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.
[Reserved].
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not
applicable.
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not
applicable.
D.
Risk Factors
Our
business faces significant risks. You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this annual report and in our other
filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the following risk factors which
we face and which are faced by our industry. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely
affected by any of these risks. In that event, the trading price of our ordinary shares would likely decline and you might lose all or
part of your investment. This report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our results could
materially differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, as a result of certain important factors including the
risks described below and elsewhere in this report and our other SEC filings. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
on page ii.
Risks
Related to Our Financial Position and Capital Requirements
We
have a relatively 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 $12.5
million for the year ended on December 31, 2020 and an accumulated deficit of approximately $33.6 million as of December 31, 2020. To
date, we have financed our operations primarily through the issuance of equity instruments and convertible notes as well as through government
grants. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of our future expenditures and our ability to generate
significant revenues via commercialization of 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 an ongoing 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
generated relatively limited revenues, which are not presently sufficient to sustain our operations. Our total revenues generated from
sales were $761,319, $478,520 and $460,739 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. We have incurred net
losses since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December
31, 2020, and as of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F we had limited cash resources.
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 consolidated financial statements as of and
for the year ended December 31, 2020 with respect to this uncertainty. 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. The substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern could materially
limit our ability to raise additional funds through the issuance of new debt or equity securities or otherwise. Future reports on our
consolidated 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, 2020, we had cash reserves of $31,327. As of the date of this report, we had sufficient cash to fund operations as presently
maintained through August 2022. We will need to raise additional capital to continue our operations beyond such period. 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
commercially 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 shareholders. 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 finder fees, 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.
Risks
Relating to COVID-19
The global COVID-19constraints may continue
to negatively impact the global economy in a significant manner for a further extended period of time, and may also adversely affect
our operating results in a material manner.
The
coronavirus pandemic has created macro-economic uncertainty and disruption in the business and financial markets. Many countries around
the world, including Israel, have been taking measures designated to limit the continued spread of the coronavirus, including closing
workplaces, restricting travel, prohibiting assembling, closing international borders and quarantining populated areas. These measures
have impacted, and may further impact, our workforce and operations, the operations of our customers and our partners, and those of our
respective vendors and suppliers (including our subcontractors and third-party contract manufacturers). Our customers worldwide, as well
as the end markets that we support have also been affected and may continue to be affected by coronavirus-related implications, and may
recover at different rates. In addition, as the implementation of the above-mentioned measures extends, and as additional measures may
be required in the event that the measures already taken prove to be insufficient or ineffective, we may face new and/or increasing concerns
that may dramatically affect our ability to conduct our business effectively, including, but not limited to, adverse effect on employees’
health, a slowdown and stoppage of manufacturing, commerce, delivery, work, travel and other activities which are essential and critical
for maintaining on-going business activities.
During 2020, due to COVID-19 constraints, we have had to adjust our
working mode (mainly changing working hours and make sure the Company complies with the government guidelines which have included full
and partial lockdowns). While our business grew in 2020, our growth has been limited (sales grew less than expected) due to slow down
of our customers and partners, and also due to traveling constrains imposed by governments due to COVID-19. Two of our main customers
have purchased inks and services from us much less than forecasted and expected. Our plans to upgrade our DemonJet printers, develop the
inks and technologies to print passive components have been slowed down due to the reduction of activities of our partners in Europe and
reduced available resources. We have placed one of our employees on unpaid leave and reduced the team by two team members. Furthermore,
due to the influence of COVID-19 on the world economy, the price of silvers (our main raw material) have increased by almost 50% from
January 2019 through December 2020. Given the continued uncertainty around the extent and timing of the future spread or mitigation of
the coronavirus outbreak and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our
future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our operational and financial
performance, including our ability to execute our business strategies and initiatives in the expected time frame, will depend on future
developments, including, but not limited to, the duration and continued spread of the pandemic, its severity, the actions to contain the
disease or treat its impact, further related restrictions on travel, and the duration, timing and severity of the impact on customer spending,
including any recession resulting from the pandemic, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. An extended period of global
supply chain and economic disruption as a result of COVID-19 could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations,
access to sources of liquidity and financial condition, though the full extent and duration is uncertain; infections may become more widespread
and the limitation on our ability to work, travel and timely sell and distribute our products, as well as any closures or supply disruptions,
may be extended for longer periods of time and to other locations, all of which would have a negative impact on our business, financial
condition and operating results. In addition, as the scale and duration of these developments remain uncertain, they may have, or continue
to have, macro and micro negative effects on the financial markets and global economy, which could result in an economic downturn that
could affect demand for our products and have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial results, earnings, cash flow,
financial condition and share price. These effects could be material and long-term in duration.
Since
the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, we have been closely monitoring the developments and continually assessing the potential impact
on our business. Below are some of the risks and challenges that we may face as a result of the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic
for a further extended period of time:
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● |
Economic
downturn, slowdown of macro-economic development, and a significant decline of business, which could harm the strength of the worldwide
electronics industry in general and the digital printed electronics, solar cells and panels, PCB and automotive industries in particular.
Such downturn or slowdown could affect demand for our customers’ end products and as a result may cause manufacturers in the
semiconductor industry to suspend or reduce capital investments in our products for use in their manufacturing processes, and decrease
our sales of products and related services to such industry; |
|
● |
Material
reduction in new orders and in procurement of our products, issuance of work stoppage orders or delay in the award of new orders
on part of our customers; |
|
● |
Disruptions
or restrictions on our operations and those of our contractors and customers, including on our ability to travel or to install or
provide services to our products, as well as temporary closures of our facility or the facilities of our suppliers, manufacturers
or customers, and prohibitions on the export, import or release from customs of products and components; |
|
● |
Lower
work efficiency, productivity and service quality. COVID-19 infection could harm the health of one or more of our employees, which
could in turn require us to completely shut down all, or almost all, work in our facility in order to prevent further infection and
spread of the virus. Some of our team members have not been able to work for a long period due to lockups and/or been infected with
COVID-19; |
|
● |
Disruption,
reduction or interruption in supply, disruption to our suppliers, manufacturers or customers and their other vendors, lack or delay
in the supply of raw materials and goods, or in the performance of work or services by our contractors and subcontractors; |
|
● |
Slowdown
in production and manufacturing, and a significant increase in the price of one or more components or materials; |
|
● |
Imposition
of fines, penalties, damages and contract terminations (including the exercise of certain force majeure clauses), and damage to our
reputation and relationship with our customers, as a result of delays in production, shipment, deliveries and services due to any
of the above constraints; |
|
● |
Financial
difficulties and insolvencies of major customers, which could lead to slowing the payment of their obligations to us or even discharging
those obligations; |
|
● |
Difficulties
in collection of amounts due from customers and in satisfying revenue recognition procedures; |
|
● |
Continuation of traveling constrains imposed due to COVID-19; And |
|
● |
Slowdown in our fund-raising efforts. |
Risks
Related to Our Business
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. The contribution of our subsidiary Digiflex
Ltd. or Digiflex, to our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020 was limited to the sale of inks, foils and maintenance of the
three (3) printers sold since inception. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on our ability to successfully
commercialize our Sicrys™ inks, Digiflex printers for the conducive and printed passive components market and future products and
technologies. Our ability to generate revenues will also depend on (i) our ability to modify and bring to market Digiflex printers so
we will be able to serve the electronics market and to use our Sicrys™ inks; and (ii) our ability to adapt Digiflex’s inks
and/or develop additional inks to allow for the printing of full printed circuit boards, embedded passive components or PCBs. There is
no assurance that we will be successful in any of these endeavors.
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; |
|
● |
implementing
our Complete Solution Approach or End-to-End Approach; |
|
● |
expanding
our distribution channels, including our ability to enter into cooperation arrangements with printer manufacturers to be able to
supply printers to our potential customers; |
|
● |
ramping
up our production capabilities if and when our sales volume increases; |
|
● |
maintaining,
protecting, and expanding our portfolio of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, and know-how; |
|
● |
identifying,
assessing, acquiring and/or developing new products and technologies; |
|
● |
addressing
any competing technological and market developments; and |
|
● |
attracting,
hiring, and retaining qualified personnel. |
If
our conductive inks and Digiflex printers fail to achieve and sustain sufficient market acceptance or if market penetration occurs more
slowly than expected, our future revenues will be adversely affected.
Our
success depends, among other things, on our ability to gain additional market acceptance of our Sicrys™ inks and Digiflex printers
as a reliable and cost-saving alternative to existing production 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, 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 production technologies
available in the market. Our potential customers may also need to devote significant time and effort to testing and validating our technology
prior to its adoption. Any failure of our technology to meet our potential 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. In addition, our success depends on our ability to implement our Complete Solution Approach or End-to-End Approach (providing
customers with the whole system of printers, process and inks), and gain market acceptance of Digiflex printers. There is no assurance
that we will succeed in any of the foregoing.
We
believe that our future success depends on our ability to deliver products and services that meet changing
technology and customer needs.
Our
business may be affected by rapid technological change, changes in user and customer requirements and preferences, frequent new product
and service introductions embodying new technologies and the emergence of new standards and practices, any of which could render our
existing products and proprietary technology obsolete. Accordingly, our ongoing research and development programs are intended to enable
us to maintain technological leadership. We believe that to remain competitive we must continually enhance and improve the functionality
and features of our products, services and technologies. However, there is a risk that we may not be able to:
|
● |
Develop
or obtain leading technologies useful in our business; |
|
● |
Enhance
our existing products; |
|
● |
Develop
new products, services and technologies that address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of prospective customers, particularly
in the area of printer speeds and materials functionality; |
|
● |
Respond
to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis; or |
|
● |
Recruit
or retain key technology employees. |
If
we are unable to meet changing technology and customer needs, our competitive position, revenue, results of operations and financial
condition could be adversely affected.
Our
ink products may not be compatible with all commercially available printers and printer heads.
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 additional sufficient number of printer heads, to support
wide scale sales of our inks for digital inkjet printing. Although we have successfully certified our ink with several manufacturers
of commercially available printers and printer heads and we are in the process of certifying our ink products with additional manufacturers,
if we are unable to certify our ink products with a sufficient number of such manufacturers our ability to widely market our ink products
and to gain market penetration will be impaired and we may be unable to generate additional revenues.
Given
our limited resources, there is no assurance that we will be able to enter into additional contracts or comply with our existing contracts.
We
have several customers which have started to purchase recurring growing amounts of inks, including Dip Tech Ltd (with which we had an
exclusive agreement which was terminated by us in 2020). Two additional customers in the Automotive glass field and an additional customer
in the solar cell field in final stages of qualification. There is no assurance that these customers will continue to purchase inks from
us and that we will successfully enter into additional contracts. In addition, there is no assurance that we will be able to produce
and supply all the ink required to satisfy all orders under our current or future supply contracts.
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.
We
have limited experience and capabilities in selling and marketing our conductive inks and our marketing and sales efforts are currently
being led primarily by our chief executive officer, chief technology officer and chief business development officer. In order to successfully
commercialize our Sicrys™ inks or any other products, we will need to either further develop these capabilities on our own or by
collaboration with third party distributors and sales agents with established sales and marketing operations and industry experience.
We have entered into distribution and sales agreements with respect to the United States, Italy and Japan. However, there can be no assurance
that we will be able to enter into other agreements with such third-party distribution and sales agents agreements on terms acceptable
to us, or at all, or that such distributors or sales agents will be successful in marketing our inks. If we are not successful entering
into such agreement our results of operation may be adversely affected.
Our
ability to grow our business successfully depends, among other things, on our ability to develop and implement our production and operating
infrastructure in a way that would effectively support our growth in our target markets.
We
manufacture our inks at our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities. We currently have capacity to produce an estimated two (2) tons of ink per
year (three shifts work) and intend to upgrade our facilities (capital cost estimated at $500,000) to increase production capacity to
20 tons per year, if and when demand for our inks is projected to surpass our production capabilities.
Our
future success requires among others that we have adequate capacity in our manufacturing facilities to manufacture the quantities of
products to support our current sales level and the anticipated increased levels that may result from our growth. There can be no assurance
as to the timing or our ability to achieve planned, needed, or desired manufacturing capacity levels. We believe that the capacity of
our current manufacturing facilities is sufficient to meet anticipated demand for our products through the end of 2022. 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 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 such manufacturers on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or that, once contracted, such manufacturers will perform as
expected. If we are not successful entering into such agreement our results of operation may be adversely affected.
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.
We
currently only have one operating manufacturing line. The process of manufacturing our products and technologies is complex and subject
to several risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to availability and prices of the raw materials (including silver in particular)
necessary for production of our inks, and any major malfunctions in our manufacturing line. 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
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, and recently affected by the COVID-19 influence on the world economic environment.
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 printed electronics. 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.
We
are subject to risks resulting from fluctuations in the price of some raw materials.
The
manufacturing process for our silver-based inks utilizes a range of raw materials, the prices of which are affected by numerous factors
beyond our control, including inflation, fluctuation of the United States dollar and foreign currencies, global and regional demand,
and recently affected by the COVID-19 influence on the world economic environment. In the event raw materials 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 printed electronics.
Our
business involves the use of hazardous materials, and we must comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, which
can be expensive and restrict how we do business.
Our
business involves the blending, controlled storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials. We and our suppliers are subject to federal,
state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these hazardous materials.
Although we believe the safety procedures we utilized for handling and disposing of these materials comply with the standards prescribed
by these laws and regulations, we cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In the event
of an accident, local, state, federal or foreign authorities may curtail the use of these materials and interrupt our business operations.
If we are subject to any liability as a result of activities involving hazardous materials, our business and financial condition may
be adversely affected and our reputation may be harmed.
We
face competition in the markets in which we operate 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.
We
are currently aware of various existing products in the market and in development that may compete with our products and technologies,
directly and indirectly. To our knowledge, other companies are currently developing and selling silver-based inkjet inks for printed
electronics, or PE, digital electronic inkjet printing applications. To our knowledge and feedbacks received from customers most of these
products in the market are not suitable and compatible for mass production applications as our inks. There can be no assurance that this
knowledge is complete and/or if complete that it will continue to be like this in the future.
We
are aware of several companies seeking to develop copper-based inks for printing, however, to our knowledge, none of our competitors
has copper-based low viscosity inks in mass production and at a commercially viable price and quantity to be used in digital printing,
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 low viscosity 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. Given our limited resources it would be difficult to license or otherwise begin development of additional
products. 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; |
|
● |
products
and technologies we develop may be covered by third parties’ patents or other exclusive rights; |
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our
products and technologies may not succeed in testing; |
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● |
our
potential products and technologies may have characteristics that make them unmarketable; |
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competitors
may develop alternatives that render our products and technologies obsolete or less attractive; |
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the
market for a product may change during our program so that such a product becomes unreasonable to continue to develop; |
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a
product may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; and |
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our
products and technologies may not succeed in testing. |
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. 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.
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 and we have an active subsidiary in the United States. Nevertheless, our business strategy incorporates
potentially significant international expansion. Doing business internationally involves a number of risks, including but not limited
to:
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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; |
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complexities
and difficulties in obtaining protection for and enforcing our intellectual property rights; |
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difficulties
in staffing and managing foreign operations; |
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limitations
in our ability to penetrate international markets; |
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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; |
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changes
in foreign regulations and customs; |
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changes
in currency exchange rates and currency controls; |
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changes
in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic environment; |
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natural
disasters, wars, terrorism, outbreak of disease, boycotts, curtailment of trade, and other business restrictions; |
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certain
expenses including, among others, expenses for travel, translation, and insurance; and |
|
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certain
countries’ regulations (e.g. China) make it difficult for us to import our inks into such countries. |
Any
of these factors could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, our results of operations.
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 exposure risks.
Although, 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, we cannot assure that such precautions will be effective. Future research in the field 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 Technology Officer and to attract, retain, and motivate other qualified
personnel.
We
are highly dependent on Dr. Fernando de la Vega, our co-founder and current chief technology officer (formerly chief executive officer),
and the loss of his services without proper replacements 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 three (3) months’ prior
written notice. Recruiting and retaining another chief technology officer and other qualified employees, consultants, and advisors for
our business, including scientific and technical personnel, will also be critical to our success. We may not be able to attract and retain
personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous high-tech 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.
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 mainly in Israel, including those
governing the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into ground, air or water; 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 clean-up 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.
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 in other countries, as well as
related to our novel technologies and products that are important to our business. The silver ink-related patent applications have been
granted in the United States, China, Japan, Europe, Israel, India, Korea, Brazil and Russia and are pending in a number of additional
countries. The applications for copper ink-related patents have been granted in the United States, Japan and Russia and are pending in
a number of countries. 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 patents or 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.
Even though some have already been granted, we cannot provide any assurances about which, if any, additional 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.
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.
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.
We have never conducted a freedom to operate study.
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 become subject to claims of intellectual property infringement by third parties or may be required to indemnify our distributors
or other third parties against such claims, which, regardless of their merit, could result in litigation, distract our management and
materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
We
have in the past and may in the future become subject to third-party claims that assert that our solutions, services and intellectual
property infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate third-party intellectual property or other proprietary rights.
Intellectual
property disputes can be costly and disruptive to our business operations by diverting the attention and energies of management and key
technical personnel, and by increasing our costs of doing business. Even if a claim is not directly against us, our agreements with distributors
generally require us to indemnify them against losses from claims that our products infringe third-party intellectual property rights
and entitle us to assume the defense of any claim as part of the indemnification undertaking. Our assumption of the defense of such a
claim may result in similar costs, disruption and diversion of management attention to that of a claim that is asserted directly against
us. We may not prevail in any such dispute or litigation, and an adverse decision in any legal action involving intellectual property
rights could harm our intellectual property rights and the value of any related technology or limit our ability to execute our business.
Adverse
outcomes in intellectual property disputes could:
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require
us to redesign our technology or force us to enter into costly settlement or license agreements on terms that are unfavorable to
us; |
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prevent
us from manufacturing, importing, using, or selling some or all of our solutions; |
|
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disrupt
our operations or the markets in which we compete; |
|
● |
impose
costly damage awards; |
|
● |
require
us to indemnify our distributors and customers; and |
|
● |
require
us to pay royalties. |
We
may become subject to claims for remuneration or royalties for assigned service invention rights by our employees, which could result
in litigation and adversely affect our business.
All
of our intellectual property has been developed by our employees in the course of their employment for us. Under the Israeli Patent Law,
5727-1967, or the Patent Law, inventions conceived by an employee in the course and as a result of or arising from 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 proprietary rights. The Patent Law also provides under Section 134 that if there is no agreement
between an employer and an employee as to whether the employee is entitled to consideration for service inventions, and to what extent
and under which conditions, the Israeli Compensation and Royalties Committee, or the Committee, a body constituted under the Patent Law,
shall determine these issues. Section 135 of the Patent law provides criteria for assisting the Committee in making its decisions. According
to case law handed down by the Committee, an employee’s right to receive consideration for service inventions is a personal right
and is entirely separate from the proprietary rights in such invention. Therefore, this right must be explicitly waived by the employee.
A decision handed down in May 2014 by the Committee clarifies that the right to receive consideration under Section 134 can be waived
and that such waiver can be made orally, in writing or by behavior like any other contract. The Committee will examine, on a case by
case basis, the general contractual framework between the parties, using interpretation rules of the general Israeli contract laws. Further,
the Committee has not yet determined one specific formula for calculating this remuneration, nor the criteria or circumstances under
which an employee’s waiver of his right to remuneration will be disregarded. Similarly, it remains unclear whether waivers by employees
in their employment agreements of the alleged right to receive consideration for service inventions should be declared as void being
a depriving provision in a standard contract. We generally enter into assignment-of-invention agreements with our employees pursuant
to which such individuals assign to us all rights to any inventions created in the scope of their employment or engagement with us. Although
our employees have agreed to assign to us service invention rights and have specifically waived their right to receive any special remuneration
for such service inventions beyond their regular salary and benefits, we may face claims demanding remuneration in consideration for
assigned inventions.
