shares are not tendered in the tender offer, then the acquirer may not acquire shares in the tender offer that will cause his shareholding to exceed 90% of the outstanding shares.
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Exculpation, Indemnification and Insurance of Directors and Officers
Exculpation of Office Holders .  The Israeli Companies Law provides that an Israeli company cannot exculpate an office holder from liability with respect to a breach of his or her fiduciary duty.  If permitted by its articles of association, a company may exculpate in advance an office holder from his or her liability to the company, in whole or in part, with respect to a breach of his or her duty of care.  However, a company may not exculpate in advance a director from his or her liability to the company with respect to a breach of his duty of care in the event of distributions.
Office Holders’ Insurance .  Israeli law provides that a company may, if permitted by its articles of association, enter into a contract to insure its office holders for liabilities incurred by the office holder with a respect to an act performed in his or her capacity as an office holder, as a result of: (i) a breach of the office holder’s duty of care to the company or another person; (ii) a breach of the office holder’s fiduciary duty to the company, provided that the office holder acted in good faith and had reasonable cause to assume that the act would not prejudice the company’s interests; and (iii) a financial liability imposed upon the office holder in favor of another person.
Indemnification of Office Holders .  Under Israeli law a company may, if permitted by its articles of association, indemnify an office holder for acts performed by the office holder in such capacity for (i) a monetary liability imposed upon the office holder in favor of another person by any court judgment, including a settlement or an arbitration award approved by a court; (ii) reasonable litigation expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred by the office holder as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him by a competent authority, provided that such investigation or proceeding concluded without the filing of an indictment against the office holder or the imposition of any monetary liability in lieu of criminal proceedings, or concluded without the filing of an indictment against the office holder and a monetary liability was imposed on him or her in lieu of criminal proceedings with respect to a criminal offense that does not require proof of criminal intent; and (iii) reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually incurred by the office holder or imposed upon the office holder by a court: in an action, suit or proceeding brought against the office holder by or on behalf of the company or another person, or in connection with a criminal action in which the office holder was acquitted, or in connection with a criminal action in which the office holder was convicted of a criminal offence that does not require proof of criminal intent.
Israeli law provides that a company’s articles of association may permit the company to (a) indemnify an office holder retroactively, following a determination to this effect made by the company after the occurrence of the event in respect of which the office holder will be indemnified; and (b) undertake in advance to indemnify an office holder, except that with respect to a monetary liability imposed on the office holder by any judgment, settlement or court-approved arbitration award, the undertaking must be limited to types of occurrences, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, are, at the time of the undertaking, foreseeable due to the company’s activities and to an amount or standard that the board of directors has determined is reasonable under the circumstances.
Limitations on Exculpation, Insurance and Indemnification .  The Israeli Companies Law provides that neither a provision of the articles of association permitting the company to enter into a contract to insure the liability of an office holder, nor a provision in the articles of association or a resolution of the board of directors permitting the indemnification of an office holder, nor a provision in the articles of association exculpating an office holder from duty to the company shall be valid, where such insurance, indemnification or exculpation relates to any of the following: (i) a breach by the office holder of his fiduciary duty unless, with respect to insurance coverage or indemnification, the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not prejudice the company; (ii) a breach by the office holder of his duty of care if such breach was committed intentionally or recklessly, unless the breach was committed only negligently; (iii) any act or omission done with the intent to unlawfully yield a personal benefit; or (iv) any fine or forfeiture imposed on the office holder.
Pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law, exculpation of, procurement of insurance coverage for, and an undertaking to indemnify or indemnification of, our office holders must be approved by our audit committee and board of directors and, if the office holder is a director, also by our shareholders.
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Our Articles of Association allow us to insure, indemnify and exempt our office holders to the fullest extent permitted by Israeli law.  We maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy with a per claim and aggregate coverage limit of $20 million, including legal costs incurred in Israel.  In addition, our audit committee, board of directors and shareholders resolved to indemnify our office holders, pursuant to a standard indemnification agreement that provides for indemnification of an office holder in an amount up to $5 million.  To date, we have provided letters of indemnification to certain of our officers and directors.
D. Employees
As of December 31, 2009, we employed 282 full-time employees, of whom 40 were employed in general management and administration, 36 were employed in selling and marketing, 21 were employed in production management, 145 were employed in production, installation and maintenance, and 40 were employed in engineering and research and development.  Of such full-time employees, 152 were located in Israel, 14 were in the United States, 76 were in Canada and 40 were in various other countries.
As of December 31, 2008, we employed 321 full-time employees, of whom 39 were employed in general management and administration, 45 were employed in selling and marketing, 22 were employed in production management, 164 were employed in production, installation and maintenance, and 51 were employed in engineering and research and development.  Of such full-time employees, 151 were located in Israel, 29 were in the United States, 89 were in Canada and 52 were in various other countries.
As of December 31, 2007, we employed 303 full-time employees, of whom 38 were employed in general management and administration, 42 were employed in marketing, 22 were employed in production management, 149 were employed in production, installation and maintenance, and 52 were employed in engineering and research and development.  Of such full-time employees, 143 were located in Israel, 34 were in the United States, 81 were in Canada and 45 were in various other countries.
Our relationships with our employees in Israel are governed by Israeli labor legislation and regulations, extension orders of the Israeli Ministry of Labor and personal employment agreements.  We are subject to various Israeli labor laws, collective bargaining agreements entered into from time to time between the Manufacturers Association and the Histadrut, as well as collective bargaining arrangements.  Such laws, agreements and arrangements cover a wide range of areas, including minimum employment standards, such as working hours, minimum wages, vacation, procedures for dismissing employees, severance pay and pension plans and special issues, such as equal pay for equal work, equal opportunity in employment and employment of youth and army veterans.  Certain of our employees are parties to individual employment agreements.  We generally provide our employees with benefits and working conditions beyond the required minimums.  Each of our subsidiaries provides a benefits package and working conditions which are competitive with other companies in their area of operations.
Israeli law requires severance pay upon certain circumstances, including upon the retirement or death of an employee or termination of employment without due cause.  Furthermore, Israeli employees and employers are required to pay predetermined sums to the National Insurance Institute, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security Administration, which amounts also include payments for national health insurance.
E. Share Ownership.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our ordinary shares by our directors and executive officers as of April 29, 2010.
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Name
Number of Ordinary Shares Owned(1)
Percentage of Outstanding Ordinary Shares(2)
Jacob Perry
- -
Eitan Livneh
- -
Hagai Katz
* *
Asaf Even-Ezra (3)
148,926 1.4 %
Yehonatan Ben-Hamozeg
* *
Ilan Ovadia
- -
Jacob Even-Ezra (4)
370,742 3.6 %
Nathan Kirsh (5)
2,516,267 24.2 %
Shaul Kobrinsky
- -
Zeev Livne
- -
Jacob Nuss
- -
Barry Stiefel
* *
Anat Winner
- -
All directors and executive officers asa group (13 persons)
3,079,435 29.4 %
_______________
*Less than 1%
(1)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.  Ordinary shares relating to options or convertible debenture notes currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this table are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.  Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
(2)
The percentages shown are based on 10,395,548 ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of April 29, 2010.
(3)
Includes 9,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable options, having an exercise price of $8.56 per share that expire in December 2010 and 24,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable options, having an exercise price of $3.53 per share that expire in April 2015. Asaf Even-Ezra is Jacob Even-Ezra’s son.
(4)
Includes 76,915 ordinary shares held by a trustee.  Jacob Even-Ezra is the father of Asaf Even-Ezra.
(5)
Includes: (i) 1,446,772 ordinary shares held of record by Mira Mag Inc., or Mira Mag, a company organized in Liberia; and (ii) 1,069,495 ordinary shares held of record by Ki Corporation Limited, or Ki Corporation, a company organized in Liberia.  The Eurona Foundation holds 100% of Ki Corporation.  Ki Corporation holds 100% of the shares of Mira Mag.  The Eurona Foundation is a Liechtenstein trust controlled by Mr. Kirsh, who also serves as its trustee.  Mr. Kirsh may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares held of record by Mira Mag and Ki Corporation.
2003 Israeli Share Option Plan
On October 27, 2003, our board of directors adopted our 2003 Israeli Share Option Plan, or the 2003 Plan, which was approved by our shareholders in July 2004.  Under the 2003 Plan, stock options may be periodically granted to our employees, directors, officers and consultants, in accordance with the decision of our board of directors.
Our board of directors has the authority to determine the vesting schedule of such options and the exercise price.  Under the 2003 Plan, unless determined otherwise by the Board, no option may be exercised before the second anniversary of the date on which it was granted.  Pursuant to the 2003 Plan, any options that are cancelled or not exercised within the option period will become available for future grants.  Our board of directors has elected to allot options to Israeli employees under Israel’s capital gain tax treatment.  Pursuant to the provisions of the 2003 Plan, if we issue a stock dividend, the number of shares purchasable by any grantee upon the exercise of options that were granted prior to the issuance of the stock dividend will be correspondingly increased.
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In May 2008, our board of directors approved an amendment to the 2003 Plan, which was approved by our shareholders in August 2008.  Pursuant to the amendment, the number of ordinary shares available for issuance under the 2003 Plan was increased by 1,000,000 shares and the termination of the 2003 Plan was extended from October 2013 to October 2018.
As of December 31, 2009, options to purchase 1,447,200 ordinary shares were outstanding under the 2003 Plan, exercisable at an average exercise price of 5.54 per share.  No options awarded under the 2003 Plan were exercised during 2009.  As of December 31, 2009, 171,375 ordinary shares remained available for future option grants under the 2003 Plan.
Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
A. Major Shareholders
The following table sets forth certain information as of April 29, 2010 regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares, by each person or entity known to us to own beneficially 5.0% or more of our ordinary shares.
Name
Number of
Ordinary Shares
Beneficially Owned(1)
Percentage of
Outstanding
Ordinary Shares(2)
Nathan Kirsh (3)
2,516,267 24.2 %
Diker Management LLC (4)
786,854 7.6 %
Clough Capital Partners L.P. (5)
738,542 7.1 %
Grace & White, Inc. (6).
607,526 5.8 %
Prescot Group Aggressive Small Cap Master Fund, G.P. (7)
547,127 5.3 %
(1)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities.  Ordinary shares relating to options or convertible notes currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this table are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.  Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table above have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
(2)
The percentages shown are based on 10,396,548 ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of April 29, 2010.
(3)
Based upon a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 16, 2009 and other information available to the company. Includes: (i) 1,446,772 ordinary shares held of record by Mira Mag Inc., or Mira Mag, a company organized in Liberia; and (ii) 1,069,495 ordinary shares held of record by Ki Corporation Limited, or Ki Corporation, a company organized in Liberia.  The Eurona Foundation holds 100% of Ki Corporation.  Ki Corporation holds 100% of the shares of Mira Mag.  The Eurona Foundation is a Liechtenstein trust controlled by Mr. Kirsh, who also serves as its trustee.  Mr. Kirsh may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares held of record by Mira Mag and Ki Corporation.
(4)
Based solely upon, and qualified in its entirety with reference to, a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2010.  The Schedule 13G/A indicates that as the sole general partner of certain Diker partnerships with respect to stock directly owned by certain Diker funds, or the Diker Funds, Diker GP, has the power to vote and dispose of the shares owned by the Diker Funds and, accordingly, may be deemed the beneficial owner of such shares.  Pursuant to investment advisory agreements, Diker Management, LLC serves as the investment manager of the Diker Funds. Accordingly, Diker Management may be deemed the beneficial owner of shares held by the Diker Funds.  Charles M. Diker and Mark N. Diker are the managing members of each of Diker GP, LLC and Diker Management LLC, and in that capacity direct their operations.  Therefore, Charles M. Diker and Mark N. Diker may be deemed the beneficial owners of shares beneficially owned by Diker GP, LLC and Diker Management LLC. Diker GP, LLC, Diker Management LLC, Charles M. Diker and Mark N. Diker disclaim all beneficial ownership, however, as affiliates of a registered investment adviser, and in any case disclaim beneficial ownership except to the extent of their pecuniary interest in the shares.
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(5)
Based solely upon, and qualified in its entirety with reference to, a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10, 2010.  The Schedule 13G/A indicates that the shares include shares beneficially owned by investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts for which Clough Capital Partners L.P. serves as investment adviser.  Such shares may be deemed beneficially owner by (a) Clough Capital Partners L.P., (b) Clough Capital Partners LLC, the general partner of Clough Capital Partners L.P., and (c) Messrs. Charles Clough, James Canty and Eric Brock, the managing members of Clough Capital Partners LLC.  Each such reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of its respective pecuniary interest therein.
(6)
Based solely upon, and qualified in its entirety with reference to, a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 1, 2010.  The Schedule 13G/A indicates that Grace & White, Inc. is a registered investment adviser.
(7)
Based solely upon, and qualified in its entirety with reference to, a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10, 2009.  The Schedule 13G/A indicates that Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap, L.P. and Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap II, L.P., referred to together as the Small Cap Funds, are the general partners of Prescot Group Aggressive Small Cap Master Fund, G.P., or Prescott Master Fund.  Prescott Group Capital Management, L.L.C., or Prescott Capital, serves as the general partner of the Small Cap Funds and may direct the Small Cap Funds, the general partners of Prescott Master Fund, to direct the vote and disposition of the ordinary shares held by the Master Fund.  Mr. Frohlich, the principal of Prescott Capital, may direct the vote and disposition of the ordinary shares held by Prescott Master Fund.
Significant Changes in the Ownership of Major Shareholders
As of December 26, 2005, Mr. Nathan Kirsh beneficially owned 1,832,227 or 17.66% of our ordinary shares, in accordance with a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 13, 2006.  On January 10, 2008, Mr. Nathan Kirsh filed a Schedule 13D/A with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 1,913,601, or 18.41% of our ordinary shares.  On April 24, 2008, Mr. Nathan Kirsh filed a Schedule 13D/A with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 2,191,162, or 21.08% of our ordinary shares.  On April 25, 2008, Mr. Nathan Kirsh filed a Schedule 13D/A with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 2,191,162, or 21.08% of our ordinary shares.  On January 16, 2009, Mr. Nathan Kirsh filed a Schedule 13D/A with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 2,516,268, or 24.20% of our ordinary shares.
On February 6, 2007, Clough Capital Partners, L.P. filed an amendment to its Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 711,669 or 6.85% of our ordinary shares.  On February 11, 2008, Clough Capital Partners, L.P. filed an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 712,269 or 6.85% of our ordinary shares.  On February 10, 2009, Clough Capital Partners, L.P. filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 770,842 or 7.41% of our ordinary shares.  On February 1, 2010, Clough Capital Partners, L.P. filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 738,542 or 7.10% of our ordinary shares.
On February 2, 2007, Diker GP, LLC, Diker Management LLC, or Diker Management, Messrs. Charles M. Diker and Mark N. Diker filed a Schedule 13G with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 1,007,601 or 9.70% of our ordinary shares.  On February 12, 2008, the foregoing reporting persons filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 1,014,425, or 9.76%, of our ordinary shares.  On February 17, 2009, the foregoing reporting persons filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 968,468 or 9.32% of our ordinary shares.  On February 16, 2010, the foregoing reporting persons filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 786,854 or 7.57% of our ordinary shares.
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On February 4, 2008, Grace & White, Inc. filed a Schedule 13G with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 574,254 or 5.52% of our ordinary shares.  On February 10, 2009, Grace & White, Inc. filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 596,148 or 5.73% of our ordinary shares.  On February 1, 2010, Grace & White, Inc. filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 607,526 or 5.84% of our ordinary shares.
On February 14, 2008, Prescott Capital, Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap, L.P., Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap II, L.P. and Mr. Phil Frohlich filed a Schedule 13G with the SEC reflecting beneficial ownership of 539,097 or 5.19% of our ordinary shares.  On February 10, 2009, the foregoing reporting persons filed with the SEC an amendment to the Schedule 13G, on Schedule 13G/A, reflecting beneficial ownership of 547,127 or 5.3% of our ordinary shares.
Major Shareholders Voting Rights
The voting rights of our major shareholders do not differ from the voting rights of other holders of our ordinary shares.
Record Holders
Based on a review of the information provided to us by our transfer agent, as of April 28, 2010, there were 54 holders of record of our ordinary shares, of which 44 record holders holding approximately 80.1% of our ordinary shares had registered addresses in the United States.  These numbers are not representative of the number of beneficial holders of our shares nor is it representative of where such beneficial holders reside since many of these ordinary shares were held of record by brokers or other nominees, including CEDE & Co., the nominee for the Depositary Trust Company (the central depositary for the U.S. brokerage community), which held approximately 79.9% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of such date.
B. Related Party Transactions.
On January 22, 2008, we entered into a retirement agreement with Mr. Jacob Even-Ezra, who retired from his position as the chairman of our board of directors as of January 1, 2008, based on the terms approved by our shareholders in August 2007.  Subsequent to the annual general meeting of our shareholders held in August 2007, our board of directors required that Mr. Even-Ezra’s retirement agreement be amended to include a non-compete undertaking.  Pursuant to the retirement agreement, as amended, Mr. Even- Ezra has undertaken not to compete with our company for a period of three years following his retirement.  In consideration, we agreed to pay Mr. Even-Ezra $360,000.  Such amendment was approved in January 2008 by our audit committee and board of directors without shareholder approval in accordance with the Companies Regulations (Relief from Related Party Transactions) 5760-2000, promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law, since such amendment is solely for the benefit of the our company.  In addition, as gratitude for his long term and outstanding efforts to further our business and interests, we agreed to provide to Mr. Even-Ezra with certain benefits and services, the value thereof presently estimated to be $50,000 per year, for the rest of his life.  As of December 31, 2009, the actuarial value of these perquisites is estimated at approximately $639,000.
On August 21, 2008, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Jacob Perry, in connection with his services as the chairman of our board of directors.  Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Perry agreed to serve as the chairman of our board of directors on a part time basis and has undertaken to devote 50%-60% of his business time and attention to the development of our business.  Mr. Perry’s service as the chairman of our board of directors is for an unlimited period, however each party may terminate the agreement without cause by giving 90 days’ notice to the other party.  Mr. Perry is entitled to receive as compensation for his services as chairman of our board of directors a monthly fee of NIS 50,000 (approximately $13,000) effective as of the date of his appointment as chairman of our board of directors on January 1, 2008.  Such compensation is linked to the Israeli consumer price index and will be adjusted every six months.  In addition, in the event that our annual income before taxes (after deduction of any and all bonuses paid to all other employees including our chief executive officer, and excluding any non-recurring capital gain or loss), will be higher than $3,000,000, or the Base Amount we will pay Mr. Perry an annual bonus that will be equal to 5% of our company’s annual income before taxes, but in any event not more than $500,000 per year.  On January 1 of each year, the Base Amount is increased by 10% per year.  Mr. Perry is also entitled to receive all customary social benefits such as managers insurance and education fund, such amount will be paid to him or to third parties for his benefit.  Mr. Perry was also granted options to purchase 300,000 ordinary shares of our company, exercisable at a price of $7.59 per share.  The options vest in three equal installments of 100,000 ordinary shares each on August 20, 2010, August 20, 2011 and August 20, 2011.  Each tranche will expire three years after the applicable vesting date. In November 2008, our agreement with Mr. Perry was amended, pursuant to which until September 1, 2008, Mr. Perry was engaged by us as an as independent contractor through a company controlled by him and after September 1, 2008, is an employee of our company.  Such amendment was approved in January 2008 by our audit committee and board of directors without shareholder approval in accordance with the Companies Regulations (Relief from Related Party Transactions) 5760-2000, promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law, since such amendment is solely for the benefit of the our company.
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On May 13, 2008, Ki Corporation, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Nathan Kirsh, our controlling shareholder, granted to Mr. Jacob Perry, the executive chairman of our Board of Directors, the right to purchase 100,000 shares held by such entity, upon the same terms and conditions that apply to the exercise of the options to purchase 300,000 of our ordinary shares granted to Mr. Perry under his employment agreement.  Accordingly, Mr. Perry has the right to purchase the shares in three equal annual installments commencing on August 20, 2010 at a price of $7.59 per share.  The right to purchase each installment expires after three years.
Our former U.S. subsidiary, Smart Interactive Systems Inc., provided video monitoring services to companies controlled by Mr. Nathan Kirsh, our principal shareholder and a director.  The terms of the contracts under which we made sales to these companies were negotiated on an arm’s length basis and the terms of such contracts were no more favorable to these companies than those it could have obtained from an unaffiliated third party.  Our sales to these companies during the year ended 2007 amounted to $781,000.  In December 2007, we disposed of our U.S. based video monitoring business.
We have entered into retirement agreements with certain of our officers, pursuant to which we made post employment and retirement payments in the aggregate amount of approximately $0.3 and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively.  Of such amount, in the year ended December 31, 2009, we paid approximately $1.5 million to Mr. Izhar Dekel, our former President and chief executive officer, who had been employed by our company and served in various positions from 1984 until February 2009.  Such payment includes consideration for a non-compete undertaking as well as severance payments and other retirement related payments in accordance with Mr. Dekel’s retirement agreement and Israeli law.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Financial Information
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information.
Consolidated Financial Statements
See the consolidated financial statements included under Item 18, “Financial Statements.”
Export Sales
In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the total amount of our revenues from our facilities located outside of Israel to customers outside of Israel was approximately $39.4 million, $35.1 million and $30.1, respectively, or 62.9%, 61.5% and 56.7% of our total revenues, respectively.  In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the total amount of our export revenues from our Israeli facilities to countries outside of Israel was approximately $7.6 million, $9.9 million and $10.7 million, respectively, or 12.1%, 17.4% and 19.6% of our total revenues, respectively.
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Legal Proceedings
In May 2005, we entered into an agreement to supply comprehensive security solutions for a sensitive site in Eastern Europe.  We commenced the project and delivered some of the equipment and other deliverables to the customer in 2005.  In April 2006, the customer informed us that it was canceling the agreement due to errors in the design documents that we had submitted.  In addition, the customer did not make payments required under the agreement.  We denied all of the allegations and the case was referred to arbitration.

