Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these
consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenue, expenses, and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe
are reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from
these estimates. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and our actual results, our future financial
statements will be affected.
The critical accounting policies requiring estimates, assumptions, and judgments that we believe have the
most significant impact on our consolidated financial statements are described below.
We determine the appropriate revenue recognition for our contracts with customers by analyzing the type,
terms and conditions of each contract. We classify the revenue components as products according to the attributes of the underlying components.
We sell our on-premises software licenses through both perpetual and term-based license agreements. Our
products offer the same functionality whether our customers receive them through a perpetual or term-based license. We deliver our software
licenses electronically. Electronic delivery occurs when we provide the channel partner or customer with access to our software and license
key via a secure portal. We generally recognize revenues from on-premises software licenses upfront when we make the software available
to the channel partner or, if we are selling directly, customer. We recognize hardware sales upon delivery.
We generally recognize revenues from software sold through term-based license agreements upfront, upon
delivery to the channel partner or, if we are selling directly, customer. We defer the associated maintenance revenues and recognize them
over the contract period. Assuming we expect to recover the costs, we capitalize all incremental costs we incur to obtain a contract with
a customer that we would not have incurred if we had not obtained the contract. We include amortization expense in sales and marketing
expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. We amortize costs incurred in obtaining a contract as a sales and marketing expense
on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. We periodically review these costs for impairment.
Our contract payment terms typically range between 30 and 120 days. We assess collectability based on several
factors, including collection history.
Our contracts with customers for software licenses include maintenance and may also include training and/or
professional services. Maintenance consists of fees for providing software updates and technical support for our products for a specified
term. We recognize maintenance revenues ratably over the contractual service period. We bill for professional services on a fixed fee
basis and recognize revenues as we perform the services. We defer payments received in advance of services performed and recognize such
payments when we perform the related services.
In contracts with multiple performance obligations, we account for individual performance obligations separately
if they are distinct. We allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price
out of the total consideration of the contract. For maintenance and support contracts, we determine the standalone selling price based
on the price at which we separately sell a renewal contract. We determine the standalone selling price for sales of licenses using the
residual approach. For professional services, we determine the standalone selling prices based on the price at which we separately sell
those services.
We measure and recognize share-based compensation expense in our consolidated financial statements based
on the grant date fair value of the award. We recognize the grant date fair value of the award as an expense based on the graded vesting
attribution method over the requisite service period (primarily a four-year period).
We estimated the grant date fair value of share options for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020
using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Our use of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the input of highly subjective
assumptions, including estimated fair value of our ordinary share price, expected share price volatility and expected term. The fair value
of restricted stock units ("RSU") is based on the closing market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.
Following our initial public offering on April 11, 2019, our ordinary shares are publicly traded, and therefore
we currently base the value of our ordinary shares on their market price.
Any changes in these highly subjective assumptions would significantly impact our share-based compensation
expense.
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of taxes
payable or refundable for the current year and the deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that
we have recognized in our financial statements or tax returns.
We measure current and deferred tax liabilities and assets based on provisions of the relevant tax law.
We reduce the measurement of deferred tax assets, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that we do not expect to realize. We
classify interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions within taxes on income.
We present accounts receivable in our consolidated balance sheets net of allowance for credit losses for
potential uncollectible amounts. We estimate the collectability of accounts receivable balances and adjust the allowance for credit losses
based on our assessment of collectability by reviewing accounts receivable on an aggregated basis where similar characteristics exist
and on an individual basis when it identifies specific customers with known disputes or collectability issues. We also consider a number
of factors to assess collectability, including the past due status, creditworthiness of the specific customer, payment history and reasonable
and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions.
When revenue recognition criteria are not met for a sale transaction that has been billed, we do not recognize
deferred revenues on our balance sheet or the related account receivable.