We
may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to our products and technologies through intellectual property rights
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 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, application department, labs, production site and warehouse are located in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel. In addition,
all 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.. 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.
Several
countries, principally in the Middle East, still restrict doing business with Israel and Israeli companies, while some of these countries
are eliminating these constrains, 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.
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 Israel National Authority for Technology
and Innovation (“NATI”), 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 Encouragement of Research, Development and Technological
Innovation in the Industry Law 5744-1984 (formerly known as the Law for the Encouragement of Research and Development in Industry 5744-1984),
and the regulations and guidelines promulgated thereunder, or the Innovation Law. Under the terms of the grants under the Innovation Law
also generally requires that the products developed as part of the programs under which the grants were given be manufactured in Israel
and that the know-how developed thereunder may not be transferred outside of Israel, unless a prior written approval is received from
NATI (such approval is not required for the transfer of a portion of the manufacturing capacity which does not exceed, in the aggregate,
10% of the portion declared to be manufactured outside of Israel in the applications for funding, in which case only notification is required)
and additional payments are required to be made to NATI. It should be noted, that this does not restrict the export of products that incorporate
the funded know-how. As of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, 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 transfer of manufacturing activities,
if such transfer will be contemplated in the future. 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 Innovation Law, we are prohibited from transferring, including by way of license, the Authority-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 Authority’s Research Committee. As of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, we have not sought to obtain such approvals,
as we do not have immediate plans to transfer the Authority-financed technologies and related intellectual property rights and knowhow
outside of Israel. We may not receive the required approvals for any proposed transfer, if any, and even if received, we may be required
to pay the Authority 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 Authority, 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 Authority 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 Authority. 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
Authority for certain actions and transactions and pay additional royalties and other amounts to the Authority. 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 Innovation Law, requires a written notice to the Authority, and such non-Israeli “interested party”
will be required to execute an undertaking to the Authority to abide with the provisions of the Innovation Law.
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 Innovation 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 Authority’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 Authority 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 NIS currencies may negatively affect our earnings.
We
incur expenses both in U.S. dollars and NIS, but our consolidated 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:
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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; |
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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; |
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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 |
|
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our
Articles of Association prevent “business combinations” with “interested shareholders” for a period of three
(3) 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 (3) and no more than seven (7) directors, with all directors (other than the external directors, whose appointment
is required under the Companies Law, as described below) divided into three (3) 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. On November 29, 2018, 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 GTRIMG Investments Ltd., or GTRIMG, to designate one non-voting observer to the board of directors,
or the Observer. The Observer is entitled to attend and participate in all meetings of the board of directors in a non-voting, observer
capacity. Subject to limitations, the Observer is entitled to receive notice of, to attend and to receive copies of any documentation
distributed to the directors before, during or after, all meetings of the board of directors at the same time such notice or material
is provided or delivered to members of the board of directors. In addition, in the event that and conditioned upon the conversion of
the loan amount or the investment of at least US $2,000,000, GTRIMG shall be entitled to appoint one director for election to our board
of directors. Such director shall serve as the chairman of the board of directors, provided that such nominee has the required qualifications
under applicable laws including the stock exchange rules then applicable to us.
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 (2) 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.
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 carry forward losses. Once we are liable for
tax payments, we may be entitled to reduced tax rates and other tax benefits. See “Item 10 E. — Taxation — Law for
the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959”. 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 on Form 20-F 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 executive officers and 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
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 been a PFIC for 2020 or any previous year, or whether we will be a PFIC in any future year. 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 “Item 10 E. — Taxation — Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”,
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 “Item 10 E. — Taxation — Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
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
have never paid cash dividends on our share capital, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
We
have never declared or paid cash dividends on our share capital, nor do we anticipate paying any cash dividends on our share capital
in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth
of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our ordinary shares will be investors’ sole source of gain for the
foreseeable future. In addition, Israeli law limits our ability to declare and pay dividends, and may subject our dividends to Israeli
withholding taxes. Furthermore, our payment of dividends (out of tax-exempt income) may retroactively subject us to certain Israeli corporate
income taxes, to which we would not otherwise be subject.
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 (including shareholders’ they represent, as applicable), executive officers, certain controlling persons, as a group
beneficially owned approximately 49.6% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of May 16, 2022. 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. Following conversion of its
CLAs and the most recent investment, GTRIMG holds in the aggregate approximately 38.8% of our outstanding common stocks. . 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 further develops for such securities, because investors may perceive disadvantages
in owning stock in a company with controlling affiliated shareholders.
We
incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to new
compliance initiatives.
We
are subject to the requirements to file periodic and annual reports under Section 15(d) of 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. 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.
Due
to lack of available resources, we have not been able to comply with our SEC periodic filing obligations for the years ended December
31, 2020 and 2021. This report and consolidated financial statements contained herein is part of our efforts to regain compliance under
SEC reporting regulations.
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 are 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 are not 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 are required to disclose the compensation of our five (5) 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 is not as extensive as that required of U.S. domestic reporting companies.
We also have four (4) months and an automatic extension of 15 days after the end of each fiscal year to file our annual reports with
the SEC and are not required to file current reports as frequently or promptly as U.S. domestic reporting companies. Furthermore, our
officers, directors and principal shareholders are 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.
Furthermore,
we issued a significant number of warrants to an investor, which, if exercised, will have a material dilutive effect on our share capital.
For more information see “Item 7 A. — Major Shareholders”.
The
market price of our ordinary shares may fluctuate significantly.
If
a public trading market further 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 securities quoted on the OTCQB or the OTC Pink.
Because
our ordinary shares are traded as 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 are deemed a “penny stock” since, among other things, the stock price is currently trading below $5.00 per
share. 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.
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 executive officers
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.
ITEM 4. Information on the Company
A. History and development of the company
P.V. Nano Cell Ltd. was incorporated
in Israel on June 24, 2009 as a private limited liability company, organized under the laws of State of Israel. In September 2015, we
successfully filed our Registration Statement on Form F-1 in the United States. We have three (3) wholly owned subsidiaries, Nano Size
Ltd., or Nano Size, a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on December 31, 2009, Digiflex,
which we acquired on December 3, 2017 and Jet CU commencing July 26, 2020.
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 on December 15, 2016, quotation of our ordinary shares began on the OTCQB under
the ticker symbol “PVNNF”. Since December 18, 2019, our ordinary shares are quoted on the OTC Pink. However, due to lack of
available resources, we have not been able to comply with our SEC periodic filing obligations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2021. Accordingly, as of September 29, 2021, the public quote for our stock has been removed form OTC Pink and trading in our stock has
been restricted. Once we file our annual report on Form 20-F for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the public reporting of our
trading prices is expected to resume. Thereafter, a new Form 211 will need to be filed with FINRA and following approval thereof by FINRA,
unrestricted trading in our stock on OTC Markets is expected to resume.
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 www.pvnanocell.com.
This website address is included in this annual report on Form 20-F as an inactive textual reference only. The information and other content
appearing on our website are not part of this annual report on Form 20-F. The Company does not have a registered agent in the United States.
B. Business Overview
We are a conductive ink manufacturing
company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and commercializing conductive inks for digital conductive printing applications
(mainly inkjet and aerosol printing technologies). 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 etching processes for photovoltaic (PV) and digital printed electronics (PE) applications. Our main strategy includes
providing a “Complete Solution” or “End-to-End Solution” approach to our costumer, meaning we provide the printing
equipment, process and inks as a package. In some cases, we will subsidize the printer, thus implementing a razor razor-blade model. We
also adapt our basic inks to specific customer requirements. We began low volume sales of our Sicrys™ silver-based inks for PV and
PE applications in 2010 and are in the process of seeking to expand our sales efforts to include sales of Sicrys™ inks for a wider
range of digital PE applications, including for the printing of windshields in automotive applications, photovoltaic devices, printed
passive components, 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 low viscosity stable 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.
During 2020, we increased
the sale of our Sicrys™ inks, During 2021 we have continued to expand our potential customer base, proceeding with qualification
processes (which are quite long). COVID-19 related constrains in Israel and worldwide have slowed these processes. In this period, we
have also continued to expand our ink portfolio adding additional silver, copper, gold, resistor and dielectric inks.
Background
Printed Electronics
Digital printed electronics
is a set of methodologies by which electrical devices are digitally printed onto various substrates (i.e., base material) by depositing
electrically functional inks (and possibly other additional functional inks such as insulating materials) on the substrate, creating active
or passive devices, such as conductors, capacitors or resistors. The use of digital printed electronics presents an opportunity to facilitate
widespread, production of new electronics, more efficient electronics, new electronic designs and customized and personalized electronics
while keeping production costs low.
According to our internal
estimates based on various market studies and publications which are expecting substantial market growths in all the relevant fields for
PVN products and technologies (due to the constant growth of demand of electronics, autonomous cars and renewable energy), we expect that
the total addressable worldwide market for the sale of inks which the Company is aiming to penetrate will be in excess of $40 billion
by 2027 (assuming the metallization is around 10% of the market). The total addressable market could be increased by an increase in the
need and future capability to print embedded passive components economically and if we are able to address additional available market
segments.
The total addressable worldwide
market is more specifically projected as set forth below (partial relevant market sectors):
Field |
|
Market
(US$ billion) |
|
|
Comment |
PCB |
|
|
69.3in 2027 |
(1) |
|
The complete PCB (both conductive & dielectric ink) |
PV Photovoltaic cells |
|
|
368.6 in 2030 |
(5) |
|
~ $3.0 billion potential for inks in 2020 |
Capacitors (passive component) |
|
|
28.9 in 2025 |
(2) |
|
|
Resistors (passive component) |
|
|
7.5 in 2027 |
(3) |
|
|
Printed Electronics in the automotive field |
|
|
12.7 in 2031 |
(4) |
|
~ $1.4 billion potential for inks in 2020 |
(1) | The
global PCB market was valued at $53.21 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $69.32 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 3.85%.https://www.printedelectronicsnow.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2021-03-08/global-printed-circuit-board-market-projected-to-reach-6932-billion-by-2027/ |
(2) | Different reports are forecasting a healthy growth for the
capacitors market from $18.8 billion in the year 2020 it is projected to reach $23.5 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% others
estimate US$28.9 billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 4% to 6% from 2020 to 2025. Competition is high in the industry because there are a large
number of players and low product differentiation. We believe the industry will trend to and favor companies that focus on advancement
in paper capacitors and modifications to aluminum electrolytic capacitors. “Growth Opportunities in the Global Capacitor Market”, published in
January 2013; “Global Industry Analysts, Inc.”, published in October 2015. https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4988927/capacitors-global-market-trajectory-and
https://www.lucintel.com/capacitor-market.aspx |
(3) | The
electronic resistors market segment is estimated at $5.4 billion in the year 2020, and is projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2027, growing
at a CAGR of 4.9% This massive growth in the use and applications of 3D Printers is encouraging growth in the market for 3D printing
materials. https://www.marketresearch.com/Global-Industry-Analysts-v1039/Electronic-Resistors-14448693/ |
(4) | The development and implementation of the autonomous driving
automobiles is expected to push the Printed Electronics market for automotive uses to reach $12.7 billion by 2031. https://www.mining.com/evs-driving-printed-electronics-to-billion-dollar-industry-report/ |
(5) | The photovoltaic market is constantly growing from $ 197.2 billion in 2021 to an expected $ 368.6 billion by 2030. According to the Silver Institute the Photovoltaic market consumes over 2,500 ton silver annually (~17.6 ton silver per W). Meaning an available TAM of over $3 billion for inkjet inks. More specifically PVN inks have better advantages in the HJT, thin film and OPV cell types meaning an available TAM of over $750 million annually. The market expects these segments to grow more than the other types of cells becoming in a few years the majority of the market.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/03/23/2409016/0/en/Solar-Power-Market-Size-to-Worth-Around-US-368-63-Bn-by-2030.html
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/thin-film-solar-cell-market https://solaredition.com/solar-energy-technology-trends-in-2021-the-future-outlook-in-the-market/ https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/02/01/bloombergnef-says-global-solar-will-cross-200-gw-mark-for-first-time-this-year-expects-lower-panel-prices/
Fraunhofer ISE
https://www.silverinstitute.org/silver-solar-technology-2/
https://www.energytrend.com/research/20210105-20519.html
https://www.energytrend.com/research/20210105-20519.html |
We believe that the current
analog printing and etching 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 materials and produce toxic by products
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.
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 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.
Although silver demand for
photovoltaic applications is hard to estimate as markets and technologies are constantly changing, the leading new PV cells need only
one-fifth or less as much silver as a decade before. According to a 2020 report from the Silver Institute, the photovoltaic sector accounts
for ~ 10% of the total silver consumption, which is around 25,00 metric tons per year (or ~ 17.6 ton/W).
Silicon crystalline solar
cells are been replaced by different types of cells like thin fil, HTJ, CIGS and others. By 2025 is expected that more than 40% of the
market will be these type of cells (up from 15-20% today). Most of these cells are temperature sensitive, therefore the screen printing
process not really compatible with them. Inkjet printing with our low temperature sintering inks is compatible with these cells. PVN has
demonstrated with one of its customers that implementing Sicrys™ silver inks with inkjet printing increases substantially the efficiency
of the cells.
We believe that a significant
market opportunity exists for a non-contact metallization low temperature sintering solution that is competitive with traditional screen
printing process, does not break silicon cells, allows 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 market for silver pastes and inks in PV cell production generally, as described above. We
further believe that such market has a potential to grow over time given the benefits of inkjet printers and the benefits of our silver
and copper based Sycris™ inks, which, among others, apply to a range of printer devices, and have lower costs and simpler operating
procedures when compared to photolithography processes commonly used. See “ITEM 4 B. — Business Overview — Our Solutions
— Printed Electronics”.
The Market
The analog process used to
produce electronics are very complicated, environmentally unfriendly, and inefficient as it contains many production steps, and is capex
expensive and limited in its performance.
Digitally printing electronics
present many advantages over the traditional analog method, including:
| ● | It
is an additive process, no etching, or dangerous waste are involved or generated; |
| ● | No
need to prepare masks and fixtures (Time to Part measured in hours as opposed to days); |
| ● | Single
machine will produce the final PCB (today the part is transferred between more than 10 different production machines); |
| ● | Shorten
time to product; |
| ● | Digital
process will allow printing of passive components (resistors & capacitors) embedded in the layers ($40 billion addressable market
excluding the sale of inks to print embedded passive components); |
|
a. |
Free mounting area on the outer surfaces (will allow minimizing the surface area and thickness). |
|
b. |
Saving component mounting costs and complexity. |
| ● | Shows
narrower line and gap capabilities (will allow minimizing the surface area, thickness and production of denser circuitry); |
| ● | The
digital process will allow any electrical connections between the different layers – easier design; |
| ● | Digital
additive manufacturing processes are less sensitive to substrates types; and |
| ● | Additional
flexibility in product design allowed, such as different metal thicknesses in same layer, embedded passive components printed in layers,
customization of electronics and more. |
While there are quite a few
companies that have silver conductive inks (which are not compatible with mass production processes), there are very few companies offering
copper nano particle dispersions, which, to our knowledge, are not inks. The Company offers silver and copper-based inks. Over 2019-2021we
have expanded our ink portfolio to include gold, resistors and dielectric inks.
As of December 15, 2020, the
silver metal was approximately 100 times more expensive than copper metal which may eventually allow us to price copper inks at two to
three times lower than silver inks and easily compete with analog conductive inks and processes.
Product Development
We offer and sell several
conductive inks based on either silver or copper. Inks are sold through our web site as well as directly to customers or through distributors.
Our operations team is well-trained for prompt delivery at a consistently high quality. To date, although we have had limited sales, we
have not had any product returns.
Our Application and Research
and Development, or R&D, team’s efforts are focused on four main goals:
| 1. | Continuous
improvement and ink optimization (technical customer support): |
| a. | Adapting
the inks to the different available printers in the market; |
| b. | Optimizing
inks for new applications and customers; and |
| c. | Reducing
the sintering temperature, or the process that physically connects between the nano metal particles to produce a continuous conductive
layer. |
| 2. | Development
of the Digiflex Integrated Prototype Design and R&D Printer (Digiflex printer adapted for the electronic field- DemonJet) in three
main steps using the same frame and infrastructure: |
| a. | Integrated
Prototype, design and R&D printers for one conductive layer; |
| b. | Integrated
Prototype, design and R&D printer for one conductive layer and embedded passive components; and |
| c. | Integrated
Prototype, design and R&D printers for full multi-layer PCB including embedded passive components, and inter layer connectors. |
This printer is intended to include
all the necessary elements to print electronics in the same tool. These capabilities include the capability to print up to ten inks in
parallel with very high accuracy, sintering, drying, and inspection capabilities at an affordable price.
| 3. | Develop
embedded passive components printing capability: |
| a. | R&D
with respect to conductive inks already developed so that can be produced in commercially required quantities. |
| b. | Finalize
inks development: |
| i. | Dielectric
inks (Nonconductive inks to print insulator layers); |
| ii. | Resistor
inks (Less conductive inks to print resistor embedded components); |
| iii. | Capacitor
inks (Nonconductive inks to print capacitors embedded components); and |
| iv. | Conductive
ink (New formulated inks to print vias, which are the electronic connections between PCB layers). |
|
c. |
Materialize the printing process. |
| 4. | Process
development (engineering): |
| a. | We
offer our customers a complete solution approach, meaning equipment, process and inks. In this framework we are developing for our customers
the printing process for their specific applications, including printing samples and prototypes for them. These activities are an additional
revenue stream, as well as tool to speed our go-to market time. |
Our Solutions
Printed Electronics
We currently offer silver-based
Sicrys™ inks and our 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 silver 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 by products; |
| ● | 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); |
| ● | 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); and |
| ● | Broad
range of potential uses, including current projects in the fields of automotive (glasss and electronics), mobile phones (antennas and
touch screens), one-layer PCB and printed electronics, solar cells, semiconductor packaging and 3D printed, in which our Sicrys™
inks are been used. |
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%, due to substantially lower metallization costs and increased cell efficiency (lower sintering temperatures); |
| ● | 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; |
| ● | 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; |
| ● | Improve
performance of temperature sensitive solar cells (CIGS, CdTe, HTJ, thin films and others); and |
| ● | Potential
future costs savings with copper inks which we are currently investigating to penetrate the new technologies (heterojunction cells based
on copper metallization). |
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 striving to apply our “Complete Solution” or “End-to-End” Approach, in which we will supply
our customers with equipment, process and inks for their applications. We intend to provide a service to customers by not only selling
inks, but also securing equipment suitable for implementation in their production lines, including Digiflex printers, 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 online presence and printed electronics exhibitions. However, we are also working on supplying
conductive dispersions and inks based on our nano metal particles (Sicrys™) that may yield additional sales.
A significant amount of our
expenditures will be used to implement our “Complete Solution Approach” for mass production processes. We are also considering
different business models to allow us to quickly and efficiently implement the “Complete Solution Approach”.
In addition, we are continuing
our efforts to:
|
● |
Develop materials and technologies to fully print conductors and passive components in PCBs. We have recently demonstrated the feasibility of printing one layer one side PCBs. We have also demonstrated that we can print the inner layers in multi-layer PCBs. Printing the inner layers has the potential to reduce costs and hazardous waste levels. We have installed three first beta printers (DemonJet) at a customer’s site in Europe and the USA, which we are currently debugging and we are working with the customer developing its printed products. Prototypes of fully printed PCB included printed passive components will be shown during 2022. |
|
● |
Increase 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 when this is feasible. |
|
● |
Have our inks qualified and recommended for use with inkjet printers and printer heads produced by leading manufacturers in the industry. FujiFilm Dimatix Inc. (an affiliate of FujiFilm) has qualified our inks and informed us that it 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. Additional customers have qualified our inks and others are in the process. Many customers are recurring customers. |
|
● |
Partner with leading digital inkjet manufacturers to supply PE and PV potential customers our “Complete Solution Approach.” We are in discussions with printer manufacturers, to seek to develop a “Complete Solution Approach” which bundles a suitable printer together with the appropriate process and inks (taking into account quality, through put, pricing and other similar considerations), thereby providing our customers a complete solution for implementing a digital conductive printing technology into their production processes. We have signed a cooperation agreement with Notion Systems (Germany). |
|
● |
Apply our technology to other fields. We are currently investing substantial efforts with several potential customers (worldwide) to implement the digital printing technology in their processes. We are qualifying the inks and printing samples for their qualification process. In the automotive, solar and embedded passive components. |
|
● |
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. |
We have several development
consortiums in the framework of the European Horizon 2020, an R&D support programs in Europe, which provides grants for research and
development, including to companies in Israel which are a part of the organization. The grants are 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 and local financing
entities Two consortiums have been successfully finalized during 2019 and 2020 (HIPERLAM and DigiMan).