On June 6, 2007, the Court of Arbitration issued its decision in the arbitration and stated that the agreement concluded between us and the customer was void due to legal mistakes made by the customer in the tender process.  Based on such decision, we decided to initiate a new legal action against the customer and seek compensation for the damages that we incurred.  In March 2010, the Court of Arbitration determined that the customer is liable for certain expenses incurred by us in connection with the negotiation and execution of the agreement due to the customer’s wrongful behaviour during the negotiations.  In addition, the Court of Arbitration determined that the customer is liable for damages caused to us due to the customer’s unjust enrichment resulting from its failure to pay for certain deliveries made by us.  The Court of Arbitration’s decision is subject to appeal.  The scope of our damages will be determined in future proceedings.
In addition, we are subject to legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business.  Based on the advice of our legal counsel, management believes that these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
Dividend Distribution Policy
We currently intend to retain future earnings for use in our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future.  Future dividend distributions are subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our operating results, future capital resources available for distribution, capital requirements, financial condition, the tax implications of dividend distributions on our income, future prospects and any other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
The distribution of dividends also may be limited by Israeli law, which permits the distribution of dividends only out of profits (as defined by the Israeli Companies Law) or otherwise upon the permission of the court.  “Profits’’ are defined in the Israeli Companies Law as the balance of surpluses, or the surpluses accumulated over the past two years, whichever is the greater, in accordance with the latest adjusted financial statements, audited or reviewed, prepared by the company, provided that the date in respect of which the statements were prepared is no earlier than six months prior to the date of distribution.  ‘‘Surplus’’ means sums included in a company’s shareholders’ equity originating from the net profit of the company, as determined according to generally accepted accounting principles, and sums other than share capital or premiums that are included in shareholders’ equity under generally accepted accounting principles and that the Minister of Justice has prescribed to be considered surplus.
B. Significant Changes.
Since the date of the annual consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, no significant changes have occurred.
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The Offer and Listing
A. Offer and Listing Details.
Annual Stock Information
The following table sets forth, for each of the years indicated, the high and low market prices of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange:
NASDAQ Global Market
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
High
Low
High
Low
2005
$ 12.22 $ 7.87
NIS 53.45
NIS 35.74
2006
$ 14.20 $ 8.51
NIS 64.78
NIS 36.10
2007
$ 12.00 $ 6.26
NIS 51.00
NIS 23.50
2008
$ 9.30 $ 4.61
NIS 32.44
NIS 18.60
2009
$ 6.40 $ 3.08
NIS 24.50
NIS 13.00

Quarterly Stock Information
The following table sets forth, for each of the full financial quarters in the years indicated and any subsequent period, the high and market prices of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange:
NASDAQ Global Market
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
High
Low
High
Low
2008
First Quarter
$ 7.70 $ 5.09
NIS 28.20
NIS 19.00
Second Quarter
$ 8.81 $ 5.84
NIS 29.55
NIS 19.00
Third Quarter
$ 9.30 $ 6.80
NIS 32.44
NIS 23.01
Fourth Quarter
$ 8.87 $ 4.61
NIS 31.97
NIS 18.60
2009
First Quarter
$ 6.40 $ 3.79
NIS 24.50
NIS 16.00
Second Quarter
$ 4.95 $ 3.80
NIS 19.97
NIS 16.00
Third Quarter
$ 5.42 $ 3.63
NIS 20.39
NIS 14.60
Fourth Quarter
$ 4.55 $ 3.08
NIS 16.37
NIS 13.00
2010
First Quarter
$ 4.70 $ 3.50
NIS 16.86
NIS 13.70

