PART
I
ITEM
1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
3. Key Information.
A. Selected
Financial Data.
SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
We
prepare our historical consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The selected financial data, set forth
in the table below, have been derived from our audited historical financial statements for each of the years from 2013 to 2015.
The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, and the selected consolidated balance
sheet data at December 31, 2014 and 2015, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements set forth in “Item
18 – Financial Statements.” The selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2013, have been derived from
our previously published audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
These selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, as set forth in Item 18,
and are qualified entirely by reference to such consolidated financial statements.
US $
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
12,202
|
|
|
$
|
41,953
|
|
|
$
|
60,740
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
17,170
|
|
|
|
15,898
|
|
|
|
7,592
|
|
Total Revenues
|
|
|
29,372
|
|
|
|
57,851
|
|
|
|
68,332
|
|
Gross loss
|
|
|
7,399
|
|
|
|
21,364
|
|
|
|
719
|
|
Research and development, net
|
|
|
834,261
|
|
|
|
959,746
|
|
|
|
720,997
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
110,577
|
|
|
|
136,770
|
|
|
|
245,756
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
347,843
|
|
|
|
809,927
|
|
|
|
807,277
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
1,292,681
|
|
|
|
1,906,443
|
|
|
|
1,774,030
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
1,300,080
|
|
|
|
1,927,807
|
|
|
|
1,774,749
|
|
Financial expenses (income), net
|
|
|
291,109
|
|
|
|
236,561
|
|
|
|
(1,094
|
)
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
1,591,189
|
|
|
$
|
2,164,368
|
|
|
$
|
1,773,655
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deemed dividend
|
|
|
–
|
|
|
|
1,842,061
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares
|
|
$
|
1,591,189
|
|
|
$
|
4,006,429
|
|
|
$
|
1,773,655
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and
diluted net loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares per share
|
|
$
|
0.71
|
|
|
$
|
1.24
|
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
Weighted average number of common stock
|
|
|
2,226,900
|
|
|
|
3,222,644
|
|
|
|
12,745,710
|
|
US $
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Current assets
|
|
$
|
177,985
|
|
|
$
|
816,099
|
|
|
$
|
226,717
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
215,107
|
|
|
|
226,546
|
|
|
|
217,794
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
393,092
|
|
|
|
1,042,645
|
|
|
|
444,511
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
454,796
|
|
|
|
1,231,823
|
|
|
|
2,100,092
|
|
Total stockholders’ deficit
|
|
$
|
(61,704
|
)
|
|
$
|
(189,178
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,655,581
|
)
|
B. Capitalization
and Indebtedness.
Not
applicable.
C. Reasons
for the Offer and Use of Proceeds.
Not
applicable.
D. Risk
Factors.
Risks
Related to Our Financial Position and Capital Requirements
We
have a limited operating history on which to assess our business, have incurred significant losses since our inception, and anticipate
that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.
We
have a limited operating history. We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately
$1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $10.6
million. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible securities and government
grants. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of our future expenditures, our ability to obtain
funding through equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, or grants and our ability to commercialize our products or
technologies. We do not know whether or when we will become profitable. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able
to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our inability to achieve and then maintain profitability
would negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our
history of net losses has raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. If we do not continue
as a going concern, investors could lose their entire investment.
We
have limited product revenues and revenues generated from our sales of Sicrys™ inks are not presently sufficient to sustain
our operations. Our total revenues generated from sales of our inks were $12,202, $41,953 and $60,740 for the years ended December
31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. We have incurred net losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately
$1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Our
history of net losses has raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, and as a result, our independent
registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements as of and for the
year ended December 31, 2015 with respect to this uncertainty. We have limited product revenues and revenues generated from our
sales of Sicrys™ inks are not presently sufficient to sustain our operations and we believe that we will need to raise significant
additional funds before we have significant cash flow from operations. Accordingly, our ability to continue as a going concern
will require us to seek alternative financing to fund our operations. This going concern opinion could materially limit our ability
to raise additional funds through the issuance of new debt or equity securities or otherwise. Future reports on our financial
statements may include an explanatory paragraph with respect to our ability to continue as a going concern.
We
will need significant additional capital, which we may be unable to obtain.
As
of December 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of $10,912. As of November 15, 2016, we had sufficient cash to fund operations
for approximately three months if we do not raise additional capital. We will need to raise additional capital to continue our
operations beyond such three month period, or earlier if we change our current strategy or operating plan. There can be no assurance
that additional funds will be available when needed from any source or, if available, will be available on terms that are acceptable
to us. We may be required to pursue sources of additional capital through various means, including debt or equity financings.
Future financings through equity investments are likely to be dilutive to existing stockholders. Furthermore, the terms of securities
we may issue in future capital transactions may be more favorable for our new investors. Newly issued securities may include preferences,
superior voting rights, the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, and the issuances of incentive awards under equity
employee incentive plans, which may have additional dilutive effects. Further, we may incur substantial costs in pursuing future
capital and/or financing, including investment banking fees, legal fees, accounting fees, printing and distribution expenses and
other costs. We may also be required to recognize non-cash expenses in connection with certain securities we may issue, such as
convertible notes and warrants, which will adversely impact our financial condition. Our ability to obtain needed financing may
be impaired by such factors as the capital markets and our history of losses, which could impact the availability or cost of future
financings. If the amount of capital we are able to raise from financing activities, together with our revenues from operations,
is not sufficient to satisfy our capital needs, even to the extent that we reduce our operations accordingly, we may be required
to cease operations.
We
have generated only minimal revenue from product sales and may never be profitable.
We
have generated only minimal revenue in the past, from limited sales of our Sicrys™ inks. Our ability to generate revenue
and achieve profitability depends on our ability to successfully commercialize our Sicrys™ inks and future products and
technologies. Our ability to generate future revenue from product sales depends heavily on our success in many areas, including
but not limited to:
|
●
|
obtaining
market acceptance of our products and technologies;
|
|
●
|
addressing
any competing technological and market developments;
|
|
●
|
identifying,
assessing, acquiring and/or developing new products and technologies;
|
|
●
|
ramping
up our production capabilities if and when our sales volume increases;
|
|
●
|
expanding
our distribution channels, including our ability to enter into cooperation arrangements
with printer manufacturers to distribute our inks;
|
|
●
|
maintaining,
protecting, and expanding our portfolio of intellectual property rights, including patents,
trade secrets, and know-how; and
|
|
●
|
attracting,
hiring, and retaining qualified personnel.
|
Risks
Related to Our Business
If
our conductive inks fail to achieve and sustain sufficient market acceptance or if market penetration occurs more slowly than
we expect, our future revenue will be adversely affected.
Our
success depends, in large part, on our ability to gain market acceptance of our Sicrys™ inks as a reliable and cost-saving
alternative to existing printing technologies. Compared to some competing technologies, our nano-metric conductive ink technology
is relatively new, and most potential customers have limited knowledge of, or experience with, our conductive inks. Potential
customers may be reluctant to adopt our conductive inks as an alternative to conventional printing technologies. Such potential
customers may have substantial investments and know-how related to their existing printing technologies, and may perceive risks
relating to the reliability, quality, usefulness and profitability of adopting our conductive inks when compared to other printing
technologies available in the market. Prior to adopting our conductive inks, some potential customers may need to devote significant
time and effort to testing and validating our technology. Any failure of our technology to meet these customer benchmarks could
result in customers choosing to retain their existing technology or to purchase technologies other than ours. If we fail to achieve
market acceptance of our conductive inks or if market penetration is slower than expected, then our opportunities to grow our
revenues and reach profitability will be severely limited.
As one of our strategies
to increase sales, we intend to acquire inkjet printers to be deployed, free-of-charge, to consumers who agree to purchase a minimum
quantity of inks from us, in certain specific fields (e.g. production of printed circuit boards or PCBs). There can be no assurance
that such printers will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, that customers will be willing to make such minimum
purchase commitments or that the printers will work as expected in the commercial environment. We already purchased the first
beta printer which has been deployed to a first customer in Israel. We are expecting to start the debugging process for this printer
soon and hope to eventually enter into an agreement with this customer for the provision of our ink to the customer. We are negotiating
with additional printer producers to develop and provide us with printers and to have broader printer sources to provide potential
customers with printers to whom we may hopefully provide inks. There is no assurance that the first printer will be successfully
debugged, that the first customer will accept this printer, that the first customer will order any or significant quantities of
our ink, that we will enter into an agreement for the provision of ink with the first customer or any future customers, or that
we will successfully conclude our negotiations with additional printer producers and develop additional sources of printers. As
an additional strategy to increase sales we have engaged a representative in Korea who has a sub-representative in Japan. Neither
of these representatives are employees of the Company. Each is attempting to find additional ink customers for printers that use
our ink, including but not limited to HP model printers. There is no assurance that these representatives will be successful in
any manner in finding customers for our ink or that we will successfully develop business in Korea, Japan or anywhere else in
Asia.
Our
ink products may not be compatible with commercially available printers and printer heads.
We
have successfully certified our ink with one manufacturer of commercially available printers and printer heads, and are in the
process of certifying our ink products with additional manufacturers of commercially available printers and printer heads, as
this is critically important to convince potential customers to implement inkjet technology and purchase our inks. If we are unable
to certify our ink products with a sufficient number of manufacturers of popular printers and printer heads, our ability to widely
market our ink products will be impaired and we may be unable to generate significant revenue.
Printer
heads generally require compatible inks. An ink may be incompatible for use with a particular printer head for a number of reasons,
including, without limitations: because the chemicals used in the ink are not compatible with the materials used in the manufacture
of the printer head; or because the physical properties of the ink (e.g., viscosity, surface tension, etc.) are not compatible
with the printer head. As a result, there can be no assurance that our inks will be compatible with a sufficient number of printer
heads, if any, to support wide scale sales of our inks for digital inkjet printing.
We
currently have minimal marketing and sales capabilities. If we are unable to establish significant sales and marketing capabilities
or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our products, we may be unable to generate significant revenue.
Although our employees
may have sold other similar products in the past while employed at other companies, we as a company have minimal experience selling
and marketing our conductive inks and we currently have a small marketing and sales operation consisting of one full-time marketing
employee and one sales representative in Korea who has a representative in Japan. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer generally
devotes a portion of his efforts to increasing awareness of, and marketing, our products. To successfully commercialize our Sicrys™
inks and any products that may result from our development programs, we will need to develop these capabilities, either on our
own or with others. We intend to collaborate with additional third party distributors and sales agents with established sales and
marketing operations and industry experience to market our inks. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter
into distribution and/or sales agency agreements on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that such distributors or sales agents
will be successful in marketing our inks. If our future distributors or sales agents do not commit sufficient resources to commercialize
our products, we will be unable to generate sufficient product revenue to sustain our business. We may be competing with companies
that currently have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. Without an internal team or the support of a third
party to perform marketing and sales functions, we may be unable to compete successfully against these more established companies.
Our
manufacturing capacity and operations may not be appropriate for future levels of demand.
We
manufacture our inks at our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities. We currently have capacity to produce an estimated two tons of ink
per year and intend to upgrade our facilities (estimated at $600,000) to increase production capacity to 19 tons per year, if
and when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities. If the demand for our conductive inks does not
increase, we may have significant excess manufacturing capacity and under-absorption of our fixed costs, which could in turn adversely
affect our gross margins. In the event that demand for our conductive inks outgrows our internal manufacturing capacity, we intend
to engage third-party manufacturers to produce additional inks. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into agreements
with qualified manufacturers on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that, once contracted, such manufacturers will perform as
expected.
We
are subject to a multitude of manufacturing risks, any of which could substantially increase our costs and limit supply of our
products and technologies.
The
process of manufacturing our products and technologies is complex and subject to several risks and uncertainties, including but
not limited to: our ability to scale up our production if and when demand for our inks grows and the quality, availability and
prices of the raw materials (including, in particular, silver and copper) necessary for production of our inks. Any adverse developments
affecting manufacturing operations for our products and technologies may result in shipment delays, inventory shortages, lot failures,
withdrawals or recalls, or other interruptions in the supply of our products and technologies. We may also have to take inventory
write-offs and incur other charges and expenses for products and technologies that fail to meet specifications, undertake costly
remediation efforts, or seek more costly manufacturing alternatives.
We
face intense competition and rapid technological change and the possibility that our competitors may develop products that are
similar to, more advanced than, or more effective than ours, which may adversely affect our financial condition and our ability
to successfully commercialize our products and technologies.
The
digital electronic printing and inkjet conductive ink manufacturing industries are extremely competitive. We are currently aware
of various existing products in the market and in development that may compete with our products and technologies. To our knowledge,
more than twenty other companies are currently developing silver-based inkjet inks for PE digital electronic inkjet printing applications.
Some of these companies are selling conductive inkjet inks for PE applications. Of those, to our knowledge, no other company claims
to have metallization inkjet inks for silicon nitride based PV applications. In addition, silver-based inks are more expensive
than copper-based inks. We are aware of at least four companies seeking to develop copper- based inks for inkjet printing, including
NovaCentrix, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., IntrinsiQ Materials Ltd. and Nanotec-USA. However, to our knowledge, none of our competitors
has copper- based inks in mass production and at a commercially viable price and quantity, and some are using copper oxide as
a precursor in their inks instead of copper. Copper precursors are less effective for thick patterns and high throughput. To our
knowledge, we are the only company offering as much as a 50% copper inkjet ink, although we are not yet in mass production. As,
to our knowledge, no one has proven our strategy to be effective, there is no assurance that we will be successful and the utilization
of 50% copper inkjet ink may not prevail.
Many
of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources, such as larger research and development
staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations. Mergers and acquisitions in the conductive ink industry may result
in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. As a result, these companies may be more effective in selling and
marketing their products. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through
collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the
commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in this industry. Our competitors
may succeed in developing, acquiring, or licensing on an exclusive basis, products that are more effective or less costly than
our current or future products or technologies, or achieve earlier patent protection, product commercialization, and market penetration
than we do. Additionally, technologies developed by our competitors may render our potential products and technologies uneconomical
or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing our products and technologies against competitors.
We
may not be successful in our efforts to identify, license, or discover additional products and technologies.
Although
we intend to focus a substantial amount of our research and development efforts on the continued development and commercialization
of our existing products and technologies, the success of our business also depends upon our ability to identify, license, or
discover additional products and technologies. Our research programs or licensing efforts may fail to yield additional products
and technologies for development for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the following:
|
●
|
our
research or business development methodology or search criteria and process may be unsuccessful
in identifying potential products and technologies;
|
|
●
|
we
may not be able or willing to assemble sufficient resources to acquire or discover additional
products and technologies;
|
|
●
|
our
products and technologies may not succeed in testing;
|
|
●
|
our
potential products and technologies may have characteristics that make them unmarketable;
|
|
●
|
competitors
may develop alternatives that render our products and technologies obsolete or less attractive;
|
|
●
|
products
and technologies we develop may be covered by third parties’ patents or other exclusive
rights;
|
|
●
|
the
market for a product may change during our program so that such a product becomes unreasonable
to continue to develop; and
|
|
●
|
a
product may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable
cost, or at all.
|
If
any of these events occurs, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for a program or programs, or we may not be able
to identify, license, or discover additional products and technologies, which would have a material adverse effect on our business
and could potentially cause us to cease operations. Research programs to identify new products and technologies require substantial
technical, financial, and human resources. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential programs or products and technologies
that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful.
Sustained
declines in worldwide oil prices could adversely affect our business.
Worldwide
oil prices have recently declined. Oil is used as a fuel for electricity generation in only a small percentage of applications
worldwide, compared to natural gas or coal-fired electricity generation and other forms of electricity generation, and accordingly,
fluctuations in oil prices generally do not have a significant direct causal effect on prevailing competitive electricity prices,
including electricity from solar sources. Nonetheless, sustained decreases in oil prices could result in decreased demand for
solar sources of energy, which in turn would materially adversely affect our business, prospects and results of operations.
International
expansion of our business exposes us to business, regulatory, political, operational, financial, and economic risks associated
with doing business outside of Israel.
Our
headquarters are located in Israel (as further described below), and we currently do not have any operations outside of Israel.
However our business strategy incorporates potentially significant international expansion, particularly in China. Doing business
internationally involves a number of risks, including but not limited to:
|
●
|
multiple,
conflicting, and changing laws and regulations such as privacy regulations, tax laws,
export and import restrictions, employment laws, regulatory requirements, and other governmental
approvals, permits, and licenses;
|
|
●
|
additional
potentially relevant third-party patent rights;
|
|
●
|
complexities
and difficulties in obtaining protection for and enforcing our intellectual property
rights;
|
|
●
|
difficulties
in staffing and managing foreign operations;
|
|
●
|
limitations
in our ability to penetrate international markets;
|
|
●
|
financial
risks, such as longer payment cycles, difficulty collecting accounts receivable, the
impact of local and regional financial crises on demand and payment for our products,
and exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
|
|
●
|
changes
in foreign regulations and customs;
|
|
●
|
changes
in currency exchange rates and currency controls;
|
|
●
|
changes
in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic environment;
|
|
●
|
natural
disasters, wars, terrorism, outbreak of disease, boycotts, curtailment of trade, and
other business restrictions; and
|
|
●
|
certain
expenses including, among others, expenses for travel, translation, and insurance.
|
Any
of these factors could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, our results of
operations.
If
we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or
incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.
We
are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements in Israel, including those
governing the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into ground, air or water; noise emissions; the generation, storage,
use, management and disposal of hazardous waste; the registration of chemicals and in the future also import and export of chemicals;
the cleanup of contaminated sites; and the health and safety of our employees. We expect to be subject to similar regulations
in any other jurisdictions in which we may establish manufacturing operations in the future. Some of these laws and regulations
require us to obtain licenses or permits to conduct our operations. Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently
and have tended to become more stringent over time. If we violate or fail to comply with these laws, regulations, licenses or
permits, we could be fined or otherwise sanctioned by regulators. We cannot predict the impact on our business of new or amended
laws or regulations or any changes in the way existing and future laws and regulations are interpreted or enforced, nor can we
ensure we will be able to obtain or maintain any required licenses or permits.
The
health effects of nanotechnology are unknown.
There
is no scientific agreement on the health effects of nanomaterials, but some scientists believe that, in some cases, nanomaterials
may be hazardous to an individual’s health or the environment. The science of nanotechnology is based on arranging atoms
in such a way as to modify or build materials. Depending on the nanomaterials used, the resulting material may not be found in
nature; therefore, the effects are unknown. Our technologies are based on nanometals that are at most times dispersed in a liquid
minimizing the exposures risks. Moreover once the metal particles have been printed and sintered they are no longer nanometals,
therefore lowering the risks. We take appropriate precautions for employees working with our materials and believe that any health
risks related to the nanometals used in potential products can be minimized. Future research into the effects of nanomaterials,
in general, on health and environmental issues may have an adverse effect on products using our technology.
Public
perceptions of ethical and social issues may discourage the use of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology
has received both positive and negative publicity and is the subject of public discussion and debate. Governments and regulatory
bodies may, for social or health purposes, prohibit or regulate the use of nanotechnology. This may restrict our ability to license
our technology, or the ability of our future licensees (if any) to sell products.
Our
future success depends in part on our ability to retain our Chief Executive Officer and to attract, retain, and motivate other
qualified personnel.
We
are highly dependent on Dr. Fernando de la Vega, our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and the loss of his
services without a proper replacement would adversely impact the achievement of our objectives. Under the terms of his services
agreement with us, Dr. de la Vega may cease providing services to us at any time by providing 30 days’ prior written notice.
Recruiting and retaining other qualified employees, consultants, and advisors for our business, including scientific and technical
personnel, will also be critical to our success. Locating and attracting skilled personnel may take time. We may not be able to
attract and retain personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous high-technology companies for individuals
with similar skill sets. The inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel, or the loss of the services of Dr. de la Vega
without proper replacement, may impede the progress of our research, development, and commercialization objectives.
We
will need to expand our organization and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth, which could disrupt our operations.
As
our development and commercialization plans and strategies develop, we expect to need additional managerial, operational, sales,
marketing, financial, legal, and other resources. Our management may need to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention
away from our day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. We may not be
able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations, which may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational
mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees, and reduced productivity among remaining employees. Our expected
growth could require significant capital expenditures and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development
of additional products and technologies. If our management is unable to effectively manage our growth, our expenses may increase
more than expected, our ability to generate and/or grow revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business
strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize products and technologies and compete effectively
will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth.
We
are dependent on a license for the additives necessary for the metallization of our inks.
In
order for our inks to be suitable for use in silicon nitride based solar cell metallization processes, we use certain additives
in our inks. These additives are not readily commercially available, and we have an exclusive license for these additives from
the Fraunhofer Institute, IKTS, or IKTS, in Germany, which developed them especially for our inks. Pursuant to the license, IKTS
has agreed to manufacture a limited quantity of such additives for us each year. If we require greater quantities, IKTS has agreed
to transfer the production file and knowhow to our chosen manufacturer. If IKTS is not able to supply these additives in sufficient
quantities or at an acceptable quality, we will need to seek other sources for such additives. However, we are not aware of any
other party capable of manufacturing such additives without an orderly transfer by IKTS, as they were specially designed by IKTS
for use with our inks. Furthermore, even if we obtain the production file and knowhow for such additives, we may have difficulty
in finding other manufacturers with the ability or technical knowledge to utilize such information to produce such additives in
our desired quantities and quality, or at all. Any of these events could materially impair our ability to manufacture inks suitable
for use in solar cell metallization processes in sufficient quantities or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
We
are subject to risks resulting from fluctuations in the price of silver.
The
manufacturing process for our silver-based inks utilizes a silver salt, the price of which is linked to the price of silver. The
price of silver is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including inflation, fluctuation of the United States dollar
and foreign currencies, global and regional demand, speculative activities by commodities traders and others and the political
and economic conditions of major silver producing countries throughout the world. The volatility of mineral prices represents
a substantial risk which no amount of planning or technical expertise can fully eliminate. In the event silver prices increase
and remain high for prolonged periods of time, we may not be able to produce silver-based inks at a price which is cost effective
for manufacturers of solar cells. Furthermore, if the price of silver decreases substantially and remains low for prolonged periods
of time, the value proposition that we believe is offered by our copper-based nano-metric ink may be substantially decreased,
since a low price of the silver used in their manufacturing processes reduces the incentive for manufacturers of electronic devices
to replace silver with another metal, such as copper. Any of the foregoing would have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our
U.S. investors may suffer adverse tax consequences if we are characterized as a passive foreign investment company.
Generally,
if for any taxable year 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or at least 50% of our assets are held for the
production of, or produce, passive income, we would be characterized as a passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. We have not determined whether we have previously been a PFIC for any year, or whether we
will be a PFIC in 2016 or in future years. Because PFIC status is determined annually and is based on our income, assets and
activities for the entire taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be classified as a PFIC in any year. If we
were to be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year during which a U.S. Investor, as
defined in “Taxation — U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”, owns Ordinary Shares, such U.S. Investor
could face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, including having gains realized on the sale of our Ordinary Shares
classified as ordinary income, rather than as capital gain, the loss of the preferential rate applicable to dividends
received on our Ordinary Shares by individuals who are U.S. Investors, and having interest charges apply to distributions by
us and the proceeds of share sales. A “qualified electing fund” election may alleviate some of the adverse
consequences of PFIC status; however, we do not intend to provide the information necessary for U.S. Investors to make
qualified electing fund elections if we are classified as a PFIC. See “Taxation — U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences.”
As
an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain
disclosure requirements, which could make the Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors.
We
qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we are deemed an emerging growth
company, we are permitted to and intend to take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other regulatory requirements that
are generally unavailable to other public companies, including:
|
●
|
an
exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal
controls over financial reporting required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
and
|
|
●
|
an
exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the PCAOB, requiring mandatory
audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report in which the auditor
would be required to provide additional information about our audit and our financial
statements.
|
We
may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the
first sale of our common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. However,
if certain events occur prior to the end of such five year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,”
our annual gross revenues exceed $1.0 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period,
we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.
Section
107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period
provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This means that an
“emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We are electing to delay such adoption of new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our financial
statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the public company effective date.
We
cannot predict if investors will find the Ordinary Shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors
find the Ordinary Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the Ordinary Shares and the
market price of the Ordinary Shares may be more volatile.
Risks
Related to Our Intellectual Property
If
we are unable to obtain and maintain effective patent rights for our products and technologies or any future products and technologies,
we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets.
We
rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection, and confidentiality agreements to protect the intellectual property
related to our products and technologies. Our success depends in large part on our and our licensors’ ability to obtain
and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection in the United States and in other countries with respect to our
proprietary technology and products.
We
have sought to protect our proprietary position by filing patent applications in the United States and abroad related to our novel
technologies and products that are important to our business. This process is expensive and time consuming, and we may not be
able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also
possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain
patent protection.
The
patent position of technology companies generally is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions for which
legal principles remain unsolved. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail to result in issued patents with
claims that cover our products and technologies in the United States or in other foreign countries. There is no assurance that
all potentially relevant prior art relating to our patents and patent applications has been found. The discovery of relevant prior
art can invalidate a patent or prevent a patent from issuing from a pending patent application. Even if patents do successfully
issue, and even if such patents cover our products and technologies, third parties may challenge their validity, enforceability,
or scope, which may result in such patents being narrowed, found unenforceable or invalidated. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged,
our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property, provide exclusivity for our products
and technologies, or prevent others from designing around our claims. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent
competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business.
We,
independently or together with our licensors, have filed several patent applications covering various aspects of our products
and technologies. We cannot provide any assurances about which, if any, patents will issue, the breadth of any such patent or
whether any issued patents will be found invalid and unenforceable or will be threatened by third parties. Any successful opposition
to these patents or any other patents owned by or licensed to us after patent issuance could deprive us of rights necessary for
the successful commercialization of any products and technologies that we may develop. Further, if we encounter delays in regulatory
approvals, the period of time during which we could market a product under patent protection could be reduced.
If
we cannot obtain and maintain effective patent rights for our products and technologies, we may not be able to compete effectively
and our business and results of operations would be harmed.
We
may not have sufficient patent terms to effectively protect our products and business.
Patents
have a limited lifespan. In the United States, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years after it is filed. Although
various extensions may be available, the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering
our products and technologies are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product, we may be open to competition.
The
patent protection and patent prosecution for some of our products and technologies is dependent on third parties.
While
we normally seek and gain the right to fully prosecute the patents relating to our products and technologies, there may be times
when patents relating to our products and technologies are controlled by our licensors. In addition, even where we now have the
right to control the prosecution of patents and patent applications we have licensed from third parties, we may still be adversely
affected or prejudiced by actions or inactions of our licensors and their counsel that took place prior to us assuming control
over patent prosecution.
Patent
policy and rule changes could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and
the enforcement or defense of our issued patents.
Changes
in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value
of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection. The laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same
extent as the laws of the United States. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual
discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months
after filing, or in some cases not at all. We therefore cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to make any
invention claimed in our owned and licensed patents or pending applications, or that we or our licensor were the first to file
for patent protection of any such invention. Assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, in the United States prior
to March 15, 2013, the first to make the claimed invention is entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first
to file a patent application is entitled to the patent. After March 15, 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the
Leahy-Smith Act, enacted on September 16, 2011, the United States has moved to a first to file system. The Leahy-Smith Act also
includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and may also affect patent
litigation. The effects of these changes are currently unclear as the United States Patent and Trademark office, or the USPTO,
must still implement various regulations, the courts have yet to address any of these provisions and the applicability of the
act and new regulations on specific patents discussed herein have not been determined and would need to be reviewed. In general,
the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent
applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business
and financial condition.
If
we are unable to maintain effective proprietary rights for our products and technologies or any future products and technologies,
we may not be able to compete effectively in our markets.
In
addition to the protection afforded by patents, we rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary
knowhow that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other
elements of our product candidate discovery and development processes that involve proprietary knowhow, information or technology
that is not covered by patents. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary technology
and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, and
contractors. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and trade secrets by maintaining physical
security of our premises and physical security of our information technology systems. While we have confidence in these individuals,
organizations and systems, agreements or security measures may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach.
In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors.
Although
we expect all of our employees and consultants to assign their inventions to us, and all of our employees, consultants, advisors,
and any third parties who have access to our proprietary knowhow, information, or technology to enter into confidentiality agreements,
we cannot provide any assurances that all such agreements have been duly executed or that our trade secrets and other confidential
proprietary information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or independently
develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of our trade secrets
could impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, if the steps taken
to maintain our trade secrets are deemed inadequate, we may have insufficient recourse against third parties for misappropriating
the trade secret.
Third-party
claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts.
Our
commercial success depends in part on our avoiding infringement of the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. There
have been many lawsuits and other proceedings involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the high-technology industries,
including patent infringement lawsuits, interferences, oppositions, and reexamination proceedings before the USPTO and corresponding
foreign patent offices. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties,
exist in the fields in which we are developing products and technologies. As the conductive ink industry expands and more patents
are issued, the risk increases that our products and technologies may be subject to claims of infringement of the patent rights
of third parties.
Third
parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. There may be third-party patents
or patent applications with claims to materials, formulations, or methods of manufacture related to the use or manufacture of
our products and technologies. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending patent
applications that may later result in issued patents that our products and technologies may infringe. In addition, third parties
may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents. If any third-party patents
were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover the manufacturing process of any of our products and technologies, the
holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize such product or technology unless we obtained a
license under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or are finally determined to be invalid or unenforceable.
Similarly,
if any third-party patents were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover aspects of our formulations, processes for
manufacture, or methods of use, the holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize
the applicable product or technology unless we obtained a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be
invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Parties
making claims against us may obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further
develop and commercialize one or more of our products and technologies. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would
involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event
of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages (including treble damages and attorneys’
fees for willful infringement), pay royalties, redesign our infringing products or obtain one or more licenses from third parties,
which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
We
may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time
consuming, and unsuccessful.
Competitors may
infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors. If we or one of our licensing partners were to initiate legal proceedings
against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our products or technologies, the defendant could counterclaim that the
patent covering our product or technology is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant
counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged
failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, or non-enablement. Grounds for an
unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information
from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement to the USPTO, during prosecution. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity
and unenforceability is unpredictable.
Interference
proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by us or declared by the USPTO may be necessary to determine the priority of
inventions with respect to our patents or patent applications or those of our licensors. An unfavorable outcome could require
us to cease using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be
harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Our defense of litigation or interference
proceedings may fail and, even if successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees.
Furthermore,
because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that
some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. There could also be public
announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors
perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the price of our Ordinary Shares.
We
may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants, or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential
information of third parties or that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.
We
employ individuals, including our Chief Executive Officer, who were previously employed at other high-technology companies, including
our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants, and independent contractors
do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our
employees, consultants, or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including
trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any of our employees’ former employers or other third parties. Litigation
may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages,
we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel, which could adversely impact our business. Even if we are successful
in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.
In 2009, Cima NanoTech Ltd., or Cima, the former employer of Dr. de la Vega, our Chief Executive Officer, claimed in several letters
to Dr. de la Vega that he had violated a non-competition provision in his agreement and alleged, in certain of those letters,
that Dr. de la Vega may have improperly used certain of Cima’s intellectual property. Those letters also threatened legal
action against Dr. de la Vega. To our knowledge, Cima has not initiated any formal action against us or Dr. de la Vega in relation
to such claims or otherwise and has never threatened legal action against us. However, the statute of limitations has not expired
and therefore Cima may seek to initiate a legal action against Dr. de la Vega or us any time prior to the termination of the applicable
statute of limitations. While Dr. de la Vega denies the allegations made by Cima, there can be no assurance that he or we would
be meritorious in any legal proceeding relating to such claims. If Cima brought a legal action against the Company in respect
of such claims, even if we were to prevail in our defense of such action, our response to such litigation could require the expenditure
of significant financial and managerial resources, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results
of operations, and cash flows. If Cima were to prevail in such litigation, we may be required to pay compensatory damages to Cima
and may be required to cease using certain technology in our products or replace such technology with non-infringing technology,
which we may not be able to do at an acceptable cost and on acceptable terms or at all. Any of the foregoing could have an adverse
impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
We
may be subject to claims that former or current employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our patents
or other intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise from conflicting
obligations of consultants or others who are involved in developing our products in defending any such claims, in addition to
paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, valuable
intellectual property. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending
against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees.
Under
the Israeli Patent Law, 5727-1967, or the Patent Law, inventions conceived by an employee during the scope of his or her employment
with a company are regarded as “service inventions,” which belong to the employer, absent a specific agreement between
the employee and employer giving the employee service invention rights. The Patent Law also provides that if there is no such
agreement between an employer and an employee, the Israeli Compensation and Royalties Committee, or the Committee, a body constituted
under the Patent Law, shall determine whether the employee is entitled to remuneration for his or her inventions. Recent decisions
by the Committee have created uncertainty in this area, as it held that employees may be entitled to remuneration for their service
inventions unless they specifically waived their rights under the Patent Law. Further, the Committee has not yet determined the
method for calculating this Committee-enforced remuneration or the criteria or circumstances under which an employee’s assignment
of all rights and/or waiver of his or her right to remuneration will be disregarded. Although our employees have agreed to assign
to us service invention rights, we may face claims demanding remuneration in consideration for assigned inventions. As a consequence
of such claims, we could be required to pay additional remuneration or royalties to our current and/or former employees, or be
forced to litigate such claims, which could negatively affect our business.
If
we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we license intellectual property and other rights from third
parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose license rights that
are important to our business.
We
are a party to a number of intellectual property license agreements that are important to our business and may enter into additional
license agreements in the future. Our existing license agreements impose, and we expect that future license agreements will impose,
various diligence, reporting, royalty, minimum annual license fees, and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with our
obligations under these agreements, or we are subject to a bankruptcy, we may be required to make certain payments to the licensor,
we may lose the exclusivity of our license, or the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, in which event we would
not be able to develop or market products covered by the license. Additionally, the royalty payments associated with these licenses
will make it less profitable for us to develop our products and technologies.