The DigiMan project commenced
its activities in December 2018 and was successfully finished in November 2020. The goal of the project was to develop digitally printed
sensors in a roll-to-roll continuous digital printing system. The partners in this project were commercial companies and research entities
in Israel, Germany and Russia. Namely, Chemnitz University (Germany), National Research Nuclear University (Russia), MEPHI (Russia), IKTS
(Germany), Kerafol Keramische Folien (Germany) and CPC (Israel).
Additional projects have been
approved for financing in 2019 and 2021 which are active:
| ● | InkJetPCB
– A two year project (started 2019) project financed by Eurostars, aiming to develop Inkjet-based fabrication of multilayer printed
circuit boards with embedded printed passive elements. Based on our DemonJet Printers, two printers have been sold and installed to the
project partners. The partners in this project are Profactor (Austria), SCIO (Austria), Notion (Germany), Fela (Germany) and Tiger (Austria).
Due to Corona related delays the project was extended until April 2022. |
| ● | RolaFlex
– A three-year project (started 2020) financed by the Horizon 2020 framework. The project vision is to combine high-resolution
laser printing and laser patterning and new materials with high throughput R-2-R process. The technology will be demonstrated in the
high-speed fabrication of OLAE components. The partners in this project are TNO (The Netherlands), Armor (France), Golem (Germany), Seqens
(France), FlexEnable (UK), NTUA (Greece), Imperial Collage (UK), Avantama (Switzerland). |
| ● | Tinker –
A three-year project (started 2020) financed by the Horizon 2020 framework (a ~$12 million budget, of which PVN has a budget of $0.79
million). The project’s vision is to provide a new cost and resource-efficient pathway for RADAR and LIDAR sensor package fabrication
with high throughput of up to 250 units/min. Partners in this project are: Bosch (Germany), Infineon (Germany), Profactor (Austria),
Ibeo (Germany), Marelli (Italy), Leti (France), Notion (Germany), Tiger (Austria), EVG (Austria), Inkron (Finland), Sentech (Germany),
Forth (Greece), Austrian Standards (Austria), Besi (The Netherlands), and Amires (Switzerland). |
| ● | Bussard –
A three-year project (started 2021) financed by the Solar EraNet (through the local Ministry of Infrastructure) framework (a ~€4.4
miilion budget, of which PVN has a budget of $0.33 million). The project’s vision is to develop solar cell metallization methods
that can show substantially narrower patterns than the state of the art. Partners in this project are: Fraunhofer ISE, HighLine , Tempress
Janoschka, ContiTech, JB Ecotech, Energetica and KAU (all in Germany). |
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. While at the same time we are seeing that some of these companies don’t succeed
to develop and commercialize products with the quality and price tag that the market needs. We also see a trend of bigger companies buying
out some of the smaller players, and still not been able to supply products for mass production. Of those, to our knowledge, no other
company claims to have metallization inkjet inks for silicon nitride-based PV applications. We are aware of companies seeking to develop
copper-based inks for inkjet printing, including NovaCentrix Corp, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., Promethean Particles Ltd., Copprint Technologies
Ltd., Printcb Ltd and Nanotec Electronic U.S. Inc. However, to our knowledge none of our competitors has copper based low viscosity inks
compatible with digital printing in mass production and at a commercially viable price and quantity.
We believe that a number of
other companies and entities, that we are not completely familiar with, claim to be able to supply nano silver particles, dispersions
or inks. These include, but not limited to:
|
Applied Nanotech, Inc. |
|
PCHem Associates Inc. |
|
BASF SE |
|
Harima Chemicals Group, Inc. |
|
NCC Nano, LLC dba NovaCentrix |
|
Clariant International Ltd. (sold to Agfa) |
|
GENES’INK SA |
|
Poly ink |
|
InkTec Co., Ltd. |
|
Paru Co., Ltd. |
|
Sun Chemical Group. |
|
Dupont |
|
Methode Electronics Inc. (sold to Novacentrix) |
|
Amepox Ltd. |
|
NanoDimension Inc. (only for its own use) |
|
ULVAC Inc. |
To our knowledge, our competitors’
inks differ substantially from our inks. We believe that our inks have the following competitive advantages, relative to those currently
being sold by our competitors, especially when aiming to print on mass production applications and throughputs:
| ● | Higher
metal load at low viscosities, 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 temperature as compared to less than six (6) 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; |
| ● | Proven
narrow pattern printing (< 50 µm); |
| ● | Low
resistivity. (ρ < 2.5 x bulk. Laser and thermal sintering); |
| ● | Low
sintering temperature (< 150 °C); |
| ● | Unique
products – Silver environmental resistance, copper and solar cell metallization 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); |
| ● | Customizable
per wafer type; |
| ○ | Customizable
per application. |
| ○ | Additional
inks including gold, resistor and dielectrics. |
| ● | Compatibility
with high throughput industrial printing (high jetting frequencies for long periods of time); and |
| ● | Sicrys™
production process – 2 metric tons/year (soon 20 metric tons/year): |
| ○ | Efficient
and green process. |
| ○ | Low
cost equipment & process. |
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 nano particles of an appropriate size to formulate inks compatible with inkjet printing and the difficulty
in producing nano-based inks in large-scale quantities.
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.
System Competition to our Digiflex Printer
To our knowledge, most print
producers offer printers that can print one or two prints at a time and do not have the additional capabilities that the Digiflex printers
include, such as drying, laser sintering and inspection. We note that one of our competitors, Nano Dimension Ltd (Nasdaq: NNDM), focuses
on the 3D PCB prototype market, using silver & Dielectric inks to print at very low speeds.
Research and Development Agreements, License
Agreements and Material Contracts
We are engaged in R&D
programs with the Authority, pursuant to the Encouragement of Research, Development and Technological Innovation in the Industry Law 5744-1984
(formerly known as the Law for the Encouragement of Research and Development in Industry 5744-1984), and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Under the terms of these programs, we are required to pay to a royalty of 3.0% of sales of products resulting from research and development
partially financed by the Authority. However, such royalty obligations will not exceed the grant amount received, as linked to the U.S.
dollar and 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 2020, 2019 and 2018, we paid royalties to the Authority in the amount
of $10,067, $2,091 and $2,551, respectively. The total grants we and Nano Size received as of December 31, 2020 aggregated to $1,445,622.
Our total contingent liability (including interest) as of December 31, 2020 with respect to royalty-bearing participation received, net
of royalties paid, amounted to $1,930,769. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, Digiflex, received grants for research and development efforts
from the Authority in an aggregate amount of approximately $2.2 million, out of which an amount of approximately $1.1 million was repaid
to the Authority by Jet CU as a result of their technology and know-how sale to a foreign company which was authorized by the Authority
and resulted in such payment in January 2018. The remaining liability (after additional payments) was reduced to approximately $1.0 million
and recorded in Jet CU, see Note 3 to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 included elsewhere
in this annual report on Form 20-F
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. Our patent application covering silver single crystal particle inks and dispersions have
been granted in China, Russia, Japan, Europe, India, Israel, Korea, Brazil and the U.S. We currently have patent applications pending
in the European Union and Israel supporting our silver-based inks. We have patent applications based on PCT/IB2015/051536, relating to
copper-based ink, filed on March 3, 2015, which have been submitted to national phase and has been granted in the Russia and United States
and are pending in additional countries. We have an approved joint patent with Ramot (Tel Aviv University) for “Conductive Nanowire
Films” (WO 2013/128458, US 9,373,515 B2) which Ramot maintains pursuant to the termination settlement of the Magneton Program.
The silver family (granted
in the United States (9,556,350), Russia (RU 2593311 and RU 2013130145), China (CN 103282969), Europe (EP 2649621 and EP 3113897), Israel
(226665), India (324986), Korea (10-1932781), Brazil (11 2013 013885-8 A2) and Japan (JP 6067573 & JP 6363138)) main claims are on
the concentrated dispersions and inks made of a majority of single crystal Nano silver particles and the method for producing them. Patent
applications are in different stages of qualification in additional countries. The single crystal particles are easy to police against
infringement. The priority date is December 6, 2010.
The copper family relates to nano-metric copper
formulations and stable dispersions containing single-crystal metallic copper particles, and to the method of producing such formulations
and dispersions. It is in national phase in the United Kingdom, Europe, Brazil, India, South Korea, Japan, China, Israel, Russia and the
United States. The priority date is March 3, 2015. The patent has been granted in the United States (1/1/2019 number 10,166,602) and in
Russia (RU 2730285).
In 2013, we submitted a joint
patent with Tel Aviv University: Device and process to make transparent conductive coatings based on very high aspect ratio nano-wires,
which form on the substrate: US 9,373,515 B2 Conductive Nanowires Films.
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.
Digiflex has been granted
several patents for inks, primers and primer lamination in the field of graphic arts in several countries, including, but not limited
to, the United States, European Union, Canada, China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Germany, India and Israel. These include: Process
for Producing a Photomask on a Photopolymeric Surface; USA 9,513,551 and 12 countries and Process for Dry-coating of Flexographic Surfaces;
USA 9,352,544.
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 will be our exclusive property or will 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 two full-time employees (Chief Business Development Officer and Inside Sales Manager). In
addition, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Technology Officer generally devote a portion of their efforts to increasing awareness
of, and marketing, our products. We are already working with distributors in the United States, South Korea, Italy, Japan and China and
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. We
are not currently aiming to expand the Digiflex graphics arts fields, as we transition and integrate its printers into the electronics
field. As such we are not yet marketing these printers for the graphic arts field and just have started to market them for the electronics
field now.
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. 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 “Item 3 D. — 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 (2) tons of ink per year, and intend to upgrade
our facilities (at an estimated cost of $500,000) 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 clean-up 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
May 10, 2025.
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.
C. Organizational structure
We have three (3) wholly owned
subsidiaries, Nano Size Ltd., or Nano Size, a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on December
31, 2009, Digiflex, which we acquired on December 3, 2017. Additionally, we indirectly own, through Digiflex, two (2) subsidiaries of
Digiflex, one in the USA (Digiflex Inc.) and one in Hong Kong, Digiflex HK Limited, which was inactive since inception and materially
dissolved during March 2019 and Jet CU, a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on July 26,
2020.
D. Property, plants and equipment
We currently leases, through
Nano Size, approximately 7,300 square feet of space in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel for its principal offices and manufacturing facilities
at a monthly cost of approximately NIS 15,493 (approximately $4,818). Those current lease agreements expire on June 30, 2022.
Additionally, Digiflex currently
leases approximately 1,200 square feet of space in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel for its principal office and laboratory at a monthly cost
of approximately NIS 5,000 (approximately $1,555). This lease agreement expires on March 14, 2023.
We currently own production
equipment, housed in our Migdal Ha’Emek facilities, capable of producing up to two (2) tons of ink per year. We intend to upgrade
our facilities (at an estimated cost of $500,000) to increase production capacity to 20 tons per year, if and when demand for our inks
is projected to surpass our production capabilities.
ITEM 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects.
A. Operating results
The following discussion and
analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Item 3 A. — Selected Financial
Data” above and our consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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 on Form 20-F, particularly
in the sections titled “Item 3 D. — 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 conductive printing applications
(mainly inkjet and aerosol printing technologies). 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 etching processes for photovoltaic (PV) and printed electronics (PE) applications. Our main strategy includes providing
a “complete solution” to our costumer, meaning we provide the printing equipment, process and inks as a package. In some cases
we subsidize the printer, thus implementing a razor blade model). We also adapt our basic inks to specific customer requirements. We began
low volume sales of our Sicrys™ silver-based inks for PV and PE applications in 2010 and are in the process of seeking to expand
our sales efforts to include sales of Sicrys™ inks for a wider range of PE applications, including for the printing of windshields
in automotive applications, 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. The sales of our Sicryssilver
inks have continued to increase from 2018 to 2020 through 2019.
Notwithstanding the effects
of COVID-19, our business (sales and projects) has continued to grow. Our growth has been limited (sales grew less than expected) due
to slow down of our customers and partners, and also due to traveling constrains imposed by governments due to COVID-19. Two of our main
customers have purchased inks and services from us much less than forecasted and expected. Our plans to upgrade our DemonJet printers,
develop the inks and technologies to print passive components have been slowed down due to the reduction of activities of our partners
in Europe and reduced available resources. One of our employees has been put in unpaid leave and we have reduced the team by two team
members. Due to the COVID-19 influence on the world economics, silver prices (our main raw material have increased substantially (from
$17.1/oz in January 2019 to $24.08/oz in December 14 2020, https://ycharts.com/indicators/silver price). Until now we have managed to
raise our product prices to counter effect this price increase of silver. We have started to test the anti-viral activity of our nano
particles. First tests have shown positive results but these tests have not been completed yet.
Financial Overview
We have incurred net losses
since our inception in 2009, including a net loss of approximately $12.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December
31, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $33.6 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 and our ability to generate significant
revenues via commercialization of 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.
Key Components of
our Statements of Comprehensive Loss
Revenues
Sources
of revenues - we derive revenues primarily from sales of inks.
Cost of Revenues
Our
total cost of revenues includes expenses for the manufacturing of inks, including: the cost of raw materials; employee-related expenses,
including salaries, equity-based compensation and other benefits and related expenses, lease payments, utility payments, depreciation,
changes in inventory of finished products, royalties and other manufacturing expenses. These expenses are partially reduced by an
allotment of manufacturing costs associated with research and development activities to research and development expenses.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development
Expenses, net
Research
and development activities are central to our business model. We expect research and development costs to increase significantly for the
foreseeable future as we continue to expand our business. However, we do not believe that it is possible at this time to accurately project
total program-specific expenses.
Research
and development expenses consist primarily of compensation for employees engaged in research and development activities, including
salaries, equity-based compensation, benefits and related expenses, clinical trials, contract research organization sub-contractors,
development materials, external advisors and the allotted cost of our manufacturing facility for research and development purposes.
In
addition, from time to time, we participate in several development consortiums European Horizon 2020 and others in which we receive supporting
grants which we record as a deduction to the research and development expenses. The grants are 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 and local financing
entities.
Selling and Marketing
Expenses
Selling
and marketing expenses consist primarily of compensation expenses for personnel engaged in sales and marketing, including salaries, equity-based
compensation and benefits and related expenses, as well as promotion, marketing, market access and sales and distribution activities.
General and Administrative
Expenses
General
and administrative expenses consist principally of compensation for employees in executive and administrative functions, including salaries,
equity-based compensation, benefits and other related expenses, professional consulting services, including legal and audit fees, as well
as costs of office and overhead.
Financial Income/Financial
Expense
Financial
income/expenses includes primarily change in fair value of warrants and capital note presented at fair value, Interest and accretion back
in connection with convertible loans and exchange rate differences.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth
a summary of our operating results:
US $ | |
Year ended December 31, | |
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: | |
2020 | | |
2019 | | |
2018 | |
Revenues | |
$ | 761,319 | | |
$ | 478,520 | | |
$ | 460,739 | |
Cost of Revenues | |
| 307,713 | | |
| 236,493 | | |
| 388,265 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | |
| 428,434 | | |
| 428,431 | | |
| 470,773 | |
Gross loss (income) | |
| (25,172 | ) | |
| 186,404 | | |
| 398,299 | |
Research and development, net | |
| 400,859 | | |
| 731,021 | | |
| 775,643 | |
Sales and marketing | |
| 673,986 | | |
| 673,983 | | |
| 550,008 | |
General and administrative | |
| 1,414,370 | | |
| 1,319,239 | | |
| 1,297,711 | |
Goodwill impairment | |
| 265,089 | | |
| - | | |
| 161,381 | |
Total operating expenses | |
| 2,754,304 | | |
| 2,724,243 | | |
| 2,784,743 | |
Operating loss | |
| 2,729,132 | | |
| 2,910,647 | | |
| 3,183,042 | |
Financial expenses (income), net | |
| 9,814,605 | | |
| 1,042,358 | | |
| (1,210,484 | ) |
Net loss | |
$ | 12,543,737 | | |
$ | 3,953,005 | | |
$ | 1,972,558 | |
Year ended December 31, 2020, compared to year ended December
31, 2019:
Revenues
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, total revenues amounted to $761,319 and $478,520, respectively, an increase of $282,799
or 59%. The increase in revenues relates primarily to sales of more inks and represents our growing business in the Company. Such increase
was partially offset by a decrease in Digiflex business, as the Digiflex business is not consistent with our shift towards printed electronics
technology. Therefore, we expect this decrease trend to continue.
Cost of revenues
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, total cost of revenues amounted to $307,713 and $236,493, respectively, an increase of
$71,220 or 30%. The increase in cost of revenues is consistent with the increase in revenues as mentioned above.
Amortization of intangible assets
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, total amortization of intangible assets amounted to $428,434 and $428,431, respectively.
The amortization in both years (which is basically the same) related to amortization of Technology we recorded as part of the Digiflex
purchase as of December 3, 2017.
Gross loss (income)
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, total gross loss (income) amounted to $(25,172) and $186,404, respectively, an increase
of $211,576. The increase related to an increase of $282,799 in revenues, partially offset by an increase of $71,220 in cost of revenues
and an increase of $3 in amortization of intangible assets.
Research and development expenses, net
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, net research and development expenses, were $400,859, net of $525,838 grants recorded and
$731,021, net of $256,423 grants recorded, respectively, a decrease of $330,162 or 45%, respectively. The decrease in research and development
related primarily to higher grants recorded year over year. Over the last few years, we have succeeded to build several network projects
which helped us with research and development efforts and at the same time resulted in receiving supporting research and development grants.
Sales and marketing expenses
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, sales and marketing expenses amounted to $673,986 and $673,983, respectively, an increase
of $3. No significant change year over year.
General and administrative expenses
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, general and administrative expenses amounted to $1,414,370 and $1,319,239, respectively,
an increase of $95,131 or 7%. No significant change year over year.
Goodwill impairment
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, goodwill impairment amounted to $265,089_and $0, respectively. Such goodwill impairment
for the year ended December 31, 2020 was recorded following the purchase of Jet CU since that company have no activity.
Operating expenses
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, operating expenses amounted to $2,754,304 and $2,724,243 respectively, an increase of $30,061
or 1%. The increase related to an increase of $265,089 in goodwill impairment, $95,131 in general and administrative expenses and $3 in
sales and marketing expenses, partially offset by a decrease of $330,162 in research and development, net.
Operating loss
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, operating loss amounted to $2,729,132 and $2,910,647, respectively, a decrease of $181,515
or 6%. The decrease in operating loss related to an increase of $211,576 in gross loss (income), partially offset by an increase of $30,061
in operating expenses.
Financial expenses, net
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, financial expenses, net, amounted to $9,814,605 and 1,042,358, an increase of $8,772,247
or 841%. The increase in financial expenses, net related primarily to a change in fair value of warrants and capital note presented at
fair value of $7,044,819 and by an increase of $1,647,184 in interest and accretion back in connection with convertible loans.
Net loss
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, net loss amounted to $12,543,737 and $3,953,005, respectively, an increase of $8,590,732
or 217%. The increase in net loss related to an increase of $8,772,247 in financial expenses (income), net, partially offset by a decrease
of $181,515 in operating loss.