Monthly Stock Information
The following table sets forth, for each of the most recent six months, the high and low market prices of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange:
NASDAQ Global Market
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
High
Low
High
Low
September 2009
$ 4.28 $ 3.63
NIS 16.79
NIS 14.60
October 2009
$ 4.38 $ 4.00
NIS 16.37
NIS 15.01
November 2009
$ 4.11 $ 3.46
NIS 15.80
NIS 13.50
December 2009
$ 4.55 $ 3.08
NIS 14.50
NIS 13.00
January 2010
$ 4.70 $ 3.90
NIS 16.86
NIS 14.00
February 2010
$ 4.42 $ 3.64
NIS 16.26
NIS 14.52
March 2010
$ 4.05 $ 3.50
NIS 14.90
NIS 13.70
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B. Plan of Distribution.
Not applicable.
C. Markets.
Our ordinary shares have traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “MAGS” since our initial public offering in 1993.  Our ordinary shares have also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the symbol “MAGS” since July 1, 2001.
D. Selling Shareholders.
Not applicable.
E. Dilution.
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the Issue.
Not applicable.
Additional Information
A. Share Capital.
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Purposes and Objects of the Company
We are a public company registered with the Israeli Companies Registrar and have been assigned company number 52-003892-8.  Section 2 of our memorandum of association provides, among other things, that we were established for the purposes of acquiring from IAI a plant, known as the Magal Plant, engaged in the development, manufacture, sale and support of alarm devices and dealing in the development, manufacturing and support of security alarm devices and other similar products.  In addition, the purpose of our company is to be eligible to perform and act in connection with any right or obligation of whatever kind or nature permissible under Israeli law.
Board of Directors
The strategic management of our business (as distinguished from the daily management of our business affairs) is vested in our board of directors, which may exercise all such powers and do all such acts as our company is authorized to exercise and do, and which are not required to be exercised by a resolution of the general meeting of our shareholders.  The board of directors may, subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law, delegate some of its powers to committees, each consisting of one or more directors, provided that at least one member of such committee is an external director.
According to the Israeli Companies Law, we may stipulate in our articles of association that the general meeting of shareholders is authorized to assume the responsibilities of the board of directors.  In the event the board of directors is unable to act or exercise its powers, the general meeting of shareholders is authorized to exercise the powers of the board of directors, even if the articles of association do not stipulate so.  Our board of directors has the power to assume the responsibilities of our chief executive officer if he is unable to act or exercise his powers or if he fails to fulfill the instructions of the board of directors with respect to a specific matter.
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Our articles of association do not impose any mandatory retirement or age limit requirements on our directors and our directors are not required to own shares in our company in order to qualify to serve as directors.
The authority of our directors to enter into borrowing arrangements on our behalf is not limited, except in the same manner as any other transaction by us.
For a discussion of Israeli law concerning a director’s fiduciary duties and the approval of transactions with office holders, see Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees-Board Practices - Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law.”
Rights Attached to Shares
Our authorized share capital consists of NIS 19,748,000 ordinary shares, par value NIS 1.00 each.  All our ordinary shares have the same rights, preferences and restrictions, some of which are detailed below.  At the general meeting of shareholders, our shareholders may, subject to certain provisions detailed below, create different classes of shares, each class bearing different rights, preferences and restrictions.
The rights attached to the ordinary shares are as follows:
Dividends Rights .  Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to participate in the payment of dividends in accordance with the amounts paid-up or credited as paid up on the nominal value of such ordinary shares at the time of payment (without taking into account any premium paid thereon).  However, under article 13 of our articles of association no shareholder shall be entitled to receive any dividends until the shareholder has paid all calls then currently due and payable on each ordinary share held by such shareholder.
The board of directors may declare interim dividends and propose the final dividend with respect to any fiscal year only out of the retained earnings, in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law. Declaration of a final dividend requires the approval by ordinary resolution of our shareholders at a general meeting of shareholders.  Such resolution may reduce but not increase the dividend amount recommended by the board of directors.  Dividends may be paid, in whole or in part, by way of distribution of dividends in kind.  See “Item 8A. Financial Information – Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information – Dividend Distributions Policy.”
Voting Rights .  Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders.  Such voting rights may be affected by the grant of any special voting rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.
Generally, resolutions are adopted at the general meeting of shareholders by an ordinary resolution, unless the Israeli Companies Law or our articles of association require an extraordinary resolution.  An ordinary resolution, such as a resolution approving the declaration of dividends or the appointment of auditors, requires approval by the holders of a simple majority of the shares represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on the matter.  An extraordinary resolution requires approval by the holders of at least 75% of the shares represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and voting on the matter.  The primary resolutions required to be adopted by an extraordinary resolution of the general meeting of shareholders are resolutions to:
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amend the memorandum of association or articles of association;
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change the share capital, for example by increasing or canceling the authorized share capital or modifying the rights attached to shares; and
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approve mergers, consolidations or winding up of our company.
Our articles of association do not contain any provisions regarding a classified board of directors or cumulative voting for the election of directors.  Pursuant to our articles of association, our directors (except the external directors) are elected at our annual general meeting of shareholders by a vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented and voting at such meeting and hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders and until their successors have been elected.  All the members of our board of directors (except the external directors) may be reelected upon completion of their term of office.  For information regarding the election of external directors, see “Item 6C. Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Directors and Senior Management - Board Practices - Election of Directors.”
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Rights to Share in the Company’s Profits .  Our shareholders have the right to share in our profits distributed as a dividend or any other permitted distributions.  See this Item 10B. “Additional Information – Memorandum and Articles of Association – Rights Attached to Shares – Dividend Rights.”
Liquidation Rights .  Article 111 of our articles of association provides that upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our company, our remaining assets shall be distributed pro-rata to our ordinary shareholders.
Redemption .  Under Article 38 of our articles of association, we may issue redeemable stock and redeem the same.
Capital Calls .  Under our memorandum of association and the Israeli Companies Law, the liability of our shareholders is limited to the par value of the shares held by them.
Substantial limitations on shareholders .  See Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees-Board Practices–Approval of Related Party Transactions.”
Modifications of Share Rights
The rights attached to a class of shares may be altered by an extraordinary resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, provided the holders of 75% of the issued shares of that class approve such change by the adoption of an extraordinary resolution at a separate meeting of such class, subject to the terms of such class.  The provisions of the articles of association pertaining to general meetings of shareholders also apply to a separate meeting of a class of shareholders.  Shares which confer preferential or subordinate rights relating to, among other things, dividends, voting, and payment of capital may be created only by an extraordinary resolution of the general meeting of shareholders.
General Meetings of Shareholders
Under the Israeli Companies Law a company must convene an annual meeting of shareholders at least once every calendar year and within 15 months of the last annual meeting.  Depending on the matter to be voted upon, notice of at least 21 days or 35 days prior to the date of the meeting is required.  Our board of directors may, in its discretion, convene additional meetings as “special general meetings.”  In addition, the board must convene a special general meeting upon the demand of two of the directors, 25% of the nominated directors, one or more shareholders having at least 5% of the outstanding share capital and at least 1% of the voting power in the company, or one or more shareholders having at least 5% of the voting power in the company.  See this Item 10B. “Additional Information - Memorandum and Articles of Association- Rights Attached to Shares-Voting Rights.”
A shareholder present, in person or by proxy, at the commencement of a general meeting of shareholders may not seek the cancellation of any proceedings or resolutions adopted at such general meeting of shareholders on account of any defect in the notice of such meeting relating to the time or the place thereof.  Shareholders who are registered in our register of shareholders at the record date may vote at the general meeting of shareholders.  The record date is set in the resolution to convene the general meeting of shareholders, provided, however, that such record date must be between 14 to 21 days or, in the event of a vote by ballots, between 28 to 40 days prior the date the general meeting of shareholders is held.
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The quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders consists of at least two record shareholders, present in person or by proxy, who hold, in the aggregate, at least one third of the voting power of our outstanding shares.  A general meeting of shareholders will be adjourned for lack of a quorum after half an hour from the time appointed for such meeting to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or any other time and place as the board of directors designates in a notice to the shareholders.  At such reconvened meeting, if a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for such meeting, two or more shareholders, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum.  The only business that may be considered at an adjourned general meeting of shareholders is the business that might have been lawfully considered at the general meeting of shareholders originally convened and the only resolutions that may be adopted are the resolutions that could have been adopted at the general meeting of shareholders originally convened.
Limitations on the Right to Own Our Securities
Neither our memorandum or articles of association nor the laws of the State of Israel restrict in any way the ownership or voting of our ordinary shares by non-residents, except that the laws of the State of Israel may restrict the ownership of ordinary shares by residents of countries that are in a state of war with Israel.
Provisions Restricting a Change in Control of Our Company
The Israeli Companies Law requires that mergers between Israeli companies be approved by the board of directors and general meeting of shareholders of both parties to the transaction.  The approval of the board of directors of both companies is subject to such boards’ confirmation that there is no reasonable doubt that after the merger the surviving company will be able to fulfill its obligations towards its creditors.  Each company must notify its creditors about the contemplated merger.  Under our articles of association, such merger must be approved by a resolution of the shareholders, as explained above.  The approval of the merger by the general meetings of shareholders of the companies is also subject to additional approval requirements as specified in the Israeli Companies Law and regulations promulgated thereunder.  For purposes of the shareholders approval, the merger shall not be deemed as granted unless the court determines otherwise, if it is not supported by the majority of the shares represented at the general meeting, other than those shares that are held by the other party to the merger or by any shareholder holding 25% or more of the outstanding share capital of the company or the right to appoint 25% or more of the members of the board of directors.  See also Item 6C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Board Practices – Approval of Related Party Transactions Under Israeli Law.”
The Israeli Companies Law also provides that an acquisition of shares of a public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a 25% or greater shareholder of the company and there is no existing 25% or greater shareholder in the company.  An acquisition of shares of a public company must also be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a 45% or greater shareholder of the company and there is no existing 45% or greater shareholder in the company.  These requirements do not apply if the acquisition (i) was made through a private placement that received shareholder approval, (ii) was from a 25% shareholder of the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a 25% shareholder of the company or (iii) was from a 45% shareholder of the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a 45% shareholder of the company.  The special tender offer must be extended to all shareholders but, the offer may include explicit limitations allowing the offeror not to purchase shares representing more than 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares, regardless of how many shares are tendered by shareholders.  The special tender offer may be effected only if (i) at least 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares will be acquired by the offeror and (ii) the number of shares tendered in the offer exceeds the number of shares whose holders objected to the offer.
If, as a result of an acquisition of shares, the acquirer will hold more than 90% of the outstanding shares, the acquisition must be made by means of a tender offer for the entire outstanding shares.  In such event, if less than 5% of the outstanding shares are not tendered in the tender offer, all the shares of the company will be deemed as tendered and sold.  However, if more than 5% of the outstanding shares are not tendered in the tender offer, then the acquirer may not acquire any shares at all.  The law provides for appraisal allowing any shareholder to file a motion to the court within three months following the consummation of a full tender offer.
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In addition, the purchase of 25% or more of the outstanding share capital of a company or the purchase of substantial assets of a company requires, under certain conditions, the approval of the Restrictive Practices Authority.  Furthermore if the target company has received tax incentives of grants from the Office of the Chief Scientist, changes in ownership may require also the approval of the tax authorities or the Office of the Chief Scientist, as applicable.
Disclosure of Shareholders’ Ownership
The Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 and regulations promulgated thereunder contain various provisions regarding the ownership threshold above which shareholders must disclose their share ownership.  However, these provisions do not apply to companies, such as ours, whose shares are publicly traded in Israel as well as outside of Israel. As a result of the listing of our ordinary shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, we are required pursuant to the Israeli Securities Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder to deliver to the Israeli Share Registrar, the Israeli Securities Exchange Commission and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, all reports, documents, forms and information received by us from our shareholders regarding their shareholdings, provided that such information was published or required to be published under applicable foreign law.
C. Material Contracts.
None.
D. Exchange Controls.
Israeli law and regulations do not impose any material foreign exchange restrictions on non-Israeli holders of our ordinary shares.  In May 1998, a new “general permit” was issued under the Israeli Currency Control Law, 1978, which removed most of the restrictions that previously existed under such law, and enabled Israeli citizens to freely invest outside of Israel and freely convert Israeli currency into non-Israeli currencies.
Non-residents of Israel who purchase our ordinary shares will be able to convert dividends, if any, thereon, and any amounts payable upon our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as well as the proceeds of any sale in Israel of our ordinary shares to an Israeli resident, into freely repatriable dollars, at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of conversion, provided that the Israeli income tax has been withheld (or paid) with respect to such amounts or an exemption has been obtained.
E. Taxation.
The following is a discussion of Israeli and United States tax consequences material to us and to our shareholders.  To the extent that the discussion is based on new tax legislation which has not been subject to judicial or administrative interpretation, the views expressed in the discussion might not 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 does not exhaust all possible tax considerations.
Holders of our ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the United States, Israeli or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ordinary shares, including, in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local taxes.
Israeli Tax Considerations
The following is a summary of the material Israeli tax laws applicable to us, and some Israeli Government programs benefiting us.  This section also contains a discussion of material Israeli tax consequences concerning the ownership of and disposition of our ordinary shares.  This summary does not discuss all the acts of Israeli tax law that may be relevant to a particular investor in light of his or her personal investment circumstances or to some types of investors subject to special treatment under Israeli law. Examples of this kind of investor include residents of Israel or traders in securities who are subject to special tax regimes not covered in this discussion.  Since some parts of this discussion are based on new tax legislation that has not yet been subject to judicial or administrative interpretation, we cannot assure you that the appropriate tax authorities or the courts will accept the views expressed in this discussion.
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The discussion below should not be construed as legal or professional tax advice and does not cover all possible tax considerations. Potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the Israeli or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, including in particular, the effect of any foreign, state or local taxes.
General Corporate Tax Structure
Israeli companies are subject to income tax on their worldwide income regardless of the territorial source of such income.  Generally, Israeli companies are subject to “corporate tax” on their taxable income. Israeli companies were generally subject to corporate tax at the rate of 26% in 2009, which was reduced to 25% in 2010.  Following an amendment to the Israeli Tax Ordinance, which came into effect on January 1, 2009, the corporate tax rate is scheduled to decrease as follows: 24% for the 2011 tax year, 23% for the 2012 tax year, 22% for the 2012 tax year, 21% for the 2014 tax year, 20% for the 2015 tax year and 18% for the 2016 tax year and thereafter.  Capital gains derived after January 1, 2003 (other than gains derived from the sale of listed securities that are taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates) are generally subject to tax at a rate of 25%.  However, the effective tax rate payable by a company that derives income from an “Approved Enterprise,” discussed further below, may be considerably less.  See “–Tax Benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959.”
Following an amendment to the Israeli Tax Ordinance, which came into effect on January 1, 2009, an Israeli corporation may elect a 5% rate of corporate tax (instead of 25%) for income from dividend distributions received from a foreign subsidiary which is used in Israel in 2009, or within one year after actual receipt of the dividend, whichever is later.  The 5% tax rate is subject to various conditions, which include conditions with regard to the identity of the corporation that distributes the dividends, the source of the dividend, the nature of the use of the dividend income, and the period during which the dividend income will be used in Israel.
Israeli Transfer Pricing Regulations
On November 29, 2006, Income Tax Regulations (Determination of Market Terms), 2006, promulgated under Section 85A of the Israeli Tax Ordinance, came into effect, or 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 affect on us.
Tax Benefits for Research and Development
Israeli tax law allows, under specified conditions, a tax deduction for expenditures, including capital expenditures, in the year incurred relating to scientific research and development projects, if the expenditures are approved by the relevant Israeli Government ministry, determined by the field of research, and the research and development is for the promotion of the company and is carried out by or on behalf of the company seeking such deduction.  However, the amount of such deductible expenses shall be reduced by the sum of any funds received through government grants for the finance of such scientific research and development projects.  Expenditures not so approved are deductible over a three-year period
Encouragement of Capital Investments Law, 5719-1959
The Investments Law Prior to the 2005 Amendment
The Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959, or the Investments Law, as in effect prior to April 1, 2005 provided that a proposed capital investment in eligible facilities may, upon application to the Investment Center of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the State of Israel, be designated as an approved enterprise.  The Investment Center based its decision as to whether or not to approve an application, among other things, on the criteria set forth in the Investments Law and regulations, the then prevailing policy of the Investment Center, and the specific objectives and financial criteria of the applicant.  Each certificate of approval for an approved enterprise relates to a specific investment program delineated both by its financial scope, including its capital sources, and by its physical characteristics, such as the equipment to be purchased and utilized pursuant to the program.
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The Investments Law provides that an approved enterprise is eligible for tax benefits on taxable income derived from its approved enterprise programs.  The tax benefits under the Investments Law also apply to income generated by a company from the grant of a usage right with respect to know-how developed by the approved enterprise, income generated from royalties, and income derived from a service which is auxiliary to such usage right or royalties, provided that such income is generated within the approved enterprise’s ordinary course of business.  If a company has more than one approval enterprise or only a portion of its capital investments are approved, its effective tax rate is the result of a weighted average of the applicable rates.  The tax benefits under the Investments Law are not, generally, available with respect to income derived from products manufactured outside of Israel.  In addition, the tax benefits available to an approved enterprise are contingent upon the fulfillment of conditions stipulated in the Investments Law and regulations and the criteria set forth in the specific certificate of approval, as described above.  In the event that a company does not meet these conditions, it would be required to refund the amount of tax benefits, plus a consumer price index linkage adjustment and interest.
The Investments Law also provides that an approved enterprise is entitled to accelerated depreciation on its property and equipment that are included in an approved enterprise program.
Taxable income of a company derived from an approved enterprise is subject to corporate tax at the maximum rate of 25%, rather than the regular corporate tax rate, for the benefit period.  This period is ordinarily seven years commencing with the year in which the approved enterprise first generates taxable income (after the commencement of production), and is limited to 12 years from commencement of production or 14 years from the date of approval, whichever is earlier, referred to as the “Years Limitation.”
A company may elect to receive an alternative package of benefits.  Under the alternative package of benefits, a company’s undistributed income derived from the approved enterprise will be exempt from corporate tax for a period of between two and ten years from the first year the company derives taxable income under the program, depending on the geographic location of the approved enterprise within Israel, and such company will be eligible for a reduced tax rate for the remainder of the benefits period.  The Years Limitation does not apply to the exemption period.  A company that has elected the alternative package of benefits, such as us, that subsequently pays a dividend out of income derived from the approved enterprise during the tax exemption period will be subject to corporate tax in respect of the gross amount distributed, including any taxes thereon, at the rate which would have been applicable had it not elected the alternative package of benefits, generally 10%-25%, depending on the percentage of the company’s ordinary shares held by foreign shareholders.  The dividend recipient is subject to withholding tax at the rate of 15% applicable to dividends from approved enterprises, if the dividend is distributed during the tax exemption period or within twelve years thereafter.  The company must withhold this tax at source.
A company that has an approved enterprise program is eligible for further tax benefits if it qualifies as a foreign investors’ company.  A foreign investors’ company is a company which more than 25% of its share capital and combined share and loan capital is owned by non-Israeli residents.  A company that qualifies as a foreign investors’ company and has an approved enterprise program is eligible for tax benefits for a ten-year benefit period.  As specified above, depending on the geographic location of the approved enterprise within Israel, income derived from the approved enterprise program may be exempt from tax on its undistributed income for a period of between two to ten years, and will be subject to a reduced tax rate for the remainder of the benefits period.  The tax rate for the remainder of the benefits period will be 25%, unless the level of foreign investment exceeds 49%, in which case the tax rate will be 20% if the foreign investment is more than 49% and less than 74%; 15% if more than 74% and less than 90%; and 10% if 90% or more.
Subject to applicable provisions concerning income under the alternative package of benefits, dividends paid by a company are considered to be attributable to income received from the entire company and the company’s effective tax rate is the result of a weighted average of the various applicable tax rates, excluding any tax-exempt income.  Under the Investments Law, a company that has elected the alternative package of benefits is not obliged to distribute retained profits, and may generally decide from which year’s profits to declare dividends. We currently intend to reinvest any income derived from our approved enterprise program and not to distribute such income as a dividend.
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The Israeli government may reduce or eliminate tax benefits available to approved enterprise programs in the future.  We cannot assure you that our approved program and the benefits thereunder shall continue in the future at its current level or at any level.
Currently, we have two valid expansion programs that were granted approved enterprise status under the Investments Law prior to its amendment.
2005 Amendment to the Investments Law
An amendment to the Investments Law, which was published on April 1, 2005, or the Amendment, has changed certain provisions of the Investments Law.  As a result of the Amendment, a company is no longer obliged to acquire approved enterprise status in order to receive the tax benefits previously available under the alternative benefits provisions, and therefore generally there is no need to apply to the Investment Center for this purpose (approved enterprise status remains mandatory for companies seeking grants).  Rather, a company may claim the tax benefits offered by the Investments Law directly in its tax returns, provided that its facilities meet the criteria for tax benefits set out by the Amendment.  A company is also granted a right to approach the Israeli Tax Authority for a pre-ruling regarding their eligibility for benefits under the Amendment.
Tax benefits are available under the Amendment to production facilities (or other eligible facilities), which are generally required to derive more than 25% of their business income from export, referred to as a “Benefited Enterprise.”  In order to receive the tax benefits, the Amendment states that the company must make an investment in the Benefited Enterprise exceeding a certain percentage or a minimum amount specified in the Investments Law.  Such investment may be made over a period of no more than three years ending at the end of the year in which the company requested to have the tax benefits apply to the Benefited Enterprise, referred to as the Year of Election.  Where the company requests to have the tax benefits apply to an expansion of existing facilities, then only the expansion will be considered a Benefited Enterprise and the company’s effective tax rate will be the result of a weighted combination of the applicable rates.  In this case, the minimum investment required in order to qualify as a Benefited Enterprise is required to exceed a certain percentage or a minimum amount of the company’s production assets before the expansion.
The duration of tax benefits is subject to a limitation of the earlier of seven to ten years from the commencement year, or 12 years from the first day of the Year of Election.  The tax benefits granted to a Benefited Enterprise are determined, as applicable to its geographic location within Israel, according to one of the following new tax routes, which may be applicable to us:
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Similar to the currently available alternative route, exemption from corporate tax on undistributed income for a period of two to ten years, depending on the geographic location of the Benefited Enterprise within Israel, and a reduced corporate tax rate of 10% to 25% for the remainder of the benefits period, depending on the level of foreign investment in each year.  Benefits may be granted for a term of seven to ten years, depending on the level of foreign investment in the company.  If the company pays a dividend out of income derived from the Benefited Enterprise during the tax exemption period, such income will be subject to corporate tax at the applicable rate (10%-25%) with respect to the gross amount of dividend distributed.  The company is required to withhold tax at the source at a rate of 15% from any dividends distributed from income derived from the Benefited Enterprise; and
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A special tax route, which enables companies owning facilities in certain geographical locations in Israel to pay corporate tax at the rate of 11.5% on income of the Benefited Enterprise.  The benefits period is ten years.  Upon payment of dividends, the company is required to withhold tax at source at a rate of 15% for Israeli residents and at a rate of 4% for foreign residents.
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Generally, a company that is “Abundant in Foreign Investment,” as defined in the Investments Law, is entitled to an extension of the benefits period by an additional five years, depending on the rate of its income that is derived in foreign currency.
The Amendment changes the definition of “foreign investment” in the Investments Law so that the definition now requires a minimal investment of NIS 5 million by foreign investors.  Furthermore, such definition now also includes the purchase of shares of a company from another shareholder, provided that the company’s outstanding and paid-up share capital exceeds NIS 5 million.  Such changes to the aforementioned definition are retroactive from 2003.
The Amendment applies to approved enterprise programs in which the year of election under the Investments Law is 2004 or later, unless such programs received “Approved Enterprise” approval from the Investment Center on or prior to December 31, 2004, in which case the Amendment provides that terms and benefits included in any certificate of approval already granted will remain subject to the provisions of the Investments Law as they were on the date of such approval.
Should we elect to utilize tax benefits under the Amendment to the Investments Law, any such tax exempt profits might be subject to future taxation on the corporate level upon distribution to shareholders by a way of dividend or liquidation.  Accordingly, we may be required to recognize deferred tax liability with respect to such tax exempt profits.
A substantial portion of our taxable operating income is derived from our approved enterprise program and we expect that a substantial portion of any taxable operating income that we may realize in the future will be also derived from such program.  There is no assurance that our facilities will continue to enjoy such status in the future.
On March 3, 2007, we received a pre-ruling from the Israeli Tax Authority confirming that our most recent development program will be deemed a Benefiting Enterprise under the amended Investments Law.  Our income from this program is tax-exempt for a period of two years, and is subject to a reduced tax rate of 10%-25 for a period of five to eight years (depending upon the percentage of foreign ownership of the Company).  We have not enjoyed any tax benefits under this program to date.
Encouragement of Industry (Taxes) Law, 5729-1969
Under the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes) Law, 5729-1969, or the Industry Encouragement Law, “Industrial Companies” are entitled to certain corporate tax benefits, including, among others:
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Amortization, under certain conditions, of purchases of know-how and patents and of rights to use a patent and know-how which are used for the development or advancement of the company, over an eight-year period for tax purposes;
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Right to elect, under specified conditions, to file a consolidated tax return with additional related Israeli industrial companies; and
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Accelerated depreciation rates on equipment and buildings; and
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Deductions over a three-year period of expenses in connection with the issuance and listing of shares on a recognized stock market.
Eligibility for benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not subject to the prior approval of any governmental authority.  Under the Industry Encouragement Law, an “Industrial Company” is 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 an enterprise owned by an Industrial Company, whose major activity in a given tax year is industrial production activity.
We believe that we currently qualify as an industrial company as defined by the Industry Encouragement Law.  We cannot assure you that we will continue to qualify as an industrial company or that the benefits described above will be available to us in the future.
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Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, 5744-1984
Under the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, 5744-1984, or the Research Law, research and development programs that meet specified criteria and are approved by a governmental committee of the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, or the OCS, are eligible for grants between 20%-50% of certain of the project’s expenditures, as determined by the research committee of the OCS.  In exchange, the recipient of such grants is required to pay the OCS royalties from the revenues derived from products incorporating technology developed within the framework of the approved research and development program or derived from such program (including ancillary services in connection with such program), usually up to 100% of the U.S. dollar-linked value of the total grants received in respect of such program, plus LIBOR interest.
The terms of the Israeli government participation also require that products developed with government grants be manufactured in Israel.  However, under regulations promulgated under the Research Law, upon the approval of the OCS, some of the manufacturing volume may be performed outside Israel, provided that the grant recipient pays royalties at an increased rate, up to 300% of the received grant, depending on the percentage of manufacturing being transferred abroad.   The Research Law also provides that know-how developed under an approved research and development program may not be transferred to third parties in Israel without the prior approval of the research committee of the OCS.  The Research Law further provides that the know-how developed under an approved research and development program may not be transferred to any third parties outside Israel.  No approval is required for the sale or export of any products resulting from such research and development.
In June 2005, an amendment to the Research Law became effective, which amendment was intended to make the Research Law more compatible with the global business environment by, among other things, relaxing restrictions on the transfer of manufacturing rights outside Israel and on the transfer of OCS funded know-how outside of Israel.  The amendment permits the OCS, among other things, to approve the transfer of manufacturing rights outside Israel in exchange for an import of different manufacturing into Israel as a substitute, in lieu of demanding the recipient to pay increased royalties as described above.  The amendment further permits, under certain circumstances and subject to the OCS’s prior approval, the transfer outside Israel of know-how that has been funded by OCS, generally in the following cases: (a) the grant recipient pays to the OCS a portion of the consideration paid for such funded know-how (according to certain formulas), (b) the grant recipient receives know-how from a third party in exchange for its funded know-how, or (c) such transfer of funded know-how arises in connection with certain types of cooperation in research and development activities.
The Research Law imposes reporting requirements with respect to certain changes in the ownership of a grant recipient.  The law requires the grant recipient and its controlling shareholders and interested parties to notify the OCS and obtaining the approval of the OCS for any change in control of the recipient or a change in the holdings of the means of control of the recipient that results in a foreign resident becoming an interested party directly in the recipient and requires the new interested party to undertake to the OCS to comply with the Research Law.  In addition, the rules of the OCS may require prior approval of the OCS or additional information or representations in respect of certain of such events. For this purpose, “control” is defined as the ability to direct the activities of a company other than any ability arising solely from serving as an officer or director of the company.  A person is presumed to have control if such person holds 50% or more of the means of control of a company.  “Means of control” refers to voting rights or the right to appoint directors or the chief executive officer.  An “interested party” of a company includes a holder of 5% or more of its outstanding share capital or voting rights, its chief executive officer and directors, someone who has the right to appoint its chief executive officer or at least one director, and a company with respect to which any of the foregoing interested parties owns 25% or more of the outstanding share capital or voting rights or has the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors.  Accordingly, any foreign resident who acquires 5% or more of our ordinary shares will be required to notify the OCS that it has become an interested party and to sign an undertaking to comply with the Research Law.
The Israeli authorities have indicated that the government may reduce or abolish grants from the OCS in the future.  Even if these grants are maintained, we cannot assure you that we will receive OCS grants in the future.  In addition, each application to the OCS is reviewed separately, and grants are based on the program approved by the research committee.  Generally, expenditures supported under other incentive programs of the State of Israel are not eligible for grants from the OCS.
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Taxation under Inflationary Conditions
The Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 5745- 1985, generally referred to as the Inflationary Adjustments Law, represents an attempt to overcome the problems presented to a traditional tax system by an economy undergoing rapid inflation.  The Inflationary Adjustments Law is highly complex.  Its features which are material to us can be described as follows:
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There is a special tax adjustment for the preservation of equity whereby some corporate assets are classified broadly into fixed assets and non-fixed assets.
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Where a company’s equity, as defined in such law, exceeds the depreciated cost of fixed assets, a deduction from taxable income that takes into account the effect of the applicable annual rate of inflation on such excess is allowed up to a ceiling of 70% of taxable income in any single tax year, with the unused portion permitted to be carried forward on a linked basis.  If the depreciated cost of fixed assets exceeds a company’s equity, then such excess multiplied by the applicable annual rate of inflation is added to taxable income.
●
Subject to specified limitations, depreciation deductions on fixed assets and losses carried forward are adjusted for inflation based on the increase in the Israeli consumer price index.
The Inflationary Adjustments Law was abolished, effective as of January 1 2008, and subject to transitional provisions and special provisions to prevent a distortion in the tax calculations.  In February 2008, the Knesset passed an amendment to the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985, which limits the scope of the law with effect from 2008 and thereafter.  From 2008, the results for tax purposes will be measured in nominal values, excluding certain adjustments for changes in the Israeli consumer price index carried out in the period up to December 31, 2007.  The amended law includes, among other things, the elimination of the inflationary additions and deductions and the additional deduction for depreciation with effect from 2008.
Capital Gains Tax on Sales of Our Ordinary Shares by Foreign Holders
Under income tax regulations foreign residents of Israel, who sell shares of an Israeli company publicly traded on a recognized stock exchange outside of Israel, will be exempt from tax subject to the satisfaction of all following conditions:
●
The capital gain is not attributable to a permanent establishment in Israel.
●
The shares were purchased after the first initial public offering on the recognized stock exchange outside of Israel.
●
The provisions of the Income Tax Law (Inflationary Adjustments), 1985 do not apply to such gain
However, non-Israeli corporations will not be entitled to the foregoing exemptions 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.
Under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, the sale, exchange or disposition of our ordinary shares by a shareholder who is a U.S. resident (for purposes of the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty) holding the ordinary shares as a capital asset is exempt from Israeli capital gains tax unless either (i) the shareholder holds, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of our voting capital during any part of the 12-month period preceding such sale, exchange or disposition or (ii) the capital gains arising from such sale are attributable to a permanent establishment of the shareholder located in Israel.  However, under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, such U.S. resident  (for purposes of the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty) would be permitted to claim a credit for such taxes against the U.S. federal income tax imposed with respect to such sale, exchange or disposition, subject to the limitations in U.S. laws applicable to foreign tax credits . The Treaty does not relate to U.S. state or local taxes.
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Taxation of Foreign Holders of Shares
Foreign residents of Israel are subject to income tax on income accrued or derived from sources in Israel.  Such 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 after January 1, 2006 other than bonus shares or stock dividends, income tax at the rate of 20% will be withheld on dividends distributed to Israeli individual shareholders or to foreign residents, unless a different rate is provided in a treaty between Israel and the shareholder’s country of residence.  With respect to a person who is a “substantial shareholder” at the time receiving the dividend or on any date in the twelve months preceding it, the applicable tax rate is 25%.  A “substantial shareholder” is generally a person who alone or together with such person’s relative or another person who collaborates with such person on a permanent basis, holds, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of any of the “means of control” of the corporation.  “Means of control” generally include the right to vote, receive profits, nominate a director or an officer, receive assets upon liquidation, or order someone who holds any of the aforesaid rights how to act, and all regardless of the source of such right.  Under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, the maximum rate of tax withheld in Israel on dividends paid to a holder of our ordinary shares who is a U.S. resident (for purposes of the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty) is 25%.  However, generally, the maximum rate of withholding tax on dividends, not generated by our approved enterprise, that are paid to a U.S. corporation holding 10% or more of our outstanding voting capital throughout the tax year in which the dividend is distributed as well as the previous tax year, is 12.5%.  Furthermore, dividends paid from income derived from our approved enterprise are subject, under certain conditions, to withholding at the rate of 15%.  We cannot assure you that we will designate the profits that are being distributed in a way that will reduce shareholders’ tax liability.
A non-resident of Israel who receives dividends from which tax was withheld is generally exempt from the duty to file returns in Israel in respect of such income, provided such income was not derived from a business conducted in Israel by the taxpayer, and the taxpayer has no other taxable sources of income in Israel.
Controlled Foreign Corporation
In general, and subject to the provisions of all relevant legislation, an Israeli resident who holds, directly of indirectly, 10% or more of the rights in a foreign corporation whose shares are not publicly traded, in which more than 50% of the rights are held directly or indirectly by Israeli residents, and a majority of whose income in a tax year is considered passive income (generally referred to as a Controlled Foreign Corporation), is liable for tax on the portion of his or her income attributed to holdings in such corporation, as if such income was distributed to him or her as a dividend.
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences that apply to U.S. Holders who hold ordinary shares as capital assets.  This summary is based on the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, and the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively.  This summary does not address all tax considerations that may be relevant with respect to an investment in ordinary shares.  This summary does not discuss all the tax consequences that may be relevant to a U.S. Holder in light of such holder's particular circumstances or U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including persons that are non-U.S. Holders, broker-dealers, financial institutions, certain insurance companies, investors liable for alternative minimum tax, tax-exempt organizations, regulated investment companies, taxpayers whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, persons who hold the ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities, persons who acquired their ordinary shares through the exercise or cancellation of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services, investors that actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of our voting shares, and investors holding ordinary shares as part of a straddle or appreciated financial position or as part of a hedging or conversion transaction.
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If a partnership or an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes owns ordinary shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such a partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partnership that owns ordinary shares and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of common shares.
This summary does not address the effect of any U.S. federal taxation other than U.S. federal income taxation.  In addition, this summary does not include any discussion of state, local or foreign taxation.
You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the foreign and United States federal, state and local tax considerations of an investment in ordinary shares.
For purposes of this summary, the term "U.S. Holder" means an individual who is a citizen or, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a resident of the United States, a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or a trust that (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
Taxation of Dividends
Subject to the discussion below under the heading “Passive Foreign Investment Companies,” the gross amount of any distributions received with respect to ordinary shares, including the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld therefrom, will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You will be required to include this amount of dividends in gross income as ordinary income. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non taxable return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in the ordinary shares and any amount in excess of your tax basis will be treated as gain from the sale of ordinary shares. See "Disposition of Ordinary Shares" below for the discussion on the taxation of capital gains. Dividends will not qualify for the dividends received deduction generally available to corporations under Section 243 of the Code.
Dividends that we pay in NIS, including the amount of any Israeli taxes withheld therefrom, will be included in your income in a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the day such dividends are received.  A U.S. Holder who receives payment in NIS and converts NIS into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate other than the rate in effect on such day may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss.  U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of NIS.
Subject to complex limitations, any Israeli withholding tax imposed on such dividends will be a foreign income tax eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability (or, alternatively, for deduction against income in determining such tax liability).  The limitations set out in the Code include computational rules under which foreign tax credits allowable with respect to specific classes of income cannot exceed the U.S. federal income taxes otherwise payable with respect to each such class of income.  Dividends generally will be treated as foreign source passive category income or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, general category income for United States foreign tax credit purposes.    Further, there are special rules for computing the foreign tax credit limitation of a taxpayer who receives dividends subject to a reduced rate of tax, see discussion below.  A U.S. Holder will be denied a foreign tax credit with respect to Israeli income tax withheld from dividends received on the ordinary shares to the extent such U.S. Holder has not held the ordinary shares for at least 16 days of the 31-day period beginning on the date which is 15 days before the ex-dividend date or to the extent such U.S. Holder is under an obligation to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property.  Any days during which a U.S. Holder has substantially diminished its risk of loss on the ordinary shares are not counted toward meeting the 16-day holding period required by the statute.  The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and you should consult with your personal tax advisors to determine whether and to what extent you would be entitled to this credit.
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Subject to certain limitations, “qualified dividend income” received by a noncorporate U.S. Holder in tax years beginning on or before December 31, 2010 will be subject to tax at a reduced maximum tax rate of 15 percent.  Distributions taxable as dividends paid on the ordinary shares should qualify for the 15 percent rate provided that either: (i) we are entitled to benefits under the income tax treaty between the United States and Israel (the “Treaty”) or (ii) the ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States and certain other requirements are met.  We believe that we are entitled to benefits under the Treaty and that the ordinary shares currently are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States.  However, no assurance can be given that the ordinary shares will remain readily tradable.  The rate reduction does not apply unless certain holding period requirements are satisfied.  With respect to the ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder must have held such shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date.  The rate reduction also does not apply to dividends received from a passive foreign investment company, see discussion below, or in respect of certain hedged positions or in certain other situations.  The legislation enacting the reduced tax rate contains special rules for computing the foreign tax credit limitation of a taxpayer who receives dividends subject to the reduced tax rate.  U.S. Holders of ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of these rules in their particular circumstances.
Disposition of Ordinary Shares
If you sell or otherwise dispose of ordinary shares, you will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and your adjusted tax basis in the ordinary shares. Subject to the discussion below under the heading "Passive Foreign Investment Companies," such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the ordinary shares for more than one year at the time of the sale or other disposition. In general, any gain that you recognize on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares will be U.S.-source for purposes of the foreign tax credit limitation; losses will generally be allocated against U.S. source income.  Deduction of capital losses is subject to certain limitations under the Code.
In the case of a cash basis U.S. Holder who receives NIS in connection with the sale or disposition of ordinary shares, the amount realized will be based on the U.S. dollar value of the NIS received with respect to the ordinary shares as determined on the settlement date of such exchange. A U.S. Holder who receives payment in NIS and converts NIS into United States dollars at a conversion rate other than the rate in effect on the settlement date may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss.
An accrual basis U.S. Holder may elect the same treatment required of cash basis taxpayers with respect to a sale or disposition of ordinary shares, provided that the election is applied consistently from year to year.  Such election may not be changed without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”).  In the event that an accrual basis U.S. Holder does not elect to be treated as a cash basis taxpayer (pursuant to the Treasury regulations applicable to foreign currency transactions), such U.S. Holder may have a foreign currency gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of differences between the U.S. dollar value of the currency received prevailing on the trade date and the settlement date.  Any such currency gain or loss would be treated as ordinary income or loss and would be in addition to gain or loss, if any, recognized by such U.S. Holder on the sale or disposition of such ordinary shares.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we will be considered a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year in which either (i) 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of the average value of all of our assets for the taxable year produce or are held for the production of passive income.  For this purpose, passive income includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents, annuities and the excess of gains over losses from the disposition of assets which produce passive income. If we were determined to be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, highly complex rules would apply to U.S. Holders owning ordinary shares. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of such rules.
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Based on our current and projected income, assets and activities, we believe that we are not currently a PFIC nor do we expect to become a PFIC in the foreseeable future.  However, because the determination of whether we are a PFIC is based upon the composition of our income and assets from time to time, there can be no assurances that we will not become a PFIC in this or any future taxable year.
If we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, dividends would not qualify for the reduced maximum tax rate, discussed above, and, unless you elect either to treat your investment in ordinary shares as an investment in a "qualified electing fund," or a QEF election, or to "mark to market" your ordinary shares, as described below:
●
you would be required to allocate income recognized upon receiving certain dividends or gain recognized upon the disposition of ordinary shares ratably over the holding period for such ordinary shares,
●
the amount allocated to each year during which we are considered a PFIC other than the year of the dividend payment or disposition would be subject to tax at the highest individual or corporate tax rate, as the case may be, in effect for that year and an interest charge would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax liability allocated to each such year,
●
the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year before we became a PFIC would be taxable as ordinary income in the current year, and
●
you would be required to file an annual return on IRS Form 8621.
If you make either a timely QEF election or a timely mark-to-market election in respect of your ordinary shares, you would not be subject to the rules described above. If you make a timely QEF election, you would be required to include in your income for each taxable year your pro rata share of our ordinary earnings as ordinary income and your pro rata share of our net capital gain as long-term capital gain, whether or not such amounts are actually distributed to you.  You would not be eligible to make a QEF election unless we comply with certain applicable information reporting requirements.
Alternatively, if the ordinary shares are considered "marketable stock" and if you elect to "mark-to-market" your ordinary shares, you will generally include in income any excess of the fair market value of the ordinary shares at the close of each tax year over your adjusted basis in the ordinary shares. If the fair market value of the ordinary shares had depreciated below your adjusted basis at the close of the tax year, you may generally deduct the excess of the adjusted basis of the ordinary shares over its fair market value at that time. However, such deductions generally would be limited to the net mark-to-market gains, if any, that you included in income with respect to such ordinary shares in prior years. Income recognized and deductions allowed under the mark-to-market provisions, as well as any gain or loss on the disposition of ordinary shares with respect to which the mark-to-market election is made, is treated as ordinary income or loss (except that loss on a disposition of ordinary shares is treated as capital loss to the extent the loss exceeds the net mark-to-market gains, if any, that you included in income with respect to such ordinary shares in prior years).  Gain or loss from the disposition of ordinary shares (as to which a mark-to-market election was made) in a year in which we are no longer a PFIC, will be capital gain or loss.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Payments in respect of ordinary shares may be subject to information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and to U.S. backup withholding tax at a rate equal to the third highest income tax rate applicable to individuals (which, under current law, is 28%).  Backup withholding will not apply, however, if you (i) are a corporation or come within certain exempt categories, and demonstrate the fact when so required, or (ii) furnish a correct taxpayer identification number and make any other required certification.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax.  Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. tax liability, and a U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.
Any U.S. holder who holds 10% or more in vote or value of our ordinary shares will be subject to certain additional United States information reporting requirements.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents.
Not applicable.
G. Statements by Experts.
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display.
We are subject to certain of the reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as applicable to “foreign private issuers” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act.  As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act.  Accordingly, our proxy solicitations are not subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and transactions in our equity securities by our officers and directors are exempt from reporting and the “short-swing” profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.  In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.  However, we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission an annual report on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm.  We also submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission reports on Form 6-K containing (among other things) press releases and unaudited financial information.  We post our annual report on Form 20-F on our website ( www.magal-s3.com ) promptly following the filing of our annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.
This annual report and the exhibits thereto and any other document we file pursuant to the Exchange Act may be inspected without charge and copied at prescribed rates at the Securities and Exchange Commission public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.  You may obtain information on the operation of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The Exchange Act file number for our Securities and Exchange Commission filings is 000-21388.
The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission using its EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) system.
The documents concerning our company that are referred to in this annual report may also be inspected at our executive offices in Israel.
In addition, since we are also listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, we submit copies of all our filings with the SEC to the Israeli Securities Authority and Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.  Such copies can be retrieved electronically through the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s internet messaging system (www.maya.tase.co.il) and, for filings after November 2003, also through the MAGNA distribution site of the Israeli Securities Authority (www.magna.isa.gov.il).
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I. Subsidiary Information.
Not applicable.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are exposed to a variety of risks, including changes in interest rates and foreign currency fluctuations.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates is related to our long-term and short-term loans.  Our financial expenses are sensitive to the LIBOR and prime interest rates, since our short-term loans bear prime-based interest rates and of our $2.4 million in long-term loans, $1.2 million bear a fixed interest rate, $1.1 million bear a LIBOR interest rate and $0.1 million bear prime-based interest rates.
The table below presents principal amounts and related weighted average interest rates by date of maturity for our loans:
Interest Rate Sensitivity
Principal Amount by Expected Maturity Date and Weighted Average Interest Rate
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Liabilities
2010
2011
2012
2013
Total
Fair
Value at
December 31, 2009
Short-term loans
$ 8,234 - - - $ 8,234 $ 8,234
Weighted average interest rate
4.62 - - - 4.62 -
Long-term loans
$ 1,824 $ 501 $ 21 $ 26 $ 2,372 $ 2,372
Weighted average interest rate
3.8 0.92 2 2 3.16