We carry out transactions involving foreign currency exchange derivative financial instruments. These transactions
are designed to hedge our exposure in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and are not designated as an accounting hedge. We are primarily
exposed to foreign exchange risk with respect to recognized assets and liabilities and anticipated transactions denominated in the NIS,
Euro and British Pound, including payroll expenses. Going forward we may consider to designate transactions involving foreign currency
exchange derivative financial instruments as an accounting hedge.
Under the JOBS Act, we meet the definition of an “emerging growth company.” As such, we may
avail ourselves of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, we have chosen to “opt
out” of such extended transition period, and as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant
dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. Our decision to opt out of the extended transition
period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT
AND EMPLOYEES
|
A. |
Directors and Senior Management |
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our executive officers and directors:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
Reuven Kitov |
|
48 |
|
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board |
Reuven Harrison |
|
52 |
|
Chief Technology Officer, Co-Founder and Director |
Jack Wakileh |
|
50 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Yoram Gronich |
|
53 |
|
Senior Vice President of Products and Engineering |
Shay Dayan |
|
40 |
|
Vice President of Research and Development |
Raymond Brancato |
|
57 |
|
Chief Revenue Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Schodorf (1)(4) |
|
63 |
|
Lead Independent Director |
Ohad Finkelstein (4) |
|
61 |
|
Director |
Yuval Shachar (3)(4) |
|
59 |
|
Director |
Yair Shamir (3)(4) |
|
76 |
|
Director |
Edouard Cukierman (4) |
|
57 |
|
Director |
Peter Campbell (1)(2)(4) |
|
57 |
|
Director |
Dafna Gruber (1)(2)(3)(4) |
|
57 |
|
Director |
Brian Gumbel (2)(4) |
|
46 |
|
Director |
(1) |
Member of our audit committee. |
(2) |
Member of our compensation committee. |
(3) |
Member of our nominating and corporate governance committee. |
(4) |
Independent director under NYSE rules. |
Reuven Kitov is our Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Chairman
of the board of directors, which positions he has held since co-founding Tufin in January 2005. Prior to co-founding Tufin, Mr. Kitov
held key project management and development roles at Check Point Software Technologies, Inc. from 1998 to 2003. Mr. Kitov holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.
Reuven Harrison is our Chief Technology Officer, Co-Founder and
a director, which positions he has held since co-founding Tufin in January 2005. Prior to co-founding Tufin, Mr. Harrison held key software
developer positions at Check Point Software Technologies, Inc. from 1999 to 2003, as well as other key positions at Capsule Tech, Inc.
from 1997 to 1999 and ECS Inc. from 1991 to 1996. Mr. Harrison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from Tel
Aviv University in Israel.
Jack Wakileh is our Chief Financial Officer, which position he
has held since July 2013. Prior to joining Tufin, Mr. Wakileh worked as a financial and business consultant for various technology companies
from 2010 to 2013. He was a Co-Founder of iSpade Technologies Ltd. and was Chief Financial Officer from 2008 to 2010, Co-Chief Executive
Officer of LEADIP Systems Ltd. from 2006 to 2007 and Chief Financial Officer of VCON Telecommunications Ltd. from 1999 to 2005 prior to
which he held the Corporate Controller position. Mr. Wakileh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Economics from Tel Aviv
University in Israel and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Yoram Gronich is our Senior Vice President of Products and Engineering,
which position he has held since September 2021. Before that, he was our Vice President of Research and Development from September 2008
to September 2021. Prior to joining Tufin, Mr. Gronich held software management and engineering positions at Symantec Corporation from
2005 to 2008 and project management and team leader roles at Check Point Software Technologies, Inc. from 2002 to 2005. Mr. Gronich holds
a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and Computer Science each from Tel Aviv
University in Israel.