Year ended December 31, 2019, compared to
year ended December 31, 2018:
Revenues
With respect to the years ended December 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, total revenues amounted to $478,520 and $460,739, respectively, an increase of $17,781 or 4%. The slight increase
in revenues related primarily to organic growth year over year in PVN due to the sales of more Inks and engineering service which was
introduced in 2019, partially offset by a decrease in Digiflex business, as the Digiflex business is not consistent with our shift towards
printed electronics technology. Therefore, we expect this decrease trend to continue. Our revenues continued to grow significantly in
2020.
Cost of revenues
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total cost of revenues amounted to $236,493 and $388,265, respectively, a decrease of $151,772
or 39%. The decrease as a percentage of revenues or the increase in the gross margin is due to on-going efforts to optimize and improve
our production process (higher yields per raw materials, workforce and lower costs) as well as increases in the prices of some products.
Amortization of intangible assets
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total amortization of intangible assets amounted to $428,431 and $470,773, respectively,
a decrease of $42,342 or 9%. We recorded Technology and Backlog as Intangible assets as part of the Digiflex purchase as of December 3,
2017 and commenced amortizing both on that date over ten (10) years and one (1) year, respectively. The slight decrease relates to the
fact that the Backlog amortization ended on December 2, 2018.
Gross loss
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, total gross loss amounted to $186,404 and $398,299, respectively, a decrease of $211,895
or 53%. The decrease related to an increase of $17,781 in revenues, a decrease of $151,772 in cost of revenues and a decrease of $42,342
in amortization of intangible assets.
Research and development expenses, net
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, net research and development expenses, were $731,021, net of $256,423 grants recorded and
$775,643, net of $314,652 grants recorded, respectively, a decrease of $44,622 or 6%, respectively. The decrease in research and development
related primarily to lower workforce which was partially offset by lower grants year over year. Over the last few years, we have succeeded
to build several network projects which helped us with research and development efforts and at the same time resulted in receiving supporting
research and development grants.
Sales and marketing expenses
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, sales and marketing expenses amounted to $673,983 and $550,008, respectively, an increase
of $123,975 or 23%. The increase in sales and marketing expenses related primarily to additional workforce year over year.
General and administrative expenses
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, general and administrative expenses amounted to $1,319,239 and $1,297,711, respectively,
an increase of $21,528 or 2%. The increase in general and administrative expenses related primarily to additional workforce year over
year.
Goodwill impairment
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, goodwill impairment amounted to $0 and $161,381, respectively. The goodwill was recorded
as part of the Digiflex purchase as of December 3, 2017. We adopted the quantitative goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value
of its reporting unit with its carrying value. The result of that test as of December 31, 2019 was that the fair value was greater than
the reporting unit’s carrying value and therefore no goodwill impairment was recorded as of that date while as of December 31, 2018
the reporting unit’s carrying value was greater than its fair value and as a result, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of
$161,381 and presented such charge as a separate line item within its statement of comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31,
2018.
Operating expenses
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, operating expenses amounted to $2,724,243 and $2,784,743 respectively, a decrease of $60,500
or 2%. The decrease related to a decrease of $161,381 in goodwill impairment and $44,622 in research and development, net, partially offset
by an increase of $123,975 in sales and marketing expenses and an increase of $21,528 in general and administrative expenses.
Operating loss
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, operating loss amounted to $2,910,647 and $3,183,042, respectively, a decrease of $272,395
or 9%. The decrease in operating loss related to a decrease of $211,895 in gross loss and a decrease of $60,500 in operating expenses.
Financial expenses (income), net
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, financial expenses (income), net, amounted to $1,042,358 and ($1,210,484). The change in
financial expenses (income), net relates primarily to a change in fair value of warrants and capital note presented at fair value of $2,246,936,
partially offset by a decrease of $69,110 in financial expenses in connection with convertible loans.
Net loss
With respect to the years
ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, net loss amounted to $3,953,005 and $1,972,558, respectively, an increase of $1,980,447
or 100%. The increase in net loss related to an increase of $2,252,842 in financial expenses (income), net, partially offset by a decrease
of $272,395 in operating loss.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Our
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. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to our consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Revenue recognition
For information with respect
to revenue recognition, see Note 2.i. to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 included elsewhere
in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Fair value of financial instruments
For information with respect
to fair value of financial instruments, see Note 2.p. to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31,
2020 included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information with respect
to recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2.t. to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020
included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Share-Based Compensation and Liabilities Presented
at Fair Value
Ordinary Share Valuations
The fair value of the ordinary
shares was used to determine the value of the warrants presented as a liability and share-based compensation. The following table sets
forth the fair value of our ordinary shares as of the following dates:
| |
Date | | |
Fair Value | |
Ordinary share | |
| December 31, 2018 | | |
$ | 0.11 | |
Ordinary share | |
| December 31, 2019 | | |
| 0.11 | |
Ordinary share | |
| December 31, 2020 | | |
$ | 0.24 | |
Up to mid-2019, the fair value
of our ordinary shares was determined by our management. Even though we are a publicly traded company, our ordinary shares were traded
at a very low volume and therefore we concluded that our traded ordinary share fair value does not represent a reliable fair value. As
such, we selected a market approach and relied primarily on the late 2018 third-parties convertible loans transactions to determine our
ordinary share fair value which was utilized as the basis for our warrants and options fair value calculations. Our management exercised
significant judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of our ordinary shares in that
period. Commencing mid-end 2019, our ordinary shares were traded at a decent volume and therefore we relied on the stock trading fair
value.
Option Valuations
Under U.S. GAAP, we account
for share-based compensation for employees and others 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
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-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. 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 derived from sample of similar companies. |
| ● | 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-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, | |
| |
2020 | | |
2019 | | |
2018 | |
Dividend yield | |
| 0 | % | |
| 0 | % | |
| 0 | % |
Expected volatility | |
| 80 | % | |
| 60 | % | |
| 60 | % |
Risk-free interest | |
| 0.36%-1.62 | % | |
| 2.33%-2.71 | % | |
| 2.15%-2.91 | % |
Expected life (in years) | |
| 5 | | |
| 4.15-7.00 | | |
| 3.50-4.37 | |
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 are
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 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. 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. |
| ● | Volatility.
The expected share price volatility derived from sample of similar companies. |
| ● | 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 (as defined in “Item 7 B. — Related Party Transactions”) 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 Public Offering 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 one (1) year.
Reporting Currency
Our functional currency is
the U.S. Dollar, although substantial portion of our costs are incurred in NIS. We finance our operations mainly in U.S. dollars and a
substantial portion of our 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 we operate.
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.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
We currently have limited
liquidity. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, our cash and cash equivalents on hand was $31,327 and $34,382, respectively. Based on our
current cash burn rate, strategy and operating plan, we believe that our cash reserves as of the date of this report will enable us to
operate through August 2022. In order to fund our anticipated liquidity needs beyond such 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.
Significant financing activities:
To date, we have financed
our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible securities as well as through government grants.
On October 10, 2018, we entered
into a Convertible Loan Agreement with GTRIMG, or the GTRIMG Convertible Loan Agreement. Pursuant to the GTRIMG Convertible Loan Agreement,
GTRIMG loaned us an initial amount of $1,000,000, or the Initial Loan Amount, structured as a 24 month- convertible loan or less in case
of a public offering of our shares, bearing interest at Israeli prime plus 4% per annum. Under the terms of the GTRIMG Convertible Loan
Agreement, GTRIMG was granted an option to lend us an additional amount of up to $2,000,000, or the Additional Loan Amount, out of which
we received up to the date of this report an amount aggregated to $1,266,748 in several installments (all of such loans matured in October
2020). We also granted GTRIMG a warrant to purchase ordinary shares for an aggregate purchase price of $5,000,000, and an additional warrant
conditioned upon the investment of an Additional Loan Amount to purchase ordinary shares for an aggregate purchase price of up to $5,000,000
calculated pro-rata to the amount out of Additional Loan Amount provided. As of December 31, 2020, an amount of $3,166,870 of the purchase
price of the additional warrant has become exercisable.
The conversion price for both
the Initial Loan Amount, the Additional Loan Amount and the warrants shall is to be calculated as provided in the notes but is never to
fall below $0.17 per share:
On December 31, 2019, the
Company and GTRIMG entered into a memorandum of understanding, or the MOU, pursuant to which GTRIMG agreed to provide additional loans
to the Company and GTRIMG would receive additional Warrants. The MOU also provided for certain amendments to the existing Convertible
Loan Agreement. We agreed to adopt a forecast, providing that, during 2020 grants, plus revenues, plus convertible loans (other than those
received from GTRIMG) less liabilities on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 should not be less than $2,500,000, or the Management
Minimum Forecast, out of which $1,250,000 shall be available in our bank account as of March 31, 2020, or the Target. Under the MOU, GTRIMG
agreed to provide an additional loan as of the execution of the MOU in the amount of $150,000 under the existing Convertible Loan Agreement,
or the Initial MOU Loan.
In addition, the MOU provides
that if we fail to meet the Target, then: (a) the Company’s valuation for purposes of all investments after January 1, 2018 shall
be $2.0 million pre-money as of such date, thereby reflecting a price per share of $0.068, and (b) GTRIMG shall make loans to the Company
of $100,000 per month for a period of 12 months commencing April 1, 2020, and under the same terms as the Convertible Loan Agreement,
as adjusted under (a) above, or the Additional MOU Loans; provided, that following each six month period, GTRIMG may review whether the
Company has complied with the Management Minimum Forecast as defined therein, and if it was not met for any six month period (beginning
with the six month period ended June 30, 2020), then, three months after such review, GTRIMG may determine not to fund additional amounts.
Furthermore, under the MOU,
we agreed to call a meeting of shareholders within 15 days of the date of the MOU in order to approve (i) the transactions contemplated
by the MOU, (ii) an amendment to the articles of association of the Company to provide that GTRIMG may appoint a number of directors as
shall reflect its holding should the Target not be met (assuming all convertible loans are converted) and (iii) an increase in authorized
share capital as necessary. The Company also agreed to immediately appoint a representative of GTRIMG as chairman of the board of directors.
In January 2020, GTRIMG made
the Initial MOU Loan.
In March 2021, the Company
directors received a notice before legal action letter from GTRIMG’s lawyer associated with their previous agreements (including
the MOU mentioned above). The main request derives from this letter is to convert all the CLA so far at a price per share of $0.068.
In December 2020, we called
a meeting of shareholders in accordance with the terms of the MOU and the transactions contemplated by the MOU were not approved by our
shareholders.
All of the convertible loans
received from GTRIMG were required to be repaid by October 2020. GTRIMG did not exercise its conversion right under the convertible loans
prior to their repayment date and therefore became repayable in cash as such time. We did not timely repay such loans due to financial
difficulties and therefore we are currently in default under the Convertible Loan Agreement.
At
the annual shareholders’ meeting held in September 2021, the shareholders approved (i) a capital raise at a per share purchase price
of $0.07 and (ii) an adjustment to the conversion price of the Company’s outstanding convertible loans (collectively, the “CLA”)
from $0.17 to $0.07 per Ordinary Share, subject to the holders’ agreement to cancel the outstanding related warrants that were issued
in connection with the CLA.
As
of May 2022, the Company entered into agreements with the holders of approximately $4,010,429 in principal amount and accrued interest
of CLAs for the conversion of the Company’s indebtedness into an aggregate of 57,291,838 Ordinary Shares (at the rate of $0.07 per
share). Furthermore therewith, all the warrants that were issued previously in connection with those CLAs were cancelled and no longer
have any force or effect.
For additional information
regarding how we financed our operations, please refer to Note 8 and Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements appear elsewhere
in this annual report on Form 20-F for information regarding our loans and convertible loans and sale of equity, respectively.
We expect to continue to fund
our operations through equity or debt financings, strategic collaborations, grants and, to the extent our marketing and commercialization
efforts are successful, sales of our products or technologies.
We have experienced cumulative
losses of $33.6 million from inception through December 31, 2020. In addition, we have not yet established 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”.
Cash Flows
The
following table summarizes our consolidated statement of cash flows for the periods presented:
US $ | |
Year ended December 31, | |
Consolidated Statement of cash flows: | |
2020 | | |
2019 | | |
2018 | |
Net cash provided by (used in): | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Operating activities | |
| (793,757 | ) | |
| (1,979,138 | ) | |
| (2,592,047 | ) |
Investing activities | |
| 808,913 | | |
| (11,906 | ) | |
| (18,237 | ) |
Financing activities | |
| (34,126 | ) | |
| 1,881,719 | | |
| 2,304,221 | |
Net cash used in operating
activities for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $793,757, 1,979,138 and $2,592,047, respectively, a decrease of $1,185,381
or 60% (from 2019 to 2020) and a decrease of $612,909 or 24% (from 2018 to 2019). The decrease in net cash used in operating activities
for both years was primarily attributable to a change in fair value of warrants and capital note, partially offset by an increase in the
net loss.
Net cash provided by (used
in) investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $808,913, $(11,906) and $(18,237), respectively, an
increase of $820,819 (from 2019 to 2020) and an increase of $6,331 or 34% (from 2018 to 2019). The increase in net cash provided by (used
in) investing activities in 2020 relative to 2019 was attributable to the acquisition of Jet CU. The increase in net cash used in investing
activities in 2019 relative to 2018 was attributable to lower purchase of property and equipment.
Net cash provided by (used
in) financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $(34,126), $1,881,719 and $2,304,221, respectively,
a decrease of $1,915,845 (from 2019 to 2020) and a decrease of $422,502, or 18% (from 2018 to 2019). The decrease in net cash provided
by financing activities in 2020 relative to 2019 was primarily attributable lower proceeds from convertible loans, net of issuance costs.
The decrease in net cash provided by financing activities in 2019 relative to 2018 was primarily attributable to a change in in short
term bank credit and lower proceeds from convertible loans, net of issuance costs.
C. Research and Development, patents and licenses,
etc.
For information regarding
our research and development activities, see “Item 4 B. — Business Overview” and “Item 5 A. — Operating
Results”.
D. Trend Information
We are a development stage
company and it is not possible for us to predict with any degree of accuracy the outcome of our research, development or commercialization
efforts. As such, it is not possible for us to 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 “Item
5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”
In
addition, COVID-19 has impacted companies in Israel and around the world, and as its trajectory remains highly uncertain, we cannot predict
the duration and severity of the outbreak and its containment measures. Further, we cannot predict impacts, trends and uncertainties involving
the pandemic’s effects on economic activity, the size of our labor force, our third-party partners, our investments in marketable
securities, and the extent to which our revenue, income, profitability, liquidity, or capital resources may be materially and adversely
affected. See also “ITEM 3.D. – Risk Factors – “The global COVID-19 constraints may continue to negatively impact
the global economy in a significant manner for a further extended period of time, and may also adversely affect our operating results
in a material manner.”
Other
than the foregoing and as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments
or events for the period from January 1, 2020 to the present time that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our
net revenue, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily
indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
ITEM 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth
information regarding our directors and senior management team as of May 16, 2022, and the date of this annual report on Form 20-F.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Dov Farkash |
|
62 |
|
Active Chairman of the Board |
Ran Eisenberg |
|
74 |
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Dr. Fernando de la Vega |
|
64 |
|
Chief Technology Officer and Director |
Dr. Astorre Modena (1) (2) |
|
51 |
|
Director |
Orly Solomon (1)(2) |
|
53 |
|
External Director |
Ido Lapidot (1)(2) |
|
58 |
|
External Director |
Evyatar Cohen |
|
49 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Hanan Markovich |
|
46 |
|
Chief Business Development Officer |
(1) | Member
of our Audit Committee |
(2) | Member
of our Compensation Committee |
The address of each of our
directors and executive officers is c/o P.V. Nano Cell Ltd., 8 Hamasger Street Migdal Ha’Emek 2310102, Israel.
Dov Farkash has
served as our executive chairman since April 2020. Mr. Farkash has more than 25 years of experience in business leadership and technology
development in the Electronics industry. From January 2000 to September 2019 Mr. Farkash has served in a range of senior business leadership
and technology development positions at Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd., including Senior Vice President Strategic Development, Senior
Corporate Vice President Modeling Software Division, Vice President Sales and Vice President Business Development. Prior to joining Nova,
Mr. Farkash served as worldwide Sales and Marketing Manager of AFCON Ltd., and AFCON Inc. in the USA. Prior to that, Mr. Farkash served
in various software development managerial positions at various hi-tech companies. Mr. Farkash holds a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering and
an MBA from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Ran Eisenberg has served
as our Chief Executive Officer since June 10, 2021. Mr. Eisenberg has served as active Chairman
of Hip-Hope Technologies, a medical device company has developed an inflatable medical class device, designed to prevent hip fractures,
by detecting imminent falls and inflating protective air bags. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Eisenberg served as the chief executive officer
of NovaTrans, a company developing technologies based on Terahertz (THz) electronics. In 2013, Mr. Eisenberg co-founded Iskadu Ltd., which
owns Innwaze.com, an Internet application enabling real-time booking with B&Bs. Since 2007, Mr. Eisenberg has provided financing and
consulting services to a number of business in Israel. Previously, from 2009 to 2010, he also served as CEO and Chairman of the Board
of EVS Ltd. (formerly Elbit Vision Systems Ltd.), a company whose shares were then traded on OTC Markets, that manufactures and markets
non-destructive testing equipment, where he led a recovery that resulted in a management buyout. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Eisenberg served
as chief executive officer of Wavion Ltd., a publicly traded company that developed and marketed WiFi systems for metropolitan areas.
From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Eisenberg served as CEO of Microsense Ltd. and prior thereto, from 1994 to 2004, Mr. Eisenberg served as CEO of
Optibase Ltd., which he led during its initial pubic offering on Nasdaq. Mr. Eisenberg holds a B.Sc. in aeronautical engineering from
the Technion and an M.B.A from the University of California (UCLA).
Dr. Fernando de la Vega co-founded
PV Nano Cell Ltd. in 2009 and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a Director of our board of directors since that time (and
as a Chairman the majority of that time). Dr. de la Vega has more than 35 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 Authority
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.
Dr. Astorre Modena has
served as a director of the Company 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.
Orly Solomon has
served as an external director of the Company since December 2017. Ms. Solomon is Chief Financial Officer of Inuitive Ltd. Ms. Solomon
currently serves as Financial Director and Advisor to board of directors of Med and Beyond Ltd. Ms. Solomon served on the board of directors
of Shikmona, a governmental and city owned corporation in Haifa from 2014 to 2017 as a director with financial expertise. From 2014 to
2016, Ms. Solomon served as Chief Financial Officer of Future Values Ltd. During 2013, Ms. Solomon served as Chief Executive Officer of
D. Medical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ /TASE: DMED). She was also the chairman of the board of directors of RSL Electronics Ltd. (TASE: RSL)
from 2011 to 2012. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Solomon served as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy to the Chief Executive Officer of Lito
Group Ltd. (TASE: LTGR-M). From 2009 to 2010, Ms. Solomon served as co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of Atid Team, Israel. From
2006 to 2010, Ms. Solomon served as co-founder and a director of Altshuler Shacham Benefits Israel. Ms. Solomon holds an MBA in Finance
and Economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a Bachelor of Science Accounting, with honors, from Rutgers University at Newark,
New Jersey.
Ido Lapidot has
served as an external director of the Company since December 2017. Mr. Lapidot is a “TRIZ- Effective Innovation” consultant
for various companies, inter alia, Elbit, Verint, Edwards Lifesciences, Tama and HP. From 2016 to 2020, he is a partner at Next Leap Ventures,
a former Intel employees investment club. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Lapidot served as a Strategic Technologies Planner and TRIZ Program Leader
at Intel R&D and Intel Labs. From 2008 to 2014, Mr. Lapidot served as an External Teacher for TRIZ and Systematic Innovation at Afeka
College for Engineering, Israel. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Lapidot served as LEAN Manufacturing and TRIZ Program Leader at Intel Corporate
Services-EMEA. From 1995 to 2005, Mr. Lapidot served as Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Intel’s factories. Mr. Lapidot
also serves as a director of Carrar, Nanofabrica, and Sanolla. Mr. Lapidot holds an MA in Environmental Science, a BA in Chemistry, and
a B.A. in Atmospheric Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a TRIZ L3 certification from MA-TRIZ GEN3 Partners.