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We sell most of our products in North America, Europe and Israel.  Our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros and NIS, while a portion of our expenses, primarily labor expenses, is incurred in NIS and Canadian Dollars.  Additionally, certain assets, especially trade receivables, as well as part of our liabilities are denominated in NIS.  As a result, fluctuations in rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar currencies may affect our operating results and financial condition.  The dollar cost of our operations in Israel may be adversely affected by the appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar.  In addition, the value of our non-U.S. dollar revenues could be adversely affected by the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against such currencies.  In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the NIS appreciated by approximately 9.0%, 1.1% and 0.7% respectively, against the U.S. dollar, which had a significant adverse affect on our results of operations. In 2008, the Euro depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 5.3%, while in 2007 and 2009 the Euro appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 11.7% and 3.5%, respectively.
In addition, the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Canada is influenced by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar.  In 2008, the Canadian dollar depreciated against the U.S. dollar by approximately 19.7%, while in 2007 and 2009 the Canadian dollar appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 18.4% and 16.6%, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, foreign currency fluctuations had an adverse impact on our results of operations and we recorded foreign exchange losses, net of $792,000 and $246,000 and $1,138.000, respectively.  We cannot assure you that in the future our results of operations may not be materially adversely affected by currency fluctuations.
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To protect against the change in the forecasted foreign currency cash flows of certain sale arrangements resulting from changes in the exchange rate, from time to time we have entered into forward contracts to hedge portions of our forecasted revenue and unbilled accounts receivable denominated in foreign currencies.   We have designated the forward instruments as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.
For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges (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 other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
We recorded $666,000, $291,000 and $0 of financial expenses related to forward contracts transactions in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities
Not applicable.
Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
Not applicable.
Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our chief executive officer and chief financial officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 20-F.  Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.  There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls.
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f).  Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009.  In conducting its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management based its evaluation on the framework in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations, or the COSO, of the Treadway Commission.  Based on that assessment, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management previously identified certain material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting relating to the European subsidiary that we acquired in 2007 and sold in December 2009.  Such weaknesses related to our recording of revenues with respect to certain projects in Africa that were reflected in our financial statements using the percentage of completion basis of accounting that were not accurately valued and the provision for warranties and penalties with respect to these projects that were under accrued.  Under the direction of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer and in consultation with our audit committee, we implemented certain measures to remediate the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, including the appointment of a new financial officer for the European subsidiary.  In December 2009 we completed the sale of the subsidiary.  With these steps and actions we have remediated the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Anat Winner, an independent director, meets the definition of an audit committee financial expert, as defined by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  For a brief description of Ms. Winner’s relevant experience, see Item 6.A. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees - Directors and Senior Management.”
ITEM 16B. Code of Ethics
On April 11, 2010, we adopted an amended and restated code of ethics that revised the provisions of our previous code of ethics.  The amended and restated code of ethics reflects our growing emphasis on international operations and better addresses issues related with such activities by providing clear instructions in connection with commercial international activities.  The amended and restated code of ethics applies to our chief executive officer and all senior financial officers of our company, including our chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions.  The code of ethics is publicly available on our website at www.magal-s3.com .  Written copies are available upon request.  If we make any substantive amendment to the code of ethics or grant any waivers, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website.
ITEM 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Independent Public Accountant Fees and Services
The following table sets forth, for each of the years indicated, the fees billed by our principal independent registered public accounting firm, Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer.  All of such fees were pre-approved by our Audit Committee.
Year Ended December 31
Services Rendered
2008
2009
Audit (1)
$ 707,000 $ 570,000
Tax (2)
131,000 160,000
Other (3)
38,000 43,000
Total
$ 876,000 $ 773,000
______________
(1)
Audit fees are for audit services for each of the years shown in the table, including fees associated with the annual audit (including audit of our internal control over financial reporting), consultations on various accounting issues and audit services provided in connection with other statutory or regulatory filings.
(2)
Tax fees are for professional services rendered by our auditors for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice on actual or contemplated transactions, tax consulting associated to international taxation, tax assessment deliberation, transfer pricing and withholding tax assessments.
(3)
Other fees primarily relate to out of pocket reimbursement of expenses, primarily traveling expenses of our auditors.   In 2009, other fees also include fees for due diligence performed in connection with a contemplated acquisition.
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Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our audit committee has adopted a policy and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent public accounting firm, Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer and their affiliates.  Pre-approval of an audit or non-audit service may be given as a general pre-approval, as part of the audit committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of our independent auditor, or on an individual basis.  Any proposed services exceeding general pre-approved levels also require specific pre-approval by our audit committee.  The policy prohibits retention of the independent public accountants to perform the prohibited non-audit functions defined in Section 201 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the rules of the SEC, and also requires the audit committee to consider whether proposed services are compatible with the independence of the public accountants.
ITEM 16D . Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E .                      Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Neither we nor any affiliated purchaser has purchased any of our securities during 2009.
ITEM 16F .                      Changes In Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
None.
ITEM 16G .                      Corporate Governance
Under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5615(a)(3), foreign private issuers, such as our company, are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain provisions of NASDAQ Listing Rules.  A foreign private issuer that elects to follow a home country practice instead of any of such NASDAQ requirements must submit to NASDAQ in advance a written statement from an independent counsel in such issuer’s home country certifying that the issuer’s practices are not prohibited by the home country’s laws.
On July 7, 2005, we notified NASDAQ that we do not comply with the following NASDAQ requirements, and instead follow Israeli law and practice in respect of such requirements:
●
the requirement regarding the process of nominating directors.  Instead, we follow Israeli law and practice in accordance with which our directors are recommended by our board of directors for election by our shareholders.  See Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees - Board Practices - Election of Directors.”
●
the requirement regarding the compensation of our chief executive officer and all other executive officers.  Instead, we follow Israeli law and practice in accordance with which our board of directors must approve all compensation arrangements for our chief executive officer and all compensation arrangements for officers are subject to the chief executive officer’s approval.  See Item 6.C. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees - Compensation.”
●
the requirement that our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.  Under Israeli law independent directors are not required to hold executive sessions.
In addition, on June 30, 2006, we provided NASDAQ with a notice of non-compliance with respect to the requirement to maintain a majority of independent directors, as defined under NASDAQ Listing Rules.  Instead, under Israeli law and practice we are required to appoint at least two external directors, within the meaning of the Israeli Companies Law, to our board of directors.  However, despite such notification of non-compliance, we maintain a majority of independent directors.
- 81 -
ITEM 17. Financial Statements
We have elected to furnish financial statements and related information specified in Item 18.
ITEM 18. Financial Statements
The financial statements required by this item are found at the end of this annual report, beginning on page F-1.
Consolidated Financial Statements
Index to Financial Statements
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets
F-3 - F-4
Consolidated Statements of Operations
F-5
Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
F-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
F-7-F-8
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-9-F-46
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm with Respect to Subsidiary
F-47
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
84
ITEM 19 .                      Exhibits
Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1
Memorandum of Association of the Registrant (1)
1.2
Articles of Association of the Registrant (2)
2.1
Specimen Share Certificate for Ordinary Share (3)
2.2
Registrant’s Stock Option Plan (1993), as amended (4)
8
List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant
12.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended
12.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended
13.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
15.1
Consent of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
15.2
Consent of Salles, Sáinz - Grant Thornton, S. C. (relating to Senstar Stellar Latin America, S. A. de C.V.)
_______________
(1)
Filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 33-57438), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 1993, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.
- 82 -
(2)
Filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No. 33-57438), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 1993, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference, as amended by an amendment filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-6246), filed with the Commission on January 7, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference, and as further amended by an amendment filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)
Filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 1993, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.
(4)
Filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-6246), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 7, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference, as amended by an amendment filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, filed with the Commission on June 29, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
- 83 -
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2009
IN U.S. DOLLARS