We
may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to our products and technologies through acquisitions and in-licenses.
We
currently have rights to the intellectual property, through licenses from third parties and under patents that we own, to develop
our products and technologies. Because our programs may require the use of proprietary rights held by third parties, the growth
of our business will likely depend in part on our ability to acquire, in-license, or use these proprietary rights. In addition,
our products and technologies may require specific formulations to work effectively and efficiently and the rights to these formulations
may be held by others. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes, or other third-party
intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify as necessary for our products and technologies. The licensing
and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and a number of more established companies
are also pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive. These
established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources, and greater development and
commercialization capabilities.
In
addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be unable
to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our
investment. If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property rights, we may have to
abandon development of that program and our business and financial condition could suffer.
We
may not be able to fully enforce covenants not to compete with our key employees, and therefore we may be unable to prevent our
competitors from benefiting from the expertise of such employees.
Our employment
agreements with our key employees contain non-compete provisions. These provisions prohibit our key employees, if they cease working
for us, from competing directly with us or working for our competitors for a limited period of time. We may be unable to enforce
these provisions under applicable laws in Israel where all of our key employees reside. In Israel, the Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation,
as interpreted by binding case law, may restrict our ability to enforce non-compete provisions against our employees. If we cannot
enforce our non-compete provisions against our employees, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the
expertise of such employees. Even if these provisions are enforceable, they may not adequately protect our interests. As a result,
if one or more of our employees leaves our employment and subsequently becomes employed by one of our competitors, our business,
results of operations and ability to capitalize on our proprietary information may be materially adversely affected.
We
may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Filing,
prosecuting, and defending patents on products and technologies in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive,
and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United
States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal
and state laws in the United States.
Competitors
may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and may also
export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that
in the United States. These products may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not
be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many
companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions.
The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade
secrets, and other intellectual property protection, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents
or marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights
in foreign jurisdictions, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from
other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications
at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we
initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce
our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual
property that we develop or license.
Risks
Related to Our Operations in Israel
Our
headquarters and other significant operations are located in Israel and, therefore, our results may be adversely affected by political,
economic and military instability in Israel.
Our
executive offices are located in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel. In addition, the majority of our officers and directors are residents
of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel may directly affect our business. Since the establishment
of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its neighboring countries and
militia groups. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its trading partners
could adversely affect our operations and results of operations. Certain of these conflicts involved missile strikes against civilian
targets in various parts of Israel, including the city in which our headquarters are located as well as areas in which our employees
and some of our consultants are located, and negatively affected business conditions in Israel. Recently, Israel was involved
in a military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza. In connection with this operation, Israel called up a large number of
reservists to active duty. Furthermore, Hamas militants in Gaza have fired thousands of rockets at Israel, including Tel Aviv,
Israel’s main financial center. Any armed conflicts, terrorist activities or political instability in the region could adversely
affect business conditions and could harm our results of operations and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital.
Parties with whom we do business may sometimes decline to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing
us to make alternative arrangements when necessary in order to meet our business partners face to face. In addition, the political
and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that
they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements.
Israel also faces threats from more distant neighbors, in particular, Iran, an ally of Hezbollah and Hamas. There is current unrest
in Egypt and a civil war in Syria, both of which are neighboring countries to Israel.
Several
countries, principally in the Middle East, still restrict doing business with Israel and Israeli companies, and additional countries
may impose restrictions on doing business with Israel and Israeli companies if hostilities in Israel or political instability
in the region continues or increases. These restrictions may limit materially our ability to obtain raw materials from these countries
or sell our products to companies or persons in these countries. Any hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment
of trade between Israel and its present trading partners, or significant downturn in the economic or financial condition of Israel,
could adversely affect our operations and product development, cause our sales to decrease and, if our securities become publicly
traded, adversely affect the share price of our securities.
Our
commercial insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of an event associated with the security situation in the
Middle East. Although the Israeli government is currently committed to covering the reinstatement value of direct damages that
are caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war, we cannot assure you that this government coverage will be maintained, or if maintained,
will be sufficient to compensate us fully for damages incurred. Any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse
effect on our business. Any armed conflicts or political instability in the region would likely negatively affect business conditions
generally and could harm our results of operations.
Our
operations may be disrupted as a result of the obligation of management or key personnel to perform military service.
Although
none of our management or key personnel are presently subject to the following, our male employees and consultants in Israel,
including possibly, in the future, members of our senior management, may be, may be obligated to perform one month, and, in some
cases, longer periods, of annual military reserve duty until they reach the age of 45 (or older, for citizens who hold certain
positions in the Israeli armed forces reserves), and, in the event of a military conflict, may be called to active duty. In response
to increases in terrorist activity, there have been periods of significant call-ups of military reservists (including during the
recent military operation in Gaza, as described above). It is possible that there will be similar large-scale military reserve
duty call-ups in the future. Our operations could be disrupted by the absence of a significant number of our officers, directors,
employees and consultants. Such disruption could materially adversely affect our business and operations.
The
Israeli government grants we have received for research and development expenditures restrict our ability to manufacture products
and transfer technologies outside of Israel and require us to satisfy specified conditions. If we fail to satisfy these conditions,
we may be required to refund grants previously received together with interest and penalties.
We
have received grants from the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of the Economy (Chief Scientist–ME), for research and development
programs and intend to apply for further grants in the future. In order to maintain our eligibility for these grants, we must
comply with the requirements of the Research Law. Under the Research Law, we are prohibited from manufacturing products developed
using these grants outside of the State of Israel without special approvals. As of the date of this annual report, we have not
sought to obtain such approvals, as we do not have immediate plans to manufacture outside of Israel. We may not receive the required
approvals for any proposed transfer of manufacturing activities. Even if we do receive approval to manufacture products developed
with government grants outside of Israel, the royalty rate may be increased and we may be required to pay up to 300% of some or
all of the grant amounts requiring repayment plus interest, depending on the manufacturing volume that is performed outside of
Israel. This restriction may impair our ability to outsource manufacturing or engage in our own manufacturing operations for those
products or technologies.
Additionally, under
the Research Law, we are prohibited from transferring, including by way of license, the Chief Scientist–ME financed technologies
and related intellectual property rights and knowhow outside of the State of Israel, except under limited circumstances and only
with the approval of the Chief Scientist–ME Research Committee. As of the date of this annual report, we have not sought
to obtain such approvals, as we do not have immediate plans to transfer the Chief Scientist–ME financed technologies and
related intellectual property rights and knowhow outside of Israel. We may not receive the required approvals for any proposed
transfer and, even if received, we may be required to pay the Chief Scientist–ME a portion of the consideration that we receive
upon any sale of such technology to a non-Israeli entity up to 600% of the grant amounts plus interest. The scope of the support
received, the royalties that we have already paid to the Chief Scientist–ME, the amount of time that has elapsed between
the date on which the knowhow or the related intellectual property rights were transferred and the date on which the Chief Scientist–ME
grants were received and the sale price and the form of transaction will be taken into account in order to calculate the amount
of the payment to the Chief Scientist–ME. Approval of the transfer of technology to residents of the State of Israel is required,
and may be granted in specific circumstances only if the recipient abides by the provisions of applicable laws, including the restrictions
on the transfer of knowhow and the obligation to pay royalties. No assurance can be made that approval to any such transfer, if
requested, will be granted.
These restrictions
may impair our ability to sell our technology assets or to perform or outsource manufacturing outside of Israel, engage in change
of control transactions or otherwise transfer our knowhow outside of Israel and may require us to obtain the approval of the Chief
Scientist–ME for certain actions and transactions and pay additional royalties and other amounts to the Chief Scientist–ME.
In addition, any change of control and any change of ownership of our Ordinary Shares that would make a non-Israeli citizen or
resident an “interested party,” as defined in the Research Law, requires prior written notice to the Chief Scientist–ME,
and our failure to comply with this requirement could result in criminal liability.
These
restrictions will continue to apply even after we have repaid the full amount of royalties on the grants. If we fail to satisfy
the conditions of the Research Law, we may be required to refund certain grants previously received together with interest and
penalties, and may become subject to criminal charges.
The
Government of Israel has reduced the grants available under the Chief Scientist–ME’s program in recent years, and
this program may be discontinued or curtailed in the future. If we do not receive additional grants in the future, we will be
required to allocate other funds to product development at the expense of other operational costs.
We have received
a grant from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources, or the
Ministry of Infrastructures, for one of our research and development programs. In order to maintain our eligibility for this grant,
we must meet specified conditions, including the payment of royalties with respect to the grant received. If we fail to comply
with these conditions in the future, sanctions (such as the cancellation of the grant) might be imposed on us, and we could be
required to refund any payments previously received. Even following full repayment of any Ministry of Infrastructures grants, we
must nevertheless continue to comply with the requirements of our agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures. The terms of
the Ministry of Infrastructures’ grant require us to obtain the Ministry of Infrastructures’ approval prior to any
assignment of knowhow developed under the research and development program funded with its grant. The Ministry of Infrastructures
also has a right to receive a nonexclusive royalty free license to the know how developed under any such program to the extent
necessary for national needs (as determined by the Minister of Science and Technology, the Minister of Treasury and the Minister
of Justice). Pursuant to the terms of the grant, we will be required to notify the Ministry of Infrastructures of any new investment
we receive, and any new investor will be required to undertake in writing to the Ministry of Infrastructures to make reasonable
efforts to ensure that the Company shall observe the terms of the research and development agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures
and the law governing the grant program of the Ministry of Infrastructures. In addition, in any case where one or more new investors
makes an investment with the Company, the Ministry of Infrastructures has a right to negotiate with such investor(s) for the repayment
by us of the grant provided to us by the Ministry of Infrastructures. At our request, the Ministry of Infrastructures confirmed
our interpretation that the registration of the securities herein will not be deemed as a new investment.
Exchange
rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the New Israeli Shekel currencies may negatively affect our earnings.
We
incur expenses both in U.S. dollars and New Israeli Shekels, but our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. As
a result, we are exposed to the risks that the New Israeli Shekel may appreciate relative to the U.S. dollar, or, if the New Israeli
Shekel instead devalues relative to the U.S. dollar, that the inflation rate in Israel may exceed such rate of devaluation of
the New Israeli Shekel, or that the timing of such devaluation may lag behind inflation in Israel. In any such event, the U.S.
dollar cost of our operations in Israel would increase and our U.S. dollar-denominated results of operations would be adversely
affected. We cannot predict any future trends in the rate of inflation in Israel or the rate of devaluation (if any) of the New
Israeli Shekel against the U.S. dollar.
Provisions
of Israeli law and our Fourth Amended Articles of Association, or our Articles of Association, may delay, prevent or make undesirable
an acquisition of all or a significant portion of our shares or assets.
Provisions
of Israeli law and our Articles of Association could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our Company;
may make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us; may make it more difficult for our shareholders to elect different
individuals to our board of directors, even if doing so would be considered to be beneficial by some of our shareholders; and
may limit the price that investors may be willing to pay in the future for our Ordinary Shares. Among other things:
|
●
|
Israeli
corporate law regulates mergers and requires that a tender offer be effected when more
than a specified percentage of shares in a company are purchased;
|
|
●
|
Israeli
corporate law does not provide for shareholder action by written consent unless such
consent is unanimous, thereby requiring all shareholder actions to be taken at a general
meeting of shareholders in the absence of unanimity among our shareholders;
|
|
●
|
our Articles of Association generally require a vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding Ordinary
Shares entitled to vote and present at a general meeting of shareholders; however, the amendment of a limited number of provisions
related to the board of directors, proceedings of the board of directors, and business combinations require a vote of the holders
of 60% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote and present at a general meeting (excluding abstentions);
|
|
●
|
our
Articles of Association require a vote of the holders of 60% of our outstanding Ordinary
Shares entitled to vote and present at a general meeting (excluding abstentions) for
the removal of directors prior to the expiration of his or her term of office;
|
|
●
|
our
Articles of Association provide that director vacancies may only be filled by our board
of directors; and
|
|
●
|
our
Articles of Association prevent “business combinations” with “interested
shareholders” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested shareholder, unless the business combination is
approved in accordance with our Articles of Association by a general meeting of our shareholders
or satisfies other requirements specified in our Articles of Association.
|
On September 24,
2015, we held a general meeting of shareholders at which our shareholders approved, among other things, an amendment to the provisions
of our Articles of Association applicable to the election of directors to provide for a board of directors consisting of no less
than three and no more than seven directors, with all directors (other than the external directors, whose appointment is required
under the Companies Law, as described below) divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms with each class of directors
to consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors other than the external directors. This provision
may make it more difficult for our shareholders to elect different individuals to our board of directors, even if doing so would
be considered to be beneficial by some of our shareholders, may limit the price that investors may be willing to pay in the future
for our Ordinary Shares, and may make it more difficult for a potential acquiror to effect a change of control of our Company or
may deter potential acquirors from seeking to effect a change of control.
Further,
Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions undesirable to us or to some of our shareholders whose country of residence
does not have a tax treaty with Israel granting tax relief to such shareholders from Israeli tax. With respect to mergers, Israeli
tax law allows for tax deferral in certain circumstances but makes the deferral contingent on the fulfillment of numerous conditions,
including a holding period of two years from the date of the transaction during which certain sales and dispositions of shares
of the participating companies are restricted. Moreover, with respect to certain share swap transactions, the tax deferral is
limited in time, and when such time expires, the tax becomes payable even if no actual disposition of the shares has occurred.
See “Description of Share Capital—Mergers and Acquisitions under Israeli Law.”
The
tax benefits that are available to us as a preferred enterprise require us to continue to meet various conditions and may be terminated
or reduced in the future, which could increase our costs and taxes.
We
have not yet elected to be treated as a preferred enterprise for Israeli tax purposes, a designation which would allow us to receive
certain tax benefits, since we are still not at a stage where we have to pay tax due to accrued losses. Once we are liable for
tax payments, we may be entitled to reduced tax rates and other tax benefits. See “Taxation – Law for Encouragement
of Capital Investments, 1959”. If these tax benefits were reduced or eliminated or if we no longer comply with the various
pre-conditions required, the amount of taxes that we pay would consequently be subject to corporate tax at the standard rate,
which could adversely affect our results of operations.
It
may be difficult to enforce a judgment of a United States court against us and our officers and directors and the Israeli
experts named in this annual report located in Israel or the United States, to assert United States securities laws claims in
Israel or to serve process on our officers and directors and these experts.
We
were incorporated in Israel. Our CEO and substantially all of our directors reside outside of the United States, and all of our
assets and most of the assets of these persons are located outside of the United States. Therefore, a judgment obtained against
us, or any of these persons, including a judgment based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws,
may not be collectible in the United States and may not necessarily be enforced by an Israeli court. It also may be difficult
for you to effect service of process on these persons in the United States or to assert U.S. securities law claims in original
actions instituted in Israel. Additionally, it may be difficult for an investor, or any other person or entity, to initiate an
action with respect to United States securities laws in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on an alleged
violation of United States securities laws, reasoning that Israel is not the most appropriate forum in which to bring such a claim.
In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that Israeli law and not United States law is applicable
to the claim. If United States law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable United States law must be proven as a
fact by expert witnesses, which can be a time consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed
by Israeli law. There is little binding case law in Israel that addresses the matters described above. As a result of the difficulty
associated with enforcing a judgment against us in Israel, you may not be able to collect any damages awarded by either a United
States or foreign court.
Risks
Related to Our Securities
Your
rights and responsibilities as a shareholder will be governed by Israeli law which differs in some material respects from the
rights and responsibilities of shareholders of U.S. companies.
The
rights and responsibilities of our shareholders are governed by Israeli law and our Articles of Association. These rights and
responsibilities differ in some material respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S.-based corporations.
In particular, a shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith and in a customary manner in exercising its
rights and performing its obligations towards the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing its power in the
company, including, among other things, in voting at general meetings of shareholders on certain matters, such as an amendment
to the company’s articles of association, an increase of the company’s authorized share capital, a merger of the company
and approval of related party transactions that require shareholder approval. A shareholder also has a general duty to refrain
from discriminating against other shareholders. In addition, a controlling shareholder or a shareholder who knows that it possesses
the power to determine the outcome of a shareholders’ vote or to appoint or prevent the appointment of an office holder
in the company has a duty to act in fairness towards the company. However, Israeli law does not define the substance of this duty
of fairness. There is limited case law available to assist us in understanding the nature of this duty or the implications of
these provisions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional obligations and liabilities on our shareholders that
are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.
We
do not plan to pay dividends to holders of Ordinary Shares.
We
do not anticipate paying cash dividends to the holders of our Ordinary Shares at any time. Moreover, the Companies Law imposes
certain restrictions on our ability to declare and pay dividends. See “Description of Share Capital — Dividends”
for additional information. Accordingly, investors in our securities must rely upon subsequent sales after price appreciation
as the sole method to realize a gain on investment. There are no assurances that the price of Ordinary Shares will ever appreciate
in value.
We rely on an outsourced
financial consultant to assist in the preparation of our financial statements. We believe that our financial consultant has sufficient
experience with U.S. GAAP to assist in the preparation of our financial statements, which was gained, among other things, through
training in U.S. universities, service as the Chief Financial Officer and other senior accounting positions with five public and
private companies that prepared financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and by maintaining subscriptions to accounting
resources made available by the “Big Four” accounting firms in Israel, which allows our outsourced financial consultant
to obtain accounting and regulatory updates through their distribution lists, including updates with regard to U.S GAAP. Our outsourced
financial consultant also has access to disclosure checklists for financial statement preparation compliance purposes and related
accounting materials. Our outsourced financial consultant attends training conferences on accounting and regulatory updates, including
updates with regard to U.S GAAP. Our historical financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 were prepared
by our former outsourced financial consultant as well as our former internal CFO, while our financial statements for the period
ended December 31, 2015 were prepared by our current outsourced financial consultant. If there are errors in our financial statements
and/or we are required to restate certain of our financial statements as a result of our outsourced financial consultant’s
lack of specialized education and expertise with respect to financial reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we could be required
to implement expensive and time-consuming remedial measures.
Our
directors, executive officers and controlling persons as a group have significant voting power and may take actions that may not
be in the best interest of shareholders.
Our
directors, executive officers and controlling persons as a group beneficially own approximately 65.35% of our Ordinary Shares.
As a result, they will have the ability to exert substantial influence over all matters requiring approval by our shareholders,
including the election and removal of directors and any proposed merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of
our assets. In addition, due to their share ownership, our executive officers and controlling persons could dictate the management
of our business and affairs. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change
in control, or impeding a merger or consolidation, takeover or other business combination that could be favorable to you. This
significant concentration of share ownership may also adversely affect the trading price for our Ordinary Shares, if a public
market develops for such securities, because investors may perceive disadvantages in owning stock in a company with controlling
affiliated shareholders.
We
will incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote
substantial time to new compliance initiatives.
We
are subject to the requirements to file periodic and annual reports under the Exchange Act, and are otherwise subject to laws
applicable to public reporting companies in the United States. As a public reporting company, we incur significant legal, accounting,
and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC thereunder, have imposed various requirements on public companies. Shareholder activism, the current
political environment, and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new
regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact the manner in which we operate
our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate. Our management and other personnel need to devote a substantial amount of
time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs
and will make some activities more time consuming and costly.
As
an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, we are entitled (and intend) to take advantage of certain
temporary exemptions from various reporting requirements including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the
auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. When these exemptions cease to apply, we expect to
incur additional expenses and devote increased management effort toward ensuring compliance with them. We cannot predict or estimate
the amount of additional costs we may incur as a result of becoming a public reporting company or the timing of such costs.
We
are a “foreign private issuer” and have disclosure obligations that are different from those of U.S. domestic reporting
companies.
We
are a foreign private issuer and are not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the SEC.
Under the Exchange Act, we will be subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent
than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. For example, we will not be required to issue quarterly reports, proxy statements
that comply with the requirements applicable to U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, although under a recent amendment
to the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, as an Israeli public company listed overseas we will be required to disclose
the compensation of our five most highly compensated officers on an individual basis (rather than on an aggregate basis, as was
previously permitted for Israeli public companies listed overseas prior to such amendment), this disclosure will not be as extensive
as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies. We will also have four months after the end of each fiscal year to file
our annual reports with the SEC and will not be required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting
companies. Furthermore, our officers, directors and principal shareholders will be exempt from the requirements to report short-swing
profit recovery contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Also, as a “foreign private issuer,” we are also not
subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated under the Exchange Act. These exemptions and leniencies
will reduce the frequency and scope of information and protections available to you in comparison to those applicable to a U.S.
domestic reporting companies.
Offers
or availability for sale of a substantial number of our Ordinary Shares may cause the price of our Ordinary Shares to decline.
If
our shareholders sell substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares in the public market (if one develops) or if there is a perception
in the market that substantial sales may occur in the future upon the expiration of any statutory holding period, under Rule 144,
or upon the exercise of outstanding options or Warrants, the market price of our Ordinary Shares could fall. The occurrence of
such substantial sales or the perception that substantial sales of common stock may occur in the future could also make it more
difficult for us to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity related securities in the future at a time
and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.
The
market price of our Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly.
If
a public trading market develops for our Ordinary Shares, the market price of the Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly
in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as:
|
●
|
the
announcement of new products or product enhancements by us or our competitors;
|
|
●
|
developments
concerning intellectual property rights and regulatory approvals;
|
|
●
|
variations
in our and our competitors’ results of operations;
|
|
●
|
changes
in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, if the Ordinary Shares
are covered by analysts;
|
|
●
|
fluctuations
in economic and market conditions that affect the price of, and demand for, conventional
and non-solar renewable energy sources, such as increases or decreases in the price of
natural gas, coal, oil, and other fossil fuel;
|
|
●
|
developments
in the nanotechnology and alternative energy industries;
|
|
●
|
the
results of product liability or intellectual property lawsuits;
|
|
●
|
future
issuances of Ordinary Shares or other securities;
|
|
●
|
the
addition or departure of key personnel;
|
|
●
|
announcements
by us or our competitors of acquisitions, investments or strategic alliances; and
|
|
●
|
general
market conditions and other factors, including factors unrelated to our operating performance.
|
Further,
in recent years, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. Continued or renewed market fluctuations
could result in extreme volatility in the price of our Ordinary Shares, which could cause a decline in the value of the Ordinary
Shares. Price volatility of our Ordinary Shares might be significant if the trading volume of the Ordinary Shares is low, which
often occurs with respect to newly traded securities on the OTCQB.
Because
our Ordinary Shares may be a “penny stock,” it may be more difficult for investors to sell our Ordinary Shares, and
the market price of our Ordinary Shares may be adversely affected.
Our
Ordinary Shares may be a “penny stock” if, among other things, the stock price is below $5.00 per share, they are
not listed on a national securities exchange or approved for quotation on the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other national stock
exchange or we have not met certain net tangible asset or average revenue requirements. Broker-dealers who sell penny stocks must
provide purchasers of these stocks with a standardized risk-disclosure document prepared by the SEC. This document provides information
about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks involved in investing in the penny-stock market. A broker must also give
a purchaser, orally or in writing, bid and offer quotations and information regarding broker and salesperson compensation, make
a written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and obtain the purchaser’s written
agreement to the purchase. Broker-dealers must also provide customers that hold penny stock in their accounts with such broker-dealer
a monthly statement containing price and market information relating to the penny stock. If a penny stock is sold to an investor
in violation of the penny stock rules, the investor may be able to cancel its purchase and get its money back.
If
applicable, the penny stock rules may make it difficult for investors to sell their Ordinary Shares. Because of the rules and
restrictions applicable to a penny stock, there is less trading in penny stocks and the market price of the Ordinary Shares may
be adversely affected. Also, many brokers choose not to participate in penny stock transactions. Accordingly, investors may not
always be able to resell their Ordinary Shares publicly at times and prices that they feel are appropriate.
Compliance
with changing regulations concerning corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.
There
have been changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act, new regulations promulgated by the SEC and rules promulgated by the national securities exchanges. These
new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of
specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory
and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated
by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws,
regulations and standards are likely to continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion
of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. Our directors and Chief
Executive Officer could face an increased risk of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties. As a
result, we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified directors and executive officers, which could harm our
business. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by
regulatory or governing bodies, we could be subject to liability under applicable laws or our reputation may be
harmed.
Any
of the risk factors referred to above could significantly and negatively affect our business, results of operations or financial
condition, which may reduce our ability to pay dividends and lower the trading price of our ordinary shares. The risks referred
to above are not the only ones that may exist. Additional risks not currently known by us or that we deem immaterial may also
impair our business operations.
ITEM
4. Information on the Company.
Historical
Background and Corporate Structure
We
were incorporated in Israel on June 24, 2009. We have one wholly owned subsidiary, Nano Size, a private company organized under
the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on December 31, 2009. We also own 40% of the outstanding equity securities of
Leed PV Nano Science and Technology (Suzhou) Company Ltd., a Chinese joint venture among us, Infinity IP Bank International (Suzhou)
Co., Ltd. (or IPB), an investor in the Company, and Leed, which is inactive and will automatically dissolve by next year.
Our
Registration Statement on Form F-1 was declared effective by the SEC on September 30, 2015, and a FINRA-registered market maker
subsequently filed an application on Form 211 with FINRA to quote the Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. On March 31, 2016, the application
on Form 211 with FINRA to make a market in our Ordinary Shares was approved by FINRA, and the ticker symbol assigned by FINRA
for our Ordinary Shares is “PVNNF”. There is currently no public trading market for our Ordinary Shares.
Our
principal offices are located at 8 Hamasger Street, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel 2310102. Our telephone number is (972) 4-654-6881.
Our website address is http://www.pvnanocell.com. This website address is included in this annual report as an inactive textual
reference only. The information and other content appearing on our website are not part of this annual report. The Company does
not have a registered agent in the United States.
Business
Overview
We
are a conductive ink manufacturing company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and commercializing conductive inks
for digital inkjet conductive printing applications. We have developed the Sicrys™ family of single crystal nano-metric
conductive inks, which we believe enables a significantly less costly and less wasteful alternative to current screen printing
and, in some cases, photolithography processes for PV and PE applications. We began low volume sales of our Sicrys™ silver-based
inks for PV applications in 2010 and are in the process of seeking to expand our sales efforts to include sales of Sicrys™
inks for a wide range of PE applications, including for the printing of circuit boards, mobile phone antennas, 3D printed electronic
devices, radio-frequency identification chips, sensors and touchscreens, among other digitally printed electronics. We have also
developed what we believe is the first available commercially viable copper-based nano-metric ink for mass-production of printed
electronics. We believe that copper inks represent a significant improvement over silver-based inks given copper’s significantly
lower cost and nearly identical electrical and conductive properties. We began low volume sales of our copper-based ink for printed
electronics applications in the second half of 2014.
Recent
Developments
Share
Purchase Agreement
On
July 7, 2016, our board approved an internal equity investment round in an aggregate amount of up to US $900,000 at a price per
Ordinary Share of $0.75, to be raised from existing shareholders. The investment round resulted in the issuance by us of 1,134,667
Ordinary Shares in consideration for an aggregate investment amount of $851,000 including the conversion of the promissory notes
described below.
The
closing of the round included the conversion of an aggregate of $206,000 of convertible promissory notes into 274,667 Ordinary
Shares. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions – Series 2 Convertible Note Agreements.” In
connection with the investment round, we issued a warrant to purchase 333 Ordinary Shares to an Israeli finder in connection with
the investment by certain Israeli investors introduced to the Company by such Israeli finder.
Private
Placement
Between
November 2014 and October 2016, we completed several closings of a private placement offering of an aggregate of 2,430,846 units
(which includes the issuance of 100,000 units under SEDA agreement), of which 1,687,474 units were sold at a price of $1.50 per
unit and 743,372 units at a price of $1.125 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year Warrant
to purchase one Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. To date, the Company received aggregate proceeds of $3,367,505
from the sale of such units. The private placement offering has been extended several times and currently expires on July 30,
2017, unless extended by the Company (in its discretion) for one or more periods of 90 days each.
Share
Split
In
connection with the offering of the units in the private placement, our Board of Directors approved the issuance of 6.423 bonus
shares for each outstanding Ordinary Share. In connection therewith, we made adjustments to our outstanding options, Warrants
and other rights to acquire Ordinary Shares to reflect and give effect to the Share Split. Unless otherwise indicated, all share
and per share amounts in this annual report have been adjusted for all periods presented give effect to the Share Split.
Background
Photovoltaic
Cell Metallization
PV
cells (commonly known as solar cells) are the building blocks of solar module arrays that convert energy from sunlight into electricity.
Multiple PV cells in an integrated group, all oriented in one plane, constitute a solar photovoltaic panel or module, and a group
of connected modules make up an array. An array of PV cells is capable of converting solar energy into a usable amount of direct
current electricity.
Most
modern solar cells are made from either crystalline silicon or thin-film semiconductor material. Crystalline silicon cells (representing
an estimated 85-90% of the PV cell market) are more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity, but generally have higher
manufacturing costs. Thin-film materials are typically less efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, but can be cheaper
to manufacture.
A
key part of the PV crystalline silicon cell manufacturing process is the metallization of the cell – i.e., laying down metal
electrodes to collect the electricity generated by the cell when exposed to sunlight. Typically, the metallization process is
completed by the application of a silver paste to the front side and aluminum-silver pastes on the rear side of the cell using
a screen printing process. This process is one of the main bottlenecks to reducing the costs of the cells and the cost of electricity
produced by the cells due to: high usage of metal (expensive silver), loss of paste in the process (some paste stays in the screens),
cell breakage in the printing process (contact printing), wide printed patterns (higher shading of cells, less surface exposed
to the light) and limited electrical properties of the pastes. As a result, “grid parity” – a term used to refer
to the ability to produce electricity through an alternative energy source (such as solar cells) at a cost that is equal to or
lower than the price of purchasing power from the electricity grid – remains elusive and many solar PV systems rely on government
subsidies and grants in order to lower the costs of production and approach grid parity.
The
market for solar power generated by PV arrays was estimated at $90 billion in 2014. The market, as reflected in global PV installations,
increased by 35% from 2014 to 2015, and it is expected to further increase another 17% in 2016. Additionally, the market for the
silver pastes and inks utilized in PV cell production is estimated at over $1.5 billion. We believe that industry changes since
2011, steep price reductions of cells and modules, including steep reductions in silicon pricing (driven in large part due to
Chinese policies, which may be unsustainable long term), and technological improvements such as increased efficiency and reduction
in silver usage have brought the PV industry closer to the goal of achieving grid parity, thereby spurring greater interests in
technologies that can further lower costs. Given that metallization costs continue to be the highest cost element of PV cell production
(due primarily to the high cost of silver), many have focused cost cutting efforts on improving efficiencies and reducing costs
in the metallization process. With the possibility of achieving grid parity closer to reality, the PV cell market is estimated
to grow rapidly in the next five years up to an estimated market size of $137 billion by 2020.
We
believe that a significant market opportunity exists for a non-contact metallization solution that is significantly cheaper than
the traditional screen printing process, does not break silicon cells, permits for thinner PV cell wafers (thus reducing silicon
costs, which we believe to be a major obstacle to the wider proliferation of solar cell technologies), increases the active area
of the cell by printing narrower conductors, and yields better electrical performance than screen-printed conductors. We believe
that the market for inks to be used in inkjet printing for PV applications is a small subset of the $1.5 billion market for silver
pastes and inks in PV cell production generally, as described above, which we believe has the potential to grow over time given
the benefits of inkjet printers and the benefits of our Sycris™ inks, which, among others, apply to a range of printer devices,
and present a lower cost and simpler operating procedures when compared to photolithography processes. See “– Our
Solutions — Printed Electronics.”
Printed
Electronics
Printed
electronics is a set of methodologies by which electrical devices are printed onto various substrates (i.e., base material) by
depositing electrically functional inks on the substrate, creating active or passive devices, such as conductors, thin film transistors
or resistors. The use of printed electronics presents an opportunity to facilitate widespread, low cost production of electronics
for a variety of applications, including notably for use in circuit boards, radio-frequency identification chips, sensors and
touchscreens, among other digitally printed electronics.
The
printed electronics market is estimated to be approximately $8 billion (not including organic light emitting devices or OLED),
and is estimated to grow to $10 billion by 2018 (not including OLED), to $40 billion by 2020 and to $73 billion by 2025. The conductive
ink market is expected to grow to $3.7 billion by 2018 (3.5% CARG). Currently, printed electronics are primarily produced using
screen printing and photolithography methods. Only a small fraction of the $2.2 billion conductive inks market used in printed
electronics manufacturing in 2015 is comprised of nano metal inks for digital printing. However, we believe that the current printing
methods have inherent limitations when implemented in flexible electronics, 3D (three dimensional) electronics and in customized
and small scale printing. Furthermore, these processes currently utilize expensive inks and produce toxic byproducts which must
be disposed of, which increases overall production costs. We believe that a significant market opportunity exists for inks, such
as ours, that enable digital inkjet conductive printing, enabling printing on flexible substrates, three-dimensional printing
and customized and small scale printing at a lower price.