Evyatar Cohen has
served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2017. Currently and prior to his appointment as our Chief Financial Officer, Mr.
Cohen serves and has served as a Chief Financial Officer and financial consultant for several public companies traded in the United States,
Israel and Europe as well as privately held companies. Mr. Cohen worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in both the Tel-Aviv and New York. Mr.
Cohen has gained vast experience in many industries such as high-tech, bio-tech, oil and gas, entertainment and media, and venture capital.
Mr. Cohen holds a B.A. in Business Management from the College of Management in Israel with B.A in Business Management in 2000 and was
awarded his Masters of Law degree from the Bar Ilan University, Israel in 2003. Mr. Cohen is a licensed and certified public accountant
in both the United States and Israel.
Hanan Markovich has
served as our Chief Business Development Officer since February 2019. Mr. Markovich is also a self-employed technology consultant. From
2017 to 2019, Mr. Markovich served as Chief Product & Marketing Officer of Robust E2C, a company focused on IoT framework solutions.
Mr. Markovich also co-founded, and from 2015 through 2017, served as Chief Executive Officer of IllumaSense, a company that helps cities
manage their infrastructure and gather information from the urban environment. Prior to co-founding IllumaSense, from 2014 to 2015, Mr.
Markovich served as Executive Vice President Business Development of Gaash Lighting. Mr. Markovich holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering
from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Haifa, Israel.
New Appointments to the Board
As
part of the $3.0 million investment described above, we agreed to the request of certain of the Private Placement investors to nominate
three members to the Company’s Board of Directors. Upon the appointment of the three new directors, Ran Eisenberg, the Company CEO
and Dr. Astorre Modena, a Company director, have agreed to resign from the Company Board.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships
between any members of our executive management and our directors.
B. Compensation
The table below reflects the
compensation granted to our five most highly compensated office holders (as defined in the Companies Law) during or with respect to the
year ended December 31, 2020 (we actually present six (6) since the compensation for both of our external Directors were the same and
were fifth together). We refer to the five individuals for whom disclosure is provided herein as our “Covered Executives”.
For purposes of the table below, “compensation” includes amounts accrued or paid in connection with salary cost, consultancy
fees, bonuses, share-based compensation, retirement or termination payments, benefits and perquisites (as applicable) to provide such
compensation. All amounts reported in the table are in terms of cost to the Company, as recognized in our consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2020, plus compensation accrued or paid to such Covered Executives following the end of the year in respect
of services provided during the year. Each of the Covered Executives was covered by our director and officer liability insurance policy
and was entitled to indemnification and exculpation in accordance with applicable law and our articles of association.
Individual Covered Executive Compensation Name and Principal Position | |
Salary(2) | | |
Share-based Compensation(3) | | |
Total | |
| |
US $ | |
Dov Farkash, Chairman(1) | |
$ | 97,380 | | |
$ | 26,921 | | |
$ | 124,301 | |
Fernando de la Vega, Chief Technology Officer and Director | |
| 239,237 | | |
| 118,213 | | |
| 357,450 | |
Orly Solomon, External Director | |
| 19,757 | | |
| 40,523 | | |
| 60,280 | |
Ido Lapidot, External Director | |
| 19,757 | | |
| 40,523 | | |
| 60,280 | |
Evyatar Cohen, Chief Financial Officer | |
| 157,127 | | |
| 51,296 | | |
| 208,423 | |
Hanan Markovich, Chief Business Development Officer | |
$ | 173,234 | | |
$ | 22,695 | | |
$ | 195,929 | |
(1) |
Mr. Farkash joined the Company on April 19, 2020. |
(2) |
Salary includes the Covered Executive’s gross salary plus payment of social benefits made by us on behalf of such Covered Executive. Such benefits may include, to the extent applicable to the Covered Executive, payments, contributions and/or allocations for savings funds (e.g., managers’ life insurance policy), education funds (referred to in Hebrew as “keren hishtalmut”), pension, severance, risk insurances (e.g., life, or work disability insurance), payments for social security and tax gross-up payments, vacation, medical insurance and benefits, convalescence or recreation pay and other benefits and perquisites consistent with our policies. |
(3) |
Represents the share-based compensation expenses recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, based on the option’s grant date fair value, calculated in accordance with accounting guidance for share-based compensation. |
Compensation of Executive Officers and Directors
as a Group
The aggregate compensation
paid by us to our executive officers and directors for the year ended December 31, 2020, was approximately $1,006,663, including share-based
compensation expenses of approximately $300,171. This amount does not include business travel, relocation, professional and business association
dues and expenses reimbursed to officers, and other benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in Israel. 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, 2020.
On January 7, 2020 and June
22, 2020, in connection with their services as board members, we issued options to purchase 10,394,541 ordinary shares at an exercise
price per ordinary share of $0.068 to each of the following directors: Dov Farkash (was elected as our active chairman in April 19, 2020),
Dr. Fernando de la Vega, Dr. Astorre Modena, Orly Solomon and Ido Lapidot. The options will vest over three (3) years, subject to earlier
termination in accordance with our 2010 Israeli Option Plan, or the Plan.
We do not have any written
agreements with any director providing for benefits upon the termination of such director’s relationship with our company, other
than our consulting agreement with our chief executive officer as described below.
Our office holders are also
employed under the terms and conditions prescribed in personal contracts. These personal contracts provide for notice periods of varying
duration for termination of the agreement by us or by the relevant executive officer, during which time the executive officer will continue
to receive base salary and benefits. These agreements also contain acceleration provisions upon material events such as a change of control
or entry into a material agreement, customary provisions regarding non-competition, confidentiality of information and assignment of inventions.
However, the enforceability of the non-competition and assignment of inventions provisions may be limited under applicable law. See “Item
3 D. — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property”. Under current Israeli law, we may not be able to
enforce office holders’ covenants not to compete and therefore may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from
the expertise of some of our former officer holders.
Our employees are employed
under the terms prescribed in their respective personal contracts, in accordance with the decisions of our management. Under these employment
contracts, the employees are entitled to the social benefits prescribed by law and as otherwise provided in their personal contracts.
Each of these employment contracts contains provisions standard for a company in our industry regarding non-competition, confidentiality
of information and assignment of inventions. Under current applicable employment laws, we may not be able to enforce covenants not to
compete and therefore may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of some of our former employees. See
“Item 3 D. — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property” for a further description of the enforceability
of non-competition clauses. We also provide certain of our employees with a company car, which is leased from a leasing company.
Compensation of External Directors
In 2020, each of our external
directors was compensated in accordance with the Israeli Companies Regulations (rules regarding compensation and expense reimbursement
of external directors) - 2000.
Directors and Officers Equity-Based Compensation
As of May 16, 2022, a total
of 14,682,148 options to purchase our ordinary shares were outstanding and held by certain current executive officers and directors (consisting
of eight (8) persons), of which 11,527,338 options are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of May 16, 2022. See “Item
6 E. — Share Ownership” in this annual report on Form 20-F.
Compensation of nonemployee Directors
Our directors, other than
our External Directors, do not receive any cash compensation.
During fiscal 2020, we were
not party to any service agreements with any of the members of our board of directors, other than the services agreement with respect
to Dr. de la Vega’s service as our chief executive officer, which is described below.
Employment or Service Agreements with our
Active Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Development Officer
Dov Farkash. On
April 19, 2020, an Active Chairman Agreement, or the Chairman Agreement with Exoro Ltd., or Exoro, a company wholly owned by Mr. Dov Farkash.
The Chairman Agreement provides that Exoro, through Mr. Farkash is to provide certain services to us as active chairman, focusing on go-to-market
strategy. We agreed to enter into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Farkash and to include him in our directors and officers insurance.
Mr. Farkash has agreed not to provide any services that would conflict with or complete with ours. We agreed to pay a monthly service
fee of NIS 40,000 (approximately $12,441) plus Value Added Tax (“VAT”) to Exoro. Mr. Farkash is entitled to options to purchase
939,164 shares under our 2010 Option Plan, in accordance with our director compensation plan, at an exercise price of $ 0.068 per share,
vesting over three (3) years from April 19, 2020 with one-third vesting after one year and the remainder monthly over a 24-month period.
Exoro is entitled to reimbursement of expenses in connection with the provision of the services and shall have a budget of $10,000/month
for travel. The term of the Chairman Agreement was for four (4) months, with our right to renew for an additional nine months, which was
utilized. Either party could terminate upon 45 days prior written notice. The Chairman Agreement could also be terminated by us for Cause
(as defined in the Chairman Agreement).
Ran Eisenberg On June
1, 2021, we entered into a consultancy agreement with Mr. Ran Eisenberg to serve as our Chief Executive Officer during the term of the
agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mr. Eisenberg was entitled to a current monthly fee of NIS 40,000 (approximately $12,441)
plus VAT, which was increase to 60,000 NIS (approximately $18,662) plus VAT following four (4) months from his commencement date. In addition,
he was awarded options to purchase up to 2,003,346 of our shares at a pe share exercise price of $0.17 which was reduced to $0.07. Vesting
of the options continue over three (3) years from June 1, 2021 with one-third vesting after one year and the remainder monthly over a
24-month period. The option are accelerated upon an Exit Event (as defined below).
Either we or Mr. Eisenberg
may terminate the agreement by providing a 60 days prior notice
Dr. Fernando de la Vega.
On September 9, 2009, we entered into a services agreement, or the DBG Services Agreement, as amended, with Dr. de la Vega’s wholly-owned
service company, Dolev Bar-Guy Consulting and Management Ltd., or DBG, as amended, or the DBG Services Agreement, pursuant to which Dr.
de la Vega provides us management services as our chief executive officer through June 1, 2021, whereupon he resigned from such position
and assumed the position as Chief Technology Officer. Pursuant to the terms of the DBG Services Agreement, as amended, Dr. de la Vega
is currently entitled to a monthly consultancy fee in the amount of NIS 51,750 (approximately $16,096) plus VAT and car allowance in the
amount of NIS 2,500 (approximately $777) plus VAT per month plus reimbursement for fuel expenses and tolls. The monthly consultancy fee
shall be updated to NIS 65,000 (approximately $20,217) plus VAT per month, if the company will secure an additional investment of $1,000,000
(such update commenced in April 2018). Dr. de la Vega may terminate the DBG Services Agreement at any time for any reason upon a three
months’ prior written notice. If we wish to terminate the engagement with Dr. de la Vega, not as a result of Dr. de la Vega’s
breach of his terms of office, the Company shall be required to provide a six months’ prior written notice.
In addition, he may receive:
|
(a) |
An annual cash bonus in an amount equivalent to up to four (4) times his monthly service fee, plus VAT, based on achievement of certain performance targets which are determined by our compensation committee and the board of directors on an annual basis. |
|
(b) |
A special one-time bonus in an amount equivalent to six times his monthly service fee, plus VAT upon the occurrence of an Exit Event (as described below), provided that our pre-money valuation shall be at least $50,000,000 at the closing of such transaction or within 12 months following such closing. |
|
(c) |
An Equity Based Award: |
Upon the occurrence of an Exit Event,
an equity-based award, in accordance with the following calculation:
| (i) | 0.5% of the Company’s share capital on a fully diluted
basis, if the Company’s pre-money valuation shall be equal to or higher than $30,000,000 but less than $40,000,000; |
| (ii) | 1.25% of the Company’s share capital on a fully diluted
basis, if the Company’s pre-money valuation shall be equal to or higher than $40,000,000 but less than $50,000,000; |
| (iii) | 2% of the Company’s share capital on a fully diluted
basis, if the Company’s pre-money valuation shall be equal to or higher than $50,000,000. |
An ‘Exit Event’
is defined as: (i) the consummation of an initial public offering of ordinary shares of the Company on a recognized stock exchange; or
(ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the share capital of the Company to any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental authority or other entity of any kind, and
shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity, or a Person; (iii) a sale, lease, conveyance or disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iv) a merger of the Company with or into another entity in which the shareholders
of the Company immediately prior to such merger do not hold a majority of the share capital and voting rights of the surviving entity
held by them by virtue of their holdings in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction or a transaction or series of transactions
in which a Person or group of Persons acquire more than 50% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company (other than an
acquisition of such share capital from the Company); or (v) an up-listing to a higher exchange.
Evyatar Cohen. On
November 12, 2017, we entered into a consultancy agreement with Mr. Evyatar Cohen to serve as our Chief Financial Officer during the term
of the agreement. Mr. Cohen’s services include, among others, the services of Ms. Moran Cohen as our controller. Pursuant to the
terms of the agreement, Mr. Cohen is entitled to a monthly fee of NIS 33,000 (approximately $10,264) plus VAT. As agreed in his engagement
agreement, the monthly fee was increased to NIS 45,000 (approximately $13,997) plus VAT commencing May 15, 2018, following the filing
of our 2017 annual report on Form 20-F. Either we or Mr. Cohen may terminate the agreement by providing a 45 days prior notice.
Hanan Markovitch. We
have entered into an employment agreement dated February 10, 2019 with Mr. Hanan Markovitch to serve as chief business development officer.
Mr. Markovitch, as a full-time employee, is entitled to a gross monthly salary of NIS 28,000 (approximately $8,709); overtime pay of NIS
7,000 per month (approximately $2,177); a car allowance of NIS 5,000 (approximately $1,555) per month; social benefits and special bonus
as detailed in his employment agreement. Each party can terminate this employment agreement with a three (3) months’ notice. Commencing
November 2021, Hanan’s gross monthly salary and overtime pay increased to NIS 32,000 (approximately $9,953) and NIS 8,000 (approximately
$2,488), respectively.
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, 2020, a total of 2,463,488 ordinary shares were reserved for issuance under
the Plan. 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 (2) 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 (6) months after the termination date (unless a shorter period is determined by the board
of directors) 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 (12) 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 will 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 will 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.
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 (3) and no more than seven (7) 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 designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, 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 is divided among the three staggered classes of directors (except for the external directors) as follows:
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The Class I director is Mr. Dov Farkash, who
was appointed on April 19, 2020 and serves as our Active Chairman was elected at our annual meeting of the shareholders on December
28, 2020
for a three (3) year term ending at the 2023 annual
meeting. |
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The Class II director is Dr. Astorre Modena, elected in 2018, for a term of three (3) years, ending at the 2021 annual general meeting. |
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The Class III director is Dr. Fernando de
la Vega, elected in 2019, for a term of three (3) years, ending at the 2022 annual general meeting. |
In addition, our shareholders
have elected two (2) external directors who are not part of the staggered board, as described further below.
Observer
On November 29, 2018, 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 GTRIMG the right to designate one (1) non-voting observer to the
board of director, or the Observer, provided that the Observer shall not be a competitor of ours, or employed by a competitor of ours.
In October 2018, Rami Zeevi, the son of Gadi Zeevi who is the controlling shareholder of GTRIMG was appointed as an observer to our board
of directors.. Such director will serve as our chairman of the board of directors, provided that such nominee has the required qualifications
under applicable laws including the stock exchange rules then applicable. The rights of GTRIMG will remain effective as long as GTRIMG
holds at least 5% of our issued and outstanding share capital. The MOU provided that GTRIMG would have the right to nominate one (1) director,
who would be the chairman of the board. We appointed Mr. Dov Farkash as executive chairman in accordance with the terms of the MOU.
Chairman of the Board
Our amended and restated articles
of association provide that, unless otherwise appointed as described above, the chairman of the board is appointed by the members of the
board of directors and serves as chairman of the board throughout his term as a director, unless resolved otherwise by the board of directors.
Under the Companies Law, the Chief Executive Officer (referred to as a “general manager” under the Companies Law) or a relative
of the Chief Executive Officer may not serve as the chairman of the board of directors, and the chairman of the board of directors or
a relative of the chairman may not be vested with authorities of the Chief Executive Officer without shareholder approval consisting of
a majority vote of the shares present and voting at a shareholders meeting, provided that either:
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at least a majority of the shares of non-controlling shareholders and shareholders that do not have a personal interest in the approval voted at the meeting are voted in favor (disregarding abstentions); or |
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the total number of shares of non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have a personal interest in such appointment voting against such appointment does not exceed two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company. |
A person subordinated, directly
or indirectly, to the Chief Executive Officer may not serve as the chairman of the board of directors; the chairman of the board of directors
may not be vested with authorities that are granted to those subordinated to the Chief Executive Officer; and the chairman of the board
of directors may not serve in any other position in the company or a controlled company, but he or she may serve as a director or chairman
of the board of directors of a subsidiary.
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 (2) external
directors who meet the qualification requirements set forth in the Companies Law.
At our general meeting of
shareholders held in 2017, we appointed Ms. Orly Solomon and Mr. Ido Lapidot as our external directors for three (3) years and they were
re-elected in our general meeting of shareholders held in 2020 for additional three (3) years.
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, excluding abstainers; 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
(3) years, an external director may be re-elected to serve in that capacity for up to two (2) additional terms of three (3) 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 re-election 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 re-election 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 re-election,
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 or OTC Pink), may be extended
indefinitely in increments of additional three-year terms, provided that, prior to each nomination for re-election, 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 re-election 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 re-election is being sought and the external
director is re-elected in accordance with the appropriate approval method described above.
Under the Companies Law, an
external director cannot be dismissed from office unless the board of directors has learned there is a concern that: the external director
no longer meets the statutory requirements for his appointment as an external director; or the external director is in breach of his or
her duty of loyalty to the company. The board of directors shall discuss the matter no later than in the first board of directors meeting
convened after the board had become aware of such circumstances. In the event the board of directors has determined that an external director
had ceased to comply with the requirements set forth under the Companies Law or that he or she breached his or her duty of loyalty to
the company, than the board of directors shall convene a general meeting of the shareholders and will include on the agenda a resolution
for the removal from office of such external director. The shareholders vote required to removal of an external director from office is
the same majority required for the appointment; provided, however, that the external director has been given the opportunity to present
his or her position. In addition, a court of law may determine, upon a request of a director or a shareholder, to dismiss the external
director after finding that such external director no longer meets the statutory requirements of an external director set under the Companies
Law or that the external director is in breach of his or her duty of loyalty to the company.
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 all of such company’s external 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 (2) 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 (2) 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):
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an employment relationship; |
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a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis; |
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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:
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a person may not be elected as an external director if he or she is a relative of a controlling shareholder; |
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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; |
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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 |
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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 (2) 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.
Our board of directors has
determined that the minimum number of directors with financial and accounting expertise is one and that Ms. Orly Solomon qualifies as
such. The external director who qualifies to have such expertise is Ms. Orly Solomon. In addition, our Board has determined that Ms. Orly
Solomon qualifies as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to the applicable SEC rules.
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 (5) years of experience serving
in one of the following capacities, or at least five (5) 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. Our board of directors is charged with determining
whether a director possesses financial and accounting expertise or professional qualifications.
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee is comprised
of the following members: Ms. Solomon (external director), Mr. Lapidot (external director) and Dr. Modena. Ms. Solomon is the Chairwoman
of the Audit Committee.
Pursuant to the Companies
Law, the audit committee must be comprised of at least three (3) 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 (9) consecutive years (with any period of up to two (2) 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 or the OTC Pink), a director who qualifies as an independent director
for the purposes of such director’s membership on our 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 (3) 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 re-election 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
Our board of directors adopted
an audit committee charter that sets forth the responsibilities of the audit committee as well as the requirements for such committee
under the Companies Law, including the following:
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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; |
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recommending the engagement or termination of the person filling the office of our internal auditor; and |
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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 provides
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
also oversees 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 Companies Law, our
audit committee is responsible for:
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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 o the board of directors to improve such practices; |
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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 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 “—Fiduciary duties and approval of
specified related party transactions under Israeli law”); |
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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; |
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examining our internal controls and internal auditor’s performance, including whether the internal auditor has sufficient resources and tools to dispose of its responsibilities; |
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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 |
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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 “—Fiduciary duties and approval of specified 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 Compensation Committee
is comprised of Ms. Solomon (external director), Mr. Lapidot (external director) and Dr. Modena.