INDEX

Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
3 Aminadav St.
Tel-Aviv 67067, Israel

Tel: 972 (3)6232525
Fax: 972 (3)5622555
www.ey.com/il

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Magal Security Systems Ltd. ("the Company") and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. 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 a certain subsidiary, whose assets constitute approximately 3.5% of total consolidated assets as of December 31, 2008, and whose revenues constitute approximately 9.4%, 4.9% of total consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively. The financial statements of this company were audited by other auditors, whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to amounts included for this subsidiary, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.
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. The audit 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, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, based on our audits and the report 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 its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer
Tel-Aviv, Israel
KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER
May 2, 2010
A Member of Ernst & Young Global

F - 2
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
U.S. dollars in thousands
December 31,
2008
2009
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 16,835 $ 11,869
Marketable securities (Note 3)
1,000 -
Short-term bank deposits
1,228 1,807
Restricted deposit
3,223 -
Trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ 1,506 and $ 911 at December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively)
15,800 12,328
Unbilled accounts receivable
5,055 5,892
Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses (Note 4)
4,607 1,573
Deferred income taxes
1,321 272
Inventories (Note 5)
12,728 10,912
Costs incurred on long-term contracts (Note 2m)
7,646 -
Total current assets
69,443 44,653
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS AND RECEIVABLES:
Long-term trade receivables
1,839 1,753
Long-term loan (Note 12h)
519 200
Long-term deposits
1,826 40
Escrow deposit (Note 1b)
860 -
Severance pay fund
2,763 2,476
Total long-term investments and receivables
7,807 4,469
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Note 6)
8,441 9,178
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
37 -
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET (Note 7)
2,888 269
GOODWILL (Note 1b, 2l)
1,874 2,053
ASSETS ATTRIBUTED TO DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Note 1c)
47 28
Total assets
$ 90,537 $ 60,650
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 3
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
December 31,
2008
2009
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Short-term bank credit (Note 9)
$ 23,182 $ 8,234
Current maturities of long-term bank debt (Note 11)
813 1,824
Trade payables
13,145 4,018
Customer advances
1,735 2,330
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses (Note 10)
14,328 7,780
Total current liabilities
53,203 24,186
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term bank debt (Note 11)
2,282 548
Deferred income taxes
343 -
Accrued severance pay
3,823 3,562
Total long-term liabilities
6,448 4,110
LIABILITIES ATTRIBUTED TO DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Note 1c)
168 45
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Note 12)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note 13):
Share capital -
Ordinary shares of NIS 1 par value -
Authorized: 19,748,000 shares at December 31, 2008 and 2009; Issued and outstanding: 10,396,548 shares at December 31, 2008 and 2009
3,225 3,225
Additional paid-in capital
48,043 48,741
Accumulated other comprehensive income
2,472 3,849
Foreign currency translation
3,293 3,890
Accumulated deficit
(26,315 ) (27,450 )
Total Magal shareholders' equity
30,718 32,255
Non controlling interest
- 54
Total shareholders' equity
30,718 32,309
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 90,537 $ 60,650
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 4
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
U.S. dollars in thousands (except per share data)
Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Revenues
$ 62,695 $ 57,105 $ 54,518
Cost of revenues
38,156 37,559 33,331
Gross profit
24,539 19,546 21,187
Operating expenses:
Research and development
5,310 5,556 4,816
Selling and marketing, net
11,073 12,953 10,864
General and administrative
6,057 10,243 8,372
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets (Note 1d,7b)
- 2,772 -
Post employment and termination benefits (Note 2t)
904 2,582 -
Total operating expenses
23,344 34,106 24,052
Operating income (loss)
1,195 (14,560 ) (2,865 )
Financial expenses, net (Note 18)
2,059 1,314 1,568
Loss before income taxes
(864 ) (15,874 ) (4,433 )
Income taxes (Note 15)
276 3,066 864
Loss from continuing operations
(1,140 ) (18,940 ) (5,297 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net (Note 1)
3,022 (13,662 ) 4,216
Net income (loss)
1,882 (32,602 ) (1,081 )
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest
- - 54
Net income (loss) attributable to Magal shareholders
$ 1,882 $ (32,602 ) $ (1,135 )
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
$ (0.11 ) $ (1.82 ) $ (0.52 )
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
0.29 (1.32 ) 0.41
Basic earnings (loss) per share (Note 14) $ 0.18 $ (3.14 ) $ (0.11 )
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 5
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SH AREHOLDERS' EQUITY
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share data)
Number of shares
Ordinary shares
Additional paid-in
Capital
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss)
Foreign currency translation – the Company
Retained earnings
(accumulated deficit)
Non-controlling interest
Total comprehensive income (loss)
Total shareholders' equity
Balance as of January 1, 2007
10,391,548 $ 3,224 $ 47,681 $ 2,314 $ 297 $ 4,634 $ - - $ 58,150
Cumulative impact of change in accounting for uncertainty in income taxes (Fin 48)
- - - - - (229 ) - - (229 )
Stock-based compensation
83 - - - - 83
Exercise of stock options
5,000 1 42 - - - - 43
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income
- - - - - 1,882 - $ 1,882 1,882
Unrealized gain on forward
contracts, net
- - - 31 - - - 31 31
Unrealized loss from available-for-sale securities, net
- - - (134 ) - - - (134 ) (134 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
- - - 3,460 2,292 - - 3,460 5,752
Total comprehensive income
$ 5,239
Balance as of December 31, 2007
10,396,548 3,225 47,806 5,671 2,589 6,287 - - 65,578
Stock-based compensation
- - 237 - - - - - 237
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net loss
- - - - - (32,602 ) - $ (32,602 ) (32,602 )
Realized loss from available-for-sale securities
- - - 151 - - - 151 151
Foreign currency translation adjustments
- - - (3,350 ) 704 - - (3,350 ) (2,646 )
Total comprehensive loss
$ (35,801 )
Balance as of December 31, 2008
10,396,548 3,225 48,043 2,472 3,293 (26,315 ) - - 30,718
Stock-based compensation
- - 542 - - - - - 542
Stock-based compensation – granted by related party
- - 156 - - - - - 156
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net loss
- - - - - (1,135 ) 54 $ (1,081 ) (1,081 )
Realized foreign currency translation adjustments from sale of subsidiary
- - - (789 ) - - - (789 ) (789 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
- - - 2,166 597 - - 2,166 2,763
Total comprehensive income
$ 296
Balance as of December 31, 2009
10,396,548 $ 3,225 $ 48,741 $ 3,849 $ 3,890 $ (27,450 ) $ 54 $ 32,309
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 6
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands
Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Cash flows from operating activities :
Net income (loss)
$ 1,882 $ (32,602 ) $ (1,081 )
Adjustments required to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations
(3,022 ) 13,662 (4,216 )
Depreciation and amortization
1,207 1,191 1,204
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
- 2,772 -
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment
(31 ) (9 ) 268
Decrease in accrued interest and exchange differences on marketable securities,
short-term and long-term bank deposits and long-term loans
1,511 1,696 2
Write off of long term loan
- 550 319
Stock based compensation
83 237 698
Losses (gains) on forward contract, net
(565 ) 291 -
Decrease in trade receivables, net
3,124 10,595 3,889
Decrease (increase) in unbilled accounts receivable
1,805 (1,201 ) (582 )
Decrease in other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses
249 276 1,984
Decrease (increase) in deferred income taxes
(767 ) 2,359 793
Decrease (increase) in inventories
(1,524 ) 1,951 3,888
Decrease (increase) in long-term trade receivables
(1,848 ) 216 95
Increase (decrease) in trade payables
10 (1,618 ) (899 )
Decrease in other accounts payable and accrued expenses
(1,738 ) (409 ) (1,640 )
Increase (decrease) in customer advances
(658 ) 1,202 551
Accrued severance pay, net
568 (66 ) 378
Net cash provided by continuing operations
286 1,093 5,651
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations
9,615 (378 ) 120
Net cash provided by operating activities
9,901 715 5,771
Cash flows from investing activities :
Purchase of short-term deposits
- (1,412 ) -
Proceeds from sale of short-term bank deposits
5,714 11,100 1,316
Escrow deposit
(4,442 ) - 920
Purchase of long-term bank deposits
- - (13 )
Purchase of marketable securities
(5,508 ) (1,968 ) -
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
5,570 3,802 918
Investment in long-term loan
(97 ) (187 ) -
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
86 25 64
Purchase of property and equipment
(890 ) (1,411 ) (2,025 )
Purchase of know-how and patents
(28 ) (29 ) (27 )
Acquisition of subsidiary (a)
(4,081 ) - -
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary (b)
- - 2,850
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing activities
(3,676 ) 9,920 4,003
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
3,212 (3,281 ) (15 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(464 ) 6,639 3,988
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 7
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars in thousands
Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Cash flows from financing activities :
Short-term bank credit, net
$ (7,187 ) $ 7,113 $ (14,553 )
Proceeds from long-term bank loans
- - 97
Principal payment of long-term bank loans
(796 ) (4,303 ) (829 )
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options
43 - -
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations
(7,940 ) 2,810 (15,265 )
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations
2,463 (145 ) 771
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(5,477 ) 2,665 (14,494 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
337 (2,389 ) (231 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
4,297 7,630 (4,966 )
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
4,908 9,205 16,835
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
$ 9,205 $ 16,835 $ 11,869
Supplemental disclosures of cash flows activities :
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest
$ 1,736 $ 1,686 $ 881
Income taxes
$ 1,189 $ 1,286 $ 431
Sale of marketable security to a former shareholder of subsidiary
$ - $ 4,410 $ -
(a)       Acquisition of Subsidiary
Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at date of acquisition;
Working capital, net
$ (119 )
Property and equipment
(254 )
Customer related intangible assets
(6,423 )
Deferred taxes
2,387
Accrued severance pay
328
$ (4,081 )
(b)       Proceeds of  Sale of Subsidiary
Working capital, net
$ (3,227 )
Property and equipment
339
Accrued severance pay
(418 )
Customer related intangible assets
2,614
Deferred taxes
(715 )
Capital gain
4,257
$ 2,850

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
F - 8
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 1:-
GENERAL

a.
Magal Security Systems Ltd. ("the Company") and  its subsidiaries (together - "the Group") are engaged in the development, manufacture, marketing and sale of complex computerized security systems used to automatically detect and deter human intrusion for both civilian and military markets. The Group's systems are used in more than 75 countries around the world.
As for major customer data, see Note 17b.
b.
On August 31, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase all of the shares of a European company engaged in the installation and integration of security systems (hereinafter - the European subsidiary), in consideration for 9,300 Euros (approximately $13,600), of which 5,500 Euros were paid in 2008 as contingent consideration.
The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting as determined in SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" since the transaction occurred before the adoption date of FAS 141R (as codified in ASC 805, "Business Combination") and, accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.

In 2008, following the annual goodwill impairment test, the Company determined that the fair value of its European subsidiary had decreased and, as a result recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $ 8,423 (including $ 3,300 of funds prepaid on account of future earn-out payments), which was allocated to the Projects segment. In addition, the Company determined that  customer related  intangible assets of the European subsidiary in the amount of $ 1,692 that were recorded on the acquisition had been impaired, and as a result, recorded an impairment charge attributed to such intangible assets.

In September 2009, the Company resolved to discontinue the operation of the European subsidiary. The subsidiary was sold in December 2009 in consideration of 2,900 Euro (approximately $ 4,200). In addition the remaining escrow amount of approximately 620 Euros was released back to the Company.

Accordingly, the operating results and the cash flows for 2007, 2008 and 2009, as well as the capital gain at the amount of approximately $4,300 resulting from the sale, were classified as discontinued operations, in accordance with ASC 205-20 "Discontinued Operations".

F - 9
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 1:-
GENERAL (Cont.)

The following are the results of the operations of the European subsidiary for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008. The operating results of the European subsidiary during 2009 were immaterial:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
Revenues
$ 9,680 $ 13,250
Cost of revenues
6,770 13,232
Gross profit
2,910 18
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing
1,055 4,864
General and administrative
504 9,409
Operating income (loss)
1,351 (14,255 )
Financial expense, net
(82 ) (692 )
Tax benefit
(67 ) (1,682 )
Net income (loss)
$ 1,336 $ (13,265 )
The following are the major classes of assets and liabilities related to the European Subsidiary as of December 31, 2008. These amounts were not classified on the face of the Company's balance sheet as held for sale in prior periods:
December, 31 2008
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 2,650
Restricted deposit
3,223
Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses
1,070
Deferred income taxes
352
Costs incurred on long-term contracts
7,646
Total current assets
14,941
Property and equipment, net
380
Other intangible assets, net
2,484
Total assets
$ 17,085

F - 10
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 1:-
GENERAL (Cont.)

December,31 2008
Trade payables
$ 8,386
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses (Note 10)
5,171
Total current liabilities
13,557
Deferred income taxes
344
Accrued severance pay
372
Total long-term liabilities
716
Total liabilities
$ 14,273

As of December 31, 2009 there are no balance sheet items related to the operations of the European Subsidiary.

c.
On December 24, 2007 the Company decided to sell its U.S. based video monitoring business for $ 8,500. The video monitoring business was previously reported as a separate segment in the Company's financial statements. As such, the operating results and cash flows attributed to the indoor security sensors operations and video monitoring business were presented in the Company's statements of operations and cash flows as discontinued operations. The results of operations of the video monitoring business (including capital gain at the amount of $ 2,427 from the sale of this business) for the year ended December 31, 2007 amounted to $ 1,686. During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 the Company incurred costs in amounts of $ 397 and $ 42 related to the closure of this business.  Balance sheet amounts related to this business are presented as assets and liabilities attributed to discontinued operations and are expected to be settled in one to two years.

d.
Due to a decrease in the operating activities and slowdown in the business of the Company’s U.S. subsidiary, the Company determined that a goodwill impairment of $ 2,421 exists in respect of the U.S. subsidiary as of December 31, 2008 and recorded an impairment charge accordingly.
NOTE 2:-       SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP").

a.
Use of estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. 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 goodwill and identifiable intangible assets, revenue recognition, tax assets and tax positions, legal contingencies, and stock-based compensation costs. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

F - 11
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS 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 Company's revenues are generated in NIS, U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros. In addition, most of the Company's costs are incurred in NIS and Canadian dollars. The Company's management believes that the NIS is the primary currency of the economic environment in which the Company operates. Therefore, the functional currency of the Company is the NIS and its reporting currency is the U.S. dollar.

The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the local currency in which each subsidiary operates.

ASC 830 " Foreign Currency Matters" (formerly SFAS No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation") sets the standards for translating foreign currency financial statements of consolidated subsidiaries. The first step in the translation process is to identify the functional currency for each entity included in the financial statements. The accounts of each entity are then measured in its functional currency. All transaction gains and losses from the measurement of monetary balance sheet items are reflected in the statement of operations as financial income or expenses, as appropriate.

After the measurement process is complete the financial statements are translated into the reporting currency, which is the U.S. dollar ("dollar"), using the current rate method. Equity accounts are translated using historical exchange rates. All other balance sheet accounts are translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Statement of operations amounts have been translated using the average exchange rate for the year. The resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of shareholders' equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X, Rule 3-20, the Company has determined its reporting currency to be the dollar. The measurement process of Rule 3-20 is conceptually consistent with that of ASC 830.
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 Group, have been eliminated upon consolidation.

d.
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash with original maturities of three months or less at the date acquired.
F - 12
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

e.
Marketable securities:
The Company accounts for investments in debt securities in accordance with ASC 320 Investments - Debt and Equity Securities (formerly: SFAS 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities"). Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such determinations at each balance sheet date. The debt securities are classified as "available-for-sale" since the Company does not have the intent to hold the securities to maturity, and are stated at fair value. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported net of tax in accumulated "other comprehensive income" as a separate component of shareholders equity. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, as determined on a specific identification basis, are included in financial income, net, together with accretion (amortization) of discount (premium), and interest.