Our
Solutions
Photovoltaic
Cell Metallization
Our
Sicrys™ family of inks are low viscosity, nano-particle inks optimized for inkjet printing. We believe that PV cell metallization
via inkjet printing utilizing our Sicrys™ inks results in the following benefits relative to traditional screen printing
processes:
|
●
|
Immediate
cost savings of around 15%, or $0.09 per watt (using silver-based inks), due to substantially
lower metallization costs and increased cell efficiency;
|
|
●
|
Potential
future cost savings due to the ability to utilize thinner wafers for PV cells, thus reducing
silicon costs and potentially further increasing cell efficiency;
|
|
●
|
A
more efficient printing process without breakage of PV cells (estimated to occur at a
rate of 0.15% to 5% in traditional screen printing processes) and without the need to
regularly replace printing screens; and
|
|
●
|
Enhanced
performance due to improved conductive properties enabling printing of contact lines
that are significantly thinner than the lines that can be produced with screen printing.
|
Printed
Electronics
We
currently offer silver-based Sicrys™ inks and our newly developed copper-based Sicrys™ for use in the production of
PE utilizing inkjet printers. We believe that inkjet production of PE utilizing our Sicrys™ inks results in the following
benefits relative to traditional screen printing and photolithography processes:
|
●
|
Significant
cost reductions, as we estimate that we will be able to market our copper based inks
at 30% to 50% of the price of inks currently used in screen printing and photolithography
processes;
|
|
●
|
Applications
for flexible and customized electronics and three-dimensional (3D) printed device manufacturing,
due to digital (non-contact) printing and the lower sintering temperatures required for
nano-based inks;
|
|
●
|
Lower
overall cost and simpler processes (e.g., estimated 50% reduction in costs for printing
displays when compared to photolithography processes), thus potentially supporting customized
and small batch printing;
|
|
●
|
Significant
reductions in the generation of hazardous waste byproducts;
|
|
●
|
Implementation
of additive production processes as opposed to the etching process commonly used today
(for example for production of printed circuit boards by digital printing);
|
|
●
|
Implementation
of additive digital printing processes that will enable additional new design and production
capabilities, e.g. print embedded passive components in the layers of PCB (resistors,
capacitors and coils); and
|
|
●
|
Replace
wet chemistry processes to make electronic devices (for example replace the LDS production
process to make 3D mobile phone antennas by a digital printing process).
|
Our
Strategy
Our
goal is to become a leading producer of conductive inks for digital electronic printing applications. Our strategy is to concentrate
our efforts on mass production applications opportunities by selling inks to be used in mass production printers with high throughputs
and high consumption of inks per year. We are currently developing our “complete solution approach,” in which we will
work with equipment producers to supply our customers with equipment, process and inks for their applications. We intend to provide
service to customers by not only selling inks, but also securing equipment suitable for implementation in their production lines
and by working with them to develop the production processes suitable to the relevant applications and their needs (including
printing strategy, printing temperature, sintering temperatures and time).
To
date, we have generated limited sales and market our products primarily via our presence on social networking websites and applications
(such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and T-roo). However, we are currently undertaking efforts to take the following actions to
substantially increase our commercialization efforts:
|
●
|
Develop
ink suitable for digital printing of mobile phone antennas
. We are presently in an
advanced stage of optimizing the ink for one end user customer (an antenna manufacturer).
This customer presently has printers installed for mass production. Upon conclusion,
we will have an optimized ink which may be offered and sold broadly and we will possess
an in-depth process know how which will allow us to support customers to implement this
technology quickly. We are expecting to finish this process by the end of 2016 or the first
quarter of 2017.
|
|
●
|
Develop
materials and technologies to fully print multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs)
.
We have recently demonstrated the feasibility to print one layer one side PCBs and that
the layers can be stacked and laminated (as in the regular processes), which is also
important in the PCB industry., and we have recently installed the first beta printer
at a customer site in Israel. We hope to work with other printer producers to develop
and install more printers in other customers’ offices.
|
|
●
|
Develop
a network of third party distributors and sales agents
. We are presently searching
for suitable distributors and sales agents, and have commenced negotiations with potential
sales agents.
|
|
●
|
Heighten
market awareness of our products and technologies
. We are attempting to raise our
profile in the relevant markets, as well as raise awareness of our product and technology
offerings, by attending conferences, exhibitions and trade shows. We recently received
the award for “Best Innovative Material From 3D Printing” from IDTech in
November 2015, and we were named as one of the 100 companies to follow in the cleantech
field by The Global Cleantech Group.
|
|
●
|
Have
our inks qualified and recommended for use with inkjet printers and printer heads produced
by leading manufacturers in the industry
. We have been in discussions with numerous
printer manufacturers to seek to have our inks recommended for use with their printers.
FujiFilm Dimatix Inc. (a subsidiary of FujiFilm) has qualified our inks and has recommended
our inks to certain of its customers. M-Solv (a United Kingdom company) has tested our
inks for high throughput long term printing and provided a positive report. We have also
signed a cooperation agreement with XaarJet Limited, which establishes procedures for
the certification of our inks for use with Xaar printer heads.
|
|
●
|
Partner
with leading digital inkjet manufacturers to supply PE and PV potential customers a “complete
solution.”
We have been in discussions with numerous printer manufacturers
to seek to develop a “complete solution” marketing approach which bundles
a suitable printer together with the appropriate process and inks (taking into account
quality, through put, pricing and other similar considerations). Therefore providing
our customers a complete solution for implementing a digital conductive printing technology
into their production processes.
|
|
●
|
Pursue
alternative marketing methods, such as printer leasing, profit sharing or a modified
“razor blade” model, to increase sales of our inks by distributing printers
at low cost
. We recently purchased an inkjet printer from a leading producer for
the PCB application, and we are in advanced negotiations with an additional printer producer
to develop additional inkjet printers for the PCB market in Korea.
|
|
●
|
Develop
a localized marketing and production presence in key markets
. In the near future,
we intend to develop marketing and production facilities near the large manufacturing
centers for mobile phones, antennas, PCB and PV cells, including China and certain South
American markets (e.g., Brazil, which we believe is poised to become a leading site for
PV cell manufacturing).
|
|
●
|
Develop
copper based digital printing inks for solar cells applications
. We are working to
develop a copper ink and process (printing and sintering) which will be compatible with
HJT type solar cells. This printing process would replace the wet plating chemistry used
today to build the conductive patterns.
|
In
addition, in order to promote further growth of the printed electronics market, in August 2014 we initiated and co-founded the
Consortium to develop two-and-a-half (2.5D) and three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics applications. We expect that the Consortium
will have a term of three to five years, with an annual budget projected to be between $5 and $6 million ( in the aggregate for
the whole Consortium), of which 60% will be financed by a grant from the Chief Scientist–ME. In addition to PV Nano (the
sole conductive ink producer in the Consortium), the main industrial partners in the Consortium will be Orbotech Ltd., an international
developer and producer of inspection and laser technologies for use in electronics manufacturing, Stratasys Ltd., a world leader
in the manufacture of 3D printers, inks and processes, and certain academic groups in Israel.
We have co-founded
two additional development consortiums in the framework of the European Horizon 2020, a research and development support program
in the European Community which provides grants for research and development, including to companies in Israel which are a part
of the organization. The grants will be used to expand our knowhow and network through research and development that we commit
to, the costs of which will be reimbursed in part by European Horizon 2020. DIMAP was founded in October 2015 to develop novel
ink materials and processes for 3D polyjet printing. Our main partners in this project are Stratasys (Israel), Profactor (Austria),
Borealis (Austria) and Phillips (Netherlands). We have been granted a budget from DIMAP of €124,608 (approximately $136,139
based on the exchange rate of $1 / € 0.915 in effect as of December 31, 2015) to develop these ink materials and processes.
This project is expected to be completed in late 2018.
Our other development consortium, HIPERLAM, which started in November 2016, is aiming to develop novel ink
materials and processes for LIFT printing technology. Our main partners in this project are Orbotech (Israel), TNO (Netherlands)
and Oxford Lasers Ltd. (U.K.). We have been granted a budget by HIPERLAM of €579,361 (approximately $615,860 based on the
exchange rate of $1 / € 0.938 in effect as of December 1, 2016). This project is expected to be completed in late 2019.
Competition
The
digital electronic printing and inkjet conductive ink manufacturing industries are extremely competitive. We are currently aware
of various existing products in the market and in development that may compete with our products and technologies. To our knowledge,
more than twenty other companies are currently developing silver-based inkjet inks for PE digital electronic inkjet printing applications.
Some of these companies already sell conductive inkjet inks for PE applications. Of those, to our knowledge, no other company
claims to have metallization inkjet inks for silicon nitride based PV applications. We are aware of at least four companies seeking
to develop copper based inks, including NovaCentrix, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., IntrinsiQ Materials Ltd. and Nanotec-USA. However,
to our knowledge none of our competitors has copper based inks in mass production and at a commercially viable price and quantity.
We
believe that our inks have the following competitive advantages, relative to those currently being sold by our competitors:
|
●
|
Higher
metal load, which results in a more cost efficient printing process;
|
|
●
|
Higher
stability and for a longer period of time (over one year for Sicrys™ at room temperatures
as compared to less than six months for our competitors, some of which require their
inks to be stored at low temperatures to remain stable for an extended period of time);
|
|
●
|
Copper
inks with a similar stability profile as our silver inks (including its chemical stability),
which is difficult to achieve due to the low oxidation point for copper, which results
in certain of our competitors offering copper oxide inks as opposed to pure copper inks;
|
|
●
|
Lower
cost (due to low production costs for the inks and, with respect to our copper
inks, the lower cost of copper as compared to silver);
|
|
●
|
Silver
inks suitable for solar cells metallization which can show higher efficiency due to enhanced
electrical properties after firing the cells (low contact resistance and resistivity);
and
|
|
●
|
Customizable
per wafer type.
|
Furthermore,
we believe that there is a high barrier to entry for competitors to develop and successfully bring competing inks to market due
to the long lead times required to develop particles of an appropriate size to formulate inks compatible with inkjet printing
and the difficulty in producing nano-based inks in large-scale quantities. Moreover, in order to be suitable for use in a silicon
nitride solar cell metallization process, nano-based inks require the use of additional additives. These additives are not readily
commercially available, and we have an exclusive license for these additives from IKTS, which developed them especially for our
inks. Pursuant to the license, IKTS has agreed to manufacture for us these ingredients in a limited quantity per year. If we require
greater quantities, IKTS has agreed to transfer the production file and knowhow to our chosen manufacturer. We are required to
pay royalties of €25 per kilo of these ingredients which will not be manufactured by IKTS. In addition, as of 2013 we are
obligated to pay a minimum annual royalty amount deductible against royalties due. To date, we have acquired the needed quantities
of these ingredients solely from IKTS.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources, such as larger research
and development staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations. Mergers and acquisitions in the conductive ink
industry may result in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors. As a result, these companies may be more effective
in selling and marketing their products. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly
through collaborative arrangements with large, established companies. Competition may increase further as a result of advances
in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in this industry. Our competitors
may succeed in developing, acquiring, or licensing on an exclusive basis, products that are more effective or less costly than
our current or future products or technologies, or achieve earlier patent protection, product commercialization, and market penetration
than we do. Additionally, technologies developed by our competitors may render our potential products and technologies uneconomical
or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing our products and technologies against competitors.
Research
and Development Agreements, License Agreements and Material Contracts
We
are engaged in research and development programs with the Chief Scientist–ME, pursuant to the Law for the Encouragement
of Industrial Research and Development, 1984, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Under the terms of these programs, we
are required to pay to a royalty of 3.5% of sales of products resulting from research and development partially financed by the
Chief Scientist–ME. However, such royalty obligations will not exceed the grant amount received, as linked to the dollar
and including accrued interest at the LIBOR rate. Under such programs, the Chief Scientist–ME provided us grants for research
and development efforts of $140,765, $16,330 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. During
the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, we paid the Chief Scientist–ME royalties of $257, $1,147 and $1,621, respectively,
which amounts are included in cost of sales
In
2003, Nano Size initiated and co-founded a Nano Functional Material Consortium, or the NFM Consortium, which performed general
research on nanotechnology, sponsored by the Chief Scientist–ME, as part of the MAGNET program. Between 1997 and 2003, Nano
Size received from the Chief Scientist–ME, principal funding of $575,336 (to which interest amounting to the LIBOR rate
known on the date of the first payment is added), for which royalties are due. Between 2003 and 2008, Nano Size received additional
funding in an amount of NIS 2,509,154 (approximately $643,043 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December
31, 2015). No royalties are payable to the Chief Scientist–ME with respect to the additional funding; however, the technology
related to nano silver developed in the NFM Consortium is subject to the Research Law.
As
of December 31, 2015, our outstanding royalty obligations to the Chief Scientist–ME with respect to such programs were $1,352,819.
In
September 2009, we entered into a Research and License Agreement with Ramot-Tel Aviv University, or Ramot, for a joint research
program. The program was approved by the Magneton committee of the Chief Scientist, a committee focused on facilitating knowledge
transfer between industry and academic institutions. Under the terms of the Magneton program, we received from the Chief Scientist–ME
an aggregate amount of NIS 1,467,683 (approximately $376,136 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December
31, 2015). No royalties are payable to the OCS with respect to this funding; however, any technology developed in the Magneton
program is subject to the Research Law. Pursuant to this agreement, we were required to fund the research and development of the
technology during the research period (two years starting September 2009) in a total amount of NIS 1,077,000 (approximately $276,012
based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015). In addition, we issued to Ramot Warrants to purchase
117,209 Ordinary Shares (see Note 9g. to our financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual report) at an exercise price
equal to their par value, i.e. NIS 0.01 per Ordinary Share. We will be required to pay to Tel Aviv University royalties of between
3.4% and 3.9% on all net sales of any product, component, device or material that is used in the preparation of coated substrates
meeting certain specifications, or Licensed Film, and services resulting from the license; royalties of between 2.4% and 3.0%
on all net sales of Licensed Film products and services; and a sublicense fee equal to 25% of all sublicense fees that we may
receive with respect to the intellectual property developed under such agreement. In addition, license fees in the amount of $20,000
were paid in 2014 and 2015. In January 2016, the parties agreed to terminate the Magneton program and the license agreement. Pursuant
to the settlement between us and Ramot, Ramot will maintain the joint patent developed by the parties, which we will jointly own,
and will pay us royalties on the joint patent, once it generates income. No amounts were paid to Ramot as part of the settlement.
Ramot retained its warrants in the Company.
In
November 2009, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with the shareholders of Nano Size pursuant to which we purchased all
of the outstanding shares of Nano Size for consideration consisting of a cash purchase price of $120,000, which was paid at closing,
plus royalty payments equal to 3% of net revenues from sales of products and services by us that utilize or are based upon Nano
Size’s technologies and 10% of any sublicense fees received by us in respect of Nano Size’s intellectual property,
up to an aggregate cap for all royalty payments of $1,400,000, of which $60,000 was paid as an advance and will be off set against
future royalty payments which will be payable by us from sales of products and services. As of the date hereof, the aggregate
amount of royalties off set by us from the advance has not reached $60,000, however we expect the full advance to be offset and
additional amounts to be paid if and when we increase commercial sales of our Sicrys™ inks. In October 2010, we entered
into a Convertible Loan Agreement with Israel Electric Corporation Ltd., or IEC, which agreement was amended in April 2012. Pursuant
to this agreement, IEC loaned us an aggregate amount of NIS 3,000,000 (approximately $768,836 based on the exchange rate of $1
/ NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015) at an interest rate of 8% per annum. In April 2013, we entered into a Share Purchase
Agreement with a new investor pursuant to which the aggregate principal amount of such loan and all accrued but unpaid interest
thereon were converted into 172,190 Series B-1 Preferred Shares, which were ultimately converted in the Share Split into 1,278,166
Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Loan Agreement, IEC is also entitled to royalty payments equal to 2%
of net sales of the Company’s products, up to an aggregate of NIS 8,000,000 (approximately $2,050,230 based on the exchange
rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015). In addition, for a period of 10 years from the date of the first commercial
sale of our products, IEC will be entitled to purchase our products, licenses and services, at prices which are at the lowest
rate then offered or provided by the Company to any of its other customers for the same products, licenses or services (excluding
demonstration units, pilot units, samples, and other customary promotional discounts which are sporadic in nature and do not represent
on-going commercial basis prices with respect to the client), given similar quantities and commercial conditions.
On
December 15, 2011, we signed a research and development agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures. Under such agreement,
the Ministry of Infrastructures was to pay us up to 62.5% of our expenses related to the project up to a maximum of NIS 625,000
(approximately $160,174 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015) in exchange for our agreement
to pay royalties of 5% of any revenues generated from the intellectual property generated under the program. The term of the program
was 18 months starting January 1, 2012. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, we received $84,259, $13,483
and $0, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded liabilities in respect of royalties payable
under this agreement in the amount of $82 and $116, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, our aggregate contingent liability
to the Ministry of Infrastructures was $178,559.
In
September 2012, we entered into a Know-How License Agreement with IKTS pursuant to which IKTS agreed to manufacture for us a limited
quantity of certain additives required to be included in our inks to make them suitable for use in solar cell metallization processes.
If we require greater quantities, IKTS has agreed to transfer the production file and knowhow to our chosen manufacturer. We will
be required to pay royalties of €25 per kilo of the ingredients not manufactured by IKTS. As of December 31, 2015, we have
acquired the needed quantities of these ingredients from IKTS and paid IKTS the minimum royalty fees of €2000 per year (approximately
$2,185 based on the exchange rate of $1 / € 0.915 in effect as of December 31, 2015).
In
March 2013, we entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with IPB and Leed, pursuant to which we agreed to establish a joint venture
to develop, manufacture, market, distribute and commercialize inkjet solar metallization silver and copper inks in China, Hong
Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Our obligation to fund the joint venture was conditioned upon, among other things, receipt of all applicable
approvals required by relevant authorities in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan within 180 days of the effective date of the
joint venture agreement. The conditions in the agreement were not satisfied prior to the deadline set forth in the Joint Venture
Agreement and, as a result, the parties have agreed to dissolve the joint venture. Thereafter, in January 2014, we received a
letter from Leed demanding that we reimburse Leed for its expenses associated with the joint venture, in an aggregate amount of
$68,426. In March 2014, we received a subsequent letter from Leed in which Leed offered to settle its $68,426 claim for an aggregate
of $50,905 if we paid such amount prior to March 30, 2014. We dispute Leed’s claim that they are entitled to be reimbursed
by us for their expenses incurred in connection with the joint venture, but have included a reserve of $40,000 for this potential
liability in our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015.
In
May 2014, we entered into a collaboration agreement with XaarJet Limited, or Xaar, which establishes procedures for
the certification of our inks for use with Xaar printer heads. Once the first ink (Silver Nano-Particle Ink) is certified
by Xaar, both we and Xaar will refer to the ink as certified to be used with Xaar Printheads. Following such
certification, we will be required to pay Xaar a fee for all certified inks sold for use with Xaar print heads as follows: 2%
of the certified ink price until the cumulative value of the fees received by Xaar exceeds £50,000, and thereafter, 1%
of the certified ink price. Once the cumulative value of the fees received by Xaar with respect to all products
exceeds £1,000,000, we and Xaar have agreed to review the percentage payable in the light of the prevailing
business conditions.
On
July 9, 2015, we entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, or the SEDA, with YA Global, pursuant to which we may,
at our election and in our sole discretion, issue and sell to YA Global, from time to time after the Effective Date, and YA Global
has agreed to purchase (subject to the limitations and contained therein), up to $3,000,000 of Ordinary Shares at a price per
share equal to 95% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares for the five consecutive trading days
following our election to issue and sell shares to YA Global thereunder. Our ability to issue and sell shares under the SEDA is subject
to, among other things, the qualification of our Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. Pursuant to the terms of the SEDA, the Company
agreed to pay a structuring and due diligence fee in an amount equal to $15,000 and a commitment fee in an aggregate amount of
$150,000, payable by the issuance of 100,000 ordinary shares. In addition, pursuant to the SEDA, the investor purchased in October
2015 100,000 units, at a purchase price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year warrant
to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share.
Intellectual
Property
An
important part of our business and product development strategy is to seek, when appropriate, protection for our products and
proprietary technology through the use of various United States and foreign patents. We currently have patent applications pending
in the United States, the European Union, India, Israel, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea supporting our silver-based inks, and
applications which have been allowed in China and Russia. We have patent applications based on PCT/IB2015/051536, relating to
copper-based ink, filed on March 3, 2015 which has been submitted to national phase. We have an approved joint patent with Ramot
for “Conductive Nanowire Films” which Ramot maintains pursuant to the termination settlement of the Magneton Program.
Our silver patent application is in the national phase in many countries and has recently been allowed in China and Russia.
Our
wholly-owned subsidiary, Nano Size, has been granted several patents in the field of ultrasonic manufacturing of nano materials
(7,157,058 (US); 7,504,075 (US); 144638 (IL); 149932 (IL)). We do not believe that these patents are material to our business.
We intend to continue to seek patent protection for our products that we may develop in the future.
The
patenting of technology-related products and processes involves uncertain and complex legal and factual questions. To date, no
consistent policy has emerged regarding the breadth of claims of such technology patents. Therefore, there is no assurance that
our pending applications will issue, or what scope of protection any issued patents will provide, or whether any such patents
ultimately will be upheld as valid by a court of competent jurisdiction in the event of a legal challenge. The costs of such proceedings
would be significant and an unfavorable outcome could result in the loss of rights to the invention at issue in the proceedings.
If we fail to obtain patents for our technology and are required to rely on unpatented proprietary technology, there is no assurance
that we can protect our rights in such unpatented proprietary technology, or that others will not independently develop substantially
equivalent proprietary products and techniques, or otherwise gain access to our proprietary technology.
Competitors
have filed applications for, or have been issued patents, and may obtain additional patents and proprietary rights relating to
products or processes used in, necessary to, competitive with, or otherwise related to, our patents. The scope and validity of
these patents, and the extent to which we may be required to obtain licenses under these patents or under other proprietary rights
and the cost and availability of licenses is unknown. This may limit our ability to license our technology. Litigation concerning
these or other patents could be protracted and expensive. If suit were brought against us for patent infringement, a challenge
in the suit by us as to the validity of the other patent would have to overcome a legal presumption of validity. There can be
no assurance that the validity of the patent would not be upheld by the court or that, in such event, a license of the patent
to us would be available. Moreover, even if a license were available, the payments that would be required are unknown and could
materially reduce the value of our interest in the affected products.
We
also rely upon unpatented trade secrets. No assurances can be given that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent
proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose such technology or that we can
meaningfully protect our rights to our unpatented trade secrets. We require our employees, consultants, advisors, and any third
parties who have access to our proprietary know-how, information, or technology to enter into confidentiality agreements with
us, which provide that all confidential information developed or made known to the individual during the course of the relationship
is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees and consultants,
the agreements provide that all inventions conceived by the individual shall be our exclusive property or shall be assigned to
us. There is no assurance, however, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets and other confidential
proprietary information in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of such information.
Marketing
and Sales
We currently have
a small marketing and sales operation consisting of one full-time marketing employee and one sales representative in Korea who
has a representative in Japan. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer generally devotes a portion of his efforts to increasing
awareness of, and marketing, our products. We intend to collaborate with additional third party distributors and sales agents with
established sales and marketing operations and industry experience to market our inks. However, there can be no assurance that
we will be able to enter into distribution and/or sales agency agreements on terms acceptable to us or at all, or that such distributors
or sales agents will be successful in marketing our inks.
Seasonality
Our
business and operations are generally not affected by seasonal fluctuations or factors.
Raw
Materials and Suppliers
We
believe that the raw materials that we require to manufacture our inks are readily available in adequate quantities from multiple
sources, except that certain additives required to make our inks suitable for use in solar cell metallization processes are not
are not readily commercially available, and we have an exclusive license for these additives from IKTS as described above under
“—Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements and Material Contracts.” In addition, the manufacturing
process for our silver-based inks utilizes a silver salt the price of which is linked to the price of silver. The price of silver
is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including inflation, fluctuation of the United States dollar and foreign currencies,
global and regional demand, speculative activities by commodities traders and others and the political and economic conditions
of major silver producing countries throughout the world. See “Risk Factors—We are subject to risks resulting from
fluctuations in the price of silver.”
Manufacturing
We
manufacture our inks at our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities. We currently have capacity to produce an estimated two tons of ink
per year, and intend to upgrade our facilities (at an estimated cost of $600,000) to increase production capacity to 19 tons per
year, if and when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities and we have sufficient financing to
do so. In the event that demand for our inks outgrows our internal manufacturing capacity, we intend to engage third-party manufacturers
to produce additional inks. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into agreements with qualified manufacturers
on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that, once contracted, such manufacturers will perform as expected.
Government
Regulation
We
are subject to various environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements, including those governing
the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into ground, air or water; noise emissions, the generation, storage, use, management
and disposal of hazardous waste; the registration of chemicals and in the future also import and export; the cleanup of contaminated
sites; and the health and safety of our employees. Under such laws and regulations, we are required to obtain environmental permits
from governmental authorities for certain operations. The manufacture of our products requires storing or using certain hazardous
materials. Pursuant to the Israeli Dangerous Substances Law - 1993, we are required to (and did) obtain a toxin permit from the
Ministry of Environmental Protection. Our permit is valid until October 2018.
Other
than applicable local laws in Israel relating to the handling and disposal of hazardous materials and waste, there are no government
regulations that are material to the conduct of our business. If we establish manufacturing operations in other jurisdictions,
we expect to become subject to environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements in those jurisdictions,
which may be similar to or more onerous than those described above.
Property
We
currently lease, through our subsidiary Nano Size, approximately 5,300 square feet of space in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel for
our principal offices and manufacturing facilities at a monthly cost of approximately NIS 10,072 (approximately $2,581 based on
the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015). The lease term expired on June 30, 2016, although we are
continuing to lease the space on the same terms and we expect to formally renew the lease in the near future.
We
currently own equipment, housed in our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities, capable of producing up to two tons of ink per year. We
intend to upgrade our facilities (at an estimated cost of $600,000) to increase production capacity to 19 tons per year, if and
when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities.
Legal
Proceedings
We
are neither party to any legal or arbitration proceedings, including those relating to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings
and those involving any third-party, nor any governmental proceedings pending or known to be contemplated, which may have, or
have had in the recent past, significant effects on our financial position or profitability.
ITEM
4A. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Item
3. Key Information—Selected Financial Data” above and our financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere
in this annual report. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements
that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this annual
report, particularly in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Overview
We
are a conductive ink manufacturing company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and commercializing conductive inks
for digital inkjet conductive printing applications. We have developed the Sicrys™ family of single crystal nano-metric
conductive inks, which we believe enables a significantly less costly and less wasteful alternative to current screen printing
and, in some cases, photolithography processes for PV and PE applications. We began low volume sales of our Sicrys™ silver-based
inks for PV applications in 2010 and are in the process of seeking to expand our sales efforts to include sales of Sicrys™
inks for a wide range of PE applications, including for the printing of circuit boards, radio-frequency identification chips,
sensors and touchscreens, among other digitally printed electronics. We have also developed what we believe is the first available
commercially viable copper-based nano-metric ink for mass-production of printed electronics. We believe that copper inks represent
a significant improvement over silver-based inks given copper’s significantly lower cost and nearly identical electrical
and conductive properties. We began low volume sales of our copper-based ink for printed electronics applications in the second
half of 2014.
Financial
Overview
We
have incurred net losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately $1.8 million for the year ended December
31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $10.6 million. We have devoted substantially
all of our financial resources to identifying, acquiring, licensing, and developing our products and technologies and providing
general and administrative support for these operations. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of
equity and convertible securities and government grants. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate
of our future expenditures, our ability to obtain funding through equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, or grants
and our ability to commercialize our products or technologies. We are dependent upon external sources to finance our operations
and there can be no assurance that we will succeed in obtaining the necessary financing to continue our operations. As a result,
our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
(U.S. GAAP). These accounting principles are more fully described in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this annual report and require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates,
judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that these estimates,
judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented.
To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, our financial
statements will be affected. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to our financial results and
to the understanding of our past and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s
estimates and assumptions. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (1) it requires us to make assumptions because
information was not available at the time or it included matters that were highly uncertain at the time we were making our estimate;
and (2) changes in the estimate could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Section
107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period
provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This means that an
“emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We are electing to delay such adoption of new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our financial
statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the public company effective date.
Revenue
Recognition
Our
total revenues consist of revenues received from limited commercial sales of our Sicrys™ inks and other income from sales
of raw materials used in and waste byproducts resulting from our manufacturing and research and development efforts.
We
recognize revenue when (1) persuasive evidence of a final agreement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the selling price is
fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.
We
assess collectability as part of the revenue recognition process. This assessment includes a number of factors such as an evaluation
of the creditworthiness of the customer, past due amounts, past payment history, and current economic conditions. If it is determined
that collectability cannot be reasonably assured, we defer recognition of revenue until collectability is assured.
Inventories
Inventories
are measured at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is computed on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory costs consist primarily
of material. We periodically assess inventory for obsolescence and excess and reduce the carrying value by an amount equal to
the difference between its cost and the estimated market value based on assumptions about future demand and historical sales patterns.
No write off was recorded during 2013, 2014 or 2015.
As
of December 31, 2015, we had $62,685 of inventory, of which $29,699 consisted of raw materials and $32,986 consisted of finished
goods.
Taxes
We
are subject to income taxes in Israel. Significant judgment is required in evaluating our uncertain tax positions and determining
our provision for income taxes. We recognize income taxes under the liability method. Tax benefits are recognized from uncertain
tax positions only if we believe that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the
taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. Although we believe we have adequately reserved for our uncertain
tax positions, no assurance can be given that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different. We adjust these reserves
when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit, the refinement of an estimate or changes in tax laws.
To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact
the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made. The provision for income taxes includes the
effects of any reserves that are considered appropriate, as well as the related net interest and penalties.
We
recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for future tax consequences arising from differences between the carrying amounts
of existing assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP and their respective tax bases, and for net operating loss carryforwards and
tax credit carryforwards. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establish a valuation allowance if
it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. To make this judgment, we
must make predictions of the amount and category of taxable income from various sources and weigh all available positive and negative
evidence about these possible sources of taxable income.
While
we believe the resulting tax balances as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 are appropriately accounted for, the ultimate outcome of
such matters could result in favorable or unfavorable adjustments to our consolidated financial statements and such adjustments
could be material. We have filed or are in the process of filing the tax returns that may be audited by the respective tax authorities.
We believe that we adequately provided for any reasonably foreseeable outcomes related to tax audits and settlement; however,
our future results may include favorable or unfavorable adjustments to our estimated tax liabilities in the period the assessments
are made or resolved, audits are closed or when statute of limitations on potential assessments expire.
Share-Based
Compensation and Liabilities presented at fair value
Ordinary
Share Valuations
Based
on the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of December 31, 2015, the intrinsic value of the awards outstanding as of December
31, 2015 was $517,959, of which $455,499 related to vested or expected to vest options and $62,460 related to unvested options.
In
addition, the fair value of the Ordinary Shares was used to determine the value of the warrants presented as a liability, the
value of the deemed dividend, and stock based compensation in respect of equity restructuring. The following table sets forth
the fair value of our Ordinary Shares used for each significant transaction:
|
|
Date
|
|
|
Ordinary Share
Fair Value
|
|
590,440 employees options grant
|
|
|
May 23, 2013
|
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
190,178 employees options grant
|
|
|
August 22, 2013
|
|
|
|
0.14
|
|
Deemed dividend and stock based compensation in respect of equity restructuring
|
|
|
November 26, 2014
(1)
|
|
|
|
0.51
|
|
Deemed dividend and stock based compensation in respect of equity restructuring
|
|
|
November 26, 2014
(2)(3)
|
|
|
|
1.05
|
|
Warrants presented as a liability
|
|
|
December 31, 2014
|
|
|
|
1.05
|
|
240,095 employees options grant
|
|
|
July 15, 2015
|
|
|
|
1.02
|
|
241,768 employees options grant
|
|
|
October 6, 2015
|
|
|
|
1.02
|
|
Warrants presented as a liability
|
|
|
December 31, 2015
|
|
|
$
|
1.02
|
|
|
(1)
|
Prior
to the equity restructuring.
|
|
(2)
|
Subsequent
to the equity restructuring, the increase in ordinary share fair value derives from the
termination of the preferred shares rights.
|
|
(3)
|
The
equity restructuring that occurred on November 26, 2014 resulted in a modification in
accordance with ASC 718-20-35. The Company used the fair value of its Ordinary Shares
prior and subsequent to the equity restructuring to determine the modification effect,
which amounted to the recognition of $376,643 in stock based compensation from employees’
options and warrants and a deemed dividend in the amount of $1,842,061.
|
The
fair value of our Ordinary Shares was determined by our management. The valuations of our Ordinary Shares were determined in accordance
with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company
Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, or the AICPA Practice Aid. The assumptions used in the valuation model are based on
future expectations combined with management’s judgment. Our management exercised significant judgment and considered numerous
objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of the date of each option grant, including
the following factors:
|
●
|
Independent
valuations performed at periodic intervals by an independent third-party valuation specialist;
|
|
●
|
The
prices, rights, preferences and privileges of our convertible preferred shares;
|
|
●
|
Current
business conditions and projections;
|
|
●
|
Our
stage of development;
|
|
●
|
The
likelihood of a liquidity event for the ordinary shares underlying these options, such
as an initial public offering or sale of our Company, given prevailing market conditions;
|
|
●
|
Any
adjustments necessary due to the lack of marketability of our Ordinary Shares;
|
|
●
|
General
and industry specific economic outlook; and
|
|
●
|
The
market performance of comparable publicly traded companies.
|
We
determined our Company’s value using a market approach. We allocated the estimated enterprise value among different classes
of the Company’s shares by applying an option pricing method. Under the option pricing method, ordinary and preferred shares
are treated as call options, with the preferred shares having an exercise price based on the liquidation preference of the preferred
shares. Ordinary Shares will only have value if funds available for distribution to the stockholders exceed the value of the liquidation
preference at the time of a liquidity event such as a merger, sale or initial public offering. The Ordinary Shares are modeled
as call options with an exercise price equal to the liquidation preference of the preferred shares. The value of the call options
is determined using the Black-Scholes-Mertons option-pricing model. The option pricing method requires significant assumptions;
in particular, the time until investors in our company would experience an exit event and the volatility of our shares (which
we determined based on public companies with business and financial risks comparable to our own).