Shay Dayan is our Vice President of Research and Development, which
position he has held since September 2021. Prior to that and since August 2009, Mr. Dayan held several roles in Tufin’s research
and development department, including Team Leader, Group Manager, Chief Architect, Director of system architecture and Chief Technology
Officer of cloud products. From August 2006 until August 2009, he was a development Team Leader at Radware Ltd. Mr. Dayan holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Computer Science from Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Raymond Brancato joined Tufin in January 2021 as our Chief Revenue
Officer. He joined Tufin from AnyVision, an artificial intelligence company, where he was Chief Revenue Officer from March 2019 to January
2021. Prior to AnyVision, he held senior sales leadership positions over the course of 10 years with CA Technologies, including Vice President,
Senior Vice President and General Manager of Business Unit Sales. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Sales, Americas at Kabira Technologies
from April 2007 to March 2009, Director of Sales at BMC Software from November 2002 to April 2007, and Vice President of Sales at Remedy
from December 2000 to November 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Management Science from the University of South
Carolina.
Tom Schodorf has served as a member of our board of directors
since 2019. Mr. Schodorf founded View Consulting LLC, specializing in advisory services for the technology industry, in 2014. He
previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Field Operations of Splunk Inc. (traded on Nasdaq) from October 2009 to March
2014, and prior to that, he held various sales and executive management positions at BMC Software and IBM. Mr. Schodorf has also
been a director of Quali and Behavox since 2021, of Egnyte since 2018 where he is a member of the Compensation Committee, of OutSystems
since 2017 where he is also Chairman of the Compensation Committee, of Rapid7 since 2016 where he is a member of the Compensation Committee,
and of Kaseya since 2014. Mr. Schodorf holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio
and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohad Finkelstein has served as a director since January 2011. Mr.
Finkelstein serves as Managing Partner of Danli Capital, an investment advisory firm that he founded in 2017. Mr. Finkelstein is the Co-Founding
Partner of Marker LLC, which he founded in 2011. Prior to that, from 2005 to 2011, he led international investment for Venrock, an Israeli
venture capital firm. He served as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President at Interoute Communications Limited from 1999 to
2003. Mr. Finkelstein holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Marketing from the University of California,
Los Angeles.
Yuval Shachar has served as a director since October 2009. Mr.
Shachar is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Team8, a venture capital firm specializing in incubation of security companies. Mr.
Shachar serves as Founding Venture Partner of Innovation Endeavors, which he joined at its inception, previously serving as an investment
partner of its predecessor fund from 2013. Mr. Shachar served as Co-Founding Partner of Marker LLC and its predecessors from 2011. From
2004 to 2009, he served as General Manager of a Cisco business unit in its Service Provider group. Prior to that, Mr. Shachar served as
Co-Founder, President and CEO of P-Cube (which was acquired by Cisco), and co-founded each of Pentacom and Infogear (which were each acquired
by Cisco). From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Shachar served as Vice President of Research and Development at VocalTec Ltd. (which completed an IPO
on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or Nasdaq, in 1996), and previously held key engineering and management positions at National Semiconductors.
Mr. Shachar holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Yair Shamir has served as a director from 2007 to 2013 and again
from October 2018 to present. Mr. Shamir has been a Founding and Managing Partner of Catalyst Investments since its establishment from
1999 to 2013 and again from 2015 to present. Mr. Shamir was elected as a member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) and served as Minister
of Agriculture of the State of Israel from 2013 to 2015. Mr. Shamir served as the Chairman of the Israeli Road Safety Authorities from
September 2018 until November 2020. Prior to that, he served as the Chairman of Board of N.T.A. – Metropolitan Mass Transit System
until August 2018. Mr. Shamir served as the Chairman of Israel’s National Roads Company from 2011 to 2012. Mr. Shamir served as
the Chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. from 2005 until 2011. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Shamir was the Chairman of Shamir Optical
Industry Ltd. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Shamir served as the Chairman of EL AL. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Shamir served as the Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of VCON Telecommunications Ltd. Mr. Shamir was a board member of DSP Group Corporation from 2005 to 2013. Mr. Shamir
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.