The Company recognizes an impairment charge when a decline in the fair value of its investments below the cost basis is judged to be other-than-temporary.

In 2009, the Company adopted an amendment to ASC 320-10 that changed the impairment and presentation model for its available-for-sale debt securities. Under the amended impairment model, an other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") loss is recognized in earnings, based on the entire difference between the fair value and the amortized carrying amount, if the entity has the intent to sell the debt security, or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. However, if an entity does not expect to sell and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell a debt security, it will still need to evaluate expected cash flows to be received and determine if a credit loss exists. In the event of a credit loss, only the amount of impairment associated with the credit loss is recognized currently in earnings. Amounts relating to factors other than credit losses are recorded in other comprehensive income.

The initial application of the amendment to ASC 320-10 did not result in any cumulative effect for the Company. During 2009 the Company sold all its remaining securities.
f.
Short-term and long-term bank deposits:
Short-term bank deposits are deposits with maturities of more than three months and less than one year, and presented at their cost.

A bank deposit with a maturity of more than one year is included in long-term bank deposits, and presented at cost.
g.
Inventories:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. The Company periodically evaluates the quantities on hand relative to historical and projected sales volumes, current and historical selling prices and contractual obligations to maintain certain levels of parts. Based on these evaluations, inventory write-offs are provided to cover risks arising from slow-moving items, discontinued products, excess inventories, market prices lower than cost and adjusted revenue forecasts.
F - 13

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

Cost is determined as follows:
Raw materials, parts and supplies: using the "first-in, first-out" method.

Work in progress and finished products: on the basis of direct manufacturing costs with the addition of allocable indirect cost, representing allocable operating overhead expenses and manufacturing costs.

During 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Company recorded inventory write-offs from continued operations in the amounts of $ 646, $ 2,041 and $ 1,391, respectively. Such write-offs were included in cost of revenues.

h.         Long-term trade receivables:

Long-term trade and other receivables from extended payment agreements are recorded at their estimated present values.

i.         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:

%
Buildings
3 – 4
Machinery and equipment
10 - 33 (mainly 10%)
Motor vehicles
15
Promotional displays
25 – 50
Office furniture and equipment
6 – 33
Leasehold improvements
By the shorter of the term of the lease or the
useful life of the assets

j.         Intangible assets:

Intangible assets are amortized over their useful lives using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or otherwise used up, in accordance with ASC 350 Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (formally SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets").

Know-how is amortized over five to ten years, patents are amortized over a period of ten years and technology is amortized over eight years. Customer related assets are amortized based on the related revenues.

F - 14
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
k.
Impairment of long-lived assets:
The Company's long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC 360 Property, Plant, and Equipment (formerly SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets") whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a group of assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of a group of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the group to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the group. If such group of assets is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. For 2007 and 2009, the Company did not record any impairment charges attributable to long-lived assets. In 2008, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $ 2,043 (of which $ 1,692 is classified as discontinued operations) attributable to such intangible assets.

Effective 2009, as required by ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and disclosures" (formerly SFAS 157, "Fair Value Measurements", the Company applies assumptions that marketplace participants would consider in determining the fair value of its long lived assets (including finite lived intangible assets).
l.
Goodwill:
Goodwill has been recorded as a result of past acquisitions and represents the excess of the cost over the net fair value of the assets of the businesses acquired.

The Company operates in two operating segments, which also constitute its two reporting units (‘Projects’ and ‘Perimeter’). Goodwill was allocated to these two reporting units. All remaining goodwill as of December 31, 2009 is allocated to the ‘Perimeter’ reporting unit.

The Company follows ASC 350, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other" (originally issued as SFAS 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets").

ASC 350 requires goodwill to be tested for impairment, at the reporting unit level, at least annually or between annual tests in certain circumstances, and written down when impaired, rather than being amortized. The Company performs its goodwill annual impairment test at December 31 of each year, or more often if indicators of impairment are present.

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. In the first phase of impairment testing, goodwill attributable to each of the reporting units is tested for impairment by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second phase is then performed. The second phase of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Fair value is determined using discounted cash flows, based on the income approach, as the Company believes that this approach best approximates the reporting unit’s fair value at this time. Significant estimates used in the methodologies include estimates of future cash flows, future short-term and long-term growth rates and weighted average cost of capital for each of the reporting units.

F - 15

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
The material assumptions used for the income approach for 2009 were five years of projected net cash flows, a discount rate of 15.1% and a long-term growth rate of 1%. The Company considered historical rates and current market conditions when determining the discount and growth rates to use in its analyses. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges for its goodwill.

Effective 2009, as required by ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and disclosures" (formerly SFAS 157, "Fair Value Measurements", the Company applies assumptions that market place participants would consider in determining the fair value of its reporting unit.

For 2007 and 2009, the Company did not record any impairment charges. In 2008, the Company recorded an impairment charge in the amount of $ 10,844 (of which $ 8,423 is classified as discontinued operations).
m.
Revenue recognition:
The Company generates its revenues mainly from (1) installation of comprehensive security systems for which revenues are generated from long-term fixed price contracts; (2) sales of security products; and (3) services and maintenance, which are performed either on a fixed-price basis or as time-and-materials based contracts.

Revenues from installation of comprehensive security systems are generated from fixed-price contracts according to which the time between the signing of the contract and the final customer acceptance is usually over one year. Such contracts require significant customization for each customer's specific needs and, as such, revenues from this type of contract are recognized in accordance with ASC 605-35 Revenue Recognition -Construction-Type and Production-Type Projects" (formerly Statement of Position ("SOP") No. 81-1, "Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts"), using contract accounting on a percentage of completion method. Accounting for long-term contracts using the percentage-of-completion method stipulates that revenue and expense are recognized throughout the life of the contract, even though the project is not completed and the purchaser does not have possession of the project. Percentage of completion is calculated based on the "Input Method".

Project costs include materials purchased to produce the system, related labor and overhead expenses and subcontractor's costs. The percentage to completion is measured by monitoring costs and efforts devoted using records of actual costs incurred to date in the project compared to the total estimated project requirement, which corresponds to the costs related to earned revenues. The amounts of revenues recognized are based on the total fees under the agreements and the percentage to completion achieved. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are first determined, in the amount of the estimated loss on the entire contract.

Estimated gross profit or loss from long-term contracts may change due to changes in estimates resulting from differences between actual performance and original forecasts. Such changes in estimated gross profit are recorded in results of operations when they are reasonably determinable by management, on a cumulative catch-up basis.

F - 16
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS 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 believes that the use of the percentage of completion method is appropriate as the Company has the ability to make reasonably dependable estimates of the extent of progress towards completion, contract revenues and contract costs. In addition, contracts executed include provisions that clearly specify the enforceable rights regarding services to be provided and received by the parties to the contracts, the consideration to be exchanged and the manner and the terms of settlement, including in cases of termination for convenience. In all cases the Company expects to perform its contractual obligations and its customers are expected to satisfy their obligations under the contract.

Fees are payable upon completion of agreed upon milestones and subject to customer acceptance. Amounts of revenues recognized in advance of contractual billing are recorded as unbilled accounts receivable. The period between most instances of advanced recognition of revenues and the customers' billing generally ranges between one to six months.

Although the Company’s basic accounting policy is percentage-of-completion, the completed-contract method is used for certain contracts when the Company cannot make reasonably dependable estimates for such contracts due to inherent hazards. Inherent hazards are conditions and events that do not occur in the normal course of business. Under the completed-contract method, billings and costs are accumulated on the balance sheet under the caption "cost incurred on long-term contracts" while the contract is in progress, but no revenue is recognized until the contract is completed or substantially completed. When revenues and costs are recognized based upon substantial completion of the contract, an accrual is recorded for the estimated remaining costs to be incurred and for the estimated amounts of any unresolved claims or disputes related to the contract that are probable of payment. During 2008, the Company concluded that the projects in Africa (included in discontinued operation, see note 1b) are not typical in comparison to its other projects and identified inherent hazards related to these projects and delays in payments from the customer. The above caused the Company to conclude in 2008 that it cannot make reasonably dependable estimates to calculate the percentage of completion of these projects; therefore, the Company applied the completed-contracts method with respect to these projects from 2008.

The Company sells security products to customers according to customer orders without installation work. The customers do not have a right to return the products. Revenues from security product sales are recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements", 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.

Services and maintenance are performed under either fixed-price based or time-and-materials based contracts. Under fixed-price contracts, the Company agrees to perform certain work for a fixed price. Under time-and-materials contracts, the Company is reimbursed for labor hours at negotiated hourly billing rates and for materials. Such service contracts are not in the scope of  ASC 605-35, and accordingly, related revenues are recognized in accordance with SAB No. 104, as those services are performed or over the term of the related agreements provided that, an evidence of an arrangement has been obtained, fees are fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

Deferred revenue includes unearned amounts under installation services, service contracts and maintenance agreements.

F - 17
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
n.           Accounting for stock-based compensation:

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718 Compensation-Stock Compensation (formerly SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment").

ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of equity-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods in the Company's consolidated income statement.

The Company recognizes compensation expenses for the value of its awards, which have graded vesting, based on the accelerated attribution method over the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures. Estimated forfeitures are based on actual historical pre-vesting forfeitures.

During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expenses related to employee stock options in the amounts of $ 83, $ 237 and $ 542, respectively . In 2009 the Company recognized additional stock-based compensation expenses of $ 156, related to a transaction between two of the Company's related parties, see Note 16d.

The Company estimated the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the Binomial Model ("Binomial Model") model thereafter. The fair value of the options was estimated by applying the Binomial Model for option pricing with adjustments for employees stock options and for the specific terms and conditions of the options. The Company believes that a lattice model (such as the Binomial Model) is more appropriate fair valuation technique in this case, because of its flexible construction that allows the Company to represent its relevant experience more accurately than the closed-form models (such as the Black and Scholes model).

Since during the year ended December 31, 2008 no expenses were recorded due to options granted in prior years, but solely from those related to new awards granted in 2008, which were measured using the binomial model, there is no impact on the net income or on the basic and diluted net income per share and for the period ended December 31, 2008, as a result of the change in the model.

The fair value for the Company’s stock options granted to employees and directors was estimated using the following weighted-average assumptions:

The Black-Scholes 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 based on the simplified method permitted by SAB 107 and SAB 110 as the average of the vesting period and the 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 life of the options. The Company has historically not paid dividends and has no foreseeable plans to pay dividends.

F - 18
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

The following assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes pricing model for 2007:

2007
Dividend yield
0%
Expected volatility
62.4%
Risk-free interest
4.15%
Expected life of up to
1-7 years
Forfeiture rate
0%

The Binomial model for option pricing requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are the suboptimal exercise factor and expected stock price volatility. The suboptimal exercise factor is estimated using historical option exercise information. The suboptimal exercise factor is the ratio by which the stock price must increase over the exercise price before employees are expected to exercise their stock options. Expected volatility is based upon actual historical stock price movements and was calculated as of the grant dates for different periods, since the Binomial model can be used for different expected volatilities for different periods. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with an equivalent term to the contractual term of the options . The expected term of options granted is derived from the output of the option valuation model and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. Estimated forfeitures are based on actual historical pre-vesting forfeitures.
The following assumptions were used in the Binomial option pricing model for 2008 and 2009:

2008
2009
Dividend yield
0%
0%
Expected volatility
28%-69%
34%-62%
Risk-free interest
0.36%-3.39%
0.27%-3.14%
Contractual term
1-7 years
4-9 years
Forfeiture rate
0%
0%
Suboptimal exercise multiple
1-2
1.5
o.       Research and development costs:

Research and development costs incurred in the process of developing product improvements or new products, are charged to expenses as incurred, net of grants.
p.       Warranty costs:

The Company provides a warranty for up to 24 months at no extra charge. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its warranty and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 460, "Guarantees" (formerly FASB interpretation ("FIN") No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others") and FASB ASC 450 "Contingencies" (formerly: SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies"). Factors that affect the Company's warranty liability include the number of units, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary. The provision for warranty as of December 31, 2008 and 2009 was $ 276 and $ 492, respectively.

F - 19
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

q.        Net earnings (loss) per share:

Basic net earnings (loss) per share are computed based on the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding during each year. Diluted net earnings (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding during each year, plus dilutive potential Ordinary shares considered outstanding during the year, in accordance with ASC 260 "Earnings Per Share" (formerly SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share").

Part of the outstanding stock options have been excluded from the calculation of the diluted earnings per share because such securities are anti-dilutive. The total weighted average number of Ordinary shares related to the outstanding options excluded from the calculations of diluted earnings per share was 36,114, 0 and 1,854 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

r.         Concentrations of credit risk:

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalent, marketable securities, short-term and long-term bank deposits, trade receivables, unbilled accounts receivable, long-term trade receivables and long-term loans.

Of the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term bank deposits at December 31, 2009, $ 7,170 is invested in major Israeli and U.S. banks, and approximately $ 6,546 is invested in other banks, mainly with Deutsche Bank, RBC Royal Bank and BBVA Bancomer. Cash and cash equivalents in the United States 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.

The short-term and long-term trade receivables of the Company, as well as the unbilled accounts receivable, are primarily derived from sales to large and solid organizations and governmental authorities located mainly in Israel, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and to date has not experienced any material losses. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined with respect to those amounts that the Company has determined to be doubtful of collection and in accordance with an aging policy. As of December 31, 2009, the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts amounted to $ 911. During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Company recorded, $ (68), $ 755 (additional $ 468 under discontinued operations) and $ (153) of expenses (income) related to doubtful accounts, respectively. In certain circumstances, the Group may require letters of credit, other collateral or additional guarantees.

A loan granted to a third party is secured by a personal guarantee of the beneficial owner of the third party; however, management anticipates difficulties in the full repayment of the loan, (see Note 12h).

The Company has no significant off-balance sheet concentration of credit risks, such as foreign exchange contracts or foreign hedging arrangements, except derivative instruments, which are detailed in note 2w below.

F - 20
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

s.         Income taxes:

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740 "Income Taxes" (formerly SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes"). This ASC prescribes the use of the liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to their estimated realizable value.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted an amendment to ASC 740 Income Taxes (formerly FIN No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109"). The amendment clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes by establishing minimum standards for the recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Under the requirements of ASC 740, the Company must review all of its tax positions and make a determination as to whether its position is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by regulatory authorities. If a tax position meets the more-likely–than-not standard, then the related tax benefit is measured based on a cumulative probability analysis of the amount that is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon ultimate settlement or disposition of the underlying issue. The impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations as a result of the adoption of the provisions of the amendment to ASC 740 in 2007 was $ 229, which was recognized as an adjustment to retained earnings.
In 2008 and 2009, the Company recorded tax benefits of $ 59 and $ 165, respectively.

t.
Severance pay:

The Company's liability for its Israeli employees 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 the balance sheet date (the "Shut Down" method). Employees are entitled to one month's salary for each year of employment or a portion thereof. The Company's liability for its employees in Israel is fully provided by monthly deposits with insurance policies and by an accrual. The value of these policies is recorded as an asset in the Company's balance sheet.

The deposited funds include profits accumulated up to balance sheet date. 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 immaterial profits.

On December 31, 2007, the former Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, (hereinafter - the retired chairman) retired from his position. Pursuant to his retirement agreement, the retired Chairman will be entitled to receive certain perquisites from the Company for the rest of his life. As of December 31, 2009, the actuarial value of these perquisites is estimated be approximately $ 639. This provision was included as part of accrued severance pay.

F - 21
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

On November 10, 2008, the Company’s former President and chief executive officer (hereinafter - the retired CEO) resigned. The retirement agreement, entered into with the retired CEO amounted to $ 1,645 including consideration for a non-compete undertaking as well as severance payments and other retirement related payments in accordance with the retired CEO's retirement agreement and Israeli law . In addition, in 2008, certain senior employees were entitled to termination benefits in the aggregate amount of $ 881 related to their respective retirement from the Company. In connection with such terminations, the Company recorded an expense of $ 2,526. As of December 31, 2009 the remaining balance amounted to $ 163.

Severance expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, amounted to approximately $ 976 $ 3,091 and $ 1,402, respectively.

The Company and its Israeli subsidiaries have entered into an agreement with some of their employees implementing Section 14 of the Severance Pay Law and the General Approval of the Labor Minister dated June 30, 1998, issued in accordance with the said Section 14, mandating that upon termination of such employees’ employment, all the amounts accrued in their insurance policies shall be released to them. The severance pay liabilities and deposits covered by these plans are not reflected in the balance sheet as the severance pay risks have been irrevocably transferred to the severance funds.
u.         Fair value of financial instruments:
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:

(i)
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, short-term bank deposits, trade receivables, unbilled accounts receivable, short-term bank credit and trade payables approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of such instruments.

(ii)
The carrying amount of the Company's long-term trade receivables and long-term bank deposits approximate their fair value. The fair value was estimated using discounted cash flows analysis, based on the Group's investment rates for similar type of investment arrangements.

(iii)
The carrying amounts of the Company's long-term debt are estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current interest rates for loans of similar terms and maturities. As of December 31, 2009, there was no material difference in the fair value of the Company's long-term borrowings compared to their carrying amounts.

v.         Advertising expenses:

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, were $ 250, $ 334 and $ 145, respectively.

F - 22
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

w.
Derivative instruments:
ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging" (formerly SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities"), requires a company to recognize all of its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position 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.

The Company recorded $ 666, $ 291 and $ 0 in financial expenses related to forward contracts transactions, in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
x.
Fair value measurements.
Effective January 1, 2008, the company adopted ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" (formerly SFAS 157), except as it applies to the nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities subject to ASC 820-10-50-8A (formerly FSP 157-2). The Company chose to adopt the delay of the effective date of ASC 820 for one year for goodwill and customer related intangible assets. Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted ASC 820 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

ASC 820 clarifies that 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
-
Includes other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3
-
Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

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.

y.
Reclassification:

Certain financial statement data for prior years has been reclassified to conform to current year financial statement presentation.

F - 23
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
z.
Impact of recently issued accounting standards in effect for the Company starting January 1, 2009:
In June 2009, the FASB issued a standard that established the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") and amended the hierarchy of generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") such that the ASC became the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP. Rules and interpretive releases issued by the SEC under authority of federal securities law are also sources of the authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All other literature is considered non-authoritative. New accounting standards issued subsequent to June 30, 2009 are communicated by the FASB through Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs"). The ASC is effective for the Company from September 1, 2009. Throughout the notes to the consolidated financial statements references that were previously made to former authoritative U.S. GAAP pronouncements have been changed to coincide with the appropriate section of the ASC.