We
applied a discount to the resulting valuation due to the lack of marketability of our ordinary shares. We calculated this using
an Asian put option model. The significant assumptions involved were the same as described above.
The
dates of our valuations did not always coincide with the dates of our share-based compensation grants. In such instances, management’s
estimates were based on the most recent valuation of our Ordinary Shares. For grants occurring between valuation dates, for financial
reporting purposes, we used the closest valuation date before the grant, as we believe that the Ordinary Share valuation represents
the valuation at the date of grant.
Options
grants in May 23, 2013 and August 22, 2013
In
order to estimate the value of our equity, including both ordinary and preferred shares, we relied upon our Series B-2 preferred
share price determined in the April 9, 2013 financing rounds of our Series B-2 preferred shares, which we believed to be most
indicative of our value. Our management determined the fair value of our ordinary shares as of May 23, 2013 and August 22, 2013
to be $0.14 per share. As part of this determination, our management considered an independent third party valuation. We based
this price using the option pricing method according to the value derived from a third-party sale of shares in an arm’s
length transaction.
Ordinary
share price as of November 26, 2014
In
order to estimate the value of our Ordinary Shares subsequent to the equity restructuring, our management used the market approach.
We relied upon the Ordinary Share valuation established in our November 26, 2014 financing round. In the November 26, 2014 financing
round, we issued units that consist of one Ordinary Share and one warrant to purchase an Ordinary Share at an exercise price of
$1.50 per Ordinary Share. The unit price was $1.50. The Ordinary Shares were valued by performing iterations in the Black &
Scholes option pricing model. Our management considered an independent third party valuation conducted for this date and determined
the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of November 26, 2014 subsequent to the equity restructuring to be $1.05. In order to
estimate our equity value, including both Ordinary and Preferred Shares prior to the equity restructuring, management subtracted
the November 26, 2014, financing from the valuation and applied the option pricing method as discussed above. Our management determined
the fair value of our Ordinary Shares as of November 26, 2014 prior to the restructuring to be $0.51. Our Ordinary Share fair
value increased from $0.51 prior to the restructuring to $1.05 subsequent to the restructuring due to the termination of the Preferred
Shares rights.
Option
Grants in July 15, 2015 and October 6, 2015
Our
management determined the fair value of our ordinary shares as of July 15, 2015 and October 6, 2015 to be $1.02 per share. As
part of this determination, our management considered an independent third party valuation. We based this price using the option
pricing method according to the value derived from a third-party sale of shares in an arm’s length transaction.
Option
Valuations
Under
U.S. GAAP, we account for share-based compensation for employees in accordance with the provisions of the FASB’s ASC Topic
718 “Compensation—Stock Based Compensation,” or ASC 718, which requires us to measure the cost of options based
on the fair value of the award on the grant date.
We
selected the Black-Scholes-Mertons option pricing model as the most appropriate method for determining the estimated fair value
of options. The resulting cost of an equity incentive award is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period of the
award, which is usually the vesting period. We recognize compensation expense over the vesting period using the straight-line
method and classify these amounts in the consolidated financial statements based on the department to which the related employee
reports.
The
determination of the grant date fair value of options using the Black and Scholes option pricing model is affected by estimates
and assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables are estimated as follows:
|
●
|
Fair
Value of our Ordinary Shares
. Because our shares are not publicly traded, we must
estimate the fair value of ordinary shares, as discussed in the above “Ordinary
Share Valuations”.
|
|
●
|
Risk-free
Interest Rate
. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from U.S. Treasury
zero-coupon bonds with a term equivalent to the contractual life of the options.
|
|
●
|
Volatility
.
The expected share price volatility was based on the historical equity volatility of
the ordinary shares of comparable companies that are publicly traded with adjustments
to reflect our capital structure.
|
|
●
|
Dividend
Yield
. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends and do not presently plan
to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, we used an expected dividend
yield of zero.
|
|
●
|
Expected
Life.
We used the “simplified” method, meaning the expected life is set
as the average of the vesting period for each vested tranche of options and the contractual
term for those options.
|
If
any of the assumptions used in the Black and Scholes option pricing model change significantly, share-based compensation for future
awards may differ materially compared with the awards previously granted.
The
following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted to employees, officers
and consultants during the periods presented.
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Dividend yield
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
)
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Expected volatility
|
|
|
53.7%- 64
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
)
|
|
|
64%-69
|
%
|
Risk-free interest
|
|
|
0.5%-1.7
|
%
|
|
|
*
|
)
|
|
|
1.12%-1.63
|
%
|
Expected life (in years)
|
|
|
3.5-4.9
|
|
|
|
*
|
)
|
|
|
4.375
|
|
|
*)
|
No
grants were made in 2014.
|
Liabilities
Presented at Fair Value
Some
of our warrants are classified as liabilities in accordance with ASC No. 815-40, “Distinguishing Liabilities From Equity”.
Accordingly, these warrants were required to be marked to market at each reporting date.
We
estimated the fair value of these warrants and such conversion feature using a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model, which
is affected by estimates and assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables are estimated
as follows:
|
●
|
Fair
Value of our Ordinary Shares
. Because our shares are not publicly traded, we must
estimate the fair value of ordinary shares, as discussed in the above “Ordinary
Share Valuations”.
|
|
●
|
Risk-free
Interest Rate
. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from U.S. Treasury
zero-coupon bonds with a term equivalent to the contractual life of the warrants. Currently,
we estimate the risk free rate at between 1.19% and 1.76% for contracts with an expected
life of 2.5 years to 4.63 years.
|
|
●
|
Volatility
.
The expected share price volatility was based on the historical equity volatility of
the ordinary shares of comparable companies that are publicly traded with adjustments
to reflect our capital structure. Currently, we estimate our expected volatility between
67.87% and 78%.
|
|
●
|
Dividend
Yield
. We have never declared or paid any cash dividends and do not presently plan
to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, we used an expected dividend
yield of zero.
|
In
addition, the conversion feature of the Capital Note issued to a shareholder, is required to be marked to market at each reporting
date. We estimated the fair value of the Capital Note by taking into account the expected occurrence of certain trigger events
(such as IPO or M&A), multiplied by the value in a probability that the event will occur (based on our subjective assumptions)
and discounting the value in an appropriate discount factor (based on the weighted average cost of capital of the Company) for
a period of 2.5 years.
For
further significant accounting policies please see Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements, beginning on page
of this annual report.
Reporting
Currency
Our
functional currency is the U.S. Dollar, although substantial portion of the Company’s costs are incurred in New Israeli
Shekels, the Company finances its operations mainly in U.S. dollars and a substantial portion of its costs and revenues from its
primary markets are anticipated to be incurred and generated in U.S. dollars. As such, we believe that the U.S. dollar is the
currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.
Transactions
and balances that are denominated in dollars are presented at their original amounts. Non-dollar transactions and balances have
been re-measured to dollars in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 830, “Foreign Currency
Matters”. All foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reflected in the statements of operations as financial income
or expenses, as appropriate.
Results
of Operations
The
following discussion of our operating results explains material changes in our results of operations for the years ended December
31, 2015, as well as December 31 2014, and December 31, 2013. The discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and related notes and the information contained in Item 18.
Total
Revenues
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 - Total Revenues amounted to $57,851 and $29,372,
respectively, an increase of $28,479 or 97%. The increase in total revenues in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily due to sales
of our Sicrys™ inks. Our total revenues consist of revenues received from limited commercial sales of our Sicrys™
inks and other income from sales of raw materials used in and waste byproducts resulting from our manufacturing and research and
development efforts.
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - Total Revenues amounted to $68,332 and $57,851,
respectively, an increase of $10,481 or 18%.The slight increase in sales is due to the fact some customers which are developing
their applications are purchasing additional ink quantities. Our total revenues consist of revenues received from limited commercial
sales of our Sicrys™ inks and other income from sales of raw materials used in and waste byproducts resulting from our manufacturing
and research and development efforts.
Operating
Expenses
With respect to the operating
years ending December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 – Operating expenses amounted to $1,906,443 and $1,292,681, respectively,
an increase of $613,762 or 47%. Operating expenses consist of research and development expenses, sales and marketing
expenses and general and administrative expenses. Our increase in operating expenses is due to the increases
in research and development expenses, sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative
expenses described below.
With respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - Operating expenses amounted
to $1,774,030 and $1,906,443, respectively, a decrease of $132,413 or 7%. Operating expenses consist of Research and Development
Expenses, Sales and Marketing Expenses and General and Administrative Expenses. Our decrease in operating expenses is mainly due
to the decreases in research and development expenses, net as described below.
Research
and Development Expenses, Net
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 - net research and development expenses, were $959,746
and $834,261, respectively, an increase of $125,485 or 15%, net of approximately $129,220 and $225,024 of grants received in 2014
and 2013, respectively. The increase in research and development expenses in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily attributable to
a decrease in grant income received. Research and development expenses, net, consist primarily of labor costs, subcontractor and
consultant costs and materials, net of grants received.
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - net research and development expenses, were $720,997
and $959,746, respectively, a decrease of $238,749 or 25%, net of approximately $180,033 and $129,220 of grants received in 2015
and 2014, respectively. The decrease in the net research and development costs is a result of higher grants received which offset
out of pocket costs, as well as a shift in the focus to increase sales.
Sales
and Marketing Expenses
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 - sales and marketing expenses amounted to $136,770
and $110,577, respectively, an increase of $26,193 or 24%. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in 2014 relative to 2013
is primarily attributable to an increase in costs associated with our marketing and advertising activities. Sales and marketing
expenses consist primarily of labor, consulting and advertising costs.
With respect to the operating
years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - sales and marketing expenses amounted to $245,756 and $136,770, respectively,
an increase of $108,986 or 80%. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in 2015 relative to 2014 is primarily attributable
to an increase in costs associated with our marketing and advertising activities as well as a higher number of employees
engaged in sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of labor, consulting and advertising costs.
General
and Administrative Expenses
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 - general and administrative expenses amounted
to $809,927 and $347,843, respectively, an increase of $462,084 or 133%. The increase in general and administrative expenses in
2014 relative to 2013 is primarily attributable to share based compensation due to the conversion of our preferred shares to ordinary
shares and an increase in audit, finance, legal and other professional expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily
of professional fees and labor, share based compensation, and consultant costs.
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - general and administrative expenses amounted to
$807,277 and $809,927, respectively, a decrease of $2,650 or less than 0.5%.
Operating
Loss
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 - operating loss amounted to $1,927,807 and $1,300,080,
respectively, an increase of $627,727 or 48%. The increase in operating losses in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily a result
of the increase in operating expenses as described above.
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - operating loss amounted to $1,774,749 and $1,927,807,
respectively, a decrease of $153,058 or 8%. The decrease in operating expenses is mainly due to the decreases in Research and
Development Expenses, net as described above.
Financing
Expenses
With respect to the operating
years ending December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 - financing expenses amounted to $236,561 and $291,109, respectively. The
decrease in financing expenses in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily attributable to increase in revaluation of warrants
and loans presented at fair value offset by a decrease in finance expenses in connection with amortization of discount
attribute to convertible loans and a decrease in interest expenses. Financing expenses consist primarily of interest expense,
foreign exchange gain or loss, amortization of the discount attributable to our outstanding convertible promissory notes and the
change in the fair value of the convertible promissory notes and revaluation of the fair value of warrants we issued.
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - financing income and expenses amounted to $(1,094)
and $236,561, respectively. The main reason for the sharp drop in financing expenses is due to the change in the fair value of
the warrants and capital notes.
Net
Loss
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 - net loss amounted to $2,164,368 and $1,591,189,
respectively, an increase of $573,179 or 36%. The increase in net loss in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily a result of the increase
in operating expenses as described above.
Net
loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 to $4,006,429 and
$1,591,189, respectively, an increase of $2,415,240 or 152%. The increase in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily a result of a
deemed dividend in the amount $1,842,061 in 2014, as well as the increase in the net loss (as described above).
With
respect to the operating years ending December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 - net loss amounted to $1,773,655 and $2,164,368,
respectively, a decrease of $390,713 or 18%. The decrease in net loss in 2015 relative to 2014 is mainly due to the reduction
in research and development costs as well as financial costs.
Net
loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 amounted to $1,773,655
and $4,006,429, respectively, a decrease of $2,232,774 or 56%. The decrease in net loss attributable to holders of ordinary shares
in 2015 relative to 2014 is primarily a result of a deemed dividend in the amount $1,842,061 in 2014.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
We
currently have limited liquidity. As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our cash on hand was approximately $10,912 and
$680,765, respectively. Based on our current cash burn rate, strategy and operating plan, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents
as of November 15, 2016 will enable us to operate for a period of approximately three months. In order to fund our anticipated
liquidity needs beyond such three month period (or possibly earlier if our current cash burn rate, strategy or operating plan
change in a way that accelerates or increases our liquidity needs), we will need to raise additional capital.
To date, we have financed
our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible securities and government grants. As of December 31, 2015,
we had sold 2,430,846 units pursuant to our private offering for aggregate proceeds of $3,367,505. The offering
has been extended several times and currently expires on July 30, 2017, unless extended by the Company (in its discretion) for
one or more periods of 90 days each.
On
July 9, 2015, we entered into the SEDA with YA Global, pursuant to which we may, at our election and in our sole
discretion, issue and sell to YA Global, from time to time after the Effective Date, and YA Global has agreed to purchase
(subject to the limitations and contained therein), up to $3,000,000 of Ordinary Shares at a price per share equal to 95% of
the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares for the five consecutive trading days following our
election to issue and sell shares to YA Global thereunder. Our ability to issue and sell shares under the SEDA is subject to,
among other things, the qualification of our Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. Pursuant to the terms of the SEDA, the Company
agreed to pay a structuring and due diligence fee in an amount equal to $15,000 and a commitment fee in an aggregate amount
of $150,000, payable by the issuance of 100,000 ordinary shares. In addition, pursuant to the SEDA, the investor purchased in
October 2015, 100,000 units, at a purchase price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a
five-year warrant to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share.
We
expect to continue to fund our operations through equity or debt financings (including pursuant to the SEDA), strategic collaborations,
grants and, to the extent our marketing and commercialization efforts are successfully, sales of our products or technologies.
We
have experienced cumulative losses of $10.6 million from inception through December 31, 2015. In addition, we have not completed
our efforts to establish a stable recurring source of revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs and expect to continue
to generate losses for the foreseeable future. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain an adequate level of financing
needed for our near term requirements or the long-term development and commercialization of our product. These conditions raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern”.
Net
cash used in operating activities for the years ended on December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $1,106,420, $1,670,692 and $1,109,413,
respectively, an increase of $561,279 or 51% (2013 to 2014) and a decrease of $564,272 or 34% (2014 to 2015). The increase in
net cash used in operating activities in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily attributable to the increase in operating expenses
as described above. The decrease in cash used in operating activities in 2015 relative to 2014 is also outlined above.
Net
cash used in investing activities for the year ended on December 31, 2015 was $42,074. Net cash used in investing activities for
the year ended on December 31, 2014 was $57,874, while net cash provided by investing activities in 2013 was $19,334. The increase
in net cash used in investing activities in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily attributable to a decrease in proceeds received
from short-term deposits. The decrease in cash used in investing activities in 2015 relative to 2014 is due to reduced investment
in property and equipment
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the years ended on December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $478,641, $2,301,215 and $1,164,903,
respectively, an increase of $1,136,312 or 98% (2014 in relation to 2013) and a decrease of $1,822,574 or 79% (2015 in relation
to 2014). The decrease in cash provided in financing activities in 2015 relative to 2014 is mostly due to a decline in issuance
of shares and convertible loans. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities in 2014 relative to 2013 is primarily
attributable to the equity and convertible debt investments that were completed in 2014.
Research
and Development Expenses and Policies
Since
our formation we have focused our research and development efforts on developing inks for solar cell metallization; developing
silver inks for PE applications, developing copper based inks for PE applications and scaling up the production process for the
nano particles and inks. The following table sets forth the gross amount of our research and development expenses for the last
two years:
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
Research and development expenses
|
|
$
|
901,030
|
|
|
$
|
1,088,966
|
|
|
$
|
1,059,285
|
|
Trend
Information
It
is not possible for us to predict with any degree of accuracy the outcome of our research, development or commercialization efforts.
As such, we cannot predict with any degree of accuracy any significant trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that
are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net sales or revenues, income from continuing operations, profitability,
liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause financial information to not necessarily be indicative of future operating
results or financial condition. However, to the extent possible, certain trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments and events
are in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
currently do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have had, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future
effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital
expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
Jumpstart
Our Business Startups Act of 2012
We
qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we are deemed an emerging growth
company, we are permitted to and intend to take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other regulatory requirements that
are generally unavailable to other public companies, including:
|
●
|
an
exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal
controls over financial reporting required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
and
|
|
●
|
an
exemption from compliance with any new requirements adopted by the PCAOB, requiring mandatory
audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report in which the auditor
would be required to provide additional information about our audit and our financial
statements.
|
We
may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the
first sale of our common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. However,
if certain events occur prior to the end of such five year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,”
our annual gross revenues exceed $1.0 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period,
we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.
Section
107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period
provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This means that an
“emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies. We are electing to delay such adoption of new or revised accounting standards. As a result, our financial
statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the public company effective date.
Contractual
Obligations
The
following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations at December 31, 2015:
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less than 1 year
|
|
|
1-3 years
|
|
|
3-5 years
|
|
|
More than 5 years
|
|
Operating Lease Obligations
|
|
$
|
15,487
|
|
|
$
|
15,487
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
15,487
|
|
|
$
|
15,487
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
ITEM
6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.
Directors
and Senior Management.
The
following table sets forth information regarding our directors and senior management team as of November 30, 2016. Unless otherwise
stated, the address for our directors and senior managers is c/o P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., 8 Hamasger Street, P.O. Box 236, Migdal
Ha’Emek, Israel 2310102.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Position
|
Dr. Fernando de la Vega
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
|
Menachem Biran
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
|
Steven Hsieh
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
Director
|
Dr. Astorre Modena
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
Director
|
Dr. Harold Wiener
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
Director
|
Adva Bar-On
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
Vice President, Research and Development
|
Senior
Management
Set
forth below is biographical information with respect to the members of our senior management team.
Dr.
Fernando de la Vega
co-founded PV Nano in 2009 and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of our board
of directors since that time. Dr. de la Vega has more than 25 years industrial and entrepreneurial experience, having served in
managerial positions with responsibility over research and development, quality and operations and has founded or co-founded several
businesses in the fields of nano technology and functional materials. From 2001 to early 2009, Dr. de la Vega served as General
Manager and a Director of Cima, a company focused on the development of innovative technologies in the field of flexible printed
electronics. Dr. de la Vega also co-founded and, from 2003 through 2009, served as Chairman of the Nano Functional Materials Consortium,
a five-year, $25 million research consortium which performed general research on nanotechnology, sponsored by Israel’s Office
of the Chief Scientist as part of the MAGNET program, a special program intended to encourage cooperation between industry and
academia. Dr. de la Vega has also co-founded three European research and development consortiums. He is a co-inventor of more
than 11 patent families in the fields of nanomaterials and nanotechnology and author and co-author of many scientific and technical
publications (including on conductive inks for inkjet printing). Dr. de la Vega holds a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from the Casali
Institute at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as a M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem.
Menachem
Biran
has served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Company since June, 2015. Mr. Biran has more than 25 years
entrepreneurial and business experience. Over the past 10 years, Mr. Biran was heavily involved in international sales and business
development. Prior to joining us, from 2014 to 2015, Mr. Biran served as Director of Sales of Galtronics Corporation Ltd. From
2009 to 2014, Mr. Biran served as Vice President of Sales of Infinite Memories Ltd. From 2007 to 2009 Mr. Biran served as European
Director of Sales of Integration Inc., and from 2002 to 2007, Mr. Biran served as Founder & Managing Director of 2.B.Tronics
Ltd. which was sold in September 2007 to UR Group. Prior to 2002, Mr. Biran had served as well as Founder & General Manager
of Maintronics Ltd., which was sold to EBV Elektronik Israel, and later as the General Manager of EBV Elektronik.
Adva
Bar-On
has served as Vice President, Research and Development of the Company since March, 2016. Ms. Bar-On previously served
as the Vice President, Research and Development at Oplon Ltd. from 2012 to 2015. From 1992 to 2012, Ms. Bar-On served as VP Vice
President, Research and Development at Nirlat Ltd., a leading paint company in Israel. Ms. Bar-On holds an M. Sc. with honors
in Applied Chemistry from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Ms. Bar-On resigned from her position at the Company on
or about November 15, 2016, and her employment with the Company terminates on December 15, 2016.
Board
of Directors
Set
forth below is biographical information with respect to the members of our board of directors, other than Dr. de la Vega. See
“—Senior Management” above for biographical information with respect to Dr. de la Vega.
Steven
Hsieh
has been a member of our board of directors since 2013. Since July 2010, Mr. Hsieh has served as a Managing Director
of Infinity Group, a private equity fund backed by China Development Bank and Clal Industries. Prior to serving as a Managing
Director, from November 2001 to July 2010, Mr. Hsieh served as an Investment Associate at Infinity Group. From November 2001 to
May, 2011, Mr. Hsieh also served as a deputy general manager of the investment department of China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial
Park Ventures Co., Ltd., the first limited partnership Israeli-Chinese joint venture fund in China. Mr. Hsieh has a master’s
degree in Finance from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
Dr.
Astorre Modena
has been a member of our board of directors since 2010. In 2005, he co-founded, and currently serves as General
Partner of, Terra Venture Partners, an Israeli venture capital fund focused on clean technology. Prior to co-founding Terra Venture
Partners, from 2001 to 2005, Dr. Modena was Associate and then Principal at Israel Seed Partners, a leading Israeli seed-stage
venture capital firm. From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Modena was a consultant with McKinsey & Co., where he consulted for leading Italian,
French and Israeli manufacturing and financial corporations on strategic and operational issues. Dr. Modena holds a Ph.D. in Plasma
Physics from Imperial College in London and a B.Sc. in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (where he was a part of
the Honors Program for Outstanding Students). Dr. Modena was also a researcher in the laser-plasma physics department at Imperial
College in London and École Polytechnique in Paris.
Dr.
Harold Wiener
has been a member of our board of directors since 2010. In 2006, he co-founded, and currently serves as General
Partner of Terra Venture Partners, an Israeli venture capital fund focused on clean technology. Prior to co-founding Terra Venture
Partners, from 1987 to 2005, Dr. Wiener was a Vice President for Research and Development and Business Development at Aromor Flavors
and Fragrances Ltd., a producer of natural identical and synthetic raw materials for the flavor and fragrance industries. Dr.
Wiener has also served as Chief Executive Officer of several biotech and biomedical companies and was the Business Development
Manager and VP Sales and Marketing of Algatechnologies and was the Chief Technology Officer of the Misgav Technology Center Incubator.
Dr. Wiener holds a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and has co-authored more than 25 scientific
papers and patents in prestigious international journals.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships between any members of our executive management and our directors.
B. Compensation
Compensation
of Senior Management and Directors
The
aggregate compensation, including share-based compensation, paid by us to our senior management with respect to the year ended
December 31, 2015 was approximately $232,013, consisting of $8,297 of share based-compensation and $223,716 in cash compensation.
This amount does not include business travel, professional and business association due and expenses reimbursed to office holders,
and other benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in our industry. We did not pay any compensation to our directors
for the year ended December 31, 2015, other than the compensation paid to Dr. de la Vega pursuant to his service agreement with
us in connection with his service as our Chief Executive Officer.
We
did not set aside or accrue any amounts to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits to any officers or directors of the
Company in the year ended December 31, 2015.
Employment
or Service Agreements with Senior Managers
Dr.
Fernando de la Vega
. We have entered into a services agreement, dated September 9, 2009 as amended, or the DBG Services Agreement,
with Dr. de la Vega’s wholly-owned service company, Dolev Bar-Guy Consulting and Management Ltd., or DBG, pursuant to which
DBG has agreed to cause Dr. de la Vega to serve as our Chief Executive Officer during the term of the agreement. Pursuant to the
terms of the DBG Services Agreement, Dr. de la Vega is entitled to a monthly fee of NIS 38,500 ($9,867 based on the exchange rate
of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015) plus value added tax and a car allowance of NIS 2,500 ($640 based on the
exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015) plus value added tax per month plus reimbursement for fuel
expenses and tolls. The Agreement provided for an original term of 24 months and has subsequently been extended and is made for
an undefined term. Each party may terminate the DBG Services Agreement at any time for any reason upon 30 days prior written notice,
or if the other party commits a breach of the DBG Services Agreement and does not cure such breach within 14 days after receipt
of a written notice from the injured party.
Menachem
Biran
. We have entered into a Consultancy Agreement with Menachem Biran, dated June 17, 2015, pursuant to which Mr. Biran
has agreed to serve as our Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Pursuant to such agreement, Mr. Biran was retained for an initial
trial period ending on September 1, 2015, and was subsequently retained as a full time employee of the Company. Mr. Biran, as
a full time employee, is entitled to a gross monthly salary of NIS 22,400 ($5,740 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902
in effect as of December 31, 2015); overtime pay of NIS 5,600 per month ($1,435 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in
effect as of December 31, 2015); a car allowance of NIS 5,000 per month ($1,281 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in
effect as of December 31, 2015) plus fuel and route 6 expenses; an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Biran’s gross monthly salary
and overtime pay to an Education Fund (known in Hebrew as “Keren Hishtalmut”, a short term savings plan available
in Israel which is tax free to the employee up to a cap determined by law); and an amount equal to 14.58%-15.83% of Mr. Biran’s
gross monthly salary and overtime pay to a manager’s insurance fund (known in Hebrew as “Bituach Menahalim”).
The Company is permitted to terminate Mr. Biran’s employment with one month’s prior notice.
Zvika
Lifschitz
. We entered into an Employment Agreement with Zvika Lifschitz, dated October 6, 2015, pursuant to which Mr. Lifschitz
agreed to serve as our CFO. Pursuant to such agreement, Mr. Lifschitz was entitled to a gross monthly salary and overtime pay
of NIS 35,200 ($9,021 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015); a car allowance of NIS
3,240 per month ($830 based on the exchange rate of $1 / NIS 3.902 in effect as of December 31, 2015) plus fuel and route 6 expenses;
an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Lifschitz’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay to an Education Fund (known in Hebrew as
“Keren Hishtalmut”, a short term savings plan available in Israel which is tax free to the employee up to a cap determined
by law); and an amount equal to 14.58%-15.83% of Mr. Lifschitz’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay to a manager’s
insurance fund (known in Hebrew as “Bituach Menahalim”). Mr. Lifschitz’s employment was terminated on May 21,
2016.
Service
Agreements with Directors
We
are not party to any service agreements with any of the members of our board of directors, other than the DBG Services Agreement
with respect to Dr. de la Vega’s service as our Chief Executive Officer, which is described above. Except as set forth above,
to date, we have not paid any compensation to our directors for their services as such.
C. Board
Practices.
Board
of Directors
Under
the Companies Law, the management of our business is vested in our board of directors. Our board of directors may exercise all
powers and may take all actions that are not specifically granted to our shareholders or to management. Our Chief Executive Officer
is responsible for our day-to-day management and has responsibilities established by our board of directors. Our Chief Executive
Officer is appointed by, and serves at the discretion of, our board of directors, subject to the terms of a consulting agreement
that we have entered into with him. Our Chief Executive Officer may retain additional executive officers to assist in the day
to day management of our business.
Election
and Removal of Directors
Our
Articles of Association provide for a board of directors consisting of no less than three and no more than seven directors, with
all directors (other than the external directors, whose appointment is required under the Companies Law, as described below) divided
into three classes with staggered three-year terms with each class of directors to consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third
of the total number of directors other than the external directors. At each annual general meeting of our shareholders thereafter,
the election or re-election of directors following the expiration of the term of office of the directors of that class of directors
will be for a term of office that expires on the third annual general meeting following such election or re-election. Each director
so elected will hold office until the annual general meeting of our shareholders for the year in which his or her term expires,
unless the tenure of such director expires earlier pursuant to the Companies Law or unless he or she is removed from office as
described below.
|
●
|
Our
board of directors will be divided among the three staggered classes of directors (except
for the external directors): the Class I director will be Steven Hsieh, and his term
will expire at our annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2016;
|
|
●
|
the
Class II director, is Dr. Harold Wiener, and his term will expire at our annual meeting
of shareholders to be held in 2017; and
|
|
●
|
the
Class III directors will be Dr. Fernando de la Vega and Dr. Astorre Modena, and their
terms will expire at our annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2018.
|
In
addition after the registration date of our shares, we will appoint two (2) external directors who will not be part of the staggered
board election, as described below.
External
Directors
Under
the Companies Law, companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel whose shares are publicly traded are required
to appoint at least two external directors who meet the qualification requirements in the Companies Law. Therefore we intend to
hold a shareholders meeting within three months of the date our shares are publicly traded, for the purpose of election of these
two external directors. A shareholders meeting for this purpose was not convened yet, we will hold such meeting in accordance
with the provisions of the Companies Law.
The
Companies Law provides for special approval requirements for the election of external directors. External directors must be elected
by a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, provided that either:
|
●
|
such
majority includes at least a majority of the shares held by all shareholders who are
not controlling shareholders and do not have a personal interest in such election (other
than a personal interest which is not derived from a relationship with a controlling
shareholder), present and voting at such meeting; or
|
|
●
|
the
total number of shares of non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have
a personal interest in such election (other than a personal interest which is not derived
from a relationship with a controlling shareholder) voting against the election of an
external director does not exceed 2% of the aggregate voting rights in the company.
|
After
an initial term of three years, an external director may be reelected to serve in that capacity for up to two additional terms
of three years each under one of two alternatives. Under the first alternative, the external director may be nominated by the
board of directors, and such external director’s reelection is approved by a majority of the shareholders that was required
to elect such external director in such director’s initial election. Under the second alternative, the external director
may be nominated by a shareholder(s) holding 1% or more of the voting power and at the general meeting of shareholders such reelection
is approved by a majority of those shares present and voting that are held by shareholders who are non-controlling shareholders
and do not have a personal interest in the reelection, provided that such shares represent at least 2% of the total voting power
in the company.
The
term of office for external directors for Israeli companies traded on certain foreign stock exchanges (which does not include
the OTCQB), may be extended indefinitely in increments of additional three-year terms, provided that, prior to each nomination
for reelection, the audit committee and the board of directors of the company confirm that, in light of the external director’s
expertise and special contribution to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the reelection for such additional
period is beneficial to the company and provided that the reasons for such confirmation are presented to the shareholders at the
general meeting at which such reelection is being sought and the external director is reelected in accordance with the appropriate
approval method described above.
External
directors may be removed from office by a special general meeting of shareholders called by the board of directors, which approves
such dismissal by the same shareholder vote percentage required for their election or by a court, in each case, only under limited
circumstances, including ceasing to meet the statutory qualifications for appointment, or violating their duty of loyalty to the
company. If an external directorship becomes vacant and there are fewer than two external directors on the board of directors
at the time, then the board of directors is required under the Companies Law to call a shareholders’ meeting as soon as
practicable to appoint a replacement external director.
Each
committee of the board of directors that exercises powers of the board of directors is required to include at least one external
director, and the audit and compensation committees are required to comprise entirely of external directors then serving on the
board of directors. Under the Companies Law, external directors of a company are prohibited from receiving, directly or indirectly,
any compensation from the company other than for their services as external directors pursuant to the provisions and limitations
set forth in regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, which compensation is determined prior to their appointment and
may not be changed throughout the term of their service as external directors (except for certain exceptions set forth in the
regulations).
The
Companies Law provides that a person is not qualified to serve as an external director if, as of the appointment date or at any
time during the two years preceding his or her appointment, that person or a relative, partner or employer of that person, any
person to whom that person is subordinate (whether directly or indirectly), or any entity under that person’s control, had
any affiliation or business relationship with the company, any controlling shareholder or relative of a controlling shareholder
or an entity that, as of the appointment date is, or at any time during the two years preceding that date was, controlled by the
company or by any entity controlling the company.
The
term affiliation for this purpose includes (subject to certain exceptions):
|
●
|
an
employment relationship;
|
|
●
|
a
business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis;
|
|
●
|
service
as an office holder, excluding service as a director in a private company prior to the
first offering of its shares to the public if such director was appointed as a director
of the private company in order to serve as an external director following the public
offering.
|
The
Companies Law defines the term “office holder” of a company to include a general manager, chief business manager,
deputy general manager, vice general manager, any other person assuming the responsibilities of any of these positions regardless
of such person’s title, a director and any other manager directly subordinate to the general manager.
The
following additional qualifications apply to an external director:
|
●
|
a
person may not be elected as an external director if he or she is a relative of a controlling
shareholder;
|
|
●
|
if
a company does not have a controlling shareholder or a holder of 25% or more of the voting
power, then a person may not be elected as an external director if he or she (or his
or her relative, partner, employer or any entity under his or her control) has, as of
the date of the person’s election to serve as an external director, any affiliation
with the then chairman of the board of directors, Chief Executive Officer, a holder of
5% or more of the issued share capital or voting power, or the most senior financial
officer of the company;
|
|
●
|
a
person may not serve as an external director if he or she (or his or her relative, partner,
employer, a person to whom he or she is subordinated or any entity under his or her control)
has business or professional relations with anyone with whom affiliation is prohibited
as described above, and even if these relations are not on a regular basis (other than
immaterial relations); and
|
|
●
|
a
person may not continue to serve as an external director if he or she accepts, during
his or her tenure as an external director, direct or indirect compensation from the company
for his or her role as a director, other than the amounts prescribed under the regulations
promulgated under the Companies Law, indemnification, the company’s undertaking
to indemnify such person and insurance coverage.
|
Furthermore,
no person may serve as an external director if that person’s professional or other activities create, or may create, a conflict
of interest with that person’s responsibilities as a director or otherwise interfere with that person’s ability to
serve as an external director or if such person is an employee of the Israel Securities Authority or of an Israeli stock exchange.