Ms. Solomon is the chairwoman
of the compensation committee. We have a Compensation Committee Charter and a Compensation Policy.
Under the Companies Law, the
compensation committee is required to be comprised of at least three (3) 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. Under the Companies Law, an external director must serve as the chairman of the
Compensation Committee.
Under the Companies Law, the
external directors shall constitute a majority of our compensation committee.
Our compensation committee’s
duties 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
In adopting the compensation
policy, the compensation committee is 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 (3) 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:
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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 |
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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 approved
and adopted the compensation policy on February 22, 2018 and was approved by our shareholders at our annual general meeting on September
12, 2019.
The compensation policy serves
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
relates 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 also considers, among other things, the Company’s risk management, size
and the nature of its operations. The compensation policy furthermore considers the following additional factors:
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the knowledge, skills, expertise and accomplishments of the relevant director or executive; |
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the director’s or executive’s roles and responsibilities and prior compensation agreements with him or her; |
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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; |
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the impact of disparities in salary upon work relationships in the Company; |
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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 |
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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 also
includes the following principles:
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the link between variable compensation and long-term performance and measurable criteria; |
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the relationship between variable and fixed compensation, and the ceiling for the value of variable compensation; |
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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; |
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minimum holding or vesting period for variable, equity-based compensation while referring to appropriate a long-term perspective based
incentives; and |
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maximum limits for severance compensation. |
The compensation committee
is 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:
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recommending whether a compensation policy should continue in effect, if the then-current policy has a term of greater than three (3) years (approval of either a new compensation policy or the continuation of an existing compensation policy must in any case occur every three (3) years); |
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recommending to the board of directors periodic updates to the compensation policy; |
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deciding upon the approval of certain compensation terms of officers which require compensation committee approval under the Companies Law; and |
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determining whether the compensation terms of a proposed transaction 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 “—Fiduciary duties and approval of specified 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. The role of the
internal auditor is, among other things, to examine whether a company’s actions comply with applicable law and orderly business
procedure. Under the Companies Law, the internal auditor cannot be an interested party or an office holder or a relative of an interested
party or an office holder, nor may the internal auditor be the company’s independent auditor or its representative. An “interested
party” is defined in the Companies Law as: (i) a holder of 5% or more of the issued share capital or voting power in a company,
(ii) any person or entity who has the right to designate one or more directors or to designate the chief executive officer of the company,
or (iii) any person who serves as a director or as a chief executive officer of the company. As of the date of this annual report on Form
20-F, the board of directors has not appointed an internal auditor, and the Company is therefore not currently in compliance with the
requirements of the Companies Law. Due to such non-compliance with the Companies Law, the Company may be subject to third parties’
and/or shareholders’ claims under the Israeli Torts Ordinance.
Fiduciary duties and approval of specified
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. An office holder is defined in the Companies Law as 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 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 care includes
a duty to use reasonable means to obtain:
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information on the appropriateness of a given action submitted for his or her approval or performed by virtue of his or her position; and |
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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:
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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; |
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refrain from any activity that is competitive with the business of the company; |
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refrain from exploiting any business opportunity of the company for the purpose of gaining a personal advantage for himself or herself or others; and |
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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 a sufficient amount of time before the date for discussion
of approval of such act.
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. A personal interest includes an interest of any person in
an act or transaction of a company, including a personal interest of one’s relative or of a corporate body in which such person
or a relative of such person is a 5% or greater shareholder, director or general manager or in which he or she has the right to appoint
at least one director or the general manager, but excluding a personal interest stemming solely from one’s ownership of shares in
the company. A personal interest includes the personal interest of a person for whom the office holder holds a voting proxy or the personal
interest of the office holder with respect to his or her vote on behalf of a person for whom he or she holds a proxy, discretionary or
otherwise, even if such shareholder has no personal interest in the matter.
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.
Under the Companies Law, extraordinary
transactions that require approval are defined as any of the following:
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a transaction other than in the ordinary course of business; |
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a transaction that is not on market terms; and |
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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.
Approval first by the company’s
audit committee and subsequently by the board of directors is required for an extraordinary transaction (meaning, any transaction that
is not in the ordinary course of business, not on market terms or that is likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability,
assets or liabilities) in which an office holder has a personal interest.
A director and any other office
holder who has a personal interest in a transaction which is considered at a meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee
may generally (unless it is with respect to a transaction which is not an extraordinary transaction) not be present at such a meeting
or vote on that matter unless a majority of the directors or members of the audit committee, as applicable, have a personal interest in
the matter. If a majority of the members of the audit committee or the board of directors has a personal interest in the approval of such
a transaction then all of the directors may participate in deliberations of the audit committee or board of directors, as applicable,
with respect to such transaction and vote on the approval thereof and, in such case, shareholder approval is also required.
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 |
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● |
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 (3) years, shareholder approval is required
once every three (3) years, unless, in respect to certain transactions, the audit committee determines that the duration of the transaction
is reasonable under the circumstances.
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. A 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 the duty of
care but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is included in its articles of association. Our amended and restated articles
of association include such a provision. An Israeli company may not exculpate a director from liability arising out of a breach of the
duty of care with respect to a dividend or distribution to shareholders.
Under the Companies Law and
the Securities Law, 5738—1968, or the Securities Law, a company may indemnify an office holder in respect of the following liabilities,
payments and expenses incurred for acts performed as an office holder, either pursuant to an undertaking made in advance of an event or
following an event, provided a provision authorizing such indemnification is contained in its articles of association:
|
● |
a monetary liability incurred by or imposed on him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, including a settlement or arbitrator’s award approved by a court. However, if an undertaking to indemnify an office holder with respect to such liability is provided in advance, then such undertaking must be limited to certain 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 foreseen events and described above amount or criteria; |
|
● |
reasonable litigation expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder as |
|
(1) |
a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an authority authorized to |
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(2) |
conduct such investigation or proceeding, provided that (i) no indictment was filed against such |
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(3) |
office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (ii) no financial liability was |
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(4) |
imposed upon him or her as a substitute for the criminal proceeding as a result of such investigation |
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(5) |
or proceeding or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offense |
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(6) |
that does not require proof of criminal intent; or (2) in connection with a monetary sanction; a |
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(7) |
monetary liability imposed on him or her in favor of an injured party at an Administrative |
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(8) |
Procedure (as defined below) pursuant to Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Securities Law; |
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● |
expenses incurred by an office holder or certain compensation payments made to an injured party that were instituted against an office holder in connection with an Administrative Procedure under the Securities Law, including reasonable litigation expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees; 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. |
Administrative Procedure”
is defined as a procedure pursuant to chapters H3 (Monetary Sanction by the Israeli Securities Authority), H4 (Administrative Enforcement
Procedures of the Administrative Enforcement Committee) or I1 (Arrangement to prevent Procedures or Interruption of procedures subject
to conditions) to the Securities Law.
Under the Companies Law and
the Securities Law, a company may insure an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed by him or her
as an office holder if and to the extent provided in the company’s articles of association:
|
● |
a breach of duty of care to the company or to a third party, to the extent such a breach arises out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; |
|
● |
a breach of duty of loyalty to the company, provided that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not harm the company; |
|
● |
a monetary liability imposed on the office holder in favor of a third party; |
|
● |
a monetary liability imposed on the office holder in favor of an injured party at an Administrative Procedure pursuant to Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Securities Law; and |
|
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expenses incurred by an office holder in connection with an Administrative Procedure instituted against him or her, including reasonable litigation expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees. |
Under the Companies Law, a
company may not indemnify, exculpate or insure an office holder against any of the following:
|
● |
a breach of duty of loyalty, except for indemnification and insurance for a breach of the 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 harm the company; |
|
● |
a breach of the 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 |
|
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a 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 compensation committee and the board of directors and, with respect
to certain office holders or under certain circumstances, also by the shareholders. See “Item 6 C. — Board Practices —
Fiduciary duties and approval of specified related party transactions under Israeli law.”
Our amended and restated articles
of association permit us to, exculpate, indemnify and insure our office holders as permitted under the Companies Law. Our office holders
are currently covered by a directors and officers’ liability insurance policy. As of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F,
no claims for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance have been filed under this policy, we are not aware of any pending
or threatened litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers in which indemnification is sought, nor are we aware
of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.
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 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.
D. Employees
As of May 16, 2022, we had
nine (9) full time employees in PVN and one (1) full time employees in Digiflex, located in Israel. There was one additional employee
in the United States, employed by Digiflex Inc and his contract was terminated in September 2020. 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
Share ownership by Directors and Executive
Officers
For information regarding
ownership of our ordinary shares by our directors and executive officers, see “Item 7 A. — Major Shareholders”.
Share Option Plans
For information on our share
option plan see “Item 6 B. — Compensation — Incentive Compensation Plans”.
ITEM 7. Major Shareholders and Related
Party Transactions
A. Major Shareholders.
The following table sets forth
certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of May 16, 2022, by:
|
● |
each of our directors and executive officers; |
|
● |
each person (or group of affiliated persons) known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding ordinary shares. |
|
● |
each person (or group of affiliated persons) known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding ordinary shares. |
The beneficial ownership of
our ordinary shares is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner
of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or
investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security. For purposes of the table
below, we deem ordinary shares issuable pursuant to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days as of May
16, 2022, if any, to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding the options or warrants for the purposes of computing
the percentage ownership of that person, but we do not treat them as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership
of any other person. The percentage of ordinary shares beneficially owned is based on 130,274,079
ordinary shares outstanding as of May 16, 2022.
Except where otherwise indicated,
we believe, based on information furnished to us by such owners and based on public information, that the beneficial owners of the ordinary shares
listed below have sole investment and voting power with respect to such shares. In addition, none of our shareholders have different voting
rights from other shareholders.
| |
No. of Shares Beneficially Owned | | |
Percentage Owned | |
Holders of more than 5% of our voting securities: | |
| | |
| |
GTRIMG Investments Ltd. | |
| 50,657,733 | (1) | |
| 38.86 | % |
Legov Ltd. | |
| 21,227,601 | (2) | |
| 16.29 | % |
Teuza – A Fairchild Technology Venture Ltd. | |
| 17,756,906 | (3) | |
| 13.62 | % |
Slobel NV | |
| 9,154,581 | (4) | |
| 6.83 | % |
Terra Venture partners | |
| 6,771,849 | (5) | |
| 5.17 | % |
Fineline PCB (Cyprus) Ltd. | |
| 6,612,381 | (6) | |
| 5.08 | % |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Directors and executive officers who are not 5% holders: | |
| | | |
| | |
Dov Farkash, Chairman | |
| 678,285 | (7) | |
| * | |
Ran Eisenberg, Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
| 612,161 | (8) | |
| * | |
Fernando de la Vega, Chief Technology Officer and Director | |
| 5,449,265 | (9) | |
| 4.04 | % |
Orly Solomon, Director | |
| 1,219,337 | (10) | |
| * | |
Ido Lapidot, Director | |
| 1,219,337 | (11) | |
| * | |
Evyatar Cohen, Chief Financial Officer | |
| 1,637,587 | (12) | |
| 1.24 | % |
Hanan Markovich, Chief Development Business Officer | |
| 828,169 | (13) | |
| * | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Directors and executive officers as a group | |
| 11,644,141 | | |
| 8.74 | % |
* | Represents less than 1.0% held. |
(1) |
Includes (i) 50,557,733 ordinary shares beneficially owned by GTRIMG Investments Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel, or GTRIMG Investments, which is wholly owned by TRIMG Communication International Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel, or the GTRIMG Communication, which itself is wholly owned by GTRIMG Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, or GTRIMG Ltd., and together with GTRIMG Investments and GTRIMG Communication, the GTRIMG Entities, which itself is wholly owned by GTRIMG Foundation, a foundation incorporated under the laws of the Principality of Liechtenstein, or the Foundation, the beneficiaries of which are Messrs. Talia Zeevi, Rami Zeevi, Yael Zeevi Shoer, Michal Zeevi Bender, and Gur Zeevi, collectively, the GTRIMG Group, and (ii) 100,000 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(2) |
Includes (i) 17,686,108 ordinary shares beneficially owned on behalf of Legov Ltd, GlenRock Israel Ltd and Insight Capital Ltd, all under the same control, and (ii) 39,998 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants (for the same three (3) companies) exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(3) |
Includes (i) 17,686,108 ordinary shares beneficially owned, and (ii) 70,798 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(4) |
Includes (i) 1,648,286 ordinary shares beneficially owned, (ii) 4,284,008 ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of a convertible loan exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022, and (iii) 3,222,287 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(5) |
Includes
(i) 5,636,892 ordinary shares beneficially owned by Terra Venture Partners Sicar and Terra Venture LP, all under the saem control, (ii)
1,012,736 ordinary shares issuable to both companies upon the conversion of a convertible loan and exercisable within 60 days of May
16, 2022, and (ii) 122,221 ordinary shares issuable to both companies upon the exercise of warrants and exercisable within 60 days of
May 16, 2022. 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.
|
(6) |
Includes 6,612,381 ordinary shares beneficially owned. |
(7) |
Includes options to purchase 678,285 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(8) |
Includes options to purchase 612,161 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(9) |
Includes (i) 1,336,140 ordinary shares beneficially owned, and (ii) options to purchase 4,113,125 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
(10) |
Includes options to purchase 1,219,337 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days of May 16, 2022. |
(11) |
Includes options to purchase 1,219,337 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022.
|
(12) |
Includes
options to purchase 1,637,587 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022.
|
(13) |
Includes options to purchase 828,169 ordinary shares exercisable within 60 days as of May 16, 2022. |
Controlling Shareholder
Because
GTRIMG Investments Ltd. (and its affiliates) beneficially owned or controlled, directly and indirectly, 38.8 % of our issued and outstanding
ordinary shares as of May 15, 2022, it is considered a “controlled shareholder” under the Israeli Companies Law.
Record Holders
As of May 2, 2022, our ordinary shares were held by 86 registered holders (including CEDE & Co.). Based on the information provided
to us by our transfer agent, as of May 2, 2022, 16 registered holders were U.S. domiciled holders.
Changes
in Ownership of Major Shareholders
To our knowledge, the significant
changes in the percentage of beneficial ownership held by our major shareholders during the past three years have been as follows:
Changes in 2020 vs. 2019:
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Hypermarketing Inc – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
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Y.T.Y. Lenny Investments Ltd – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
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Fernando de la Vega – lost his 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
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|
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Amnon Mandelbaum – lost his 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
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|
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Bio Rad Laboratories Inc. – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
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|
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Ariel Lijtenstein – lost his 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
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ProSeed - Venture Capital Fund – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2020 |
Changes in 2019 vs. 2018:
|
● |
Hypermarketing Inc – exceeding 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
|
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|
● |
Y.T.Y. Lenny Investments Ltd – exceeding 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Bio Rad Laboratories Inc. – exceeding 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Ariel Lijtenstein – exceeding 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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ProSeed - Venture Capital Fund – exceeding 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Jet CU P.C.B. Ltd. – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Leifer Partners – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Marcelo Einhorn – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund LLC – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Infinity IP Bank International (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
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Hermetic Trust (1975) Ltd. (in trust for Israel Electric Corporation, Ltd.) – lost its 5% of beneficial ownership in 2019 |
B. Related Party Transactions
Please refer to Note 13 to
our consolidated financial statements that appear elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F for information regarding our related party
transactions and also to the following:
Employment and Services
Agreements. Employment and services agreements entered into with our senior managers (including our active Chairman), as described
above under “Item 6 B. — 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 “Item 6 C. — Board Practices — 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 “Item 6
E. — 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 Proceedings
Please refer to Note 9.b.
to our consolidated financial statements appear elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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 of directors and will depend on then-existing conditions, including
our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our board
of directors may deem relevant.
Payment of dividends may also
be subject to Israeli withholding taxes. See “Item 10 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, 2020 other than as described in Note 16 to our consolidated
financial statements appear elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
ITEM 9. The Offer and Listing.
9.A.4 Offer and Listing Details
Our ordinary shares are quoted
on the OTC Pink under the symbol “PVNNF.”
However, due to lack of available
resources, we have not been able to comply with our SEC periodic filing obligations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021. Accordingly,
as of September 29, 2021, the public quote for our stock has been removed form OTC Pink and trading in our stock has been restricted.
Once we file our annual report on Form 20-F for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the public reporting of our trading prices
is expected to resume. Thereafter, a new Form 211 will need to be filed with FINRA and following approval thereof by FINRA, unrestricted
trading in our stock on OTC Markets is expected to resume.
9.B. Plan of distribution
Not applicable.
9.C. Market for ordinary shares
Not applicable.
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.
General
As of December 31, 2020, our authorized share capital consists of 1,200,000,000
ordinary shares, par value NIS 0.01 (approximately $0.003) per share, of which 26,986,203 are issued and outstanding. On December 28,
2020, as part of the annual general meeting of the shareholders’, the authorized ordinary shares were increased by an additional
1,000,000,000 ordinary shares of NIS 0.01 (approximately $0.003) par value.
All of our outstanding ordinary
shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Our ordinary shares do not have any preemptive rights.
Registration Number and Purposes of the Company
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 Israeli
registration number 514287093. Our purpose is set forth in Section 4 of our articles of association and includes every lawful purpose.
Voting Rights and Conversion
All ordinary shares will have
identical voting and other rights in all respects.
Transfer of shares
Our fully paid ordinary shares
are issued in registered form and may be freely transferred under our amended and restated articles of association, unless the transfer
is restricted or prohibited by another instrument, applicable law or the rules of a stock exchange on which the shares are listed for
trade. The ownership or voting of our ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel is not restricted in any way by our amended and restated
articles of association or the laws of the State of Israel, except for ownership by nationals of some countries that are, or have been,
in a state of war with Israel.
Election of directors
Under our amended and restated
articles of association, our board of directors must consist of not less than three (3) but no more than seven (7) directors. Pursuant
to our amended and restated articles of association, each of our directors, other than the external directors, for whom special election
requirements apply under the Companies Law, will be appointed by a simple majority vote. Our Board consists of three (3) classes of directors
(not including external directors who do not form part of any class), with one class being elected each year by shareholders at the Company’s
annual general meeting for a term of approximately three years. A director shall hold office until his or her successors are elected and
qualified.
In addition, our amended and
restated articles of association allow our board of directors, at any time and from time to time, to appoint any person to be a director,
to fill a vacancy however created. Further, our board of directors has the power, at any time and from time to time, to appoint any
person to be a director in addition to the existing board of directors, so long as the total number of directors shall not at any time
exceed the maximum number prescribed by the our amended and restated articles of association. A director appointed by our board of directors
as aforementioned shall be deemed, for all intents and purposes, as having been appointed by the annual general meeting, and, without
derogating from the generality of the aforesaid, shall serve as a director until the expiry of the term of office of the class to which
he or she was appointed.
Further, under our amended
and restated articles of association, GTRIMG Investments Ltd., or GTRIMG, is entitled to designate one non-voting observer to the board
of directors, or the Observer. The Observer is entitled to attend and participate in all meetings of the board of directors in a non-voting,
observer capacity. Subject to limitations, the Observer is entitled to receive notice of, to attend and to receive copies of any documentation
distributed to the directors before, during or after, all meetings of the board of directors at the same time such notice or material
is provided or delivered to members of the board of directors. In addition, in the event that and conditioned upon the conversion of the
loan amount or the investment of at least US $2,000,000, GTRIMG shall be entitled to elect one director to our board of directors. Such
director shall serve as the chairman of the board of directors, provided that such nominee has the required qualifications under applicable
laws including the stock exchange rules then applicable. In the MOU, it was agreed that we would appoint a director nominated by GTRIMG
as chairman of the board in accordance with the terms of our amended and restated articles of association. As a result, Dov Farkash was
appointed as our Active Chairman of the Board of Directors commencing April 19, 2020.