Edouard Cukierman has served as a director since 2014. Mr. Cukierman
has been a Founding and Managing Partner of Catalyst Investments since its establishment in 1999, and has served as the Chairman of Cukierman
& Co. Investment House since its establishment. Prior to establishing and managing Catalyst Investments, Mr. Cukierman was the President
and Chief Executive Officer of Astra Technological Investments, a Venture Capital Fund established in 1993. Mr. Cukierman serves as a
board member of Dori Media Group. He is also is the Founder of the GoforIsrael annual conference. Mr. Cukierman served as a Reserve Officer
of the Crisis & Hostage Negotiation Team and IDF Spokesman Unit. Mr. Cukierman holds a Master of Business Administration degree from
INSEAD University in Fontainebleau, France and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa,
Israel.
Peter Campbell has served as a director since 2019 and served as
an external director under the Israeli Companies Law between July 2019 and May 2020. Mr. Campbell served as Chief Financial Officer of
Mimecast Ltd. (traded on Nasdaq) from 2006 to 2019, where he also served as a director from 2007 to 2015. He previously served as Chief
Financial Officer of SR Telecom Inc., where he was employed from 2002 to 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Campbell was an auditor at Ernst &
Young LLP in Canada. Mr. Campbell is currently a director and chairman of the audit committee of Latch inc. (traded on Nasdaq) and a director
and chairman of the audit committee of Dataiku. Mr. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Graduate Diploma in accounting
from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Canada, where he also served as a lecturer.
Dafna Gruber has served as a member of our board of directors
since 2019 and served as an external director, as such term is defined under the Israeli Companies Law. Ms. Gruber serves as the chief
financial officer of Netafim Ltd., a private company. Prior to that as chief financial officer in various companies including Aqua security
Ltd. Landa Corporation Ltd. and Clal Industries Ltd. From 2007 until 2015, Ms. Gruber served as the chief financial officer of Nice
Systems Ltd., a public company traded on Nasdaq and TASE. From 1996 until 2007, Ms. Gruber was part of Alvarion Ltd., a public company
traded on Nasdaq and TASE, mostly as chief financial officer. Ms. Gruber currently serves as an external director or independent director
of several public companies, including Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd, ICL group Ltd and Cellebrite DI Ltd. Ms. Gruber is a certified
public accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics from Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Brian Gumbel has served as a director since 2019. Mr. Gumbel currently
serves as the Chief Revenue Officer of Armis Inc. Prior to joining Armis, he served as the Chief Revenue Officer for Sisense from October
2019 to April 2020. He previously served as the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Forescout Technologies Inc., where he held
senior management positions from October 2015 to October 2019. Previously, he led sales and operations at Tanium as the Vice President
for Americas East and Canada from February 2014 to October 2015. Prior to that, he worked at McAfee from 2007 to 2014 ultimately serving
as the Vice President for Americas East and Canada, and at Cisco from 2000 to 2007 in various sales and leadership positions. Mr. Gumbel
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
The aggregate compensation expensed, including share-based compensation and other compensation expensed
by us and our subsidiaries, to our directors and executive officers with respect to the year ended December 31, 2021, was $8.2 million.
This amount includes approximately $0.4 million set aside or accrued to provide pension, severance, retirement, or similar benefits.
The table below sets forth the compensation paid to our five most highly compensated office holders (as
defined in the Israeli Companies Law and described under “Board Practices—Disclosure of Compensation of Executive Officers”
below) during or with respect to the year ended December 31, 2021. We refer to the five individuals for whom disclosure is provided herein
as our “Covered Executives.”
For purposes of the table and the summary below, “compensation” includes base salary, bonuses,
equity-based compensation, retirement or termination payments, benefits and perquisites such as car, phone and social benefits and any
undertaking to provide such compensation.