Following the termination of an external director’s membership on the board of directors, such former external director
and his or her spouse and children may not be provided a direct or indirect benefit by the company, its controlling shareholder
or any entity under its controlling shareholder’s control, including serving as an executive officer or director of the
company or a company controlled by its controlling shareholder and cannot be employed by or provide professional services to the
company for pay, either directly or indirectly, including through a corporation controlled by that former external director, for
a period of two years (the prohibition also applies to relatives of the former external director who are not his or her spouse
or children, but only for a period of one year).
If
at the time an external director is appointed, all members of the board of directors who are not controlling shareholders or their
relatives are of the same gender, the 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.
Pursuant
to the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, a person may be appointed as an external director only if he or she either
has professional qualifications or has accounting and financial expertise as defined in those regulations. In addition, at least
one of the external directors must be determined by our board of directors to have accounting and financial expertise and the
board is required to determine the minimum number of board members who are required to possess accounting and financial expertise.
In determining the number of directors required to have such expertise, the members of our board of directors must consider, among
other things, the type and size of the company and the scope and complexity of its operations.
A
director with accounting and financial expertise is a director who, due to his or her education, experience and skills, possesses
a high degree of proficiency in, and an understanding of, business-accounting matters and financial statements, such that he or
she is able to understand the financial statements of the company, in depth, and initiate a discussion about the manner of presentation
of the financial data. A director is deemed to have professional qualifications if he or she has any of (i) an academic degree
in economics, business management, accounting, law or public administration, (ii) an academic degree or has completed another
form of higher education in the primary field of business of the company or in a field which is relevant to his/her position in
the company, or (iii) at least five years of experience serving in one of the following capacities, or at least five years of
cumulative experience serving in two or more of the following capacities: (a) a senior business management position in a company
with a significant volume of business; (b) a senior position in the company’s primary field of business; or (c) a senior
position in public administration or service. The board of directors is charged with determining whether a director possesses
financial and accounting expertise or professional qualifications.
Audit
Committee
Our
board of directors does not have an audit committee. As a private company organized in Israel, we are not subject to the provisions
of the Companies Law or U.S. laws requiring such a committee. We are required to constitute an audit committee under the Companies
Law following the commencement of the trading of our shares. Pursuant to the Companies Law, the audit committee must be comprised
of at least three directors, including all of the external directors, and a majority of its members must be unaffiliated directors.
An unaffiliated director is an external director or a director who is appointed or classified as such, and who meets the qualifications
of an external director (other than the professional qualifications/accounting and financial expertise requirement), whom the
audit committee has confirmed to meet the external director qualifications, and who has not served as a director of the company
for more than nine consecutive years (with any period of up to two years during which such person does not serve as a director
not being viewed as interrupting a nine-year period). For Israeli companies traded on certain foreign stock exchanges (which does
not include the OTCQB), a director who qualifies as an independent director for the purposes of such director’s membership
on the audit committee in accordance with the rules of such stock exchange is also deemed to be an unaffiliated director under
the Companies Law. Such person must meet the non-affiliation requirements as to relationships with the controlling shareholder
(and any entity controlled by the controlling shareholder, other than the company and other entities controlled by the company)
and must meet the nine-year requirement described above. Following the nine-year period, a director of an Israeli company traded
on such foreign stock exchange may continue to be considered an unaffiliated director for unlimited additional periods of three
years each, provided the audit committee and the board of directors of the company confirm that, in light of the director’s
expertise and special contribution to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the reelection for such additional
period is beneficial to the company.
Under
the Companies Law, the audit committee may not include the chairman of the board, any director employed by the company or who
regularly provides services to the company (other than as a board member), a controlling shareholder or any relative of the controlling
shareholder, as each term is defined in the Companies Law. In addition, the audit committee may not include any director employed
by the company’s controlling shareholder or by a company controlled by such controlling shareholder, or who provides services
to the company’s controlling shareholder or a company controlled by such controlling shareholder, on a regular basis, or
a director whose main livelihood is from the controlling shareholder. The chairman of the audit committee is required to be an
external director.
Audit
Committee Role
We
presently do not have an audit committee. However, management plans to form an audit committee in the near future. We intend that
the audit committee will be comprised solely of independent directors. Our board of directors will adopt an audit committee charter
that will set forth the responsibilities of the audit committee consistent with the rules of the SEC, as well as the requirements
for such committee under the Israeli Companies Law, including the following:
|
●
|
oversight
of our independent registered public accounting firm and recommending the engagement,
compensation or termination of engagement of our independent registered public accounting
firm to the board of directors in accordance with Israeli law;
|
|
●
|
recommending
the engagement or termination of the person filling the office of our internal auditor;
and
|
|
●
|
recommending
the terms of audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public
accounting firm for pre-approval by our board of directors.
|
Our
audit committee will provide assistance to our board of directors in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations in matters
involving our accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal control and legal compliance functions by pre-approving the
services performed by our independent auditors and reviewing their reports regarding our accounting practices and systems of internal
control over financial reporting. Our audit committee will also oversee the audit efforts of our independent auditors and takes
those actions that it deems necessary to satisfy itself that the auditors are independent of management.
Under
the Israeli Companies Law, our audit committee will be responsible for:
|
●
|
determining
whether there are deficiencies in the business management practices of our company, including
in consultation with our internal auditor or the independent auditor, and making recommendations
to the board of directors to improve such practices;
|
|
●
|
determining
whether to approve certain related party transactions (including transactions in which
an office holder has a personal interest and whether such transaction is extraordinary
or material under Israeli Companies Law) and establishing the approval process for certain
transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling shareholder has
a personal interest (see “— Approval of Related Party Transactions under
Israeli Law”);
|
|
●
|
where
the board of directors approves the working plan of the internal auditor, examining such
working plan before its submission to the board of directors and proposing amendments
thereto;
|
|
●
|
examining
our internal controls and internal auditor’s performance, including whether the
internal auditor has sufficient resources and tools to dispose of its responsibilities;
|
|
●
|
examining
the scope of our auditor’s work and compensation and submitting a recommendation
with respect thereto to our board of directors or shareholders, depending on which of
them is considering the appointment of our auditor; and
|
|
●
|
establishing
procedures for the handling of employees’ complaints as to deficiencies in the
management of our business and the protection to be provided to such employees.
|
Our
audit committee may not approve any actions requiring its approval (see “— Approval of Related Party Transactions
under Israeli Law”), unless at the time of the approval a majority of the committee’s members are present, which majority
consists of unaffiliated directors including at least one external director.
Compensation
Committee
Our board of directors does
not have a compensation committee. As a private company organized in Israel, we are not subject to the provisions of the Companies
Law or U.S. laws requiring such a committee. We are required to constitute a compensation committee under the Companies Law within
nine months following the commencement of the trading of our shares. Under the Companies Law, the compensation committee will
be required to be comprised of at least three directors, including all of the external directors. The additional members of the
compensation committee must be directors that receive compensation subject to the provisions and limitations set forth in the
regulations promulgated under the Companies Law. An external director shall serve as the chairman of the compensation committee.
Under
the Companies Law, the external directors shall constitute a majority of the compensation committee.
The
compensation committee’s duties shall include, among other things, recommending compensation policies to the board of directors,
overseeing compensation policy implementation, and ratifying the compensation of executive officers.
Compensation
Policy under the Companies Law
Under
the Companies Law, within nine months following the commencement of the trading of our shares, our compensation committee will
be required to adopt a policy for the compensation of its directors and executive officers, who we refer to collectively as “office
holders.” In adopting this compensation policy, the compensation committee will be required to take into account factors
such as the office holder’s education, experience, past compensation arrangements with the company, and the proportional
difference between the person’s compensation and the average compensation of the company’s employees. The compensation
policy must be approved at least once every three years at the company’s general meeting of shareholders, and is subject
to the approval of a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, provided that either:
|
●
|
such
majority includes at least a majority of the shares held by all shareholders who are
not controlling shareholders and do not have a personal interest in such election (other
than a personal interest which is not derived from a relationship with a controlling
shareholder), present and voting at such meeting; or
|
|
●
|
the
total number of shares of non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have
a personal interest in such election (other than a personal interest which is not derived
from a relationship with a controlling shareholder) voting against the approval of the
compensation policy does not exceed 2% of the aggregate voting rights in the company.
|
Our
board of directors will be permitted to approve the compensation policy even if such policy was not approved by our shareholders,
provided that the compensation committee and the board resolve, based on detailed consideration and after reconsidering the compensation
policy, that approval of the policy is in the best interest of the Company, despite the fact that it was not approved by the shareholders’
meeting.
Once
adopted, the compensation policy shall serve as the basis for decisions concerning the financial terms of employment or engagement
of executive officers and directors, including exculpation, insurance, indemnification or any monetary payment or obligation of
payment in respect of employment or engagement. The compensation policy must relate to certain factors, including advancement
of the company’s objectives, the company’s business and its long-term strategy, and creation of appropriate incentives
for executives. It must also consider, among other things, the company’s risk management, size and the nature of its operations.
The compensation policy must furthermore consider the following additional factors:
|
●
|
the
knowledge, skills, expertise and accomplishments of the relevant director or executive;
|
|
●
|
the
director’s or executive’s roles and responsibilities and prior compensation
agreements with him or her;
|
|
●
|
the
relationship between the terms offered to the relevant director or executive and the
average compensation of the other employees of the company, including those employed
through outsourcing firms;
|
|
●
|
the
impact of disparities in salary upon work relationships in the company;
|
|
●
|
the
possibility of reducing variable compensation at the discretion of the board of directors,
and the possibility of setting a limit on the exercise value of non-cash variable compensation;
and
|
|
●
|
as
to severance compensation, the period of service of the director or executive, the terms
of his or her compensation during such service period, the company’s performance
during that period of service, the person’s contribution towards the company’s
achievement of its goals and the maximization of its profits, and the circumstances under
which the person is leaving the company.
|
The
compensation policy must also include the following principles:
|
●
|
the
link between variable compensation and long-term performance and measurable criteria;
|
|
●
|
the
relationship between variable and fixed compensation, and the ceiling for the value of
variable compensation;
|
|
●
|
the
conditions under which a director or executive would be required to repay compensation
paid to him or her if it was later shown that the data upon which such compensation was
based was inaccurate and was required to be restated in the company’s financial
statements;
|
|
●
|
the
minimum holding or vesting period for variable, equity-based compensation while referring
to appropriate a long-term perspective based incentives; and
|
|
●
|
maximum
limits for severance compensation.
|
The
compensation committee will be responsible for (a) recommending the compensation policy to the company’s board of directors
for its approval (and subsequent approval by our shareholders) and (b) duties related to the compensation policy and to the approval
of the terms of engagement of office holders, including:
|
●
|
recommending
whether a compensation policy should continue in effect, if the then-current policy has
a term of greater than three years (approval of either a new compensation policy or the
continuation of an existing compensation policy must in any case occur every three years);
|
|
●
|
recommending
to the board of directors periodic updates to the compensation policy;
|
|
●
|
assessing
implementation of the compensation policy; and
|
|
●
|
determining
whether the compensation terms of a proposed new Chief Executive Officer of the company
need not be brought to approval of the shareholders.
|
The
compensation committee’s duties include recommending compensation policies to the board of directors, overseeing compensation
policy implementation, and ratifying the compensation of executive officers.
Compensation
of Directors
Under
the Companies Law, the compensation of our directors requires the approval of our compensation committee, the subsequent approval
of the board of directors and, unless exempted under the regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, the approval of the
shareholders at a general meeting. Where the director is also a controlling shareholder, the requirements for approval of transactions
with controlling shareholders apply, as described below under “—Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli
Law—Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder and Approval of Acts and Transactions.”
The
directors are also entitled to be paid reasonable travel, hotel and other expenses expended by them in attending board meetings
and performing their functions as directors of the company, all of which is to be determined by the board of directors.
External
directors are entitled to remuneration subject to the provisions and limitations set forth in the regulations promulgated under
the Companies Law.
Internal
Auditor
Under
the Companies Law, we are required to appoint an internal auditor recommended by the audit committee and appointed by the board
of directors. An internal auditor may not be:
|
●
|
a
person (or a relative of a person) who holds more than 5% of the company’s outstanding
shares or voting rights;
|
|
●
|
a
person (or a relative of a person) who has the power to appoint a director or the general
manager of the company;
|
|
●
|
an
office holder or director of the company; or
|
|
●
|
a
member of the company’s independent accounting firm, or anyone on its behalf.
|
The
role of the internal auditor is to examine, among other things, our compliance with applicable law and orderly business procedures.
The audit committee is required to oversee the activities and to assess the performance of the internal auditor as well as to
review the internal auditor’s work plan.
Certain
Service Contracts
We
have not entered into service contracts with any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of service.
Approval
of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law
Fiduciary
duties of office holders
The
Companies Law imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on all office holders of a company. The duty of care of an office holder
is based on the duty of care set forth in connection with the tort of negligence under the Israeli Torts Ordinance (New Version)
5728-1968. This duty of care requires an office holder to act with the degree of proficiency with which a reasonable office holder
in the same position would have acted under the same circumstances. The duty of care includes a duty to use reasonable means,
in light of the circumstances, to obtain information on the advisability of a given action brought for his or her approval or
performed by virtue of his or her position and all other important information pertaining to these actions.
The
duty of loyalty requires an office holder to act in good faith and for the benefit of the company, and includes the duty to:
|
●
|
refrain
from any act involving a conflict of interest between the performance of his or her duties
in the company and his or her other duties or personal affairs;
|
|
●
|
refrain
from any activity that is competitive with the business of the company;
|
|
●
|
refrain
from exploiting any business opportunity of the company for the purpose of gaining a
personal advantage for himself or herself or others; and
|
|
●
|
disclose
to the company any information or documents relating to the company’s affairs which
the office holder received as a result of his or her position as an office holder.
|
We
may approve an act performed in breach of the duty of loyalty of an office holder provided that the office holder acted in good
faith, the act or its approval does not harm the company, and the office holder discloses his or her personal interest, as described
below.
Disclosure
of personal interests of an office holder and approval of acts and transactions
The
Companies Law requires that an office holder promptly disclose to the company any personal interest that he or she may have and
all related material information or documents relating to any existing or proposed transaction by the company. An interested office
holder’s disclosure must be made promptly and in any event no later than the first meeting of the board of directors at
which the transaction is considered. An office holder is not obliged to disclose such information if the personal interest of
the office holder derives solely from the personal interest of his or her relative in a transaction that is not considered an
extraordinary transaction.
The
term personal interest is defined under the Companies Law to include the personal interest of a person in an action or in the
business of a company, including the personal interest of such person’s relative or the interest of any corporation in which
the person is an interested party, but excluding a personal interest stemming solely from the fact that such person holds shares
in the company. A personal interest furthermore includes the personal interest of a person for whom the office holder holds a
voting proxy or the interest of the office holder with respect to his or her vote on behalf of the shareholder for whom he or
she holds a proxy even if such shareholder itself has no personal interest in the approval of the matter. An office holder is
not, however, obliged to disclose a personal interest if it derives solely from the personal interest of his or her relative in
a transaction that is not considered an extraordinary transaction.
Under
the Companies Law, an extraordinary transaction that requires approval is defined as any of the following:
|
●
|
a
transaction other than in the ordinary course of business;
|
|
●
|
a
transaction that is not on market terms; and
|
|
●
|
a
transaction that may have a material impact on the company’s profitability, assets
or liabilities.
|
Under
the Companies Law, once an office holder has complied with the disclosure requirement described above, a company may approve a
transaction between the company and the office holder or a third party in which the office holder has a personal interest, or
approve an action by the office holder that would otherwise be deemed a breach of duty of loyalty. However, a company may not
approve a transaction or action that is adverse to the company’s interest or that is not performed by the office holder
in good faith.
Under
the Companies Law, unless the articles of association of a company provide otherwise, a transaction with an office holder, a transaction
with a third party in which the office holder has a personal interest, and an action of an office holder that would otherwise
be deemed a breach of duty of loyalty requires approval by the board of directors. Our Articles of Association do not provide
otherwise. If the transaction or action considered is (i) an extraordinary transaction, (ii) an action of an office holder that
would otherwise be deemed a breach of duty of loyalty and may have a material impact on a company’s profitability, assets
or liabilities, (iii) an undertaking to indemnify or insure an office holder who is not a director, or (iv) for matters considered
an undertaking concerning the terms of compensation of an office holder who is not a director, including, an undertaking to indemnify
or insure such office holder, then audit committee approval is required prior to approval by the board of directors, if the Company
has an audit committee. Arrangements regarding the compensation, indemnification or insurance of a director require the approval
of the audit committee, if there is one, the board of directors and shareholders, in that order.
A
director who has a personal interest in a matter that is considered at a meeting of the board of directors may generally not be
present at the meeting or vote on the matter unless a majority of the directors have a personal interest in the matter, or, unless
the chairman of the board of directors determines that he or she should be present to present the transaction that is subject
to approval. If a majority of the directors have a personal interest in the matter, such matter also requires approval of the
shareholders of the company.
Pursuant
to the Companies Law, public company compensation arrangements such as insurance, indemnification or exculpation arrangements
with office holders who are not the Chief Executive Officer or a director require compensation committee approval and subsequent
approval by the board of directors. Compensation arrangements must comply with the compensation policy of the company.
In
special circumstances, the compensation committee and the board of directors may approve compensation arrangements that do not
match the compensation policy of the company, subject to the approval of a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a
shareholders meeting, provided that either: (a) such majority includes at least a majority of the shares held by all shareholders
who are not controlling shareholders and do not have a personal interest in such compensation arrangement; or (b) the total number
of shares of non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the compensation arrangement
and who vote against the arrangement does not exceed two percent of the company’s aggregate voting rights, or Special Majority
Vote for Compensation. In the event that the Special Majority Vote for Compensation is not obtained, the compensation committee
and the board of directors may reconsider the compensation arrangement and approve it, after a detailed review.
Pursuant
to the Companies Law, public company compensation arrangements with the Chief Executive Officer require compensation committee
approval, approval by the board of directors and Special Majority for Compensation approval at the shareholders’ meeting.
Compensation arrangements with the Chief Executive Officer must comply with the compensation policy of the company. In the event
that Special Majority Vote for Compensation is not obtained, then the compensation committee and the board of directors may reconsider
the compensation arrangement and approve it after a detailed review. Notwithstanding the above, the compensation committee is
authorized to refrain from submitting a proposed compensation arrangement with a Chief Executive Officer candidate for shareholder
approval, if (a) doing so would jeopardize the company’s engagement of the candidate and (b) the proposed arrangement complies
with the company’s compensation policy.
With
respect to amending an existing compensation arrangement, only the approval of the compensation committee is required, provided
the committee determines that the amendment is not material in relation to the existing compensation arrangement. With respect
to amending an existing related-party transaction, only the approval of the audit committee is required, provided the committee
determines that the amendment is not material in relation to the existing arrangement.
Compensation
arrangements with directors who are not controlling shareholders, including compensation arrangements with directors in their
capacities as executive officers, (unless exempted under the applicable regulations), require the approval of the compensation
committee, the board of directors and the company’s shareholders, in that order.
Disclosure
of personal interests of a controlling shareholder and approval of acts and transactions
Pursuant
to the Companies Law, the disclosure requirements regarding personal interests that apply to directors and executive officers
also apply to a controlling shareholder of a public company. A controlling shareholder is a shareholder who has the ability to
direct the activities of a company, including a shareholder who holds 25% or more of the voting rights if no other shareholder
holds more than 50% of the voting rights. For this purpose, the holdings of all shareholders who have a personal interest in the
same transaction will be aggregated.
An
extraordinary transaction between a public company and a controlling shareholder, or in which a controlling shareholder has a
personal interest, and the terms of any compensation arrangement of a controlling shareholder who is an office holder or his relative,
require the approval of a company’s audit committee (or compensation committee with respect to compensation arrangements),
board of directors and shareholders, in that order. In addition, the shareholder approval must fulfill one of the following requirements:
|
●
|
at
least a majority of the voting rights in the company held by shareholders who have no
personal interest in the transaction and who are present and voting at the general meeting,
must be voted in favor of approving the transaction (for this purpose, abstentions are
disregarded); or
|
|
●
|
the
voting rights held by shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction and
who are present and voting at the general meeting, and who vote against the transaction,
do not exceed 2% of the voting rights in the company.
|
To
the extent that any such transaction with a controlling shareholder or his relative is for a period extending beyond three years,
shareholder approval is required once every three years, unless, in respect to certain transactions, the audit committee determines
that the duration of the transaction is reasonable under the circumstances.
Pursuant
to regulations adopted under the Companies Law, a transaction with a controlling shareholder that would otherwise require approval
of the shareholders is exempt from shareholders’ approval if the audit committee and the board of directors determine that
the transaction is on market terms and in the ordinary course of business and does not otherwise harm the company. Under these
regulations, a shareholder holding at least 1% of the issued share capital of the company may require, within 14 days of the publication
of such determination, that despite such determination by the audit committee and the board of directors, such transaction will
require shareholder approval under the same majority requirements that otherwise apply to such transactions.
Duties
of Shareholders
Under
the Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to refrain from abusing its power in the company and to act in good faith and in an
acceptable manner in exercising its rights and performing its obligations to the company and other shareholders, including, among
other things, voting at general meetings of shareholders on the following matters:
|
●
|
an
amendment to the company’s articles of association;
|
|
●
|
an
increase in the company’s authorized share capital;
|
|
●
|
the
approval of related party transactions and acts of office holders that require shareholder
approval.
|
A
shareholder also has a general duty to refrain from discriminating against other shareholders.
The
remedies generally available upon a breach of contract will also apply to a breach of the above mentioned duties, and in the event
of discrimination against other shareholders, additional remedies are available to the injured shareholder.
In
addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder that knows that its vote can determine the outcome of a shareholder vote
and any shareholder that, under a company’s articles of association, has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment
of an office holder, or has another power with respect to a company, is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company.
The Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty except to state that the remedies generally available upon a breach
of contract will also apply in the event of a breach of the duty to act with fairness, taking the shareholder’s position
in the company into account.
Exculpation,
Insurance and Indemnification of Office Holders
Under
the Companies Law, a company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach of the duty of loyalty. An Israeli
company may exculpate an office holder in advance from liability to the company, in whole or in part, for damages caused to the
company as a result of a breach of duty of care but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is inserted in its articles
of association. Our Articles of Association include such a provision. An Israeli company may not exculpate a director from liability
arising out of a prohibited dividend or distribution to shareholders.
An
Israeli company may indemnify an office holder in respect of the following liabilities and expenses incurred for acts performed
as an office holder, either in advance of an event or following an event, provided a provision authorizing such indemnification
is contained in its articles of association:
|
●
|
financial
liability imposed on him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, settlement
or arbitrator’s award approved by a court (except that, if an undertaking to indemnify
an office holder with respect to such liability is provided in advance, then such an
undertaking must be limited to events which, in the opinion of the board of directors,
can be foreseen based on the company’s activities when the undertaking to indemnify
is given, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors
as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking shall detail the abovementioned
events and amount or criteria);
|
|
●
|
reasonable
litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder:
(1) as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an
authority authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding (provided that (i) no
indictment was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or
proceeding; and (ii) no financial liability, such as a criminal penalty, was imposed
upon him or her as a substitute for the criminal proceeding as a result of such investigation
or proceeding or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect
to an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent); and (2) in connection
with a monetary sanction; and
|
|
●
|
reasonable
litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder or
imposed by a court in proceedings instituted against him or her by the company, on its
behalf or by a third party or in connection with criminal proceedings in which the office
holder was acquitted or as a result of a conviction for an offense that does not require
proof of criminal intent.
|
An
Israeli company may insure an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed as an office holder
if and to the extent provided in the company’s articles of association:
|
●
|
a
breach of duty of loyalty to the company, to the extent that the office holder acted
in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not prejudice
the company;
|
|
●
|
a
breach of duty of care to the company or to a third party, including a breach arising
out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; and
|
|
●
|
a
financial liability imposed on the office holder in favor of a third party.
|
An
Israeli company may not indemnify or insure an office holder against any of the following:
|
●
|
a
breach of duty of loyalty, except to the extent that the office holder acted in good
faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not prejudice the company;
|
|
●
|
a
breach of duty of care committed intentionally or recklessly, excluding a breach arising
out of the negligent conduct of the office holder;
|
|
●
|
an
act or omission committed with intent to derive illegal personal benefit; or
|
|
●
|
a
civil fine, monetary sanction or forfeit levied against the office holder.
|
Under
the Companies Law, exculpation, indemnification and insurance of office holders must be approved by the audit committee (if any)
and the board of directors and, with respect to directors, by shareholders.
Pursuant
to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Israeli Securities Law, and the Companies Law, the Israeli Securities Authority
may impose administrative sanctions against companies like ours, and their office holders, for certain violations of the Israeli
Securities Law or the Companies Law. These sanctions include monetary sanctions and certain restrictions on serving as a director
or senior officer of a public company for certain periods of time. The amendments to the Israeli Securities Law and to the Companies
Law provide that only certain types of such liabilities may be reimbursed by indemnification and insurance. Specifically, legal
expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an individual in the applicable administrative enforcement proceeding and
certain compensation payable to injured parties for damages suffered by them are permitted to be reimbursed via indemnification
or insurance, provided that such indemnification and insurance are authorized by the company’s articles of association,
and receive the requisite corporate approvals. Pursuant to the Israeli Securities Law and the Companies Law, only certain types
of such liabilities may be reimbursed by indemnification and insurance. Specifically, legal expenses (including attorneys’
fees) incurred by an individual in the applicable administrative enforcement proceeding and any compensation payable to injured
parties for damages suffered by them (as described in the immediately preceding paragraph) are permitted to be reimbursed via
indemnification or insurance, provided that such indemnification and insurance are authorized by the company’s articles
of association.
Our
Articles of Association allow us to insure our office holders, to the extent fully permitted by law (including any expansion thereof),
for any liability imposed on them as a consequence of an act (including any omission) which was performed by virtue of being an
office holder. Our Articles of Association also allow us to provide insurance in connection with administrative enforcement proceedings,
including without limitation, the proceedings described above.
Our
office holders are currently covered by a directors and officers’ liability insurance policy. As of the date of this annual
report, no claims for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance have been filed under this policy and we are not
aware of any pending or threatened litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers in which indemnification
is sought. Pursuant to the approval of our shareholders, we carry directors’ and officers’ insurance covering each
of our directors and executive officers for acts and omissions.
We
have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors exculpating them from a breach of their duty of care to
us to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to limited exceptions. This indemnification is limited to events determined
as foreseeable by the board of directors based on our activities, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the
board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances. We intend to enter into new agreements with each of our directors and
executive officers exculpating them from liability to us for damages caused to us as a result of a breach of duty of care and
undertaking to indemnify them, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by our amended and restated articles of association
to be effective upon the effectiveness of our registration statement and the Israeli Companies Law, including with respect to
liabilities resulting from this offering to the extent that these liabilities are not covered by insurance. The maximum aggregate
amount of indemnification that we may pay to all of our directors and office holders together based on the indemnification agreement
is $5,000,000. Such indemnification amounts will be in addition to any amounts available under our directors’ and office
holders’ liability insurance policy.
There
is no pending litigation or proceeding against any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor
are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.
D. Employees.
As
of December 31, 2015, we had 12 employees, all of whom are located in Israel. Of these 12 employees, we have 11 full-time employees
and one part-time employee. One of the employees is in marketing, one in administration and the rest are in research and development
or ink production. Israeli labor laws govern the length of the workday, minimum wages for employees, procedures for hiring and
dismissing employees, determination of severance pay, annual leave, sick days, advance notice of termination of employment, equal
opportunity and anti-discrimination laws and other conditions of employment of our Israeli employees. Subject to certain exceptions,
Israeli law generally requires severance pay upon the retirement, death or dismissal of an employee, and requires us and our employees
to make payments to the National Insurance Institute, which is similar to the U.S. Social Security Administration. Our Israeli
employees have pension plans in accordance with the applicable Israeli legal requirements.
While
none of our employees are party to any collective bargaining agreements, certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements
between the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations (including
the Industrialists’ Associations) are applicable to our employees by extension orders issued by the Israeli Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Labor. These provisions primarily concern the length of the workday, minimum daily wages for professional
workers, pension fund benefits for all employees, insurance for work-related accidents, procedures for dismissing employees, determination
of severance pay and other conditions of employment. We generally provide our employees with benefits and working conditions beyond
the required minimums.
E. Share
Ownership.
Beneficial
Ownership of Senior Management and Directors
See
“Major Shareholders” for information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares by our senior managers
and directors. See “—Incentive Compensation Plan,” below for information regarding options held by our senior
management and directors.
Incentive
Compensation Plan
The
purpose of the Plan is to serve as an incentive to attract new employees, directors, consultants and service providers, and to
retain persons of training, experience and ability by providing them with opportunities to purchase securities, including shares
of the Company, pursuant to the Plan, as approved by the board of directors of the Company. As of December 31, 2015, a total of
1,223,437 Ordinary Shares were reserved for issuance under the Plan, of which options to purchase 1,021,917 Ordinary Shares were
issued and outstanding thereunder. The number of Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan may be changed from time
to time in the sole discretion of the board of directors.
The
Plan is administered by our board of directors, provided that the board of directors may delegate responsibility for the administration
of the Plan to a committee designated by the board of directors. The board of directors has authority to: designate grantees of
awards under the Plan and the terms of any award granted, including the type of securities to be granted, the vesting terms of
any securities granted, and any restrictions on transfer of any securities granted under the Plan.
Pursuant
to the Plan, the Company may (1) grant awards of securities under the Plan under the capital gains track pursuant to Section 102
of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance, or the Ordinance, to our directors, officers and employees who are not holders of 10% or
more of our total share capital and are not otherwise controlling shareholders, and (2) grant awards pursuant to Section 3(i)
of the Ordinance to non-employee Israeli service providers, consultants and shareholders who hold 10% or more of our total share
capital or are otherwise controlling shareholders.
Section
102 of the Ordinance allows employees, directors and officers, who are not controlling shareholders and are considered Israeli
residents, to receive favorable tax treatment for compensation in the form of shares or options. Our non-employee Israeli service
providers, consultants and controlling shareholders, which includes any shareholder holding 10% or more of the Company’s
Ordinary Shares on a fully diluted basis, may only be granted options under Section 3(i) of the Ordinance, which does not provide
for similar tax benefits. Section 102 of the Ordinance includes two alternatives for tax treatment involving the issuance of options
or shares to a trustee for the benefit of the grantees and also includes an additional alternative for the issuance of options
or shares directly to the grantee. Section 102(b)(2) of the Ordinance, the most favorable tax treatment for grantees, permits
the issuance to a trustee under the “capital gains” track. However, under this track we are not allowed to deduct
any expense with respect to the issuance of the options or shares. In order to comply with the terms of the capital gains track,
all options granted under the Plan pursuant and subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Ordinance, as well as the Ordinary
Shares issued upon exercise of these options and other shares received subsequently following any realization of rights with respect
to such options, such as share dividends and share splits, must be granted to a trustee for the benefit of the relevant employee,
director or officer and should be held by the trustee for at least two years after the date of the grant. If such options or shares
are sold by the trustee or are transferred to the grantee before the end of the two year period, then the grantee would be taxed
at top marginal rates upon selling the shares.
Options
granted under the Plan will vest in accordance with the vesting dates determined by the board of directors with respect to each
grant. Options that are not exercised within seven years from the grant date will expire, unless a shorter or longer term is provided
for by the board of directors. Generally, if we terminate a grantee’s employment or services to the Company, all options
granted to such grantee that are then vested will be exercisable for a period of six months after the termination date (unless
a shorter period is determined by the Board) or, if earlier, the expiration date of such options. If we terminate a grantee’s
employment or service for cause, all of the grantee’s vested and unvested unexercised options will expire and terminate
on the date of termination. In case of termination for reasons of disability or death, the grantee or his legal successor may
exercise options that have vested prior to termination within a period of twelve months from the date of disability or death.
In
the event of a merger or consolidation of our company subsequent to which we would no longer exist as a legal entity, or a sale
of all, or substantially all, of our Ordinary Shares or assets or other transaction having a similar effect on us, the Company
shall seek to cause the acquirer in such transaction to substitute all outstanding and unexercised options under the Plan for
an appropriate number of the same type of shares or other securities of the successor company as were distributed to the Company
or the shareholders in connection with such transaction. If the acquirer refuses to substitute the options, unvested options held
by any grantee shall vest in accordance with the following formula: X+Y*X/Z, where X = the number of vested options held by the
grantee, Y = the number of unvested options held by the grantee, and Z = the number of options held by the grantee.
As
of December 31, 2015, we have granted to our senior management and directors options to purchase up to 472,193 Ordinary Shares
under the Plan, as follows. Unless otherwise set forth in a footnote to the table below, all options held by our senior management
and directors are fully vested.
Name
|
|
Number of
Options Held
|
|
|
Option
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Option
Grant Date
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
Dr. Fernando de la Vega
|
|
|
230,425
|
|
|
|
NIS 0.01
|
|
|
May 23, 2013
|
|
May 23, 2020
|
Menachem Biran
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
0.917
|
|
|
October 6, 2015
|
|
October 6, 2022
|
Zvika Lifschitz*
|
|
|
191,768
|
|
|
|
NIS 0.01
|
|
|
October 6, 2015
|
|
October 6, 2022
|
*
Mr. Lifschitz’s employment with the Company was terminated on May 21, 2016.
ITEM
7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.
A. Major
Shareholders.