Subsequently
to December 31, 2020, we and certain existing Company shareholders entered into definitive agreements relating to a private placement
of our Ordinary Shares for aggregate gross proceeds to us of $2,850,000. The Company anticipates receiving an additional $150,000 from
this round of the private placement from these investors. We issue an aggregate of 42,926,031 Ordinary Shares in respect of the $3.0
million investment as well as an additional 5,428,572 Ordinary Shares to certain of the investing Company shareholders as a consequence
of certain anti-dilution protection previously accorded to such shareholders The Private Placement offering is continuing in an effort
to raise additional capital on the same terms as described herein.
As
part of the $3.0 million investment described above, we agreed to the request of certain of the private placement investors (including
GTRIMG) to nominate three members to the Company’s board of directors. Upon the appointment of the three new directors, Ran Eisenberg,
the Company CEO and Dr. Astorre Modena, a Company director, have agreed to resign from the Company Board.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
We may declare a dividend
to be paid to the holders of our ordinary shares in proportion to their respective shareholdings. Under the Companies Law, dividend distributions
are determined by the board of directors and do not require the approval of the shareholders of a company unless the company’s articles
of association provide otherwise. Our amended and restated articles of association do not require shareholder approval of a dividend distribution
and provide that dividend distributions may be determined by our board of directors.
Pursuant to the Companies
Law, the distribution amount is limited to the greater of retained earnings or earnings generated over the previous two years, according
to our then last reviewed or audited financial statements, provided that the end of the period to which the financial statements relate
is not more than six months prior to the date of the distribution. If we do not meet such criteria, then we may distribute dividends only
with court approval. In each case, we are only permitted to distribute a dividend if our board of directors and the court, if applicable,
determines that there is no reasonable concern that payment of the dividend will prevent us from satisfying our existing and foreseeable
obligations as they become due.
In the event of our liquidation,
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of our ordinary shares in proportion to
their shareholdings. This right, as well as the right to receive dividends, may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution
rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.
Exchange Controls
There are currently no Israeli
currency control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our ordinary shares, proceeds from the sale of the shares or interest or
other payments to non-residents of Israel, except for shareholders who are subjects of countries that are, or have been, in a state of
war with Israel.
Shareholder meetings
Under Israeli law, we are
required to hold an annual general meeting of our shareholders once every calendar year that must be held no later than 15 months after
the date of the previous annual general meeting. All meetings other than the annual general meeting of shareholders are referred to in
our amended and restated articles of association as special general meetings. Our board of directors may call special general meetings
whenever it sees fit, at such time and place, within or outside of Israel, as it may determine. In addition, the Companies Law provides
that our board of directors is required to convene a special general meeting upon the written request of (i) any two or more of our directors
or one-quarter or more of the members of our board of directors or (ii) one or more shareholders holding, in the aggregate, either (a)
5% or more of our outstanding issued shares and 1% or more of our outstanding voting power or (b) 5% or more of our outstanding voting
power.
Subject to the provisions
of the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, shareholders entitled to participate and vote at general meetings are
the shareholders of record on a date to be decided by the board of directors, which may generally be between four and 21 days prior to
the date of the meeting, and in certain circumstances, between four and 40 days prior to the date of the meeting. Furthermore, the Companies
Law requires that resolutions regarding the following matters must be passed at a general meeting of our shareholders:
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amendments to our articles of association; |
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appointment or termination of our auditors; |
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appointment of external directors; |
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approval of certain related party transactions; |
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increases or reductions of our authorized share capital; |
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a merger; and |
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the exercise of our board of director’s powers by a general meeting, if our board of directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is required for our proper management. |
The Companies Law requires
that a notice of any annual general meeting or special general meeting be provided to shareholders at least 21 days prior to the meeting
and if the agenda of the meeting includes the appointment or removal of directors, the approval of transactions with office holders or
interested or related parties, or an approval of a merger, notice must be provided at least 35 days prior to the meeting. Under the Companies
Law and our amended and restated articles of association, shareholders are not permitted to take action by way of written consent in lieu
of a meeting.
Quorum
Pursuant to our amended and
restated articles of association, holders of our ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to
a vote before the shareholders at a general meeting. The quorum required for our general meetings of shareholders consists of at least
two shareholders (not in default in payment of any sum) present in person, by proxy or written ballot who hold or represent between or
among them at least 25% of the total our issued share capital. If within thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for the general
meeting the requisite quorum is not present, the meeting shall be dissolved, but shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next
week at the same time the following week and at the same place or to a later date, if so specified in advance in the notice of the general
meeting. All matters for which the general meeting was summoned shall be discussed at the adjourned meeting, provided that if the requisite
quorum is not present at the adjourned meeting within thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for such meeting, subject to the
provisions of applicable law, one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum, unless the meeting was
called pursuant to a request by our shareholders in accordance with the Companies Law, in which case the quorum required shall be one
or more shareholders, present in person or by proxy, and holding the number of shares required for making such request. No business shall
be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business that might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Vote Requirements
Our amended and restated articles
of association provide that all resolutions of our shareholders require a simple majority vote, unless otherwise required by the Companies
Law or by our amended and restated articles of association. For special majority requirements under the Companies Law see “Item
6 C. — Board Practices”. Under our amended and restated articles of association, the alteration of the rights, privileges,
preferences or obligations of any class of our shares requires a simple majority of the class so affected (or such other percentage of
the relevant class that may be set forth in the governing documents relevant to such class), in addition to the ordinary majority vote
of all classes of shares voting together as a single class at a shareholder meeting. Our amended and restated articles of association
also provide that a change to the provisions related to the committees of our board of directors, number of directors, the election or
removal of any director from office, our board of directors proceedings and mergers and business combinations, requires the vote of at
least 60% of our outstanding share capital having the right to vote, voting in person or by proxy at such general meeting. Another exception
to the simple majority vote requirement is a resolution for the voluntary winding up, or an approval of a scheme of arrangement or reorganization,
of the company pursuant to Section 350 of the Companies Law.
Access to corporate records
Under the Companies Law, all
shareholders generally have the right to review minutes of our general meetings, our shareholder register, including with respect to material
shareholders, our articles of association, our financial statements, other documents as provided in the Companies Law, and any document
we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israeli Securities Authority. Any shareholder who
specifies the purpose of its request may request to review any document in our possession that relates to any action or transaction with
a related party which requires shareholder approval under the Companies Law. We may deny a request to review a document if we determine
that the request was not made in good faith, that the document contains a commercial secret or a patent or that the document’s disclosure
may otherwise impair our interests.
Acquisitions under Israeli law
Merger
The Companies Law permits
merger transactions if approved by each party’s board of directors and, unless certain requirements described under the Companies
Law are met, a majority of each party’s shareholders and, in the case of the target company, a majority vote of each class of its
shares, voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders meeting. The board of directors of a merging company is required pursuant to the
Companies Law to discuss and determine whether in its opinion there exists a reasonable concern that as a result of a proposed merger,
the surviving company will not be able to satisfy its obligations towards its creditors, such determination taking into account the financial
status of the merging companies. If the board of directors has determined that such a concern exists, it may not approve a proposed merger.
Following the approval of the board of directors of each of the merging companies, the boards of directors must jointly prepare a merger
proposal for submission to the Israeli Registrar of Companies.
For purposes of the shareholder
vote, unless a court rules otherwise, the merger will not be deemed approved if a majority of the shares represented at the shareholders
meeting that are held by parties other than the other party to the merger, or by any person who holds 25% or more of the outstanding shares
or the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors of the other party, vote against the merger. In addition, if the non-surviving entity
of the merger has more than one class of shares, the merger must be approved by each class of shareholders. If the transaction would have
been approved but for the separate approval of each class or the exclusion of the votes of certain shareholders as provided above, a court
may still approve the merger upon the request of holders of at least 25% of the voting rights of a company, if the court holds that the
merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the value of the parties to the merger and the consideration offered to the shareholders.
Pursuant to the Companies Law, if a merger is with a company’s controlling shareholder or if the controlling shareholder has a personal
interest in the merger, then the merger is instead subject to the same special majority approval that governs all extraordinary transactions
with controlling shareholders (as described above under “Board Practices — Fiduciary duties and approval of specified related
party transactions under Israeli law.”). In addition, the Company shall not engage in any Business Combination with any Interested
Shareholder for a period of three years following the time that such shareholder became an Interested Shareholder, unless either prior
to such time the Board of Directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming
an Interested Shareholder; or upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an Interested Shareholder,
the Interested Shareholder owned at least 85% of the Voting Shares of the Company outstanding at the time the transaction commenced.
Under the Companies Law, each
merging company must send a copy of the proposed merger plan to its secured creditors. Unsecured creditors are entitled to receive notice
of the merger pursuant to regulations promulgated under the Companies Law. Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed
merger, the court may delay or prevent the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger,
the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations the target company. The court may further give instructions to secure
the rights of creditors.
In addition, a merger may
not be completed unless at least fifty (50) days have passed from the date that a proposal for approval of the merger was filed with the
Israeli Registrar of Companies and thirty (30) days from the date that shareholder approval of both merging companies was obtained.
Full tender offer
A person wishing to acquire
shares of a public Israeli company and who would as a result hold over 90% of the target company’s issued and outstanding share
capital or that of a certain class of shares is required by the Companies Law to make a tender offer to all of the company’s shareholders
or the shareholders who holds shares of the same class for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company or
of the same class, as applicable.
If the shareholders who do
not respond to or accept the offer hold less than 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class
of the shares, all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law (provided
that a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in such tender offer shall have approved it, which condition shall
not apply if offerees holding less than 2% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital failed to approve such tender offer).
Upon a successful completion
of such a full tender offer, any shareholder that was an offeree in such tender offer, whether the shareholder accepted the tender offer
or not, may, within six months from the date of acceptance of the tender offer, petition the Israeli court to determine whether the tender
offer was for less than fair value and that the fair value should be paid as determined by the court unless the acquirer stipulated that
a shareholder that accepts the offer may not seek appraisal rights. If the shareholders who did not respond or accept the tender offer
hold at least 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class, or the shareholders who did not
accept the tender offer hold 2% or more of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company (or of the applicable class), the acquirer
may not acquire shares of the company that will increase its holdings to more than 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share
capital or of the applicable class from shareholders who accepted the tender offer.
Special tender offer
The Companies Law provides
that an acquisition of shares of a public Israeli company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition
the purchaser would become a holder of at least 25% of the voting rights in the company. This rule does not apply if there is already
another holder of at least 25% of the voting rights in the company. Similarly, the Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares
in a public company must be made by means of a tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of more
than 45% of the voting rights in the company, if there is no other shareholder of the company who holds more than 45% of the voting rights
in the company.
These requirements do not
apply if the acquisition (i) occurs in the context of a private placement, provided that the general meeting approved the acquisition
as a private offering whose purpose is to give the acquirer at least 25% of the voting rights in the company if there is no person who
holds at least 25% of the voting rights in the company, or as a private offering whose purpose is to give the acquirer 45% of the voting
rights in the company, if there is no person who holds 45% of the voting rights in the company, (ii) was from a shareholder holding at
least 25% of the voting rights in the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder of at least 25% of the voting rights in the
company, or (iii) was from a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder
of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company.
The special tender offer may
be consummated only if (i) at least 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares will be acquired by the
offeror and (ii) the special tender offer is accepted by a majority of the votes of those offerees who gave notice of their position in
respect of the offer, excluding the votes of a holder of control in the offeror, a person who has personal interest in acceptance of the
special tender offer, holders of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company or anyone on their behalf, including their relatives
and entities controlled by them.
In the event that a special
tender offer is made, a company’s board of directors is required to express its opinion on the advisability of the offer, or shall
abstain from expressing any opinion if it is unable to do so, provided that it gives the reasons for its abstention. In addition, the
board of directors must disclose any personal interest each member of the board of directors has in the offer or stems therefrom. An office
holder in a target company who, in his or her capacity as an office holder, performs an action the purpose of which is to cause the failure
of an existing or foreseeable special tender offer or is to impair the chances of its acceptance, is liable to the potential purchaser
and shareholders for damages resulting from his or her acts, unless such office holder acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds
to believe he or she was acting for the benefit of the company. However, office holders of the target company may negotiate with the potential
purchaser in order to improve the terms of the special tender offer, and may further negotiate with third parties in order to obtain a
competing offer.
If a special tender offer
was accepted by a majority of the shareholders who announced their stand on such offer, then shareholders who did not respond to the special
tender offer or had objected to the offer may accept the offer within four days of the last day set for the acceptance of the offer.
In the event that a special
tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it or under common control with the purchaser or such
controlling person or entity shall refrain from making a subsequent tender offer for the purchase of shares of the target company and
cannot execute a merger with the target company for a period of one year from the date of the offer, unless the purchaser or such person
or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special tender offer.
Borrowing Powers
Pursuant to the Companies
Law and our amended and restated articles of association, our Board of Directors may, from time to time, raise or borrow or secure the
payment of any sum or sums of money for the purposes of the Company. The Company, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may also raise
or secure the payment or repayment of such sum or sums in such manner and upon such terms and conditions in all respects as it deems fit,
and in particular by the issue of debentures or debenture stock of the Company charged upon all or any part of the property of the Company
(both present and future) including its unissued and/or its uncalled authorized capital for the time being.
The Company may, from time
to time, by resolution of the Board of Directors, borrow funds or guarantee and/or provide securities for the payment of any sum by Company
or by any other third party. Furthermore, the Company may, by resolution of the Board of Directors, borrow or secure the payment of such
sums in the manner and under the conditions as it deems fit, whether by means of issuing debt Securities, whether against a floating charge
on all or a portion of the Company’s assets, whether owned at such time or in the future, including capital not yet called, against
liens or other security interests of any kind. Any debt Securities may be issued at a discount or a premium or in any other matter and
on such terms and conditions that the Board of Directors deems appropriate, including with conversion, redemption or allotment rights.
Changes in Capital
Our amended and restated articles
of association enable us to increase or reduce our share capital. Any such changes are subject to Israeli law and must be approved by
a resolution duly passed by our shareholders at a general meeting by voting on such change in the capital. In addition, transactions that
have the effect of reducing capital, such as the declaration and payment of dividends in the absence of sufficient retained earnings or
profits, require the approval of both our board of directors and an Israeli court.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar
for our ordinary shares is Vstock Transfer, LLC. Its address is 18 Lafayette Place Woodmere, New York 11598, and its telephone number
is (212) 828-8436.
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 B. — Business Overview — Research and Development Agreements, License Agreements and Material Contracts”.
Employment Agreements
See “Item 6 B. —
Compensation — Employment Agreements and Arrangements with Directors and Related Parties.”
Loans, Convertible Loans and Private Placements
Please refer to Note 8 and
Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements appear elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F for information regarding our loans
and convertible loans and sale of equity, respectively.
Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex
On December 3, 2017, we entered
into a Share Exchange Agreement with Digiflex according to which the Digiflex shareholders, representing the entire share capital of Digiflex
on a fully diluted basis, sold to and exchanged with us all shares of Digiflex which they held in consideration for our ordinary shares,
par value NIS 0.01 (approximately $0.003) per share at a conversion rate of 33.698 shares of Digiflex for each share of the Company.
Digiflex offers a number of
key printer technologies and inks which we believe may allow us to expand our “Complete Solution Approach” for our customers.
As a result, we would have the unique ability to support additive digital printing design, prototyping and mass production of electronic
devices, such as PCBs, all in one. We believe this approach will be very attractive to customers, especially when coupling it with our
cost-efficient and mass production compatible line of Sicrys™ silver and copper conductive inks. Historically, Digiflex printers
have been used for low volume printing. We are in the process of adapting these printers to serve the electronics market and to be compatible
with our Sicrys™ inks, as well as adapting the non-conductive polymeric inks developed by Digiflex so that they could be utilized
in the printing of full PCBs.
Share Exchange Agreement with Jet CU
On July 26, 2020, we consummated
the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Jet CU, a company that was incorporated in Israel in May 2014 and was inactive on the purchase
date since its operational assets were sold a few years before. The main balance sheet items as of the purchase date were cash and liability
to the Authority of approximately $0.8 million and approximately $1.0 million, respectively. We issued 2,000,000 ordinary shares and warrants
to purchase 8,000,000 ordinary shares, at an exercise price of $0.26 per share as a consideration for the purchase. The warrants exercisable
until the date which is the earlier of (i) 24 months as of the purchase date or (ii) Merger/Acquisition transaction or an IPO.
During 2021, the Company issued
additional 5,428,572 Ordinary Shares to Jet CU former shareholders as an additional consideration as a consequence of certain anti-dilution
protection previously accorded. Refer to Note 16.d. to our consolidated financial statements appear elsewhere in this annual report on
Form 20-F for additional information.
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 E. — Taxation.”
E. Taxation
The
following description is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership
and 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 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 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
are generally subject to corporate tax. In 2018 and thereafter the corporate tax rate is 23% of their taxable income. However, the effective
tax rate payable by a company that derives income from an Approved Enterprise, a Preferred Enterprise, a Beneficiary Enterprise or a Technology
Enterprise (as discussed below) may be considerably less.
Capital gains derived by an
Israeli resident company are generally subject to corporate tax rate.
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
Company,” which is defined as Israeli resident-company incorporated in Israel, of which 90% or more of its income in any tax year,
other than income from certain government loans, is derived from an “Industrial Enterprise” that it owns and located in Israel
or in the “Area”, in accordance with the definition in section 3a of the Ordinance. An “Industrial Enterprise”
is defined as an enterprise which is held by an Industrial Company 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 purchased patent, rights to use a patent and rights to know-how, which are used for the development
or advancement of the Industrial Enterprise, 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 |
| ● | expenses
related to a public offering are deductible in equal amounts over three years commencing on the year of the offering. |
We believe that we currently
qualify as an “Industrial Company” within the meaning of the Industry Encouragement Law. 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, generally referred to as the Investment Law, provides certain incentives for capital investments in
production facilities (or other eligible assets). Generally, an investment program that is implemented in accordance with the provisions
of the Investment Law, is entitled to benefits. These benefits may include cash grants from the Israeli government and tax benefits, based
upon, among other things, the geographic location in Israel of the facility in which the investment and manufacture activity are made.
In order to qualify for these incentives, an Approved Enterprise, a Beneficiary Enterprise, a Preferred Enterprise or a Technology Enterprise
is required to comply with the requirements of the Investment Law.
The Investment Law was significantly
amended effective as of April 1, 2005 (the “2005 Amendment”), as of January 1, 2011 (the “2011 Amendment”) and
as of January 1, 2017 (the “2017 Amendment”). Pursuant to the 2005 Amendment, tax benefits granted in accordance with the
provisions of the Investment Law prior to its revision by the 2005 Amendment remain in force but any benefits granted subsequently are
subject to the provisions of the amended Investment Law. Similarly, 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. However, companies entitled to benefits
under the Investment Law as in effect prior to January 1, 2011 were entitled to choose to continue to enjoy such benefits, provided that
certain conditions are met, or elect instead, irrevocably, to forego such benefits and have the benefits of the 2011 Amendment apply.
The 2017 Amendment introduces new benefits for Technological Enterprises, alongside the existing tax benefits.