In December 2007, the FASB issued ASC 805, "Business Combinations" (formerly SFAS 141(R), ''Business Combinations''). This Statement replaces SFAS No. 141, ''Business Combinations'', and requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, including those arising from contractual contingencies, any contingent consideration and any non-controlling interest in the acquired company at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date, with limited exceptions specified in the statement. ASC 805 also requires the acquired in a business combination achieved in stages (sometimes referred to as a step acquisition) to recognize the identifiable assets and liabilities, as well as the non-controlling interest in the acquired company, at the full amounts of their fair values (or other amounts determined in accordance with the ASC). In addition, ASC 805's requirement to measure the non-controlling interest in the acquire at fair value will result in recognizing the goodwill attributable to the non-controlling interest in addition to that attributable to the acquirer. ASC 805 is applied prospectively for all business combinations occurring after January 1, 2009, except for changes in valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets and changes in acquired income tax position originating from business combinations that occurred prior to the effective date of the ASC, which are recognized in earnings following the adoption date of the amended ASC.
Consolidation:

On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted an amendment to ASC 810, "Consolidation" (originally issued as FAS 160). According to the amendment, a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as a separate component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. As such, changes in the parent's ownership interest with no change of control are treated as equity transactions, rather than step acquisitions or dilution gains or losses. The amendment also clarifies that losses of partially owned consolidated subsidiaries shall continue to be allocated to the non-controlling interests even when their investment was already reduced to zero.
The amendment applies prospectively, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The adoption added certain captions in the consolidated statement of income, "Net income" allocated to "non-controlling interest" and "Net income attributable to Magal Security Systems Ltd. Shareholders. Similarly, in the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity, the Company distinguished between equity amounts attributable to Magal Security Systems Ltd and amounts attributable to the non-controlling interest.
F - 24

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
In April 2008, the FASB amended ASC 350-30 (formerly FSP FAS 142-3, "Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets"). The amendment describes the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under ASC 350 Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (formerly SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets"), the Amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of the amendment to the ASC did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 820-10-65-4 (formerly FSP FAS No. 157-4, "Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly")(Codified in ASC 820). ASC 820-10-65-4 provides additional authoritative guidance to assist both issuers and users of financial statements in determining whether a market is active or inactive, and whether a transaction is distressed. ASC 820-10-65-4 is effective for the Company starting 2009 and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Impact of recently issued accounting standards:
In June 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC 810, "Consolidation," which, among other things, (i) requires ongoing reassessments of whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and eliminates the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity; (ii) amends certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity; and (iii) requires enhanced disclosure that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an entity’s involvement in a variable interest entity. The update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of the update to have a material impact on its financial condition or results of operations.
1.
In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to ASC 605-25, "Revenue Recognition – Multiple-Element Arrangements", that provides amendments to the criteria for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements to:

a)
Provide updated guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the deliverables in an arrangement should be separated and how the consideration should be allocated;

b)
Require an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling prices ("ESP") of deliverables if a vendor does not have vendor-specific objective evidence of selling price ("VSOE") or third-party evidence of selling price ("TPE");

c)
Eliminate the use of the residual method and require an entity to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method; and

d)
Require expanded disclosures of qualitative and quantitative information regarding application of the multiple-deliverable revenue arrangement guidance.

F - 25
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 2:-
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)

2.
The mandatory adoption date is January 1, 2011, however, the Company may elect to early adopt the provisions prospectively to new or materially modified arrangements beginning January 1, 2010. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
NOTE 3:-
MARKETABLE SECURITIES
The Group invests in marketable debt securities, which are classified as available-for-sale investments.

During 2008, an-other-than-temporary impairment on marketable securities in the amount of $ 315 was recorded in finance expense. In 2009 all the Company’s available for sale securities were sold at a gain of $ 58.
In 2009 and 2007, no other than temporary impairment was recorded in earnings.
As of December 31, 2008 and 2009, the Company had investments in corporate debt securities that amounted to $ 1,000 and $ 0, respectively.
NOTE 4:-
OTHER ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAID EXPENSES

December 31,
2008
2009
Government authorities
$ 2,489 $ 578
Employees
134 92
Prepaid expenses
844 496
Advances to suppliers
444 134
Others
696 273
$ 4,607 $ 1,573
NOTE 5:-
INVENTORIES
December 31,
2008
2009
Raw materials
$ 4,801 $ 3,301
Work in progress
3,088 2,661
Finished products
4,839 4,950
$ 12,728 $ 10,912

F - 26
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 6:-
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
a.     Composition:

December 31,
2008
2009
Cost:
Land and buildings *)
$ 9,956 $ 10,800
Machinery and equipment
7,283 6,386
Motor vehicles
1,445 1,173
Promotional displays
1,466 1,886
Office furniture and equipment
3,095 2,883
Leasehold improvements
36 120
23,281 23,248
Accumulated depreciation:
Buildings
3,794 3,806
Machinery and equipment
6,276 5,584
Motor vehicles
934 730
Promotional displays
1,338 1,735
Office furniture and equipment
2,483 2,195
Leasehold improvements
15 20
14,840 14,070
Property and equipment, net
$ 8,441 $ 9,178

*)
The Company pledged a deposit of $ 1,800 as a guarantee for a mortgage of its subsidiary in the United States.

b.
Depreciation expenses amounted to $ 1,004, $ 989 and $ 1,012 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

c.
For charges, see Note 12g.

F - 27
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 7:-
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

a.
Composition:

December 31,
2008
2009
Cost:
Know-how
$ 1,062 $ 1,070
Patents
2,764 3,253
Customer related assets
6,552 -
Technology
450 366
10,828 4,689
Accumulated amortization:
Know-how
996 1,023
Patents
2,564 3,031
Customer related assets
4,068 -
Technology
312 366
7,940 4,420
Other intangibles, net
$ 2,888 $ 269

b.
Amortization expenses related to intangible assets amounted to $ 202, $ 553 and $ 192 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

The amortization expenses include impairment of know-how in the amount of $ 351, for the year ended December 31, 2008.

c.
Estimated amortization of intangible assets for the years ended:

December 31,
2010
$ 54
2011
52
2012
50
2013
113
$ 269

F - 28
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 8:-
GOODWILL

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 according to Company's reporting units are as follows:

Perimeter
Projects
Total
As of January 1, 2008
$ 4,564 $ 1,046 $ 5,610
Additions
- 7,064 7,064
Impairment change
(2,421 ) (8,423 ) (10,844 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(269 ) 313 44
As of December 31, 2008
1,874 - 1,874
Foreign currency translation adjustments
179 - 179
As of December 31, 2009
$ 2,053 $ - $ 2,053

The Company determined the fair value of each reporting unit using the Income Approach. The material assumptions used for the income approach for 2009 were five years of projected net cash flows, a discount rate of 15.1% and a long-term growth rate of 1.0%. The Company considered historical rates and current market conditions when determining the discount and growth rates to use in its analyses. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record impairment charges for its goodwill.
NOTE 9:-
SHORT-TERM BANK CREDIT

a.
Classified by currency, linkage terms and interest rates:

Interest rate
December 31,
2008
2009
2008
2009
%
In or linked to NIS
4.25 4.75 $ 23,152 $ 7,709
In or linked to Canadian dollar
4 2.75 30 525
$ 23,182 $ 8,234
Weighted average interest rates at the end of the year
4.25 4.62

F - 29
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 9:-
SHORT-TERM BANK CREDIT (Cont.)

b.
Credit lines

December 31,
2008
2009
Short-term bank credit
$ 23,182 $ 8,234
Long-term bank credit
3,095 2,372
Performance guarantees
11,350 4,572
37,627 15,178
Unutilized credit lines approximate
24,264 12,069
Total authorized credit lines approximate
$ 61,891 $ 27,247

c.
The Company's Canadian subsidiary, has undertaken to maintain general covenants and the following financial ratios and terms in respect of its outstanding credit lines: a quick ratio of not less than 1.25; a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of not greater than 0.75; and tangible net worth of at least $ 9.0 million As of December 31, 2009, the Company's subsidiary was in compliance with the ratios and terms.
d.
For charges, see Note 12g.
NOTE 10:-
OTHER ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

December 31,
2008
2009
Employees and payroll accruals
$ 2,577 $ 2,565
Accrued expenses
9,599 4,260
Deferred revenues
259 153
Government authorities
313 278
Income tax payable
175 439
Others
1,405 85
$ 14,328 $ 7,780

F - 30

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 11:-
LONG-TERM BANK DEBT

a.             Classified by currency, linkage terms and interest rates:

Linkage
Interest rate
December 31,
terms
2008
2009
2008
2009
%
Bank loans
U.S. $
2.75 0.87 $ 1,760 $ 1,120
Bank loan
NIS
- 2 - 89
Mortgage payable
U.S. $
5.45 5.45 1,335 1,163
3,095 2,372
Less - current maturities
813 1,824
$ 2,282 $ 548
Weighted average interest rates at the end of the year
3.91 3.16

b.
As of December 31, 2009, the aggregate annual maturities of the long-term loans are as follows:

2010
1,824
2011
501
2012
47
$ 2,372

c.
As for charges, see Note 12g.
NOTE 12:-
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

a.
Royalty commitments to the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade ("OCS"):

Under the research and development agreements between the Company and the OCS and pursuant to applicable laws, the Company is required to pay royalties at the rate of 3%-4.5% of revenues derived from sales of products developed with funds provided by the OCS and ancillary services, up to an amount equal to 100% of the OCS research and development grants received, linked to the U.S. dollars plus interest on the unpaid amount received based on the 12-month LIBOR rate applicable to dollar deposits. The obligation to pay these royalties is contingent on actual sales of the products and in the absence of such sales no payment is required.

Royalties paid to the OCS amounted to $ 143, $ 125 and $ 172 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had remaining contingent obligations to pay royalties in the amount of approximately $ 1,212.
F - 31
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 12:-
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)

b.
Royalty commitments to a third party:

During 2002, the Company entered into a development agreement for planning, developing and manufacturing a security system with a third party. Under the agreement, the Company agreed to pay the third party royalty fee based on a defined formula. Under this agreement, the Company also committed to purchase a certain volume of products at a minimum amount of approximately $ 300 over 2.5 years after achievement of certain milestones. As of December 31, 2009, royalty commitments under the agreement amounted to $ 42.

c.
In September 2006, the Company signed a non-exclusive agreement with a third party for the rights to use certain intangible assets such as know-how and patents for the production, sale and marketing of a perimeter security system based on fiber-optic lines that is used mainly to protect marine sites. The contract period is two years and the Company has the right to extend the contract for an additional five years. In September 2008, the management decided to extend the option. The consideration for the license is $ 548, payable in 24 monthly installments. In addition, the Company agreed to pay royalties based on a defined formula.

In addition, the parties have signed an unlimited agreement that grants the Company the rights to provide maintenance and support for the systems previously sold by the third party. The Company agreed to pay royalties based on a defined formula. No royalties were paid or accrued as of December 31, 2009.

d.
Lease commitments:

The Group rents certain of its facilities and some of its motor vehicles under various operating lease agreements, which expire on various dates, the latest of which is in 2012.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating lease agreements are as follows:

2010
$ 807
2011
496
2012
282
2013 and thereafter
1,597
$ 3,182

Total rent expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, were approximately $ 607, $ 813 and $ 806, respectively.

e.
Guarantees:

As of December 31, 2009, the Group obtained bank performance guarantees and advance payment guarantees and bid bond guarantees from several banks, mainly in Israel, in the aggregate amount of $ 4,572.
F - 32

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 12:-
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)

f.
Legal proceedings:

In May 2005, the Company entered into an agreement to supply comprehensive security solutions for a sensitive site in Eastern Europe. The Company commenced the project and delivered some of the equipment and other deliverables to the customer in 2005. In April 2006, the customer informed the Company that it was canceling the agreement due to errors in the design documents that the Company submitted. In addition, the customer did not make payments required under the agreement. The Company denied all of the allegations and the case was referred to arbitration.

On June 6, 2007, the Court of Arbitration issued its decision in the arbitration and stated that the agreement concluded between the Company and the customer was void due to legal mistakes made by the customer in the tender process. Based on such decision, the Company decided to initiate a new legal action against the customer seeking compensation for the damages incurred. In March 2010, the Court of Arbitration determined that the customer is liable for certain expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the negotiation and execution of the agreement due to the customer’s wrongful behaviour during the negotiations.  In addition, the Court of Arbitration determined that the customer is liable for damages caused to the Company due to the customer’s unjust enrichment resulting from the non-payment for certain deliveries made by us.  The Court of Arbitration’s decision is subject to appeal.  The scope of damages will be determined in future proceedings.

In addition, the Company is subject to legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Based on the advice of legal counsel, management believes that these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

g.
Charges:

As collateral for all of the Company liabilities to banks:

1.
A fixed charge has been placed on the property of the Company's subsidiary in the United States.

2.
The Company agreed not to pledge any of its assets without the consent of certain banks ("Negative pledge").

3.
In January, 2010 the Company approved a new credit arrangement and created in favor of the Banks a first degree fixed charge over its unissued share capital and its goodwill and a first degree floating charge over its factory, business, and all of its assets and rights. Upon the creation of the said fixed and floating charges the Negative Pledge shall terminate and shall have no further force and effect.

h.
In October 2006, the Company signed an agreement with a third party who consults, markets and implements projects in the security field. According to the agreement, during the first 12 months ("the agreement period"), the parties agreed to cooperate in the development of the business of the third party.

The Company granted a loan to the third party in the amount of $ 600. The Company also agreed to provide the third party with additional monthly amounts to fund its activities during the agreement period, which will not exceed $ 23 per month. The loan and the monthly amounts will bear an annual interest rate of 5%, and will be repaid in October 2011.
F - 33
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 12:- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)

The Company evaluates the anticipated repayment of the loan annually. Due to anticipated difficulties in the implementation of the projects and based on ASC 310-10-35-3, "Loan Impairment" (formerly FAS 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 5 and 15"), management estimated that as per December 31, 2009, only $ 200 of the loan will probably be repaid, and therefore set a provision. The Company recorded expenses of $ 550, and $ 319 for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively, related to such provision.
NOTE 13:-     SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

a.
Pertinent rights and privileges conferred by Ordinary shares:

The Ordinary shares of the Company are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. The Ordinary shares confer upon their holders the right to receive notice to participate and vote in the general meetings of the Company and the right to receive dividends, if declared.

b.
Stock Option Plan:

On October 27, 2003, the Company's Board of Directors approved the 2003 Israeli Share Option Plan ("the 2003 Plan"). Under the 2003 Plan, stock options may be periodically granted to employees, directors, officers and consultants of the Company or its subsidiaries in accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors of the Company (or a committee appointed by it). The Board of Directors also has the authority to determine the vesting schedule and exercise price of options granted under the 2003 Plan.

The 2003 Plan is effective for ten years and will terminate in October 2013. Any options that are cancelled or forfeited before expiration become available for future grant.

In May 2008, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the 2003 Plan, which was approved by the shareholders in August 2008, which increased the number of Ordinary shares available for issuance under the 2003 Plan increased by an additional 1,000,000 options and the termination of the 2003 Plan was extended from October 2013 to October 2018.

As of December 31, 2009, 171,375 Ordinary shares were available for future option grants under the 2003 Plan, as amended.
F - 34

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 13:-     SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Cont.)

A summary of employee option activity under the Company's stock option plans as of December 31, 2009 and changes during the year ended December 31, 2009 are as follows:

Number of options
Weighted-average exercise price
Weighted- average remaining contractual life
(in months
Aggregate intrinsic
value (in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2009
724,500 $ 7.92 43.7 -
Granted
848,000 $ 3.88
Exercised
- $ -
Forfeited
(125,300 ) $ 8.06
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
1,447,200 $ 5.54 55. 4 $ 68
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2009
1,367,200 $ 5.59 55.1 $ 68
Exercisable at December 31, 2009
269,200 $ 8.43 19.0 $ -

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 was $ 2.84 and $ 1.41, 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 2009 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options). This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company's stock. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $ 0, as none of the options were exercised in the aforementioned period. As of December 31, 2009, there were approximately $ 1,434 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company's stock option plans and $ 174 of unrecognized compensation cost related to an option granted to a related party (see Note 16d) . This cost is expected to be recognized over a period of 3.92 years.

The options outstanding as of December 31, 2009 are follows:

Options outstanding as of
December 31, 2009
Exercise price
Weighted average
remaining contractual life
Options exercisable as of
December 31, 2009
(In months)
169,200 $ 8.56 11.67 169,200
100,000 $ 8.22 31.50 100,000
30,000 $ 6.12 60.50 -
300,000 $ 7.59 55.67 -
178,000 $ 4.09 60.25 -
250,000 $ 7.35 64.07 -
320,000 $ 3.53 74.65 -
100,000 $ 3.48 59.11 -
1,447,200 $ 5.54 55.40 269,200
F - 35
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 13:-     SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Cont.)

c.
Dividends:

Dividends, if any, will be declared and paid in U.S. dollars. Dividends paid to shareholders in Israel will be converted into NIS on the basis of the exchange rate prevailing at the date of payment. The Company has determined that it will not distribute dividends out of tax-exempt profits.
NOTE 14:-
BASIC AND DILUTED NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Numerator:
loss from continuing operations
$ (1,140 ) $ (18,940 ) $ (5,297 )
Income (loss) on discontinued operations
3,022 (13,662 ) 4,216
Net income (loss)
$ 1,882 $ (32,602 ) $ (1,081 )
Denominator:
Denominator for basic net earnings per share weighted-average number of shares outstanding
10,394,989 10,396,548 10,396,548
Effect of diluting securities:
Employee stock options
36,114 - 2,076
Denominator for diluted net earnings per share - adjusted weighted average shares and assumed exercises
10,431,103 10,396,548 10,398,624
Basic loss per share from continuing operations
$ (0.11 ) $ (1.82 ) $ (0.52 )
Basic net earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
0.29 (1.32 ) 0.41
Basic net earnings (loss) per share
$ 0.18 $ (3.14 ) $ (0.11 )
Diluted loss per share from continuing operations
$ (0.11 ) $ (1.82 ) $ (0.52 )
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
0.29 (1.32 ) 0.41
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share
$ 0.18 $ (3.14 ) $ (0.11 )
F - 36
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 15:-
TAXES ON INCOME

a.
Tax benefits in Israel under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 ("the Law"):

The Company has been granted the status of an "Approved Enterprise" under the Law. Currently, there are two expansion programs under which the Company is entitled to tax benefits:

1.
On March 18, 1997, a program of the Company was granted the status of an "Approved Enterprise". The Company elected to enjoy the "alternative benefits" track - waiver of grants in return for a tax exemption. Accordingly, the Company's income from this program was tax-exempt for a period of four years, and is subject to a reduced tax rate of 10%-25% for a period ranging between three to six years (depending on the percentage of foreign ownership of the Company). The period of benefits under this program began in 1998 and terminated in 2007.