The
following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares as of December 1, 2016 by:
|
●
|
each
person, or group of affiliated persons, known to us to be the beneficial owner of more
than 5% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares;
|
|
●
|
each
of our directors and executive officers; and
|
|
●
|
all
of our directors and executive officers as a group.
|
We present beneficial ownership
in accordance with the rules of the SEC, which includes as “beneficially owned” by a shareholder all Ordinary Shares
over which such shareholder has voting or investment power or which the shareholder has the right to acquire within 60 days (e.g.,
through the exercise of options or Warrants or the conversion of preferred shares). Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise
of options and Warrants or upon conversion of convertible securities that are currently exercisable or that are exercisable within
60 days after October 2, 2016, are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the shareholder
holding the options, Warrants or other convertible security, but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other shareholder.
The percentage of shares
beneficially owned as of December 1, 2016, is based on 14,505,059 Ordinary Shares outstanding.
As of December 1, 2016,
there were 35 record holders of our Ordinary Shares, of which 28 were located in Israel. None of our shareholders have different
voting rights from other shareholders. To the best of our knowledge, we are not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
another corporation or by any foreign government. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in
a change of control of our Company.
We
believe that the shareholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown to be
beneficially owned by them, based on information provided to us by such shareholders.
|
|
No. of Shares Beneficially Owned
|
|
|
Percentage Owned
|
|
Holders of more than 5% of our voting securities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Fernando de la Vega
|
|
|
1,566,565
|
(1)
|
|
|
10.63
|
%
|
Infinity IP Bank International (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
1,320,002
|
(2)
|
|
|
9.03
|
%
|
Eli Klein
|
|
|
890,760
|
|
|
|
6.14
|
%
|
Hermetic Trust (1975) Ltd. (in trust for Israel Electric Corporation, Ltd.)
|
|
|
1,278,166
|
(3)
|
|
|
8.81
|
%
|
Slobel NV
|
|
|
1,980,003
|
(4)
|
|
|
13.27
|
%
|
Terra Venture Partners
|
|
|
5,844,662
|
(5)
|
|
|
39.66
|
%
|
Senior management and directors (other than Dr. de la Vega):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Hsieh
|
|
|
1,320,002
|
(2)
|
|
|
9.03
|
%
|
Dr. Astorre Modena
|
|
|
5,625,570
|
(5)
|
|
|
39.66
|
%
|
Dr. Harold Wiener
|
|
|
5,625,570
|
(5)
|
|
|
39.66
|
%
|
Menachem Biran
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Adva Bar-On
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
All senior management and directors as a group (6 persons):
|
|
|
8,731,229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Includes
options to purchase 230,425 Ordinary Shares exercisable within 60 days and 222,690 Ordinary
Shares held in trust by Eli Klein for Dr. Fernando de la Vega.
|
|
(2)
|
Includes
120,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options exercisable
within 60 days. Steven Hsieh is a Managing Director of Infinity Group, the parent company
of Infinity IP Bank International (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. Steven Hsieh has sole voting and
dispositive power over all shares owned by Infinity IP Bank International (Suzhou) Co.,
Ltd.
|
|
(3)
|
Hermetic
Trust (1975) Ltd. has sole voting and dispositive power over all shares held by Hermetic
Trust (1975) Ltd. in trust for Israel Electric Corporation Ltd.
|
|
(4)
|
Includes
417,730 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants exercisable within 60
days.
|
|
(5)
|
Includes 232,770 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants and exercisable within 60 days. The
shares listed as beneficially owned by Terra Venture Partners or Terra are held of record by Terra Venture Partners S.C.A. Sicar
and Terra Venture Partners, L.P. Each of Dr. Astorre Modena and Dr. Harold Wiener is a General Partner of Terra Ventures Partners,
the manager of Terra Venture Partners S.C.A. Sicar and Terra Venture Partners, L.P. Each of Dr. Astorre Modena and Dr. Harold Wiener
has shared voting and dispositive power over all shares owned by Terra.
|
B. Related
Party Transactions.
The
following is a description of the material terms of all transactions between us and certain related parties. Except as described
below, since January 1, 2012, we have not entered into any transactions with (a) any enterprises that directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, control or are controlled by, or are under common control with, us; (b) our associates; (c) individuals
owning, directly or indirectly, an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives them significant influence over the
company, and close members of any such individual’s family; (d) our executive officers and directors; and (e) enterprises
in which a substantial interest in the voting power is owned, directly or indirectly, by any person described in (c) or (d) or
over which such a person is able to exercise significant influence.
IEC
Convertible Loan Agreement.
On October 2010, we entered into a Convertible Loan Agreement with IEC, which is currently a significant
shareholder, which agreement was amended on April 2012. Pursuant to this agreement, IEC loaned us an aggregate amount of NIS 3,000,000
at an interest rate of 8% per annum. In April 2013, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with IEC pursuant to which the
aggregate principal amount of such loan and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon were converted into 172,190 Series B-1 Preferred
Shares. On November 26, 2014, as part of the Private Placement these shares were converted into our Ordinary Shares and following
the shares split IEC holds 1,278,166. Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Loan Agreement, IEC is also entitled to royalty
payments equal to 2% of net sales of the Company’s products, up to an aggregate of NIS 8,000,000. In addition, for a period
of 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of our products, IEC will be entitled to purchase our products, licenses
and services, at prices which are at the lowest rate then offered or provided by the Company to any of its other customers for
the same products, licenses or services (excluding demonstration units, pilot units, samples, and other customary promotional
discounts which are sporadic in nature and do not represent on-going commercial basis prices with respect to the client), given
similar quantities and commercial conditions.
Series
1 Convertible Note Agreements with Terra and Slobel.
Between February 2011 and January 2013, we entered into several Series
1 Convertible Note Agreements with Terra and Slobel NV, or Slobel pursuant to which Terra and Slobel loaned us an aggregate of
$800,000 and $500,000, respectively, which amounts were evidenced by Series 1 Convertible Promissory Notes, or the Series 1 Convertible
Notes. On February 13, 2012, April 11, 2012, July 19, 2012, September 1, 2012, September 1, 2012, November 13, 2012 and February
13, 2013, $1,050,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 1 Convertible Notes was converted into an aggregate of 315,826 Series
A-2 Preferred Shares. Each of Terra and Slobel is a major shareholder and Terra has a representative on our Board of Directors.
Such preferred shares were subsequently converted into an aggregate of 2,344,376 Ordinary Shares in connection with, and immediately
prior to the initial closing of, the offering of the Units. On April 10, 2013, $250,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 1
Convertible Notes, was converted into an aggregate of 48,989 Series B-2 Preferred Shares. Such preferred shares were subsequently
converted into an aggregate of 363,645 Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the Series 1 Convertible Note Agreements, we also issued to
Terra and Slobel Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 8,818 and 5,511 Series B-2 Preferred Shares, respectively, at an exercise
price of $6.804 per share, which were adjusted following the issuance of bonus shares to Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate
of 65,456 and 40,908 Ordinary Shares, respectively, at an exercise price of $0.917 per share. Such Warrants have five year terms
from their respective dates of issuance and shall terminate upon the earlier of: (a) the consummation by the Company of an initial
public offering of its securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or an IPO, or (b)
a liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or winding up of the Company; a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following
which the shareholders of the Company prior to such transaction cease to own 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities
of the Company following the transaction; and a sale or license of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or
an M&A Transaction. The exercise price of the Warrants and the number of shares issuable thereunder is subject to adjustment
upon the occurrence of certain events, including stock dividends, stock splits, combinations and reclassifications of our capital
stock.
2013
Share Purchase Agreement
. On April 11, 2013, we entered into a share purchase agreement with IPB pursuant to which we issued
to IPB an aggregate of 161,660 Series B-2 Preferred Shares at a price per share of US $6.804, for an aggregate purchase price
of approximately $1,100,000. Such preferred shares were subsequently converted into an aggregate of 1,200,002 Ordinary Shares
(post bonus shares issuance ) in connection with, and immediately prior to the initial closing of, the offering of the Units.
Series
2 Convertible Note Agreements.
Between January 2014 and July 2014, we entered into several Series 2 Convertible Note Agreements
with Terra, Slobel and other lenders pursuant to which Terra, Slobel and the other lenders loaned us an aggregate of $836,294,
which amount is evidenced by Series 2 Convertible Promissory Notes, or the Series 2 Convertible Notes. The Series 2 Convertible
Notes accrue interest at a rate of 6% per year and mature prior to conversion only upon an event of default thereunder (defined
broadly to include several bankruptcy and insolvency events relating to the Company, including application for or consent to the
appointment of a receiver trustee, custodian or liquidator, or an admission of our inability to pay our material debts as they
become due). Upon the Initial Closing of our most recent private placement, the aggregate principal amount of such Series 2 Convertible
Notes issued to Terra, Slobel and other lenders, were converted into 743,372 Units. Pursuant to the Series 2 Convertible Note
Agreements, we also issued to Terra, Slobel and other lenders Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 41,179 Ordinary Shares,
at an exercise price of $1.5 per share. Such Warrants have five year terms from their respective dates of issuance and shall terminate
upon the earlier of: (a) the consummation by the Company of an initial public offering of its securities pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act, or an IPO, or (b) a liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or winding up of the
Company; a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the shareholders of the Company prior to such transaction
cease to own 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company following the transaction; and a sale or license
of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or an M&A Transaction. The exercise price of the Warrants and the
number of shares issuable thereunder is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including stock dividends,
stock splits, combinations and reclassifications of our capital stock.
In
addition, between February 2016 and June 2016, we entered into additional Series 2 Convertible Note Agreements with Terra and
an additional shareholder of the Company, pursuant to which Terra and the other lender loaned us an aggregate of US $206,000,
which amount is evidenced by Series 2 Convertible Promissory Notes.
Investors’
Rights Agreement
. On April 11, 2013, the Company, the Founder, certain holders of our Series A-1 Preferred Shares and Series
A-2 Preferred Shares, or the Series A Holders, and certain holders of our Series B-1 Preferred Shares and Series B-2 Preferred
Shares, or the Series B Holders and together with the Founders and the Series A Holders, the Holders, entered into an Amended
and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement pursuant to which we granted the Holders the registration rights described below
under “Description of Share Capital—Other Shareholder Rights” as well as certain information and inspection
rights.
Termination
Agreement
. On July 17, 2014 as amended on November 26, 2014, the Company and its shareholders signed a termination agreement
effective as of (and conditioned upon) the Initial Closing of our most recent private placement, which confirms the termination
effective as of the Initial Closing of the Investors’ Rights Agreement, and other preferred rights that our shareholders
may have as parties to the Preferred A Share Purchase Agreement dated November 10, 2010 and the 2013 Share Purchase Agreement,
and the Investors Rights Agreement, including information rights they may have under any other agreements.
IPB
Side Agreement
. On July 17, 2014, we entered into an agreement with IPB in connection with the termination agreement described
above. Pursuant to this side agreement, we agreed to issue to IPB, upon the Initial Closing, a Warrant to purchase up to 120,000
Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.917 per share. Such Warrant will be exercisable until the first to occur of an M&A
Event (as defined in the Articles of Association) or the completion by us of a public offering pursuant to a registration statement
under the Securities Act or any equivalent law of another jurisdiction, in any locality, with a fully diluted pre-offering valuation
of the Company of no less than $70,000,000 and with net proceeds to the Company of no less than $10,000,000, or a Qualified IPO.
In addition, pursuant to this side agreement, we have issued to IPB a note in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000 (the
“
Capital Note
”), which note will become due and payable upon the earlier to occur of: (i) an M&A Transaction,
(ii) a Qualified IPO or (iii) an equity financing by the Company resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of at least $6,000,000
(excluding our most recent private placement, and the conversion of the Series 2 Notes).
Terra
Loan
. On September 29 2014, we entered into an additional Series 2 Convertible Note Agreement with Terra pursuant to which
affiliates of Terra Venture Partners loaned us $100,000 in exchange for a Revised Series 2 Notes. On November 26, 2014, such Terra
revised Series 2 Notes were converted into 66,667 Units upon the consummation of the Initial Closing of our most recent private
placement.
Private
Placement Investment
. In 2015, in addition to their participation in the Series 2 Convertible Note Agreements and Terra’s
participation in the revised Series 2 Notes, each of Terra and Slobel participated in the subsequent closings of our private placement.
Slobel purchased additional 50,000 Units in such offering in consideration for $75,000, and Terra purchased an aggregate amount
of additional 50,000 Units in such offering in consideration for $75,000.
Share
Purchase Agreement.
In July 2016, as part of an internal investment round, eleven shareholders of the Company purchased an
aggregate of 860,000 Ordinary Shares at a price per share of US $0.75.
Employment
and Services Agreements
. Employment and services agreements entered into with our senior managers, as described above under
“Management—Compensation—Employment or Service Agreements with Senior Managers.”
Indemnification
Agreements with Directors and Senior Managers.
Customary indemnification agreements with our directors and senior managers,
as described above under “Management—Exculpation, Insurance and Indemnification of Office Holders.”
Option
Agreement with Directors and Senior Managers
. Option Agreements entered into with our directors and senior managers, as described
above under “Management—Share Ownership—Incentive Compensation Plan”.
We
believe that we have executed all of our transactions with related parties on terms no less favorable to us than those we could
have obtained from unaffiliated third parties. We are required by Israeli law to ensure that all future transactions between us
and our officers, directors and principal shareholders and their affiliates are approved by a majority of our board of directors,
including a majority of the independent and disinterested members of our board of directors, and that they are on terms no less
favorable to us than those that we could obtain from unaffiliated third parties.
C. Interests
of Experts and Counsel.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
8. Financial Information.
A. Consolidated
Financial Statements and Other Financial Information.
See
“Item 18. Financial Statements” for a list of all financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report on Form
20-F.
Legal
Matters
We
are neither party to any legal or arbitration proceedings, including those relating to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings
and those involving any third-party, nor any governmental proceedings pending or known to be contemplated, which may have, or
have had in the recent past, significant effects on the Company’s financial position or profitability.
Dividend
Policy
We
have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable
future. Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend on then-existing
conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects
and other factors our Board may deem relevant.
Payment
of dividends may also be subject to Israeli withholding taxes. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Certain
Israeli Tax Considerations” for additional information.
B. Significant
Changes.
No
significant changes with respect to our consolidated financial statements have occurred since December 31, 2015.
ITEM
9. The Offer and Listing.
9.A.4 Offer
and Listing Details
There
is currently no public trading market for our Ordinary Shares.
9.B. Plan
of distribution
Not
applicable.
9.C. Market
for Ordinary Shares
Our
Registration Statement on Form F-1 was declared effective by the SEC on September 30, 2015, and a FINRA-registered market maker
subsequently filed an application on Form 211 with FINRA to quote our Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. On March 31, 2016, the application
on Form 211 with FINRA to make a market in our Ordinary Shares was approved by FINRA, and the ticker symbol assigned by FINRA
for our Ordinary Shares is “PVNNF”. However, there is currently no public trading market for our Ordinary Shares.
9.D. Selling
shareholders
Not
applicable.
9.E. Dilution
Not
applicable.
9.F. Expenses
of the issue
Not
applicable.
ITEM
10. Additional Information.
A. Share
Capital.
Not
applicable.
B. Memorandum
and Articles of Association.
Our
original articles of association were registered with the Israeli Registrar of Companies at the time of incorporation of the Company
on June 24, 2009, under our registration number 514287093.
C. Material
Contracts
The
following are summary descriptions of certain material agreements to which we are a party. The descriptions provided below do
not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the complete agreements, which are attached as exhibits to this
annual report on Form 20-F.
For
a description of our material agreements relating to our strategic collaborations and research arrangements and other material
agreements, please refer to “Item 4. Information on the Company—Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements
and Material Contracts.”
Employment
Agreements
See
“Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employment Agreements and Arrangements with
Directors and Related Parties.”
D. Exchange
Controls.
There
are no Israeli government laws, decrees or regulations that restrict or that affect our export or import of capital or the remittance
of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our securities, including the availability of cash and cash
equivalents for use by us and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, except for ownership by nationals of certain countries that are,
or have been, declared as enemies of Israel or otherwise as set forth under “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”
E. Taxation.
The
following description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the ownership or disposition
of our ordinary shares. You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of your particular situation,
as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local, foreign, including Israel, or other taxing
jurisdiction.
Certain
Israeli Tax Considerations
The
following is a brief summary of the material Israeli income tax laws applicable to us. This section also contains a discussion
of material Israeli tax consequences concerning the ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares. This summary does not discuss
all the aspects 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 investors in securities who are subject to special tax regimes not covered in this discussion. To the extent that
the discussion is 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. This
summary is based on laws and regulations in effect as of the date hereof and does not take into account possible future amendments
which may be under consideration.
General
Corporate Tax Structure in Israel
Israeli
resident companies (as defined below), such as the Company, were subject to corporate tax at the rate of 26.5% of their taxable
income, during 2015 and 2014 (and 25% in 2013). On January 5, 2016, the Israeli parliament approved the reduction of the corporate
tax rate to 25%, starting from January 1, 2016.
Capital
gains derived by an Israeli resident company are generally subject to tax at the same rate as the corporate tax rate. Under Israeli
tax legislation, a corporation will be considered an “Israeli resident” if it meets one of the following: (i) it was
incorporated in Israel; or (ii) the control and management of its business are exercised in Israel.
Law
for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969
The
Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969, which we refer to as the Industry Encouragement Law, provides several
tax benefits for “Industrial Companies,” which are defined as Israeli resident-companies of which 90% or more of their
income in any tax year is derived from an “Industrial Enterprise” that it owns, or an enterprise whose principal activity
in a given tax year is industrial production. Eligibility for benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not contingent
upon approval of any governmental authority.
The
following corporate tax benefits, among others, are available to Industrial Companies:
|
●
|
amortization
over an eight year period of the cost of purchasing a patent, rights to use a patent
and rights to know-how, which are used for the development or advancement of the company,
commencing in the year in which such rights were first exercised;
|
|
●
|
under
limited conditions, an election to file consolidated tax returns with related Industrial
Companies; and
|
|
●
|
deductions
of expenses related to a public offering in equal amounts over a three year period.
|
There
can be no assurance that we will qualify as an industrial company or that the benefits described above will be available in the
future.
Law
for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959
The
Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959, which we refer to as the Investment Law, provides certain incentives
for capital investments in production facilities (or other eligible assets). The Investment Law was significantly amended effective
April 1, 2005 and further amended as of January 1, 2011, or the 2011 Amendment. The 2011 Amendment introduced new benefits to
replace those granted in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law in effect prior to the 2011 Amendment.
Tax
Benefits Under the 2011 Amendment
The
2011 Amendment canceled the availability of the benefits granted to Industrial Companies under the Investment Law prior to 2011
and, instead, introduced new benefits for income generated by a “Preferred Company” through its “Preferred Enterprise”
(as such terms are defined in the Investment Law) as of January 1, 2011.
The
definition of a Preferred Company includes a company incorporated in Israel that is not fully owned by a governmental entity,
and that has, among other things, a Preferred Enterprise and is controlled and managed from Israel. Under a recent amendment announced
in August 2013, or the 2013 Amendment, beginning in 2014 and in each year thereafter, a Preferred Company may only be entitled
to reduced corporate tax rates of 16%, unless the Preferred Enterprise is located in a specified development zone, in which case
the rate will be 9%. Income derived by a Preferred Company from a “Special Preferred Enterprise” (as such term is
defined in the Investment Law) would be entitled, during a benefit period of ten years, to further reduced tax rates of 8%, or
5% if the Special Preferred Enterprise is located in a certain development zone.
As
of January 1, 2014, dividends paid out of income attributed to a Preferred Enterprise are subject to withholding tax at source
at the rate of 20% unless a different tax rate is provided under an applicable tax treaty. However, if such dividends are paid
to an Israeli company, no tax is required to be withheld.
A
Beneficiary Company may elect to file a notice until May 31st of each year in order to avail itself of the benefits of the 2011
Amendments pursuant to Sections 131 and 132 of the Income Tax Ordinance (New Version) - 1961, referred to herein as the Israeli
Tax Ordinance, and such benefits will apply on the tax year subsequent to the year in which such notice was filed.
Currently,
we are not entitled to receive the tax benefits described above and there can be no assurance that we will be entitled to receive
such benefits at any time in the future. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that even if in the future we meet the relevant
requirements for such tax benefits, that such tax benefits will be available to us at all.
Taxation
of Our Israeli Individual Shareholders on Receipt of Dividends
Israeli
residents who are individuals are generally subject to Israeli income tax for dividends paid on our ordinary shares (other than
bonus shares or share dividends) at a rate of 25%, or 30% if the recipient of such dividend is a Substantial Shareholder (as defined
below) at the time of distribution or at any time during the preceding 12 month period. Beginning in 2013, an additional tax at
a rate of 2% may be imposed upon shareholders whose annual taxable income from all sources exceeds a certain amount.
A
“Substantial Shareholder” is generally a person who alone, or together with his or her relative or another person
who collaborates with him or her on a regular basis, holds, directly or indirectly, at least 10% of any of the “means of
control” of a corporation. “Means of control” generally include the right to vote, receive profits, nominate
a director or an officer, receive assets upon liquidation or instruct someone who holds any of the aforesaid rights regarding
the manner in which he or she is to exercise such right(s), all regardless of the source of such right.
With
respect to individuals, the term “Israeli resident” is generally defined under Israeli tax legislation as a person
whose center of life is in Israel. The Israeli Tax Ordinance (as amended by Amendment Law No. 132 of 2002), states that in order
to determine the center of life of an individual, consideration will be given to the individual’s family, economic and social
connections, including: (i) place of permanent residence; (ii) place of residential dwelling of the individual and the individual’s
immediate family; (iii) place of the individual’s regular or permanent occupation or the place of his or her permanent employment;
(iv) place of the individual’s active and substantial economic interests; (v) place of the individual’s activities
in organizations, associations and other institutions. The center of life of an individual will be presumed to be in Israel if:
(i) the individual was present in Israel for 183 days or more in the tax year; or (ii) the individual was present in Israel for
30 days or more in the tax year, and the total period of the individual’s presence in Israel in that tax year and the two
previous tax years is 425 days or more. Such presumption may be rebutted either by the individual or by the assessing officer.
Taxation
of Israeli Resident Corporations on Payment of Dividends
Israeli
resident corporations are generally exempt from Israeli corporate income tax with respect to dividends paid on ordinary shares
held by such Israeli resident corporations as long as the profits out of which the dividends were paid were derived in Israel.
Capital
Gains Taxes Applicable to Israeli Resident Shareholders
The
income tax rate applicable to real capital gains derived by an Israeli individual resident from the sale of shares that were purchased
after January 1, 2012, whether listed on a stock exchange or not, is 25%. However, if such shareholder is considered a Substantial
Shareholder at the time of sale or at any time during the preceding 12 month period, such gain will be taxed at the rate of 30%.
In addition, as noted above, beginning in 2013, an additional tax at a rate of 2% may be imposed upon shareholders whose annual
taxable income from all sources exceeds a certain amount.
Moreover,
capital gains derived by a shareholder who is a dealer or trader in securities, or to whom such income is otherwise taxable as
ordinary business income, are taxed in Israel at ordinary income rates (currently 26.5% for corporations and up to 50% for individuals,
according to the individual’s marginal tax rate).
Taxation
of Non-Israeli Shareholders on Receipt of Dividends
Non-Israeli
residents are generally subject to Israeli income tax on the receipt of dividends paid on our ordinary shares at the rate of 25%
(or 30% for individuals, if such person is a Substantial Shareholder at the time he or she receives the dividend or on any date
in the 12 months preceding such date), which tax will be withheld at source, unless a different rate is provided under an applicable
tax treaty between Israel and the shareholder’s country of residence.
A
non-Israeli resident who has dividend income derived from or accrued in Israel, from which the full amount of tax was withheld
at source, is generally exempt from the duty to file tax returns in Israel in respect of such income; provided that (i) such income
was not derived from a business conducted in Israel by the taxpayer and (ii) the taxpayer has no other taxable sources of income
in Israel.
For
example, under the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel with Respect
to Taxes on Income, as amended, or the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, Israeli withholding tax on dividends paid to a U.S. resident for
treaty purposes may not, in general, exceed 25%, or 15% in the case of dividends paid out of the profits of an Approved Enterprise
(as such term is defined in the Investment Law), subject to certain conditions. Where the recipient is a U.S. corporation owning
10% or more of the voting shares of the paying corporation during the part of the paying corporation’s taxable year which
precedes the date of payment of the dividend and during the entirety of its prior taxable year (if any) and the dividend is not
paid from the profits of an Approved Enterprise, the Israeli tax withheld may not exceed 12.5%, subject to certain conditions.
Capital
Gains Income Taxes Applicable to Non-Israeli Shareholders
Non-Israeli
resident shareholders are generally exempt from Israeli capital gains tax on any gains derived from the sale, exchange or disposition
of our ordinary shares, provided that such shareholders did not acquire their shares prior to January 1, 2009 and such gains were
not derived from a permanent business or business activity of such shareholders in Israel. However, non-Israeli corporations will
not be entitled to the foregoing exemptions if an Israeli resident (i) has a controlling interest of more than 25% in such non-Israeli
corporation or (ii) is the beneficiary of or is entitled to 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli corporation,
whether directly or indirectly.
In
addition, a sale of securities by a non-Israeli resident may be exempt from Israeli capital gains tax under the provisions of
an applicable tax treaty. For example, 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 and is entitled to claim the benefits afforded to such a resident by the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, or a Treaty U.S. Resident,
is generally exempt from Israeli capital gains tax unless: (i) such Treaty U.S. Resident is an individual and was present in Israel
for 183 days or more during the relevant taxable year; (ii) such Treaty U.S. Resident holds, directly or indirectly, shares representing
10% or more of our voting power of the Company during any part of the 12 month period preceding such sale, exchange or disposition,
subject to certain conditions; or (iii) the capital gains arising from such sale, exchange or disposition are attributable to
a permanent establishment of the Treaty U.S. Resident located in Israel, subject to certain conditions. In any such case, the
sale, exchange or disposition of our ordinary shares would be subject to Israeli tax, to the extent applicable. However, under
the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, such Treaty U.S. Resident would be permitted to claim a credit for such taxes against U.S. federal
income tax imposed on any gain from such sale, exchange or disposition, under the circumstances and subject to the limitations
specified in the U.S.-Israel Income Tax Treaty.
Regardless
of whether shareholders may be liable for Israeli income tax on the sale of our ordinary shares, the payment of the consideration
may be subject to withholding of Israeli tax at the source. Accordingly, shareholders may be required to demonstrate that they
are exempt from tax on their capital gains in order to avoid withholding at source at the time of sale.
Estate
and Gift Tax
Israeli
law presently does not impose estate or gift taxes.
Certain
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The
following is a general summary of what we believe to be certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the
purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This summary is based on the Internal
Revenue Code, or the Code, the regulations of the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued pursuant to the Code, or the Treasury
Regulations, the income tax treaty between the United States and Israel, or the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, and administrative and
judicial interpretations thereof, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive
effect, or to different interpretation. No ruling has been sought from the IRS with respect to any U.S. federal income tax consequences
described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. This summary is no substitute
for consultation by prospective investors with their own tax advisors and does not constitute tax advice. This summary does not
address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to specific U.S. Holders in light of their particular circumstances
or to U.S. Holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law (including, without limitation, banks, insurance
companies, tax-exempt entities, retirement plans, regulated investment companies, partnerships, dealers in securities, brokers,
real estate investment trusts, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, persons who acquire our ordinary shares
as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, persons who acquire our ordinary shares through
the exercise or cancellation of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for their services, persons that have a “functional
currency” other than the U.S. dollar, persons that own (or are deemed to own, indirectly, or by attribution) 10% or more
of our shares, or persons that mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes). This summary does not address
any U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax considerations, any U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations,
or any U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences.
As
used in this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, or other entity taxable as
a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state
thereof, or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of
its source, or (iv) a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over
its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or that has a
valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a “United States person.”
If
an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our ordinary shares, the tax treatment of such partnership
and each partner thereof will generally depend upon the status and activities of the partnership and such partner. A holder that
is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal
income tax considerations applicable to it and its partners of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.
Prospective
investors should be aware that this summary does not address the tax consequences to investors who are not U.S. Holders. Prospective
investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax considerations applicable to them relating to the purchase,
ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, including the applicability of U.S. federal, state and local tax laws and non-U.S.
tax laws.
Taxation
of U.S. Holders
Distributions
.
Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company,” a U.S. Holder that receives a distribution
with respect to an ordinary share generally will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend
(without reduction for any Israeli tax withheld from such distribution) when actually or constructively received to the extent
of the U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of our current and/or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal
income tax principles). Any distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be applied against and will reduce (but not
below zero) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its ordinary shares, and, to the extent they exceed that tax basis, will be treated
as gain from the sale or exchange of our ordinary shares.
If
we were to pay dividends, we expect to pay such dividends in NIS. A dividend paid in NIS, including the amount of any Israeli
taxes withheld, will be includible in a U.S. Holder’s income as a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange
rate in effect on the date such dividend is received, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars.
If the dividend is converted to U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize a foreign currency
gain or loss. However, if the U.S. Holder converts the NIS into U.S. dollars on a later date, the U.S. Holder must include, in
computing its income, any gain or loss resulting from any exchange rate fluctuations. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference
between (i) the U.S. dollar value of the amount included in income when the dividend was received and (ii) the amount received
on the conversion of the NIS into U.S. dollars. Such gain or loss will generally be ordinary income or loss and will be U.S. source
income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences
to them if we pay dividends in NIS or any other non-U.S. currency.
Subject
to certain significant conditions and limitations, any Israeli taxes paid on or withheld from distributions from us and not refundable
to a U.S. Holder may be credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted
from the U.S. Holder’s taxable income. The election to deduct, rather than credit, foreign taxes, is made on a year-by-year
basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid by a U.S. Holder or withheld from a U.S. Holder that year. Dividends paid on the ordinary
shares generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States and be categorized as “passive category income”
or, in the case of some U.S. Holders, as “general category income” for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Because the
rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability
of foreign tax credits in their particular circumstances.
Dividends
paid on the ordinary shares will not be eligible for the “dividends-received” deduction generally allowed to corporate
U.S. Holders with respect to dividends received from U.S. corporations.
For
taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, certain distributions treated as dividends that are received by an individual
U.S. Holder from a “qualified foreign corporation” generally qualify for a 20% reduced maximum tax rate so long as
certain holding period and other requirements are met. A non-U.S. corporation (other than a corporation that is treated as a PFIC
for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year) generally will be considered to be a qualified
foreign corporation (i) if it is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States which the Secretary
of Treasury of the United States determines is satisfactory for purposes of this provision and which includes an exchange of information
program, or (ii) with respect to any dividend it pays on stock which is readily tradable on an established securities market in
the United States. Dividends paid by us in a taxable year in which we are not a PFIC and with respect to which we were not a PFIC
in the preceding taxable year are expected to be eligible for the 20% reduced maximum tax rate, although we can offer no assurances
in this regard. However, any dividend paid by us in a taxable year in which we are a PFIC or were a PFIC in the preceding taxable
year will be subject to tax at regular ordinary income rates (along with any applicable additional PFIC tax liability, as discussed
below). As discussed below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company,” we have determined that we are a PFIC and likely
will continue to be a PFIC, at least until we develop a source of significant operating revenues.
The
additional 3.8% “net investment income tax” (described below) may apply to dividends received by certain U.S. Holders
who meet certain modified adjusted gross income thresholds.
Sale,
Exchange or Other Disposition of Ordinary Shares
. Subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company”
below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange, or other disposition of our ordinary
shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, or other disposition and the U.S.
Holder’s adjusted tax basis (determined under U.S. federal income tax rules) in such ordinary shares. This capital gain
or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in our ordinary shares exceeds one year.
Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain (currently, with a maximum rate of 20% for taxable years beginning on or after
January 1, 2013) will apply to individual U.S. Holders. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. The gain
or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, subject to
certain possible exceptions under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty. The additional 3.8% “net investment income tax” (described
below) may apply to gains recognized upon the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of our ordinary shares by certain U.S.
Holders who meet certain modified adjusted gross income thresholds.
U.S.
Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving currency other than
U.S. dollars upon the disposition of their ordinary shares.
Passive
Foreign Investment Company
In
general, a non-U.S. corporation will be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which either
(i) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income,” or (ii) on average at least 50% of its assets by value produce
passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes, among other
things, certain dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions and from the sale
or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income. Passive income also includes amounts derived by reason of the temporary
investment of funds, including those raised in a public offering. Assets that produce or are held for the production of passive
income include cash, even if held as working capital or raised in a public offering, marketable securities and other assets that
may produce passive income. In determining whether a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC, a proportionate share of the income and assets
of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest (by value) is taken into account.
A
foreign corporation’s PFIC status is an annual determination that is based on tests that are factual in nature, and our
status for any year will depend on our income, assets, and activities for such year. Based upon our review of our financial data,
we have determined that we are currently a PFIC, and we likely will continue to be a PFIC, at least until we develop a source
of significant operating revenues.
U.S.
Holders should be aware of certain tax consequences of investing directly or indirectly in us due to our classification as a PFIC.
A U.S. Holder is subject to different rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a “qualified
electing fund,” referred to herein as a “QEF election,” for the first taxable year that the U.S. Holder holds
ordinary shares makes a “mark-to-market” election with respect to the ordinary shares, or makes neither election.
An election to treat us as a QEF will not be available if we do not provide the information necessary to make such an election.
It is not expected that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election because we do not intend to provide U.S. Holders with
the information necessary to make a QEF election.
QEF
Election
. One way in which certain of the adverse consequences of PFIC status can be mitigated is for a U.S. Holder make a
QEF election. Generally, a shareholder making the QEF election is required for each taxable year to include in income a pro rata
share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the QEF, subject to a separate election to defer payment of taxes, which
deferral is subject to an interest charge. An election to treat us as a QEF will not be available if we do not provide the information
necessary to make such an election. It is not expected that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election because we do not
intend to provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary to make a QEF election.