The following discussion is a summary
of the Investment Law following its recent amendments:
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, Preferred Enterprise status and is controlled and managed from
Israel. Pursuant to the 2011 Amendment, a Preferred Company is entitled to a reduced corporate tax rate of 15% with respect to its income
derived by its Preferred Enterprise in 2011 and 2012, unless the Preferred Enterprise is located in a specified development zone, in which
case the rate will be 10%. Under the 2011 Amendment, such corporate tax rate was reduced from 15% and 10%, respectively, to 12.5% and
7%, respectively, in 2013, 16% and 9% respectively, in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and 16% and 7.5%, respectively, in 2017 and thereafter. 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 benefits period of 10 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, 2017, the definition for ‘Special Preferred Enterprise’ includes less stringent
conditions. The tax benefits under the 2011 Amendment also include accelerated depreciation and amortization for tax purposes.
As of January 1, 2014, dividends
distributed from income which is attributed to a “Preferred Enterprise” or to a Special Preferred Enterprise will be subject
to withholding tax at source at the following rates: (i) Israeli resident corporations – 0%, (although, if such dividends are subsequently
distributed to individuals or a non-Israeli company, withholding tax at a rate of 20% or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable
tax treaty will apply (subject to the receipt in advance of a valid certificate from the Israel Tax Authority allowing for a reduced tax
rate)) (ii) Israeli resident individuals – 20% (iii) non-Israeli residents (individuals and corporations) - 20%, subject to a reduced
tax rate under the provisions of an applicable double tax treaty (subject to the receipt in advance of a valid certificate from the Israel
Tax Authority allowing for a reduced tax rate). In 2017-2019 dividends paid out of preferred income attributed to a Special Preferred
Enterprise, directly to a foreign parent company, are subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 5% (temporary provisions).
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.
New Tax benefits under the 2017 Amendment
that became effective on January 1, 2017
The 2017 Amendment was enacted
as part of the Economic Efficiency Law that was published on December 29, 2016, and is effective as of January 1, 2017. The 2017 Amendment
provides new tax benefits for two types of “Technology Enterprises”, as described below, and is in addition to the other existing
tax beneficial programs under the Investment Law.
The 2017 Amendment provides
that a technology company satisfying certain conditions will qualify as a “Preferred Technology Enterprise” and will thereby
enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 12% on income that qualifies as “Preferred Technology Income”, as defined in the Investment
Law. The tax rate is further reduced to 7.5% for a Preferred Technology Enterprise located in development zone “A”. In addition,
a Preferred Technology Company will enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 12% on capital gain derived from the sale of certain “Benefitted
Intangible Assets” (as defined in the Investment Law) to a related foreign company if the Benefitted Intangible Assets were acquired
from a foreign company on or after January 1, 2017 for at least NIS 200 million (approximately $62 million), and the sale receives prior
approval from NATI.
The 2017 Amendment further provides that a technology company satisfying
certain conditions will qualify as a “Special Preferred Technology Enterprise” and will thereby enjoy a reduced corporate
tax rate of 6% on “Preferred Technology Income” regardless of the company’s geographic location within Israel. In addition,
a Special Preferred Technology Enterprise will enjoy a reduced corporate tax rate of 6% on capital gain derived from the sale of certain
“Benefitted Intangible Assets” to a related foreign company if the Benefitted Intangible Assets were either developed by the
Special Preferred Technology Enterprise or acquired from a foreign company on or after January 1, 2017, and the sale received prior approval
from NATI. A Special Preferred Technology Enterprise that acquires Benefitted Intangible Assets from a foreign company for more than NIS
500 million (approximately $156 million) will be eligible for these benefits for at least ten years, subject to certain approvals as specified
in the Investment Law.
Dividends distributed by a
Preferred Technology Enterprise or a Special Preferred Technology Enterprise, paid out of Preferred Technology Income, are generally subject
to withholding tax at source at the rate of 20% or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable tax treaty (subject to the receipt
in advance of a valid certificate from the Israel Tax Authority allowing for a reduced tax rate). However, if such dividends are paid
to an Israeli company, no tax is required to be withheld (although, if such dividends are subsequently distributed from such Israeli company
to individuals or a non-Israeli company, withholding tax at a rate of 20% or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable tax treaty
will apply). If such dividends are distributed to a foreign company and other conditions are met, the withholding tax rate will be 4%
(or a lower rate under a tax treaty, if applicable, subject to the receipt in advance of a valid certificate from the Israel Tax Authority
allowing for a reduced tax rate).
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
Capital Gains Taxes Applicable to Non-Israeli
Resident Shareholders.
Israeli capital gains tax
is imposed on the disposal of capital assets by a non-Israeli resident if such assets are either (i) located in Israel; (ii) shares
or rights to shares in an Israeli resident company, or (iii) represent, directly or indirectly, rights to assets located in Israel, unless
a specific exemption is available or unless a tax treaty between Israel and the seller’s country of residence provides otherwise.
Capital gain is generally subject to tax at the corporate tax rate (23% in 2018 and thereafter), if generated by a company, or at the
rate of 25% if generated by an individual, or 30% in the case of sale of shares by a Substantial Shareholder (i.e., a person who
holds, directly or indirectly, alone or together with such person’s relative or another person who collaborates with such person
on a permanent basis, 10% or more of any of the company’s “means of control” (including, among other things, the right
to receive profits of the company, voting rights, the right to receive proceeds upon liquidation and the right to appoint a director))
at the time of sale or at any time during the preceding 12-month period. Individual and corporate shareholders dealing in securities in
Israel are taxed at the tax rates applicable to business income (a corporate tax rate for a corporation and a marginal tax rate of up
to 47% for an individual in 2019) unless the benefiting provisions of an applicable treaty applies.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
a non-Israeli resident (individual or corporation) who derives capital gains from the sale of shares in an Israeli resident company that
were purchased after the company was listed for trading on a recognized stock exchange in Israel or outside of Israel will generally be
exempt from Israeli tax so long as the shares were not held through a permanent establishment that the non-resident maintains in Israel
(and with respect to shares listed on a recognized stock exchange outside of Israel, so long as neither the shareholder nor the particular
capital gain is otherwise subject to the Israeli Income Tax Law (Inflationary Adjustments) 5745-1985). However, non-Israeli corporations
will not be entitled to the foregoing exemption if Israeli residents: (i) have a controlling interest of more than 25% in such non-Israeli
corporation or (ii) are the beneficiaries of, or are entitled to, 25% or more of the revenues or profits of such non-Israeli corporation,
whether directly or indirectly. These provisions dealing with capital gain are not applicable to a person whose gains from selling or
otherwise disposing of the shares are deemed to be business income.
Additionally, a sale of shares
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 United States-Israel Tax Treaty, the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares of an Israeli company by a shareholder who
(i) is a U.S. resident (for purposes of the treaty), (ii) holds the shares as a capital asset, and (iii) is entitled to claim the benefits
afforded to such person by the treaty, is generally exempt from Israeli capital gains tax. Such exemption will not apply if: (i) the capital
gain arising from such sale, exchange or disposition is attributed to real estate located in Israel; (ii) the capital gain arising from
such sale, exchange or disposition is attributed to royalties; (iii) the capital gain arising from the sale, exchange or disposition that
can be attributed to a permanent establishment of the shareholder that is maintained in Israel under certain terms; (iv) the shareholder
holds, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of the voting rights during any part of the 12-month period preceding such
sale exchange or other disposition, subject to certain conditions; or (v) such U.S. resident is an individual and was present in Israel
for a period or periods aggregating to 183 days or more during the relevant taxable year. 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 United States-Israel Tax Treaty,
a U.S. resident would be permitted to claim a credit for such taxes against the U.S. federal income tax imposed with respect to such sale,
exchange or disposition, subject to the limitations under U.S. law applicable to foreign tax credits. The United States-Israel Tax Treaty
does not relate to U.S. state or local taxes.
In some instances where our
shareholders may be liable for Israeli tax on the sale of their ordinary shares, the payment of the consideration may be subject to the
withholding of Israeli tax at source. 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. Specifically, in transactions involving a sale of all of the shares of an
Israeli resident company, such as a merger or other transaction, the Israel Tax Authority may require from shareholders who are not liable
for Israeli tax to sign declarations in forms specified by that authority or obtain a specific exemption from the Israel Tax Authority
to confirm their status as non-Israeli residents, and, in the absence of such declarations or exemptions, may require the purchaser of
the shares to withhold taxes at source.
Taxation of Non-Israeli Shareholders on Receipt
of Dividends.
Non-Israeli residents (whether
individuals or corporations) are generally subject to Israeli income tax on the receipt of dividends paid on our ordinary shares at the
rate of 25% or 30% (if the recipient is a Substantial Shareholder at the time of receiving the dividend or at any time during the preceding
12 months) or 15% if the dividend is distributed from income attributed to a Benefited Enterprise and 20% with respect to a Preferred
Enterprise, subject to certain conditions. Such dividends are generally subject to Israeli withholding tax at a rate of 25% so long as
the shares are registered with a nominee company (whether the recipient is a Substantial Shareholder or not) and 15% if the dividend is
distributed from income attributed to a Benefited Enterprise or 20% if the dividend is distributed from income attributed to an Preferred
Enterprise, unless a reduced rate is provided under an applicable tax treaty (subject to the receipt of a valid certificate from the Israel
Tax Authority allowing for a reduced tax rate).
For example, under the United
States-Israel Tax Treaty, the maximum rate of tax withheld at source in Israel on dividends paid to a holder of our ordinary shares who
is a U.S. resident (for purposes of the United States-Israel Tax Treaty) is 25%. However, generally, the maximum rate of withholding tax
for dividends not generated by a Benefited Enterprise and paid to a U.S. corporation holding 10% or more of the outstanding voting rights
from the start of the tax year preceding the distribution of the dividend through (and including) the distribution of the dividend, is
12.5%, provided that not more than 25% of the gross income for such preceding year consists of certain types of dividends and interest.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a distribution of dividends to non-Israeli residents is subject to withholding tax at source at a rate
of 15% if the dividend is distributed from income attributed to a Benefited Enterprise for such U.S. corporation shareholder, provided
that the condition related to our gross income for the previous year (as set forth in the previous sentence) is met. U.S. residents who
are subject to Israeli withholding tax on a dividend may be entitled to a credit or deduction for United States federal income tax purposes
in the amount of the taxes withheld, subject to detailed rules contained in U.S. tax legislation.
If the dividend is attributable
partly to income derived from a Benefited Enterprise or a Preferred Enterprise, and partly from other sources of income, the withholding
rate will be a blended rate reflecting the relative portions of the two types of income.
Estate and Gift Tax.
Israeli law presently does
not impose estate or gift taxes.
Excess Tax.
Beginning on January 1, 2013, an additional tax liability at the
rate of 2% was added to the applicable tax rate on the annual taxable income of individuals (whether any such individual is an Israeli
resident or non-Israeli resident) exceeding a certain level, including, but not limited to, dividends, interest and capital gain. Pursuant
to new legislation enacted recently, such tax rate was increased to 3% on annual income exceeding NIS 651,600 (approximately$202,674)
in 2020 and NIS 649,560 (approximately $202,040) in 2019 (which amounts are linked to the annual change in the Israeli consumer price
index).
U.S. Federal Income Taxation
The following is a description
of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the acquisition, ownership and disposition
of our ordinary shares. This description addresses only the U.S. federal income tax consequences to purchasers of our ordinary shares
and that will hold such ordinary shares as capital assets. This description does not address tax considerations applicable to holders
that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation:
| ● | banks,
financial institutions or insurance companies; |
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real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies or grantor trusts; |
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dealers or traders in securities, commodities or currencies; |
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certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
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persons that received our ordinary shares as compensation for the performance of services; |
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persons that will hold our ordinary shares as part of a “hedging,” “integrated” or “conversion” transaction or as a position in a “straddle” for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
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partnerships (including entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities, or holders that will hold our ordinary shares through such an entity; |
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U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar; or |
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holders that own directly, indirectly or through attribution 10.0% or more of the voting power or value of our ordinary shares. |
Moreover, this description
does not address the United States federal estate, gift, alternative minimum tax or net investment income tax consequences, or any state,
local or non-U.S. tax consequences, of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares.
This description is based
on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, existing, proposed and temporary U.S. Treasury Regulations and judicial
and administrative interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect and available on the date hereof. Each of the foregoing is subject
to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below. There can be no assurances that
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will not take a different position concerning the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and
disposition of our ordinary shares or that such a position would not be sustained.
For purposes of this description,
a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
| ● | a
citizen or resident of the United States; |
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a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, including the District of Columbia; |
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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a trust if such trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and (2) one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of such trust. |
If a partnership (or any other
entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership
will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such a partner or partnership should consult
its tax advisor as to its tax consequences.
You should consult your
tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our ordinary
shares.
Distributions
Subject to the discussion
below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” if you are a U.S. Holder, the gross amount of any
distribution that we pay you with respect to our ordinary shares before reduction for any non-U.S. taxes withheld therefrom generally
will be includible in your income as dividend income to the extent such distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings
and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent that the amount of any cash distribution exceeds our
current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, it will be treated first as a tax
free return of your adjusted tax basis in our ordinary shares and thereafter as capital gain. We do not expect to maintain calculations
of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, if you are a U.S. Holder, you should expect that the
entire amount of any cash distribution generally will be reported as dividend income to you; provided, however, that distributions of
ordinary shares to U.S. Holders that are part of a pro rata distribution to all of our shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S.
federal income tax. Non-corporate U.S. Holders may qualify for the lower rates of taxation with respect to dividends on ordinary shares
applicable to long term capital gains (i.e., gains from the sale of capital assets held for more than one year), provided that certain
conditions are met, including certain holding period requirements and the absence of certain risk reduction transactions. Moreover, such
reduced rate shall not apply if we are a PFIC for the taxable year in which it pays a dividend or were a PFIC for the preceding taxable
year. Dividends will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally allowed to corporate U.S. Holders.
If you are a U.S. Holder,
subject to the discussion below, dividends that we pay you with respect to our ordinary shares will be treated as foreign source income,
which may be relevant in calculating your foreign tax credit limitation. Subject to certain conditions and limitations, non-U.S. tax withheld
on dividends may be deducted from your taxable income or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability. The limitation on foreign
taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends that we distribute
generally should constitute “passive category income,” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, “general category income.”
A foreign tax credit for foreign taxes imposed on distributions may be denied if you do not satisfy certain minimum holding period requirements.
The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and you should consult your tax advisor to determine whether
and to what extent you will be entitled to this credit.
Although, as discussed above,
dividends that we pay to a U.S. Holder will generally be treated as foreign source income, for periods in which we are a “United
States-owned foreign corporation,” a portion of dividends paid by us may be treated as U.S. source income solely for purposes of
the foreign tax credit. We would be treated as a United States-owned foreign corporation if 50% or more of the total value or total voting
power of our stock is owned, directly, indirectly or by attribution, by United States persons. To the extent any portion of our dividends
is treated as U.S. source income pursuant to this rule, the ability of a U.S. Holder to claim a foreign tax credit for any Israeli withholding
taxes payable in respect of our dividends may be limited. A U.S. Holder entitled to benefits under the United States-Israel Tax Treaty
may, however, elect to treat any dividends as foreign source income for foreign tax credit purposes if the dividend income is separated
from other income items for purposes of calculating the U.S. Holder’s foreign tax credit. U.S. Holders should consult their own
tax advisors about the impact of, and any exception available to, the special sourcing rule described in this paragraph, and the desirability
of making, and the method of making, such an election.
The amount of any dividend
income paid in NIS will be the U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless
of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt,
you should not be required to recognize exchange gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. You may have exchange gain or loss if
the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt. Exchange gain or loss will be treated as U.S.-source ordinary income
or loss.
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Ordinary
Shares
Subject to the discussion
below under “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” if you are a U.S. Holder, you generally will recognize
an amount of gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares equal to the difference between the amount
realized on such sale, exchange or other disposition and your tax basis in our ordinary shares, and such gain or loss will be capital
gain or loss. The tax basis in an ordinary share generally will equal the U.S. dollar cost of such ordinary share. If you are a non-corporate
U.S. Holder, capital gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of ordinary shares generally will be eligible for a preferential
rate of taxation applicable to capital gains, if your holding period for such ordinary shares exceeds one year. The deductibility of capital
losses for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to limitations under the Code. Any such gain or loss that a U.S. Holder recognizes
generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
If an Israeli tax is imposed
on the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares, your amount realized will include the gross amount of the proceeds of the sale
or other disposition before deduction of the Israeli tax. Because your gain from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares
will generally be U.S.-source gain, and you may use foreign tax credits to offset only the portion of U.S. federal income tax liability
that is attributable to foreign source income, you may be unable to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to the Israeli tax, if any,
on gains. You should consult your tax adviser as to whether the Israeli tax on gains may be creditable against your U.S. federal income
tax on foreign-source income from other sources.
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 the corporation’s income, assets,
and activities for such year. We have not determined whether we have been a PFIC for any previous year prior to 2020. Also we cannot assure
that we will not be considered a PFIC for 2020, based on our estimation, we do not expect to be a PFIC for the 2020 tax year. We did not
conduct an analysis whether we will be a PFIC in 2021 or in any future years.
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.
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.
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.
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. Since our ordinary shares are quoted only on the OTC Pink, they may not currently qualify as marketable
stock for purposes of the election and therefore the election may not be available to a U.S. Holder. U.S. Holders should consult their
own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our ordinary shares under
their particular circumstances.
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 “Item 10 E. — Taxation — 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, and a U.S. Holder may not make 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 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, certain U.S.
Investors are required 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
U.S. backup withholding tax and
information reporting requirements may apply to certain payments to certain holders of stock. Information reporting generally will apply
to payments of dividends on, and to proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of, our ordinary shares made within the United States,
or by a United States payor or United States middleman, to a holder of our ordinary shares, other than an exempt recipient (including
a payee that is not a United States person that provides an appropriate certification and certain other persons). Payments made (and sales
or other dispositions effected at an office) outside the U.S. will be subject to information reporting in limited circumstances. A payor
will be required to withhold backup withholding tax from any payments of dividends on, or the proceeds from the sale or redemption of,
ordinary shares within the United States, or by a United States payor or United States middleman, to a holder, other than an exempt recipient,
if such holder fails to furnish its correct taxpayer identification number or otherwise fails to comply with, or establish an exemption
from, such backup withholding tax requirements, or to report dividends required to be shown on the holder’s U.S. federal income
tax returns. Back up withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as
a credit against the beneficial owner’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and any excess amounts withheld under the backup
withholding rules may be refunded, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
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.
THIS SUMMARY OF MATERIAL
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES IS NOT TAX ADVICE. THE DETERMINATION OF THE ACTUAL TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR A U.S. HOLDER WILL DEPEND
ON THE U.S. HOLDER’S SPECIFIC SITUATION. U.S. HOLDERS OF ORDINARY SHARES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES
OF ACQUIRING, OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX AND ANY
STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND OF CHANGES IN THOSE LAWS.
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 through the SEC’s
website at http://www.sec.gov.
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 are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange
Act. Furthermore, as a foreign private issuer, we are also not subject to the requirements of Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure) promulgated
under the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not be required under the Exchange Act to file annual or other reports and consolidated financial
statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. Instead,
we must file with the SEC, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, or such other applicable time as required by the SEC, an
annual report on Form 20-F containing consolidated financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. We
also intend to furnish certain other material information to the SEC under cover of Form 6-K.
We maintain a corporate website
at www.pvnanocell.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of
this annual report on Form 20-F. We have included our website address in this annual report on Form 20-F solely as an inactive textual
reference.
I. Subsidiary Information.
We have three (3) wholly owned
subsidiaries, Nano Size Ltd., a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on December 31, 2009,
Digiflex Ltd. (including its two wholly owned subsidiaries, one was dissolved in March 2019), which we acquired on December 3, 2017 and
Jet CU, a private company organized under the laws of the state of Israel which we acquired on July 26, 2020.
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. The majority of our expenses are denominated in NIS. 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
Our exposure to interest rate
risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the interest income generated by excess cash invested in bank deposits. We have
not used any derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio or for cash management purposes. Interest-earning instruments
carry a degree of interest rate risk. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in
interest rates. However, our future interest income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates.
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.