2.
On August 13, 2002, another program of the Company was granted the status of an "Approved Enterprise". The Company elected to enjoy the "alternative benefits" track - waiver of grants in return for tax exemption - and, accordingly, the Company's income from this program is tax-exempt for a period of two years, and is subject to a reduced tax rate of 10%-25% for a period of five to eight years (depending upon the percentage of foreign ownership of the Company). The benefit period for this program began in 2003 and will terminate in 2012.

The period of tax benefits detailed above is subject to limits of the earlier of 12 years from the commencement of production or 14 years from receiving the approval ("the year's limitation"). Please note that the year's limitation does not apply to the exemption period.

An amendment to the Law, which was published effective as of April 1, 2005 ("the Amendment"), changed certain provisions of the Law. As a result of the Amendment, a company is no longer obliged to implement an Approved Enterprise status in order to receive the tax benefits previously available under the Alternative Benefits provisions, and therefore there is no need to apply to the Investment Center for this purpose (Approved Enterprise status remains mandatory for companies seeking grants). Rather, a company may claim the tax benefits offered by the Investment Law directly in its tax returns, provided that its facilities meet the criteria for tax benefits set out by the Amendment. A company is also entitled to approach the Israeli Tax Authority for a pre-ruling regarding their eligibility for benefits under the Amendment.

Tax benefits are available under the Amendment to production facilities (or other eligible facilities), which are generally required to derive more than 25% of their business income from export (referred to as a Beneficiary Enterprise). In order to receive the tax benefits, the Amendment states that a company must make an investment in the Beneficiary Enterprise exceeding a minimum amount specified in the Law. Such investment may be made over a period of no more than three years ending at the end of the year in which a company requested to have the tax benefits apply to the Beneficiary Enterprise ("the Year of Election").
F - 37
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 15:-
TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.)

Where a company requests to have the tax benefits apply to an expansion of existing facilities, then only the expansion will be considered a Beneficiary Enterprise and the company's effective tax rate will be the result of a weighted combination of the applicable rates. In such case, the minimum investment required in order to qualify as a Beneficiary Enterprise is required to exceed a certain percentage of the company's production assets before the expansion. The duration of tax benefits is subject to a limitation of the earlier of seven years from the Commencement Year (the commencement Years is defined as the later of (a) the first tax year in which a company had derived income for tax purposes from the Beneficiary Enterprise or (b) the year in which a company requested to have the tax benefits apply to the Beneficiary Enterprise - Year of Election) or 12 years from the first day of the Year of Election.

b.
On March 3, 2007, the Company received a pre-ruling from the Israeli Tax Authority for its request for a Beneficiary Enterprise, regarding eligibility for benefits under the Amendment. The Company's income from this program is tax-exempt for a period of two years, and is subject to a reduced tax rate of 10%-25% for a period of five to eight years (depending upon the percentage of foreign ownership of the Company). The Company has not yet obtained any tax benefits from this program.

Income from sources other than an "Approved Enterprise", during the benefit period was subject to tax at regular rate of 27% in 2008 (see e. below).

By virtue of the Law, the Company is entitled to claim accelerated depreciation on equipment used by the "Approved Enterprise" during five tax years.

Since the Company is operating under more than one approval for an Approved Enterprise and since part of its taxable income is not entitled to tax benefits under the Law and is taxed at regular rates (27% in 2008), its effective tax rate is the result of a weighted combination of the various applicable rates and tax-exemptions. The computation is made for income derived from each program on the basis of formulas determined in the law and in the approvals.

The tax-exempt income attributable to the "Approved Enterprises" can be distributed to shareholders without subjecting the Company to taxes only upon the complete liquidation of the Company. If the retained tax-exempt income is distributed in a manner other than in the complete liquidation of the Company, it would be taxed at the corporate tax rate applicable to such profits as if the Company had not chosen the alternative tax benefits (currently - 15%).

The Company's Board of Directors has decided that its policy is not to declare dividends out of such tax-exempt income. Accordingly, no deferred income taxes have been provided on income attributable to the Company's "Approved Enterprises" and "Beneficiary Enterprise", as such retained earnings are essentially permanent in duration.

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

Under the Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985, 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 through 2006, the Company elected to measure its taxable income and file its tax returns 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 obligated the Company for three years. Accordingly, commencing in the 2003 taxable year, results for tax purposes are measured in terms of earnings in dollars.
F - 38
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 15:-
TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.)

Changes in the tax laws applicable to the Company:

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 with effect from 2008 and thereafter. From 2008, the results for tax purposes will be measured in nominal values, excluding certain adjustments for changes in the Israeli CPI carried out in the period up to December 31, 2007. The amended law includes, among other things, the elimination of the inflationary additions and deductions and the additional deduction for depreciation with effect from 2008.

d.
Tax benefits (in Israel) under the Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969:

The Company is an "industrial company" as defined by this law and, as such, is entitled to certain tax benefits including accelerated depreciation, deduction of the purchase price of patents and know-how and deduction of public offering expenses.

e.
Tax rates:

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

Taxable income of the company is subject to tax at the rate of 27% in 2008, 26% in 2009 and 25% in 2010.

In July 2009, the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) passed the Economic Efficiency Law (Amended Legislation for Implementing the Economic Plan for 2009 and 2010), 2009, which prescribes, among other things, an additional gradual reduction in the Israeli corporate tax rate starting from 2011 to the following tax rates: 2011 - 24%, 2012 - 23%, 2013 - 22%, 2014 - 21%, 2015 - 20%, 2016 and thereafter - 18%.

Following an additional amendment to the Tax Ordinance, which came into effect on January 1, 2009, an Israeli corporation may elect a 5% rate of corporate tax (instead of 25%) for income from dividend distributions received from a foreign subsidiary which is used in Israel in 2009 or within one year after actual receipt of the dividend, whichever is later. The 5% tax rate is subject to various conditions, which include conditions with regard to the identity of the corporation that distributes the dividends, the source of the dividend, the nature of the use of the dividend income, and the period during which the dividend income will be used in Israel.

2.
The tax rates of the Company's subsidiaries range between 16%-40%. In December 2007, the tax rate in Germany was reduced to 30% from 38%. The tax reduction is effective beginning January 1, 2008. Deferred taxes have been adjusted accordingly.
F - 39
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 15:-
TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.)

f.
Income taxes on non-Israeli subsidiaries:

Non-Israeli subsidiaries are taxed according to the tax laws in their respective country of residence.

Israeli income taxes and foreign withholding taxes were not provided for undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries. Undistributed earnings amounted to $ 9,000 as of December 31, 2009. The Company’s board of directors has determined that the Company will not distribute any amounts of its undistributed earnings as dividends. The Company intends to reinvest these earnings indefinitely in its foreign subsidiaries. Accordingly, no deferred income taxes have been provided. If these earnings were distributed to Israel in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to additional Israeli income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and foreign withholding taxes.

g.
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 ("TP Regulations"). Section 85A of the Tax Ordinance and the TP Regulations generally requires 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 Regulations did not have a material effect on the Company.

h.
Reconciliation between the theoretical tax expense, assuming all income is taxed at the Israeli statutory rate, and the actual tax expense, is as follows:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Loss from continuing continued operations before taxes as reported in the statements of operations
$ (864 ) $ (15,874 ) $ (4,433 )
Tax rate
29 % 27 % 26 %
Theoretical tax benefit
$ (251 ) $ (4,286 ) $ (1,153 )
Increase (decrease) in taxes:
Non-deductible items
113 194 128
Difference due to the basis of measurement of income reported for tax
(449 ) - -
Deferred taxes on current year losses for which valuation allowance was provided
765 7,293 1,139
Deferred taxes on prior year losses which valuation allowance was provided this year
- - *) 677
Reduction and tax rate differences in subsidiaries
15 (90 ) (20 )
Taxes in respect of prior years
357 107 95
Tax benefit due to discontinued operations
(134 ) - -
Other
(140 ) (152 ) (2 )
Taxes on income  in the statements of operations
$ 276 $ 3,066 $ 864

*)
The company recorded in 2009 valuation allowance in the amount of $ 677 relating to deferred tax on losses created in prior years by our subsidiary in Canada due to the uncertainty of their future realization.
F - 40
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 15:-
TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.)

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

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Current:
Foreign
$ 686 $ 659 $ 141
Deferred:
Domestic
(594 ) 2,357 -
Foreign
(173 ) 2 793
Taxes in respect of prior years:
Domestic
402 48 (16 )
Foreign
(45 ) - (54 )
Taxes on income from continuing operations
276 3,066 864
Tax benefit from discontinued operations
134 -
Total taxes on income
$ 410 $ 3,066 $ 864

i.
Deferred income 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 the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows:

December 31,
2008
2009
Operating loss carry forwards
$ 7,315 $ 6,948
Reserves and tax allowances
3,549 3,433
Total deferred taxes before valuation allowance
10,864 10,381
Valuation allowance
(9,849 ) (10,109 )
Net deferred tax assets
$ 1,015 $ 272
Domestic
$ - $ -
Foreign
1,015 272
$ 1,015 $ 272
F - 41
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 15:-
TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.)

j.
The domestic and foreign components of loss before taxes are as follows:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Domestic
$ (3,980 ) $ (13,199 ) $ (4,330 )
Foreign
3,116 (2,675 ) (103 )
$ (864 ) $ (15,874 ) $ (4,433 )

k.        Net operating carry forward tax losses:

The Company has estimated total available carry forward tax losses of $ 18,785 to offset against future taxable income. As of December 31, 2009, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance on these carry forward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization.

The Company's subsidiaries have estimated total available carry forward tax losses of $ 9,502, which may be used to offset against future taxable income, for periods ranging between 12 to 20 years. As of December 31, 2009, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance for its subsidiaries' carry forward tax losses due to the uncertainty of their future realization.

Utilization of U.S. net operating losses may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the "change in ownership" provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state provisions. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization.

l.
In December 2007, the Company finalized with the Israeli Tax Authority the tax assessment with respect to the years 2001-2004.

m.
Uncertain tax provisions

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" ("FIN 48"), primarily codified in ASC 740. The impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations as a result of the adoption of the provisions of FIN 48 was $229, which was recognized as an adjustment to opening retained earnings.

As of December 31, 2008 and 2009 balances in respect to FIN 48 amounted to $ 294 and $ 140, respectively.
F - 42

MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

NOTE 16:-     BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES
a.             Sales to related parties:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Sales to related parties
$ 781 $ - $ -

b.
Sales and balances to related parties represent services provided by discontinued operations.

c.
On December 31, 2007, the Company’s Chairman retired from his position. Pursuant to his retirement agreement as amended, the retired Chairman undertook not to compete with the Company for a period of three years following his retirement. In consideration, the Company agreed to pay the retired Chairman a one time payment of $ 360 payable within three months. In addition, the Chairman is entitled to receive certain perquisites from the Company for the rest of his life. The liability as of December 31, 2009 and the special post benefit expense related to the retirement agreement amounted to $ 639.

d.
In May 2008, one of the Company's major shareholders granted to the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors the right to purchase 100,000 shares, subject to the same terms and conditions that apply to the exercise of the options the Executive Chairman received from the Company pursuant to his employment agreement. The employment agreement was approved in the Company's annual shareholders meeting on August 20, 2008 and consequently, the Chairman of the Board of Directors has the right to purchase the shares in three equal installments commencing on August 20, 2010 at a price of $ 7.59 per share. The right to purchase each installment expires after three years. The Company recorded $ 156 in deferred stock compensation expense with respect to this right in 2009.
NOTE 17:-
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company adopted ASC 280, "Segment Reporting" (formerly SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information"). The Company operates in three major reportable segments, which represent the Company's operating segments as follows:

1.
Perimeter security systems – The Group's line of perimeter security systems consists of the following: Microprocessor-based central control units, taut wire perimeter intrusion detection systems, INNO fences, vibration detection systems, field disturbance sensors, and other.

2.
Security turnkey projects – The Group executes turnkey projects based on the Company's security management system and acts as an integrator.

3.
Video monitoring services – The Group supplied video monitoring services through a U.S. subsidiary whose assets and business was sold on December 24, 2007. Therefore all balances and operations attributed to the video monitoring services segment are classified and presented as discontinued operations, see Note 1c.
F - 43
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 17:-
SEGMENT INFORMATION (Cont.)

a.
The following data present the revenues, expenditures, assets and other operating data of the Company's operating segments:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Perimeter
Projects
Other
Eliminations
Total
Perimeter
Projects
Other
Eliminations
Total
Perimeter
Projects
Other
Eliminations
Total
Revenues
$ 43,781 $ 18,487 $ 427 $ - $ 62,695 $ 41,126 $ 15,727 $ 252 $ - $ 57,105 $ 39,066 $ 15,416 $ 36 $ - $ 54,518
Depreciation and amortization
$ 1,087 $ 117 $ 3 $ - $ 1,207 $ 782 $ 409 $ - $ - $ 1,191 $ 1,166 $ 38 $ - $ - $ 1,204
Impairment of Goodwill and Other intangible assets
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 2,772 $ - $ - $ - $ 2,772 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Operating income (loss), before financial expenses and taxes on income
$ 2,260 $ (844 ) $ (193 ) $ (28 ) $ 1,195 $ (9,337 ) $ (5,230 ) $ 7 $ - $ (14,560 ) $ (1,070 ) $ (1,812 ) $ 17 $ - $ (2,865 )
Financial expenses, net
2,059 1,314 1,568
Taxes on income (tax benefit)
276 3,066 864
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net
3,022 (13,662 ) 4,216
Net income (loss)
$ 1,882 $ (32,602 ) $ (1,081 )
December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Perimeter
Projects
Other
Total
Perimeter
Projects
Other
Total
Perimeter
Projects
Other
Total
Total long-lived assets
$ 12,518 $ 8,560 $ 1 $ 21,079 $ 9,575 $ 3,623 $ 5 $ 13,203 $ 10,584 $ 910 $ 6 $ 11.500
F - 44
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 17:-
SEGMENT INFORMATION (Cont.)

b.
Major customer data (percentage of total revenues):

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Customer A
15.0%
10.8%
19.6%

c.
Geographical information:
The following is a summary of revenues within geographic areas based on end customer's location and long-lived assets:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
1.
Revenues:
Israel
$ 15,663 $ 12,097 $ 12,968
Europe
18,342 15,603 10,808
North America
14,869 15,648 13,763
South and Latin America
6,818 4,542 3,986
Others
7,003 9,215 12,993
$ 62,695 $ 57,105 $ 54,518
2.
Long-lived assets:
Israel
$ 2,955 $ 3,148 $ 4,230
Europe
8,472 3,954 1,174
USA
5,244 2,610 2,262
Canada
4,189 3,309 3,590
Others
219 182 244
$ 21,079 $ 13,203 $ 11,500
F - 45
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)
NOTE 18:-
SELECTED STATEMENTS OF INCOME DATA
Financial expenses:

Year ended December 31,
2007
2008
2009
Financial expenses:
Interest on long-term debt
$ (461 ) $ (170 ) $ (93 )
Interest on short-term bank credit
(1,290 ) (922 ) (879 )
Forward contracts losses
(666 ) (291 ) -
Foreign exchange losses
(792 ) (875 ) (1,378 )
Marketable securities losses
- (442 ) -
(3,209 ) (2,700 ) (2,350 )
Financial income:
Interest on short-term and long-term bank deposits, structured notes and marketable securities
1,150 757 484
Marketable securities gain
- - 58
Foreign exchange gains
- 629 240
1,150 1,386 782
$ (2,059 ) $ (1,314 ) $ (1,568 )
F - 46
(logo)
Salles Sainz
Grant Thornton

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders’ of
Senstar Stellar Latin America, S. A. de C.V.:
We have audited the accompanying balances sheets of SENSTAR STELLAR LATIN AMERICA, S.A. DE C.V. (incorporated in Mexico), as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.
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. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its 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 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 provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the translated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Senstar Stellar Latin America, S.A. de C.V. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years then ended in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

SALLES, SAINZ - GRANT THORNTON, S.C.
-s- hector bautista
By: Hector Bautista C.P.A.
Mexico City, Mexico
March 27, 2009
F - 47

SCHEDULE OF VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Balance at end of period
Translation adjustments
Provision for doubtful accounts
Balance at beginning of period
Year ended December 31, 2009:
$ 911 $ 2 $ (153 ) $ 1,506
Allowance for doubtful debts (1)
Year ended December 31, 2008:
$ 1,506 $ (60 ) $ 1,223 $ 343
Allowance for doubtful debts
Year ended December 31, 2007:
$ 343 $ 27 $ (68 ) $ 384
Allowance for doubtful debts
(1)
In September 2009, our Board of Directors resolved to discontinue the operations of the European integration subsidiary that we acquired in September 2007.  The subsidiary was sold in December 2009. In Connection with the acquisition, the buyer assumed $ 444 thousands of doubtful accounts of the subsidiary.
- 84 -
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 amendment to annual report on its behalf.
MAGAL SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD.
By:
/s/ Eitan Livneh
Name:Eitan Livneh
Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: May 2, 2010
- 85 -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part IItem 1. Identity Of Directors, Senior Management and AdvisersItem 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable Not ApplicableItem 3. Key InformationItem 4. Information on The CompanyItem 4A. Unresolved Staff CommentsItem 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsItem 6. Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesItem 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party TransactionsItem 8. Financial InformationItem 9. The Offer and ListingItem 10. Additional InformationItem 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market RiskItem 12. Description Of Securities Other Than Equity SecuritiesPart IIItem 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and DelinquenciesItem 14. Material Modifications To The Rights Of Security Holders and Use Of ProceedsItem 15. Controls and ProceduresItem 16A. Audit Committee Financial ExpertItem 16B. Code Of EthicsItem 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and ServicesItem 16D. Exemptions From The Listing Standards For Audit CommitteesItem 16E. Purchase Of Equity Securities By The Issuer and Affiliated PurchasersItem 16F. Changes in Registrant S Certifying AccountantItem 16G. Corporate GovernancePart IIIItem 17. Financial StatementsItem 18. Financial StatementsItem 19. ExhibitsNote 1:- GeneralNote 1:- General (cont.)Note 2:- Significant Accounting PoliciesNote 2:- Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)Note 4:- Other Accounts Receivable and Prepaid ExpensesNote 5:- InventoriesNote 6:- Property and EquipmentNote 7:- Other Intangible Assets, NetNote 8:- GoodwillNote 9:- Short-term Bank CreditNote 9:- Short-term Bank Credit (cont.)Note 10:- Other Accounts Payable and Accrued ExpensesNote 11:- Long-term Bank DebtNote 12:- Commitments and Contingent LiabilitiesNote 12:- Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (cont.)Note 13:- Shareholders' EquityNote 13:- Shareholders' Equity (cont.)Note 14:- Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per ShareNote 15:- Taxes on IncomeNote 15:- Taxes on Income (cont.)Note 16:- Balances and Transactions with Related PartiesNote 17:- Segment InformationNote 17:- Segment Information (cont.)Note 18:- Selected Statements Of Income Data