Mark-to-Market
Election
. Alternatively, if our ordinary shares are treated as “marketable stock,” a U.S. Holder would be allowed
to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our ordinary shares, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files
IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made, the U.S.
Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of our ordinary
shares at the end of the taxable year over such holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder would
also be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our ordinary
shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included
in income as a result of the mark-to- market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our ordinary shares would be adjusted
to reflect any such income or loss amount. Gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares would
be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares would be
treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income
by the U.S. Holder, and any loss in excess of such amount will be treated as capital loss. Amounts treated as ordinary income
will not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains.
Generally,
stock will be considered marketable stock if it is “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange” within
the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. A class of stock is regularly traded on an exchange during any calendar year during
which such class of stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. To
be marketable stock, our ordinary shares must be regularly traded on a qualifying exchange (i) in the United States that is registered
with the SEC or a national market system established pursuant to the Exchange Act or (ii) outside the United States that is properly
regulated and meets certain trading, listing, financial disclosure and other requirements.
A
mark-to-market election will not apply to our ordinary shares held by a U.S. Holder for any taxable year during which we are not
a PFIC, but will remain in effect with respect to any subsequent taxable year in which we become a PFIC. Such election will not
apply to any PFIC subsidiary that we own. Each U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its own tax advisor with respect to the availability
and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election with respect to our ordinary shares.
Each
U.S. Holder should consult its own tax adviser with respect to the applicability of the “net investment income tax”
(discussed below) where a mark-to-market election is in effect.
Default
PFIC Rules
. A U.S. Holder who does not make a timely QEF election (we do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information
that would enable a U.S. Holder to make a QEF election) or a mark-to-market election, referred to in this summary as a “Non-Electing
U.S. Holder,” will be subject to special rules with respect to (i) any “excess distribution” (generally, the
portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing U.S. Holder on the ordinary shares in a taxable year in excess of 125%
of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing U.S. Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter,
the Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other
disposition of such ordinary shares. Under these rules:
|
●
|
the
excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s
holding period for such ordinary shares;
|
|
●
|
the
amount allocated to the current taxable year and any year prior to us becoming a PFIC
would be taxed as ordinary income; and
|
|
●
|
the
amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest
rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest
charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting
tax attributable to each such other taxable year.
|
If
a Non-Electing U.S. Holder who is an individual dies while owning our ordinary shares, the Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s successor
would be ineligible to receive a step-up in tax basis of such ordinary shares. Non-Electing U.S. Holders should consult their
tax advisors regarding the application of the “net investment income tax” (described below) to their specific situation.
To
the extent a distribution on our ordinary shares does not constitute an excess distribution to a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, such
Non-Electing U.S. Holder generally will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend to
the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that are not
allocated to excess distributions. The tax consequences of such distributions are discussed above under “Taxation of U.S.
Holders—Distributions.” Each U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its own tax advisor with respect to the appropriate
U.S. federal income tax treatment of any distribution on our ordinary shares.
If
we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during the holding period of a Non-Electing U.S. Holder, we will continue to be
treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which the Non-Electing U.S. Holder is treated as a direct or indirect Non-Electing
U.S. Holder even if we are not a PFIC for such years. A U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its tax advisor with respect to any
available elections that may be applicable in such a situation, including the “deemed sale” election of Code Section
1298(b)(1) (which will be taxed under the adverse tax rules described above).
We
may invest in the equity of foreign corporations that are PFICs or may own subsidiaries that own PFICs. If we are classified as
a PFIC, under attribution rules, U.S. Holders will be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to their indirect ownership interests
in such PFICs, such that a disposition of the ordinary shares of the PFIC or receipt by us of a distribution from the PFIC generally
will be treated as a deemed disposition of such ordinary shares or the deemed receipt of such distribution by the U.S. Holder,
subject to taxation under the PFIC rules. There can be no assurance that a U.S. Holder will be able to make a QEF election or
a mark-to-market election with respect to PFICs in which we invest. Each U.S. Holder is encouraged to consult its own tax advisor
with respect to tax consequences of an investment by us in a corporation that is a PFIC.
In
addition, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the IRS information reporting and filing obligations that may
arise as a result of the ownership of ordinary shares in a PFIC, including IRS Form 8621, Information Return by a Shareholder
of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund.
The
U.S. federal income tax rules relating to PFICs, QEF elections, and mark-to market elections are complex. U.S. Holders are urged
to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares, any elections
available with respect to such ordinary shares and the IRS information reporting obligations with respect to the purchase, ownership
and disposition of our ordinary shares.
Certain
Reporting Requirements
Certain
U.S. Investors are required to file IRS Form 926, Return by U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation, and certain
U.S. Investors may be required to file IRS Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations,
reporting transfers of cash or other property to us and information relating to the U.S. Investor and us. Substantial penalties
may be imposed upon a U.S. Investor that fails to comply.
In
addition, recently enacted legislation requires certain U.S. Investors to report information on IRS Form 8938 with respect to
their investments in certain “foreign financial assets,” which would include an investment in our Ordinary Shares,
to the IRS.
Investors
who fail to report required information could become subject to substantial civil and criminal penalties. U.S. Investors should
consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these reporting requirements and any other applicable reporting
requirement with respect to their investment in and ownership of our Ordinary Shares.
Disclosure
of Reportable Transactions
If
a U.S. Investor sells or disposes of the Ordinary Shares at a loss or otherwise incurs certain losses that meet certain thresholds,
such U.S. Investor may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. Failure to comply with these and other reporting
requirements could result in the imposition of significant penalties.
Backup
Withholding Tax and Information Reporting Requirements
Generally,
information reporting requirements will apply to distributions on our Ordinary Shares or proceeds on the disposition of our Ordinary
Shares paid within the United States (and, in certain cases, outside the United States) to U.S. Investors other than certain exempt
recipients, such as corporations. Furthermore, backup withholding (currently at 28%) may apply to such amounts if the U.S. Investor
fails to (i) provide a correct taxpayer identification number, (ii) report interest and dividends required to be shown on its
U.S. federal income tax return, or (iii) make other appropriate certifications in the required manner. U.S. Investors who are
required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on IRS Form W-9.
Backup
withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding from a payment may be credited against a U.S. Investor’s
U.S. federal income tax liability and such U.S. Investor may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing the appropriate
claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information in a timely manner.
Medicare
Tax on Investment Income
Certain
U.S. persons, including individuals, estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax, or “net investment
income tax,” on unearned income. For individuals, the additional net investment income tax applies to the lesser of (i)
“net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000
if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals
the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by the deductions that are allocable to such income. Investment income generally
includes passive income such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, and capital gains. U.S. Investors are urged
to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional net investment income tax resulting from their
ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares.
THE
DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A GENERAL SUMMARY. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE OF IMPORTANCE TO A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO IT OF AN INVESTMENT IN ORDINARY
SHARES IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTOR’S OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
F. Dividends
and Paying Agents.
Not
applicable.
G. Statements
by Experts.
Not
applicable.
H. Documents
on Display.
You
may read and copy this Annual Report on Form 20-F, including the related exhibits and schedules, and any document we file with
the SEC without charge at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You may
also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street,
N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information regarding issuers that file electronically
with the SEC. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
As
a “foreign private issuer,” we are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are
applicable to foreign private issuers, and under those requirements file reports with the SEC. Those other reports or other information
may be inspected without charge at the locations described above. As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from
the rules under the Exchange Act related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal
shareholders will be exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16
of the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of ordinary shares. Furthermore, as a “foreign private issuer,”
we are also not subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
We
maintain a corporate website at http://www. pvnanocell.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website
is not incorporated by reference into this annual report and does not constitute a part of this annual report. We have included
our website address in this annual report solely as an inactive textual reference.
I. Subsidiary
Information.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
We
are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our
financial position, results of operations or cash flows due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates, including
interest rates and foreign exchange rates, of financial instruments.
Foreign
Currency Exchange Risk
Our
foreign currency exposures give rise to market risk associated with exchange rate movements of the NIS mainly against the U.S.
dollar because a large portion of our expenses are denominated in NIS. Our NIS expenses consist principally of payments made to
employees, sub-contractors, professional services, other research and development activities and general and administrative activities.
We anticipate that a large portion of our expenses will continue to be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Our
financial position, results of operations and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange
rates. Our results of operations and cash flow are, therefore, subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange
rates and may be adversely affected in the future due to changes in foreign exchange rates. Approximately 65% of our expenses
are denominated in NIS. Changes of 5% and 10% in the U.S. dollar to NIS exchange rate will increase/decrease our operation expenses
by less than 3.3% and 6.5%, respectively. To date, fluctuations in the exchange rates have not materially affected our results
of operations or financial condition for the periods under review.
To
date, we have not engaged in hedging our foreign currency exchange risk. In the future, we may enter into formal currency hedging
transactions to decrease the risk of financial exposure from fluctuations in the exchange rates of our principal operating currencies.
These measures, however, may not adequately protect us from the material adverse effects of such fluctuations.
Interest
Rate Risk
We
have an exposure to interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of Israeli interest rates.
We currently do not hedge against interest rate exposure. Because of the short-term maturities of our cash equivalents and investment
securities, we do not believe that an increase in market rates would have any significant impact on the realized value of our
investment securities. If a 10% change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair value of our investment
portfolio.
ITEM
12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities.
A. Debt
Securities.
Not
applicable.
B. Warrants
and Rights.
Not
applicable.
C. Other
Securities.
Not
applicable.
D. American
Depositary Shares.
Not
applicable.
P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
U.S. dollars
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
680,765
|
|
|
$
|
10,912
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
92,877
|
|
|
|
153,120
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
42,457
|
|
|
|
62,685
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
816,099
|
|
|
|
226,717
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
226,546
|
|
|
|
217,794
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
1,042,645
|
|
|
$
|
444,511
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short term bank credit
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
37,707
|
|
Trade payables
|
|
|
49,122
|
|
|
|
284,061
|
|
Employees and payroll accruals
|
|
|
94,280
|
|
|
|
138,484
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
206,123
|
|
|
|
634,350
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Current liabilities
|
|
|
349,525
|
|
|
|
1,094,602
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONG TERM LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants presented at fair value
|
|
|
844,818
|
|
|
|
961,922
|
|
Capital Note
|
|
|
37,480
|
|
|
|
43,568
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
$
|
1,231,823
|
|
|
$
|
2,100,092
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 par value - Authorized: 100,000,000 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2015; Issued and outstanding: 12,611,085 and 12,907,898 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively
|
|
|
32,726
|
|
|
|
33,506
|
|
Additional paid in capital
|
|
|
8,620,957
|
|
|
|
8,927,429
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(8,842,861
|
)
|
|
|
(10,616,516
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
shareholders' deficiency
|
|
|
(189,178
|
)
|
|
|
(1,655,581
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and shareholders' deficiency
|
|
$
|
1,042,645
|
|
|
$
|
444,511
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the consolidated financial statements.
P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
U.S. dollars
|
|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
12,202
|
|
|
$
|
41,953
|
|
|
$
|
60,740
|
|
Other income
|
|
|
17,170
|
|
|
|
15,898
|
|
|
|
7,592
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
29,372
|
|
|
|
57,851
|
|
|
|
68,332
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
36,771
|
|
|
|
79,215
|
|
|
|
69,051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross loss
|
|
|
7,399
|
|
|
|
21,364
|
|
|
|
719
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
1,059,285
|
|
|
|
1,088,966
|
|
|
|
901,030
|
|
Less - research and development grants
|
|
|
(225,024
|
)
|
|
|
(129,220
|
)
|
|
|
(180,033
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development, net
|
|
|
834,261
|
|
|
|
959,746
|
|
|
|
720,997
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
110,577
|
|
|
|
136,770
|
|
|
|
245,756
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
347,843
|
|
|
|
809,927
|
|
|
|
807,277
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
1,292,681
|
|
|
|
1,906,443
|
|
|
|
1,774,030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
1,300,080
|
|
|
|
1,927,807
|
|
|
|
1,774,749
|
|
Financial expenses (income), net
|
|
|
291,109
|
|
|
|
236,561
|
|
|
|
(1,094
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
1,591,189
|
|
|
$
|
2,164,368
|
|
|
$
|
1,773,655
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deemed dividend
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,842,061
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares
|
|
$
|
1,591,189
|
|
|
$
|
4,006,429
|
|
|
$
|
1,773,655
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss attributable to holders of Ordinary shares per share
|
|
$
|
0.71
|
|
|
$
|
1.24
|
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share
|
|
|
2,226,900
|
|
|
|
3,222,644
|
|
|
|
12,745,710
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of the consolidated financial statements.
P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
U.S.
dollars
|
|
Ordinary shares
|
|
|
Preferred shares
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
paid-in
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
of
shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
deficit
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of January 1, 2013
|
|
|
2,226,900
|
|
|
$
|
5,742
|
|
|
|
5,335,786
|
|
|
$
|
13,869
|
|
|
$
|
1,849,602
|
|
|
$
|
(3,245,243
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,376,031
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of warrants from liability to equity on April 11, 2013
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
117,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
117,500
|
|
Conversion of convertible loans to Preferred shares on April 11, 2013
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,088,357
|
|
|
|
5,436
|
|
|
|
1,682,185
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,687,621
|
|
Issuance of Preferred shares, net of issuance cost, on April 11, 2013
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,200,002
|
|
|
|
3,133
|
|
|
|
1,061,770
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,064,903
|
|
Stock based compensation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
35,492
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
35,492
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,591,189
|
)
|
|
|
(1,591,189
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2013
|
|
|
2,226,900
|
|
|
|
5,742
|
|
|
|
8,624,145
|
|
|
|
22,438
|
|
|
|
4,746,548
|
|
|
|
(4,836,432
|
)
|
|
|
(61,704
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of preferred shares to ordinary shares on November 26, 2014
|
|
|
8,624,145
|
|
|
|
22,438
|
|
|
|
(8,624,145
|
)
|
|
|
(22,438
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Reclassification of warrants from liability to equity on November 26, 2014
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
16,883
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
16,883
|
|
Conversion of convertible loans to ordinary shares on November 26, 2014
|
|
|
743,372
|
|
|
|
1,920
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
718,356
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
720,276
|
|
Issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance cost, on November 26, 2014
|
|
|
1,016,668
|
|
|
|
2,626
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,004,794
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,007,420
|
|
Deemed dividend in respect of equity restructuring
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,842,061
|
|
|
|
(1,842,061
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Issuance of warrants and capital note in respect of equity restructuring
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(90,280
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(90,280
|
)
|
Stock based compensation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
382,595
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
382,595
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,164,368
|
)
|
|
|
(2,164,368
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2014
|
|
|
12,611,085
|
|
|
|
32,726
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,620,957
|
|
|
|
(8,842,861
|
)
|
|
|
(189,178
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance cost
|
|
|
296,813
|
|
|
|
780
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
297,684
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
298,464
|
|
Stock based compensation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,788
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,788
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,773,655
|
)
|
|
|
(1,773,655
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2015
|
|
|
12,907,898
|
|
|
$
|
33,506
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
8,927,429
|
|
|
$
|
(10,616,516
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,655,581
|
)
|
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of the consolidated financial statements.
P.V. NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARY
*CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
U.S. dollars
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities
:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(1,591,189
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,164,368
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,773,655
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
23,589
|
|
|
|
46,435
|
|
|
|
50,826
|
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
35,492
|
|
|
|
382,595
|
|
|
|
8,788
|
|
Amortization of discount attribute to convertible loans
|
|
|
206,546
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Change in fair value of embedded conversion feature of warrants, loans and capital note
|
|
|
59,901
|
|
|
|
235,382
|
|
|
|
(19,278
|
)
|
Change in other current assets
|
|
|
24,223
|
|
|
|
(56,732
|
)
|
|
|
(60,243
|
)
|
Change interest on convertible loans
|
|
|
(13,905
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Change in inventory
|
|
|
(7,208
|
)
|
|
|
(8,733
|
)
|
|
|
(20,228
|
)
|
Change in trade payables
|
|
|
(63
|
)
|
|
|
(64,420
|
)
|
|
|
234,939
|
|
Change in employees and payroll accruals
|
|
|
48,288
|
|
|
|
(12,040
|
)
|
|
|
44,204
|
|
Change in other current liabilities
|
|
|
104,913
|
|
|
|
(28,811
|
)
|
|
|
428,227
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(1,109,413
|
)
|
|
|
(1,670,692
|
)
|
|
|
(1,106,420
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from short-term deposit, net
|
|
|
61,749
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Purchase of property and equipment
|
|
|
(42,415
|
)
|
|
|
(57,874
|
)
|
|
|
(42,074
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
19,334
|
|
|
|
(57,874
|
)
|
|
|
(42,074
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from convertible loans
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
836,294
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net
|
|
|
1,064,903
|
|
|
|
1,007,420
|
|
|
|
298,464
|
|
Increase in short term bank credit
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
37,707
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of warrants presented as liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
457,501
|
|
|
|
142,470
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
1,164,903
|
|
|
|
2,301,215
|
|
|
|
478,641
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
74,824
|
|
|
|
572,649
|
|
|
|
(669,853
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
|
|
33,292
|
|
|
|
108,116
|
|
|
|
680,765
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
|
|
$
|
108,116
|
|
|
$
|
680,765
|
|
|
$
|
10,912
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental information and disclosure of non-cash financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of convertible loans including interest in to shares
|
|
$
|
1,687,621
|
|
|
$
|
720,276
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Issuance of warrants presented as liability
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
334,517
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Reclassification of warrants from liability to equity
|
|
$
|
117,500
|
|
|
$
|
16,883
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Issuance of warrants and capital note in respect of equity restructuring
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
90,280
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral
part of the consolidated financial statements.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
|
a.
|
P.V. Nano Cell Ltd. (the “Company”)
was incorporated in June 2009 under the laws of Israel. The Company has a wholly-owned
subsidiary, Nano Size Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of Israel ("the
subsidiary"). The Company and its subsidiary are mainly engaged in developing, manufacturing,
marketing and commercializing conductive inks for digital inkjet conductive printing
applications. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had only limited sales of its products
and had not yet commenced larger scale commercial production or sales.
|
During
2013 the Company formed together with IP Bank International (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“IPB”), Leed Thick Film Past Co. and
Leed Ink (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (“Leed”), a Chinese joint venture (“JV”). The Company owns 40% of the outstanding
equity securities of the JV. The JV is inactive and is in the process to be dissolved.
|
b.
|
Since its inception, the Company
has incurred operating losses and has used cash in its operations. During the year ended
December 31, 2015, the Company used cash in operating activities of $1.1 million, incurred
a net loss of $1.8 million, and had a total accumulated deficit of $10.6 million at December
31, 2015. The Company requires additional financing in order to continue to fund its
current operations and pay existing and future liabilities. The Company is currently
negotiating with third parties in an attempt to obtain additional sources of funds which,
in management’s opinion, would provide adequate cash flows to finance the Company’s
operations. The satisfactory completion of these negotiations is essential to provide
sufficient cash flow to meet current operating requirements. However, the Company cannot
give any assurance that it will be able to achieve a level of profitability from the
sale of its products to sustain its operations in the future. These conditions raise
substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The
accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible
future effects on recoverability and reclassification of assets or the amounts and classification
of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty (Refer to note 14
for additional financing in 2016).
|
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
|
The consolidated
financial statements are prepared according to United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”).
The preparation
of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The Company's management
believes that the estimates, judgments and assumptions used are reasonable based upon information available at the time they are
made. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
On an ongoing basis, the
Company's management evaluates estimates, including those related to tax assets and liabilities, fair values of stock-based awards,
warrants to purchase the Company's shares, capital note and inventory write-offs. Such estimates are based on historical experience
and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments
about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
|
b.
|
Financial statements in U.S.
dollars:
|
The accompanying financial
statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars (“dollar” or “dollars”).
A substantial
portion of the Company’s costs are incurred in New Israeli Shekels. However, the Company finances its operations mainly
in U.S. dollars and a majority of the Company's revenues are denominated in dollars. As such, the Company’s management believes
that the U.S. dollar is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. Thus, the functional and
reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar.
Transactions
and balances that are denominated in dollars are presented at their original amounts. Non-dollar transactions and balances have
been re-measured to dollars in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") No.
830,
“Foreign Currency Matters”.
All foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reflected in the statements
of operations as financial income or expenses, as appropriate.
|
c.
|
Principles of consolidation:
|
The consolidated
financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary, intercompany transactions and balances have been
eliminated upon consolidation.
Cash equivalents
are short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash and originally purchased with maturities of three
months or less.
Inventories are measured
at the lower of cost and net realizable value, co
st is computed on a first-in, first-out basis.
The inventory consists of finished goods and raw materials.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
|
f.
|
Property and equipment:
|
Property
and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method, over
the estimated useful lives of the assets, at the following annual rates:
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Computers
|
15 – 33
|
|
Office furniture and equipment
|
6 – 15
|
|
Leasehold improvements
|
*)
|
|
*)
|
Leasehold improvements are amortized
on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term (including the extension
option held by the Company and intended to be exercised) and the expected life of the
improvement.
|
Long-lived
assets of the Company are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC No. 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment”,
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability
of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted cash flows
expected to be generated by the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured
by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. During 2013, 2014 and 2015, no
impairment losses were identified.
Revenues
from ink sales are recognized in accordance with ASC No. 605-15, “Revenue Recognition” when delivery has occurred,
persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, the vendor’s fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably
assured.
Other
income, represent a recurring sale of production waste.
Cost of
revenues is comprised of cost of materials production, employees’ salaries and related costs, allocated overhead expenses,
packaging, import taxes, royalties paid to third parties and to the Government of Israel (primarily, the Office of the Chief Scientist,
Ministry of Economics – the “Chief Scientist-ME”) and other programs, as described in note 7.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
|
i.
|
Research and development:
|
Research and development
expenses are charged to the consolidated statements of operations as incurred.
The Company
receives participation funds and grants, which represents primarily participation of the Government of Israel. These amounts are
recognized on the accrual basis as a reduction of research and development costs as such costs are incurred.
The Company
accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC No. 740, “Income Taxes”. This Statement 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 amounts that more likely than not to be realized.
ASC 740
contains a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring a liability for uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate
the tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that
it is more likely than not that, on an evaluation of the technical merits, the tax position will be sustained on audit, including
resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount
that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement.
|
l.
|
Accounting for stock-based compensation:
|
The Company
accounts for share based compensation in accordance with ASC No. 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" that 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 statement of operations. ASC No. 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of the grant
and revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
The Company
selected the Black-Scholes option pricing model as the most appropriate fair value method for its stock-options awards. The Black-Scholes
option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are the expected stock volatility and the
expected option term. Expected volatility was calculated based upon similar traded companies’ historical stock price movements.
The Company uses the simplified method until such time as there is sufficient historical exercise data to allow the Company to
make and rely upon assumptions as to the expected life of outstanding options. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield
from U.S. treasury bonds with an equivalent term to the expected life of the options. Historically the Company has not paid dividends
and in addition has no foreseeable plans to pay dividends, and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the option
pricing model.
The fair
value for options granted is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
|
|
|
2013
|
|
2014
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividend yield
|
|
0%
|
|
*)
|
|
0%
|
|
Expected volatility
|
|
53.7%-64%
|
|
*)
|
|
64%- 69%
|
|
Risk-free interest
|
|
0.5%-1.7%
|
|
*)
|
|
1.12%-1.63%
|
|
Expected life (in years)
|
|
3.5-4.9
|
|
*)
|
|
4.375
|
*) No
grants were made in 2014.
The Company recognizes compensation
expenses for the value of its awards based on the straight-line method over the requisite service period of each of the awards.
|
m.
|
Concentrations of credit risks:
|
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents.
The
Company’s cash and cash equivalents are invested in major banks in Israel. Generally, these cash equivalents may be redeemed
upon demand and, therefore, bear low risk.
Pursuant
to Section 14 of Israel's Severance Pay Law, 5723-1963 ("Section 14"), the Company's employees, covered by this section,
are entitled only to monthly deposits, at a rate of 8.33% of their monthly salary, made on their behalf by the Company to an Israeli
insurance company. Payments in accordance with Section 14 release the Company from any future the severance liabilities in respect
of those employees. Neither severance pay liability nor severance pay fund under Section 14 for such employees is recorded on
the Company's balance sheet.
Severance
expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 amounted to $25,694, $36,456 and $39,194, respectively.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
|
o.
|
Fair value of financial instruments:
|
The Company
applies ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”. Under this standard, fair value is defined as the price
that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction
between market participants at the measurement date.
In determining
fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches. ASC 820 establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value
that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable
inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
developed based on market data obtained from sources independent from the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect
the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed
based on the best information available in the circumstances.
The hierarchy
is broken down into three levels based on the inputs as follows:
|
Level 1 -
|
Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access.
|
|
Level 2 -
|
Valuations based on one or more quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable,
either directly or indirectly.
|
|
Level 3 -
|
Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.
|
In accordance
with ASC 480, the Company measures its warrants to purchase the Company's shares classified as liability and the capital note
at fair value. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, trade payables and other accounts liabilities
approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of such instruments.
The following
table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value on recurring basis as of December 31, 2014:
|
|
|
Fair value measurements using input type
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants presented at fair value
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
844,818
|
|
|
$
|
844,818
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital note
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
37,480
|
|
|
|
37,480
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total financial liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
882,298
|
|
|
$
|
882,298
|
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
The following
table presents assets and liabilities measured at fair value on recurring basis as of December 31, 2015:
|
|
|
Fair value measurements using input type
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants presented at fair value
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
961,922
|
|
|
$
|
961,922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital note
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
43,568
|
|
|
|
43,568
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total financial liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,005,490
|
|
|
$
|
1,005,490
|
|
The following
table presents reconciliations for the Company’s liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, using
significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2013
|
|
$
|
389,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of warrants to investors and service provider
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
Fair value of embedded conversion feature presented in fair value
|
|
|
19,990
|
|
|
Change in fair value of warrants and embedded conversion feature presented in fair value
|
|
|
59,901
|
|
|
Reclassification of embedded conversion feature presented in fair value from liability to equity
|
|
|
(358,891
|
)
|
|
Reclassification of warrants presented at fair value to equity
|
|
|
(117,500
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2013
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of warrants and capital note
|
|
|
882,298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2014
|
|
|
882,298
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value of warrants to investors
|
|
|
142,470
|
|
|
Changes in Fair value of warrants and capital note
|
|
|
(19,278
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2015
|
|
$
|
1,005,490
|
|
|
p.
|
Derivative instruments:
|
The Company
applies ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” ("ASC 815") on features related to convertible loans. When features
are not clearly and closely related to the characteristics of the loans, the features qualify as embedded derivative instruments
at issuance and, if such features do not qualify for any scope exception within ASC 815, they are required to be accounted for
separately from the debt instrument and recorded as derivative instrument liabilities. The fair value assigned to the embedded
derivative instruments were marked to market in each reporting period. (See also Note 6).
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
|
q.
|
Basic and diluted net loss per
share:
|
Basic
net loss per share is computed based on the weighted average number of
ordinary shares
outstanding
during each year. Diluted net loss per share is computed based on the weighted average number of
ordinary shares
outstanding
during each year, plus the dilutive potential of
ordinary shares
considered outstanding
during the year in accordance with ASC 260, "Earnings Per Share". Diluted loss per share is computed based on the weighted
average number of
ordinary shares
outstanding during the period, plus the dilutive effect
of ordinary shares considered outstanding during the period. For the year ended December 31, 2015, 1,021,917 stock options and
2,542,262 warrants to purchase Ordinary shares have been excluded from the calculation of the diluted loss per share because all
such securities had an anti-dilutive effect. For the year ended December 31, 2014, 697,595 stock options and 2,241,112 warrants
to purchase Ordinary shares have been excluded from the calculation of the diluted loss per share because all such securities
had an anti-dilutive effect. For the year ended December 31, 2013, 8,624,146 preferred shares, 836,275 stock options, 176,594
warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares and 128,178 warrants to purchase preferred shares have been excluded from the calculation
of the diluted loss per share, because all such securities had an anti-dilutive effect.
|
r.
|
Recently issued accounting standards:
|
|
1.
|
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB’) issued guidance related to revenue from contracts
with customers. Under this guidance, revenue is recognized when promised goods or services
are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected
to be received for those goods or services. The updated standard will replace most existing
revenue recognition guidance under GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use
of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. As currently issued
and amended, ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December
15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, though early adoption
is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company
is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated
financial statements and related disclosures.
|
|
2.
|
In August 2014, the FASB issued
Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going
Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue
as a Going Concern, which defines management’s responsibility to assess an entity’s
ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related footnote disclosures if
there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The pronouncement
is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016 with early adoption
permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption
of ASU 2014-15 on its consolidated financial statements.
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 2:-
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont.)
|
|
3.
|
In February 2016, the FASB issued
ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842), whereby lessees will be required to recognize
for all leases at the commencement date a lease liability, which is a lessee‘s
obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis;
and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right
to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance,
lessor accounting is largely unchanged. A modified retrospective transition approach
for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative
period presented in the financial statements must be applied. The modified retrospective
approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the
earliest comparative period presented. Companies may not apply a full retrospective transition
approach. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December
15, 2018. Early application is permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact
of this pronouncement.
|
|
4.
|
In November 2015, the FASB issued
Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17 (ASU 2015-17) “Income Taxes (Topic 740):
Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”. ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation
of deferred income taxes by eliminating the separate classification of deferred income
tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts in the consolidated balance
sheet statement of financial position. The amendments in the update require that all
deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the consolidated balance
sheet. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein and may be applied either prospectively
or retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company
has early adopted this standard in the 2015 consolidated financial statements.
|
NOTE 3:-
|
OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grants from the Chief Scientist–ME
|
|
$
|
33,954
|
|
|
$
|
124,862
|
|
|
Government authorities
|
|
|
50,290
|
|
|
|
14,579
|
|
|
Account receivables
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
11,816
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
8,633
|
|
|
|
1,863
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
92,877
|
|
|
$
|
153,120
|
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 4:-
|
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
Cost:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computers
|
|
$
|
39,914
|
|
|
$
|
43,964
|
|
|
Office furniture and equipment
|
|
|
400,705
|
|
|
|
437,035
|
|
|
Leasehold improvements
|
|
|
21,764
|
|
|
|
23,458
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
462,383
|
|
|
|
504,457
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation:
|
|
|
235,837
|
|
|
|
286,663
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
226,546
|
|
|
$
|
217,794
|
|
Depreciation expenses for
the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $23,589, $46,435 and $50,826, respectively.
NOTE 5:-
|
OTHER CURRENT LIABLITIES
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision for professional fees
|
|
$
|
135,485
|
|
|
$
|
443,695
|
|
|
Grants received in advance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
115,062
|
|
|
Provision for legal claims
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
30,638
|
|
|
|
35,593
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
206,123
|
|
|
$
|
634,350
|
|
NOTE 6:-
|
CONVERTIBLE BRIDGE FINANCING
|
|
a.
|
In October 2010, the Company
entered into a Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement with the Israeli Electric Company
(the "IEC") pursuant to which IEC agreed to loan the Company up to the aggregate
principal amount of NIS 2,000,000 (513 thousands at December 31, 2015), at an annual
interest rate of 8% (decreasing, following the end of the Conversion Period (as defined
below), to the higher of 4% or the minimum rate set by the Israeli tax authority), upon
the achievement of certain specified milestones. In May 2012, the Company and IEC entered
into an amendment to the Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement pursuant to which the
aggregate principal amount which the Company was permitted to borrow under the agreement
was increased by NIS 1,000,000 ($256 thousands at December 31, 2015), bringing the aggregate
principal amount which the Company was permitted to borrow under the Agreement to NIS
3,000,000 ($769 thousands at December 31, 2015). During 2010, 2011 and 2012, IEC loaned
the Company the total principal amount of NIS 3,000,000 ($769 thousands at December 31,
2015) under the Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement, in several installments.
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 6:-
|
CONVERTIBLE BRIDGE FINANCING (Cont.)
|
Pursuant to the terms of
the Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement, upon the completion by the Company, at any time prior to the earlier of the four year
anniversary of the date of the original Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement, a Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Transaction
or an Initial Public Offering (IPO) (the “Conversion Period”), of an equity financing transaction (or series of related
transactions) in an amount of at least $1,500,000 (a “Qualified Financing”), the aggregate principal amount of the
loan outstanding will automatically convert into the securities of the Company issued to investors in such Qualified Financing
at the conversion price described below. If during the Conversion Period the Company completes a financing transaction that is
not a qualified financing (excluding certain transactions with existing shareholders of the Company) (an “Unqualified Financing”),
then, IEC shall have the right, but not obligation, to convert the then outstanding amount of the loans made by it to the Company
under the Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement into the securities of the Company issued to investors in such Unqualified Financing.
The conversion price will be equal to 75% of the price per share, security or unit paid by the investors participating in such
Qualified Financing or Unqualifying Financing, as applicable, for the most favorable type of securities issued. Upon conversion
of the loan, accrued but unpaid interest thereon will be repaid, at the option of the Company, in cash or by conversion of such
interest into the same securities into which the principal amount was converted, and at the same conversion price. If not earlier
converted, the aggregate principal amount of the loan outstanding will become due and payable (together will accrued but unpaid
interest thereon) in May 2016.
In addition, pursuant to
the Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay the IEC royalties from sales of the Company's products
and service revenues from any Company products existing on the date of the Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement and any future
products owned or licensed by the Company, (refer also to note 7e).
In accordance with ASC
815, features related to convertible loans qualify as embedded derivative instruments at the date of issuance, since these are
considered as stock settled debt. The fair value assigned to the embedded conversion feature on the issuance dates amounted to
$211,800. The embedded instruments are marked to market in each reporting period and changes are recorded in financial expenses.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded $34,850 as financial expenses, net, as a result of changes in the
embedded instruments. The discount is amortized using the effective interest over the loan period.
Upon the issuance of Series
B-2 Preferred Shares in April 2013, the aggregate principal amount of the loan, together with all accrued interest thereon in
the amount of $878,730, was converted into 1,278,166 Series B-1 Preferred Shares at a price per share of $0.687. In connection
with the conversion, the embedded instruments in the amount of $275,558 were classified to additional paid in capital.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 6:-
|
CONVERTIBLE BRIDGE FINANCING (Cont.)
|
|
b.
|
During 2011, 2012 and 2013, the
Company issued convertible bridge financing notes (the “Series 1 Notes”)
with an aggregate principal amount of $1,300,000. The Series 1 Notes provided that it
would be automatically converted into the most senior class of securities issued by the
Company in the next equity financing transaction completed within 12 months of the issue
date thereof, at a conversion price equal to 75% of the price per security issued in
such financing transaction. Pursuant to their terms, if a subsequent financing was not
completed within 12 months from the effective date, the Series 1 Notes would automatically
convert into Series A-2 Preferred.
|
In accordance with ASC
815, the features related to convertible loans qualified as embedded derivative instruments issuance date, since these are considered
as stock settled debt. The fair value assigned to the embedded instruments on the issuance dates amounted to $219,400.
In addition, the Company
granted the Holders of the convertible notes warrants to purchase the most senior class of securities of the Company issued in
the next equity round in a total amount equal to 7.5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series 1 Notes. The notes will
be exercisable until the earlier of 60 months from the effective date or the consummation of an IPO or M&A transaction. The
warrants were recorded as a loan discount and are amortized using effective interest rate over the Notes period. In accordance
with ASC 480, the warrants were classified as a liability instrument as the number of warrants and exercise price are not fixed.
The Company measures the warrants at fair value by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model in each reporting period until
they are exercised or expired, with changes in the fair values being recognized in the Company's statement of operations loss
as financial expense (income), net.
In February 2013, $200,000
aggregate principal amount of Series 1 Notes was converted into 446,545 Series A-2 Preferred Shares, in each case at a price of
$0.447 per share.
Upon the issuance by the
Company of Series B-2 Preferred Shares in April 2013, as described in Note 9c, the remaining Series 1 Notes (in a total aggregate
principal amount of $250,000) were converted into 363,645 Series B-1 Preferred Shares at a price per share of $0687. In connection
with the conversion, the embedded instruments in the amount of $83,333 were classified as additional paid in capital.
The embedded instruments
were marked to market in each reporting period and changes were recorded in financial expenses. In cases where no equity investment
occurred, the embedded instruments were recorded as a financing income in the statement of operations. During the year ended December
31, 2013, the Company recorded $25,051 as financial expenses net, as a result of changes in the embedded instruments value. The
discount was amortized using the effective interest over the loan period.
Upon the issuance by the
Company of Series B-2 Preferred Shares in April 2013, as described in Note 9c, it was determined that the warrants issued to the
lenders and finder’s fee under the Series 1 Notes, in the aggregate, would represent the right to purchase 128,173 Series
B-2 Preferred Shares at an of $0.917 per share, and as such the warrants in the amount of $117,500 (the Company used the following
assumptions: 0% Dividend yield, 64.2% expected volatility, 0.3%-0.7% risk free rate and 2.8-4.8 expected life in years) were classified
from liability to additional paid in capital.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 6:-
|
CONVERTIBLE BRIDGE FINANCING (Cont.)
|
|
c.
|
During 2014, the Company issued
convertible bridge financing notes (the “Series 2 Notes”) with an aggregate
principal amount of $836,294. The Series 2 Notes accrue interest at a rate of 6% per
year and mature prior to conversion only upon an event of default thereunder (as defined
in the agreement). Each Series 2 Note shall automatically convert into the most senior
class of securities offered by the Company in its next completed equity financing transaction
completed within 12 months after the issuance date of such note (based on a conversion
price per share equal to 75% of the sales price of such securities in the equity financing
transaction) or, if no such transaction is completed within such 12 month period, the
notes will be converted into Series B Preferred Shares at a conversion price of $0.917
per share and no interest shall be payable in respect of such converted Series 2 Notes.
|
In addition, the Company
granted the holders of the convertible notes warrants to purchase the most senior class of securities of the Company issued in
the next equity round in a total amount equal to 7.4% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series 2 Notes. In accordance with
ASC 480, the warrants were classified as a liability instrument as the number of warrants and exercise price are not fixed. The
Company measures the warrants at fair value by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model in each reporting period until they
are exercised or expired, with changes in the fair values being recognized in the Company's statement of operations as financial
expense (income), net.
The conversion features
upon a financing round was determined to be the predominant events and therefore the entire instrument was considered as a liability
pursuant to ASC No. 480 "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity" and measures at fair value.
Upon the issuance by the
Company of Ordinary Shares in November 2014, as described in Note 9a, the Series 2 Notes were converted into 743,372 units. Each
unit includes Ordinary Shares at a price per share of $1.125, and additional 743,372 warrants, at an exercise price of $1.50 per
ordinary share. The entire redemption amount was classified as paid in capital in the amount of $218,499. The warrants issued
in connection with the conversion may be redeemed by their holders, without the control of the Company, upon the occurrence of
certain fundamental transactions as describe in the agreement. In accordance with ASC 480, the warrants were recorded as a liability
as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 in the amount of $334,517 and $321,434, respectively (refer to assumptions used as detailed in
note 9a).
Upon the issuance by the
Company of Ordinary Shares in November 2014, as described in Note 9a, it was determined that the warrants issued to the lenders
under the Series 2 Notes, in the aggregate, would represent the right to purchase 41,179 Ordinary Shares at an exercise price
of $1.50 per share, and as such the warrants in the amount of $16,883 (the Company used the following assumptions: 0% Dividend
yield, 66.8% expected volatility, 1.67% risk free rate and 3.21-expected life in years) were classified from liability to additional
paid in capital.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 7:-
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
|
The Company
leases it facility under operating lease that expired in July 2016. The Company intends to extend the lease until July 2019.
Aggregate
minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating lease as of December 31, 2015, are (in the aggregate) and for each
succeeding fiscal year below:
Total rental
expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were $ 33,447, $34,100 and $31,288, respectively.
|
b.
|
In September 2009, the Company
entered into a License Agreement with Ramot -Tel Aviv University ("Ramot")
for a joint research program. The program was approved by the Magneton committee of the
Chief Scientist–ME. The Magneton program supports cooperative research programs
between industry and academia and encourages the transfer of technology from academic
institutions to commercial firms. Under the terms of the Magneton program, the Company
received from the OCS an aggregate amount of NIS 1,467,683 (approximately $376 thousand
at December 31, 2015), and no royalties are payable to the OCS with respect to this program.
Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, the Company was required to fund the
research and development of the technology subject to such agreement during the research
period (two years starting September 2009) in a total amount of NIS 1,077,000 ($276 thousands
at December 31, 2015). In addition, the Company issued to Ramot warrants to purchase
117,209 ordinary shares. The warrants are exercisable until the occurrence of an exit
event, as defined in the agreement, at an exercise price of NIS 0.01 per share.
|
In return,
the Company was required to pay to Tel Aviv University royalties
of between
3.4% and 3.9%
on all net sales of any product, component, device or material that is used in the preparation of coated substrates meeting certain
specifications (“Licensed Film”) and services resulting from the license; and royalties of between 2.4% and 3.0% on
all net sales of Licensed Film products and services, and a sublicense fee at a rate of 25% of all sublicense fees the Company
receives
with respect to the intellectual property developed under such agreement
. The
royalties and sublicense fees may be creditable against annual license fee due to Ramot in such calendar year and the following
calendar year, in amount of $20,000 in the three years that follow the research period, $50,000 for the fourth, fifth and sixth
years and $75,000 from the seventh year. License fees in the amount of $20,000 were paid in 2014 and 2015. As of December 31,
2015, revenues related to the license agreement have not yet started.
On January
4, 2016 Ramot provided the Company with a notice of termination of the License Agreement due to failure to meet the development
milestones. The termination of the agreement was effective on January 4, 2016.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 7:-
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)
|
|
c.
|
The Company was engaged in research
and development programs with the Chief Scientist–ME. The Company is committed
to pay royalties to the Chief Scientist–ME at rate of 3.5% of sales of products
resulting from research and development partially financed by the Chief Scientist–ME.
The amount shall not exceed the grant amount received, linked to the dollar, including
accrued interest at the 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.
|
During
the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 the Company received $140,765, $16,330 and $0, respectively. During 2013, 2014
and 2015, the Company paid royalties to the OCS in the amount $257, $1,147 and $1,621, respectively.
As of December
31, 2015, The Company and its subsidiary received from the Chief Scientist–ME grants in the amount of $1,009,506 (including
interest). The Company's total contingent liability (including interest) with respect to royalty-bearing participation received,
net of royalties paid, amounted to $1,352,819 as of December 31, 2015.
|
d.
|
In December, 2011, the Company
signed a research and development agreement with the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures,
Energy and Water Resources. Pursuant to the agreement, the ministry will fund up to 62.5%
of the Company’s expenses related to the approved program up to a maximum amount
of NIS 625,000 ($160 thousands at December 31, 2015), in exchange for the Company’s
agreement to pay royalties of 5% of any revenues generated from the intellectual property
generated under the program. The period of the program was 18 months starting January
1, 2012.
|
During
the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 the Company received $84,259, $13,483 and $0, respectively. During the years ended December 31,
2014 and 2015, the Company accrued royalties in the amount of $82 and $116, respectively.
As of December
31, 2015, the aggregate contingent liability to the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources amounted
to $178,559.
|
e.
|
In October 2010, the Company
entered into a Convertible Bridge Financing Agreement with IEC and, as part of the agreement,
the Company committed to pay IEC royalties equal to 2% of the total net sales of the
Company's products and service revenues from the product developed and manufactured through
this agreement, up to a cap of NIS 8,000,000 ($2,050 thousands at December 31, 2015).
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, the Company accrued royalties in the amount of $3,799 and $4,336, respectively.
|
f.
|
In connection with previously
made acquisition of Nano Size, the Company is obligated to pay 3% from future sales and
10% of sublicense fees derived from
Nano Size’s
intellectual property, until the aggregate consideration amounts to $1,400,000.
The consideration included a minimum consideration of $60,000 which was paid during 2011,
and will be off set against future royalty payments which
will be payable by the Company from sales of products and services.
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 7:-
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Cont.)
|
|
g.
|
On March 11, 2013, the Company
entered into a Joint Venture Agreement for the establishment of a joint venture in China.
The closing conditions in the Joint Venture Agreement have not been met, and the parties
resolved to dissolve the joint venture. The Company received from one of the parties
to the Joint Venture Agreement, a payment demand for reimbursement of expenses of immaterial
amount. The Company disputes the claim but has offered to settle the claim, and recorded
a provision in an amount that according to management's assessment is sufficient to settle
the claim.
|
|
h.
|
The warrants issued in the November
2014 Private Placement to the new investors and the Series 2 lenders (as discussed in
Note 9a), may be redeemed by their holders, without the control of the Company, upon
the occurrence of certain Fundamental Transactions defined in the warrant agreement,
mainly transactions involving a change in control of the Company, consolidation or merge
with or into another entity; sale of all or substantially all of its assets, sale of
50% of its shares, etc. The warrants redemption price shall be a cash amount equal to
the Black-Scholes value thereof, determined as of the day immediately following the public
announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, or, if the Fundamental Transaction
is not publicly announced, the date the Fundamental Transaction is consummated. The warrants
may be exercisable on a cashless basis at any time including if the Company fails to
comply with its registration obligations (as detailed in Note 7h). The exercise price
and the number of warrant shares will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain events, including stock dividends, stock splits, combinations and reclassifications
of the Company’s capital stock. In accordance with ASC 480 the warrants were classified
as liability.
|
|
i.
|
In September 2012, the Company
entered into a Know-How License Agreement with IKTS, pursuant to which the Company purchases
from Fraunhofer Institute (“IKTS”) certain additives. The Company has the
right to receive the production file and knowhow to its chosen manufacturer, in consideration
for payment to IKTS of royalties of €25
($27 at
December 31, 2015)
per kilo of the ingredients not manufactured by IKTS. In addition,
as of December 31, 2015, the Company is obligated to pay IKTS a minimum annual royalty
amount deductible against royalties.
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Company recorded royalty expenses in the amount of $0, $5,184 and $2,177,
respectively.
|
j.
|
In
May 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with XaarJet Limited, or Xaar, a producer
of printer heads. Once the first ink (Silver Nano-Particle Ink) is certified by Xaar,
the Company will be required to pay Xaar a fee for all certified inks sold for use with
Xaar print heads as follows: 2% of the certified ink price until the cumulative value
of the fees received by Xaar exceeds £50,000 ($74
thousands at
December
31, 2015), and thereafter, 1% of the certified ink price. Once the cumulative value of
the fees received by Xaar with respect to all products exceeds £1,000,000 ($1,482
thousands at
December 31, 2015), the Company and
Xaar have agreed to review the percentage payable in the light of the prevailing business
conditions. As of December 31, 2015, no such sales commenced.
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
Taxable
income is subject to the Israeli corporate tax at the rate as follows: 2013 – 25%, 2014 and 2015 – 26.5%. On January
5, 2016, the Israeli parliament approved the reduction of the corporate tax rate to 25%, starting from January 1, 2016. Israeli
companies are generally subject to Capital Gains Tax at the corporate tax rate.
|
b.
|
Net operating losses carryforwards:
|
As of December
31, 2015, the Company has accumulated losses for tax purposes in the amount of $6 million which may be carried forward and offset
against taxable income for an indefinite period.
As of December
31, 2015, the Company's subsidiary has accumulated losses for tax purposes in the amount of $4.4 million which may be carried
forward and offset against taxable income for an indefinite period.
|
c.
|
Accounting for uncertainty in
income taxes
:
|
For the years ended December
31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits and no interest and penalties related to unrecognized
tax benefits had been accrued. The Company does not expect that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly
within the next 12 months.
Tax reports
filed by the Company and the Company's subsidiary through the year ended December 31, 2009 are considered final.
|
e.
|
Deferred taxes on income:
|
Significant components of
the Company's deferred tax assets are as follows:
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss carryforward
|
|
$
|
2,211,316
|
|
|
$
|
2,784,560
|
|
|
Temporary differences
|
|
|
270,854
|
|
|
|
161,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deferred tax assets
|
|
|
2,482,170
|
|
|
|
2,946,060
|
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
|
(2,482,170
|
)
|
|
|
(2,946,060
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax assets
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 8:-
|
TAXES ON INCOME (Cont.)
|
The net
change in the total valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily relates to an increase in deferred taxes
on NOL's for which a full valuation allowance was recorded. In assessing the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be realized,
management considers whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The
ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those
temporary differences and tax loss carryforwards are deductible.
|
f.
|
Reconciliation of the theoretical
tax benefit and the actual tax expense:
|
|
|
|
Year
endedDecember 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before tax benefit
|
|
$
|
(1,591,189
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,164,368
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,773,655
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statutory tax rate
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
|
26.5
|
%
|
|
|
26.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax benefit
|
|
|
397,797
|
|
|
|
573,557
|
|
|
|
470,019
|
|
|
Effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Losses and timing differences for which valuation allowance was provided, net
|
|
|
(608,613
|
)
|
|
|
(112,002
|
)
|
|
|
(463,890
|
)
|
|
Change of deferred tax as result of tax rate change
|
|
|
280,339
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Foreign exchange differences (*)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(286,106
|
)
|
|
|
(10,104
|
)
|
|
Non-deductible expenses and other permanent differences
|
|
|
(68,354
|
)
|
|
|
(162,870
|
)
|
|
|
(482
|
)
|
|
Other
|
|
|
(1,169
|
)
|
|
|
(12,579
|
)
|
|
|
4,457
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense recognized in profit or loss
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
(*)
|
Results
for tax purposes are measured under measurement of results for tax purposes under the
Income Tax (Inflationary Adjustments) Law, 1985, in terms of earnings in NIS. As explained
in Note 2b, the financial statements are measured in U.S. dollars. The difference between
the annual change in the NIS/dollar exchange rate causes a difference between taxable
income and the income before taxes shown in the financial statements. In accordance with
ASC 740-10-25-3(F), the Company has not provided deferred income taxes in respect of
the difference between the functional currency and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
|
a.
|
Issuance of Ordinary shares:
|
In November
2014, the Company converted, immediately prior to the consummation of the Private Placement, 8,624,145 Preferred A-1, A-2, B-1
and B-2 shares, constituting its entire issued Preferred Share capital, to 8,624,145 Ordinary Shares, no consideration was provided.
In addition, all warrants convertible into preferred shares were replaced to warrants to Ordinary shares at 1:1 ratio. Following
such conversion, the preferred rights afforded to preferred shareholders have been cancelled, and the Company has one class of
shares, of ordinary shares par value NIS 0.01 each. As a result of the conversion, the per-share fair value of Ordinary shares
increased. Under ASC 718-20-10 such a transaction is considered to be an equity restructuring.
In accordance
with ASC 718-20-35-6, the Company recorded a compensation expense in the amount of $376,643 in connection with employee's options
and warrants. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the employees' options and warrants on the conversion
date. (the Company used the following assumptions: 0% Dividend yield, 54.9% - 64.2% expected volatility, 0.28% - 2.1% risk free
rate and 1.4 - 8.5 expected life in years). Additionally, a deemed divided to other Ordinary shareholders was recorded in the
amount of $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
In
connection with the conversion of the Series 2 Notes, as discussed in note 6, the Company issued in November 2014, 743,372 units
of one Ordinary shares and one warrant to Ordinary share.
In November
2014, as part of the Private Placement, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 1,016,668 units at a price of $1.50 per unit.
Each unit includes one ordinary share and one warrant to purchase ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The
Company received aggregate net proceeds of $1,464,921 from the sale of such unit, net of issuance costs of $60,080. The warrants
may be redeemed by their holders, without the control of the Company, upon the occurrence of certain fundamental transactions
such as change in control as defined in the warrant agreement. The warrants are exercisable on a cashless basis under certain
circumstances. In accordance with ASC 815, as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 warrants in amount of $457,501 and $439,607, respectively,
(the Company used the following assumptions for 2014 and 2015: 0% Dividend yield, 59.3% and 69.3% expected volatility,1.56% and
1.54% risk free rate, and 5 and 3.9 expected life in years ,respectively) were recorded as liability. The Company measures the
warrants at fair value by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model in each reporting period until they are exercised or expired,
with changes in the fair values being recognized in the Company's statement of operations as financial expense (income), net.
As the occurrence of certain fundamental transactions defined in the warrant agreement that may lead to liquidation are not expected
to occur, the Company classified the warrants in long term liability.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 9:-
|
SHARE CAPITAL (Cont.)
|
In November
2014, the Company issued 6.423 Ordinary Shares for each 1 outstanding Ordinary Share held by each of its shareholders, after effecting
the increase of its authorized shares by additional 35,048,750 shares and the conversion of all Preferred Shares into Ordinary
Shares. In the aggregate, the Company issued 9,389,231 ordinary bonus shares post conversion of its share capital, no consideration
was received. In addition the number of outstanding options, warrants, per share data, exercise price and convertible notes conversion
ratio included in these financial statements for all periods presented have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the bonus share
issuance (equivalent to a 7.423-for-1 stock split).
On July
9
, 2015, the Company entered into a Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the "SEDA")
with a new investor, pursuant to which the Company may, at its election and sole discretion, issue and sell to the investor, from
time to time ordinary shares as provided in the SEDA. The maximum investment amount is $3,000,000 at a price per share equal to
95% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares for the 5 consecutive trading days following the
election date. The Company's ability to purchase shares under the SEDA is subject to, among other things, the qualification of
the ordinary shares on the OTCQB and the filing and effectiveness of a registration statement registering for resale the ordinary
shares issuable to the investor under the SEDA. Pursuant to the terms of the SEDA, the Company agreed to pay a structuring and
due diligence fee in an amount equal to $15,000 and a commitment fee in an aggregate amount of $150,000, payable by the issuance
of 100,000 ordinary shares. In addition, pursuant to the SEDA, the investor purchased in October 2015 100,000 units, at a purchase
price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year warrant to purchase one ordinary share
at an exercise price of $1.50 per share.
Between
July 2015 and December 31, 2015, as part of the Private Placement and the SEDA, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 296,813
units (which includes the issuance of 100,000 units under SEDA agreement, as described above) at a price of $1.50 per unit. Each
unit includes one ordinary share and one warrant to purchase ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The Company
received aggregate net proceeds of $445,219 from the sale of such units, net of issuance costs of $4,285. The warrants may be
redeemed by their holders, without the control of the Company, upon the occurrence of certain fundamental transactions such as
change in control as defined in the warrant agreement. The warrants are exercisable on a cashless basis under certain circumstances.
In accordance
with ASC 815, warrants in amount of $142,470 (the Company used the following assumptions: 0% Dividend yield, 66.8% expected volatility,
1.67% risk free rate and 5 expected life in years) were recorded as liability. The Company measures the warrants at fair value
by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model in each reporting period until they are exercised or expired, with changes in
the fair values being recognized in the Company's statement of operations as financial expense (income), net. As the occurrence
of certain fundamental transactions defined in the warrant agreement that may lead to liquidation are not expected to occur, the
Company classified the warrants in long term liability.
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 9:-
|
SHARE CAPITAL (Cont.)
|
|
b.
|
Rights of Ordinary Shares:
|
Subject
to the rights of the holders of Preferred Shares (if any), as described below, Ordinary Shares confer upon their holders the rights
to elect all of the directors of the Company, to participate and vote in the general meetings of the Company, to receive dividends,
if and when declared, subject to the payment in full of all preferential dividends to which the holders of the Preferred Share
are entitled under the Company’s articles of association and to participate in the distribution of the surplus assets and
funds of the Company in the event of liquidation, subject to the liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares (if any). Each
Ordinary Share entitles its holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s shareholders.
|
c.
|
Issuance of Preferred Shares:
|
In
connection with the conversion of the Series 1 Notes, as discussed in note 6, the Company issued 446,545 Series A-2 Preferred
Shares, and issued 1,641,812 Series B-1 Preferred Shares in 2013.
In
2013, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,200,002 Series B-2 Preferred Shares to new investors at a price of $0.917 per share.
The Company received aggregate net proceeds of $1,064,903 from the sale of such Shares, net of issuance costs of $35,097.
In
November 2014, the Company converted all its preferred shares into Ordinary shares, at a ratio of one to one (1:1).
|
d.
|
Right of Preferred Shares:
|
Until November
2014 when all Preferred Shares were converted to Ordinary Shares, the Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares
entitled the holders thereof to certain preferential rights as provided in the second amended and restated articles of association
of the Company (the "Articles"). The Preferred Shares are convertible into Ordinary shares at an adjustable conversion
rate as specified in the articles. The Preferred shares have narrow-based weighted average anti-dilution rights. In a case of
a Liquidation Event (as defined in the Articles) the holders of Series B Preferred Shares would have been entitled to a liquidation
preference, to be paid before any payment is made in respect of any other securities of the Company, an amount equal to the original
issue price of the Series B Preferred Shares plus 8% interest, compounded annually. The holder of Series A Preferred shares would
have been entitled to a liquidation preference, to be paid after the holders of the Series B Shares have received their liquidation
preference in full but before any payment is made in respect of any other securities of the Company, in an amount equal to the
original issue price of the Series A Shares. If the assets exceed the aggregated amount payable to the holders of the preferred
shares, the remaining assets shall be distributed among all holders of ordinary shares and preferred shares (based on the relative
shareholding percentage among them on an as-converted basis).
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 9:-
|
SHARE CAPITAL (Cont.)
|
A “Liquidation
Event,” as described in the Articles, includes, in addition to a liquidation and dissolution of the Company, certain deemed
liquidation events, including a merger, a change of control to which the Company is a party, sale of all or substantially all
of the assets or shares of the Company and the grant of an exclusive license to all or substantially all of the intellectual property
of the Company.
Under the
Company's 2010 option plan, options may be granted to officers, directors, employees, consultants and service providers of the
Company.
The vesting
period of the options is subject for Board approval and can vary from grant to grant. Options vest over a period of zero to three
years from date of grant. Any options that are cancelled or forfeited before expiration become available for future grants. The
options may be exercised for a period of 7 years from grant.
The total
number of shares available for future grants as of December 31, 2015 was 51,521.
A summary
of the Company's stock option activities and related information for the year ended December 31, 2015, is as follows:
|
|
|
Number of options
|
|
|
Weighted average exercise price
|
|
|
Weighted average remaining contractual term
|
|
|
Aggregate intrinsic-value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at the beginning of the year
|
|
|
697,595
|
|
|
$
|
0.57
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
482,673
|
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options forfeited
|
|
|
(158,351
|
)
|
|
|
0.92
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at the end of the year
|
|
|
1,021,917
|
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
$
|
517,959
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vested or expected to vest as of December 31
|
|
|
922,115
|
|
|
$
|
0.53
|
|
|
|
4.82
|
|
|
$
|
455,499
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable as of December 31
|
|
|
689,244
|
|
|
$
|
0.57
|
|
|
|
4.18
|
|
|
$
|
309,760
|
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 9:-
|
SHARE CAPITAL (Cont.)
|
The options
granted to officers, directors, employees, consultants and service providers of the Company which were outstanding as of December
31, 2015 have been classified into exercise prices as follows:
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Exercise price
|
|
Number of options
|
|
|
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
|
|
|
Number of options
|
|
|
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$0.00
|
|
|
422,193
|
|
|
|
5.5
|
|
|
|
230,425
|
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
|
$0.45
|
|
|
63,097
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
|
|
|
63,097
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
|
|
$0.92
|
|
|
536,627
|
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
|
|
395,722
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,021,917
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
689,244
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
2015, the total compensation cost related to options granted to employees, consultants and service providers, not yet recognized,
amounted to $85,163; and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.63 years.
|
f.
|
Stock based compensation amounted to $35,492, $382,595 and $8,788 in 2013, 2014 and
2015, respectively, and were recorded as follows:
|
|
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of Revenues
|
|
$
|
27
|
|
|
$
|
2,134
|
|
|
$
|
107
|
|
|
Research and Development
|
|
|
21,246
|
|
|
|
202,769
|
|
|
|
2,597
|
|
|
Sales & Marketing
|
|
|
3,321
|
|
|
|
28,458
|
|
|
|
839
|
|
|
General and Administrative
|
|
|
10,898
|
|
|
|
149,234
|
|
|
|
5,245
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,492
|
|
|
$
|
382,595
|
|
|
$
|
8,788
|
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 9:-
|
SHARE CAPITAL (Cont.)
|
|
g.
|
The Company's outstanding warrants classified as equity as of December 31, 2015 are as follows
|
|
Issuance date
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercise price
|
|
|
Exercisable through
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
117,209
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
Exit event
|
|
2011
|
|
|
84,821
|
|
|
$
|
0.92
|
|
|
(*)
|
|
2012
|
|
|
35,177
|
|
|
$
|
0.92
|
|
|
(*)
|
|
2012
|
|
|
59,385
|
|
|
$
|
0.92
|
|
|
2023
|
|
2013
|
|
|
8,180
|
|
|
$
|
0.92
|
|
|
(*)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
51,100
|
|
|
$
|
1.50
|
|
|
(*)
|
|
2014
|
|
|
5,200
|
|
|
$
|
1.50
|
|
|
(**)
|
|
2015
|
|
|
4,337
|
|
|
$
|
1.50
|
|
|
(**)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
365,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(*)
|
The earlier of: 5 years from
issuance date or the consummation of IPO or M&A Transaction.
|
|
(**)
|
The earlier of: 2 years from
issuance date or the consummation of IPO or M&A Transaction
|
All warrants
are exercised to ordinary shares. The exercise price of the warrants and the number of shares issuable thereunder is subject to
standard anti diluted features including dividends, stock splits, combinations and reclassifications of the Company's capital
stock. In accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”, the warrants were classified as an equity instrument.
|
h.
|
In July 2014, the Company entered
into an agreement with one of its shareholders according to which the Company issued
to the shareholder, in November 2014, upon the initial closing of the Private placement,
a warrant to purchase up to 120,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.92 per
share (or lower if the price per share paid by the investors in the Private Placement
is lower than $1.44). The warrants are exercisable until the first to occur of an M&A
Event or the completion by the Company of a public offering. As the exercised price is
subject to changes, in accordance with ASC 480, as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 the
Company classified the warrants as liability in the amount of $52,800 and $61,200 (the
Company used the following assumptions: 0% Dividend yield, 55% and 78% expected volatility,
0.9% and 1.19% risk free rate and 3 and 2.5 expected life in years, respectively). The
Company measures the warrants at fair value by using the Black-Scholes option pricing
model in each reporting period until they are exercised or expired, with changes in the
fair values being recognized in the Company's statement of operations as financial expense
(income).
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 9:-
|
SHARE CAPITAL (Cont.)
|
In addition,
the Company issued the investor, a cash settled capital note in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000, which becomes due
and payable upon the earlier to occur of: (i) an M&A Transaction, (ii) a qualified IPO (as defined in the agreement) or (iii)
an equity financing by the Company resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of at least $6,000,000. The Company elected to present
the capital note at fair value in accordance with ASC 825, in the amounts of $37,480 and $43,568 as of December 31, 2014 and 2015,
respectively. As the Company does not expect the capital note to become due in the following 12 months it presented the capital
note as a long term liability.
NOTE 10:-
|
Warrants presented at fair value
|
The Company's
outstanding warrants classified as a liability as of December 31, 2015 are as follows:
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercise price
|
|
Exercisable through
|
|
Fair value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,016,668
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
2019
|
|
|
439,607
|
|
|
Refer to Note 9a
|
|
|
743,372
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
2019
|
|
|
321,434
|
|
|
Refer to Note 6c
|
|
|
120,000
|
|
|
0.92(*)
|
|
(**)
|
|
|
61,200
|
|
|
Refer to Note 9h
|
|
|
296,813
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
2020
|
|
|
139,681
|
|
|
Refer to Note 9a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,176,853
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
961,922
|
|
|
|
|
(*)
|
Subject to changes as describe
in the agreement.
|
|
(**)
|
M&A or qualified IPO as
described in the agreement.
|
NOTE 11:-
|
Financial expenses (INCOME), net
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange loss (gain), net
|
|
$
|
1,557
|
|
|
$
|
(9,933
|
)
|
|
$
|
8,111
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
21,240
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Amortization of discount attribute to convertible loans
|
|
|
206,547
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Change in fair value of embedded conversion feature, warrants, capital note and loans presented at fair value
|
|
|
59,901
|
|
|
|
235,382
|
|
|
|
(19,278
|
)
|
|
Other
|
|
|
4,978
|
|
|
|
11,112
|
|
|
|
10,073
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
291,109
|
|
|
$
|
236,561
|
|
|
$
|
(1,094
|
)
|
P.V.
NANO CELL LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
U.S.
dollars
NOTE 12:-
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
Geographic
information:
Revenues
reported in the financial statements derive from the Company's country of domicile (Israel) and foreign countries based on the
location of the customers, are as follows:
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Israel
|
|
$
|
17,170
|
|
|
$
|
23,128
|
|
|
$
|
9,632
|
|
|
Germany
|
|
|
8,595
|
|
|
|
12,037
|
|
|
|
9,350
|
|
|
France
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,621
|
|
|
|
8,681
|
|
|
Holland
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,836
|
|
|
|
1,740
|
|
|
Korea
|
|
|
2,947
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
500
|
|
|
Austria
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,494
|
|
|
|
14,967
|
|
|
United states
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
4,212
|
|
|
|
11,395
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
660
|
|
|
|
4,523
|
|
|
|
12,067
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
29,372
|
|
|
$
|
57,851
|
|
|
$
|
68,332
|
|
All
of the Company's long-lived assets are located in Israel.
NOTE 13:-
|
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
In 2012,
the Company entered into a business development services consultancy agreement with one of its board of director members. In 2013,
under the consultancy agreement, the Company granted fully vested options to purchase up to an aggregate of 263,517 Ordinary Shares
at an exercise price of $0.917 per share. The options are exercisable for a period of seven years from the date of grant. In 2013
and 2014, the Company recorded $1,065 and $86,961, respectively, general and administrative expenses in connection with the consultancy
agreement. The above director resigned from the board on October 19, 2015. No expense was recorded with respect to this agreement
in 2015.
NOTE 14:-
|
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
|
Between
January and October 2016 the Company extended the Private Placement for a total amount of $300,000. The Company issued 200,000
units at a price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year warrant to purchase one
ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share with the same terms and conditions as discussed in note 9a.
In February
and March 2016, the Company issued convertible bridge financing notes (the "Additional Notes”) with an aggregate principal
amount of $206,000. The Additional Notes accrue interest at a rate of 6% per year and mature prior to conversion only upon an
event of default thereunder (as defined in the agreement). Each Additional Note may be converted at the choice of the holder into
the same class of securities offered by the Company in its next completed equity financing transaction completed within 6 months
after the issuance date of such note (based on a conversion price per share equal to the lower of $1.50 or the sales price of
such securities in the equity financing transaction) or, if no such transaction is completed within such 6 month period, the notes
will be converted into units at a price of $1.50 per unit. Each unit consists of (i) one Ordinary Share and (ii) a five-year warrant
to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $1.50 per share with the same terms and conditions as discussed in note
9a. No interest shall be payable in respect of such converted Additional Notes.
Upon the
issuance by the Company of Ordinary Shares in July 2016, as described below, the Additional Notes were converted into 274,667
Ordinary Shares.
In July
2016 the company issued and sold an aggregate of 860,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of $0.75 per Ordinary Share, in consideration
for an aggregate investment amount of $645,000.
-
- - - - - -
- - - - - - -
F-31
PV Nano Cell (PK) (USOTC:PVNNF)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Jan 2025 à Fév 2025
PV Nano Cell (PK) (USOTC:PVNNF)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Fév 2024 à Fév 2025