Summary Compensation Table
Information Regarding the Covered Executive(1) |
|
Name and Principal Position(2) |
|
Base Salary |
|
|
Benefits and Perquisites(3)
|
|
|
Variable Compensation(4)
|
|
|
Equity-Based Compensation(5)
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
Raymond Brancato, Chief Revenue Officer |
|
$ |
320,075 |
|
|
$ |
59,485 |
|
|
$ |
351,726 |
|
|
$ |
1,473,151 |
|
|
$ |
2,204,437 |
|
Reuven Kitov, Chief Executive Officer |
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
$ |
46,297 |
|
|
$ |
288,667 |
|
|
$ |
658,937 |
|
|
$ |
1,293,901 |
|
Jack Wakileh, Chief Financial Officer |
|
$ |
289,966 |
|
|
$ |
139,162 |
|
|
$ |
130,322 |
|
|
$ |
460,938 |
|
|
$ |
1,020,388 |
|
Yoram Gronich, Senior Vice President of Products and Engineering
|
|
$ |
266,362 |
|
|
$ |
124,945 |
|
|
$ |
70,173 |
|
|
$ |
388,992 |
|
|
$ |
850,472 |
|
Reuven Harrison, Chief Technology Officer |
|
$ |
269,731 |
|
|
$ |
69,711 |
|
|
$ |
84,097 |
|
|
$ |
340,314 |
|
|
$ |
763,853 |
|
(1) |
In accordance with Israeli law, all amounts reported in the table are in terms of
cost to our company, as recorded in our financial statements. |
|
|
(2) |
All current executive officers listed in the table are full-time employees. Cash compensation
amounts denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar were converted into U.S. dollars at the average conversion rate for the year
ended December 31, 2021. |
|
|
(3) |
Amounts reported in this column include benefits and perquisites, including those
mandated by applicable law. Such benefits and perquisites may include, to the extent applicable to each executive, payments, contributions
and/or allocations for savings funds, pension, severance, vacation, car or car allowance, medical insurances and benefits, risk insurances
(such as life, disability and accident insurances), convalescence pay, payments for social security, tax gross-up payments and other benefits
and perquisites consistent with our guidelines. |
|
|
(4) |
Amounts reported in this column refer to Variable Compensation such as earned commission,
incentive and bonus payments as recorded in our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. |
|
|
(5) |
Amounts reported in this column represent the expense recorded in our financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2021 with respect to equity-based compensation. Assumptions and key variables used in the calculation
of such amounts are described in Note 10 to our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in this annual report.
|
Employment Agreements with Executive Officers
We have entered into written employment agreements with each of our executive officers. These agreements
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 customary provisions regarding
noncompetition, confidentiality of information and assignment-of-inventions. However, the enforceability of the noncompetition provisions
may be limited under applicable law.
Directors’ Service Contracts
There are no arrangements or understandings between us, on the one hand, and any of our directors, on the
other hand, providing for benefits upon termination of their employment or service as directors of our company.
Equity Incentive Plans
2007 Israeli Share Option Plan
Effective Date and Shares Reserved.
On October 21, 2007, our board of directors adopted the 2007 Israeli Share Option Plan(the “2007
Plan”). The 2007 Plan generally allowed us to grant options to our employees, directors, officers, consultants, advisors and any
other person providing services to us or any of our affiliates. In May 2017, we extended the terms of options held by certain holders
under the 2007 Plan by an additional 10 years. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the original terms of the 2007 Plan, all granted
but unexercised options will expire and cease to be exercisable at 5:00 p.m. Israel time on the 10th
anniversary of the vesting commencement date of such options. We no longer make awards under the 2007 Plan. As of February 23, 2022, options
to purchase a total of 2,047,600 shares were outstanding under the 2007 Plan.
Plan Administration. The 2007 Plan may be administered by our board
of directors or a committee thereof. Subject to Israeli law and our amended and restated articles of association or any resolution to
the contrary by our board of directors, the administrator is authorized, in its sole and absolute discretion, to exercise all powers and
authorities specifically granted to it under the 2007 Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the 2007 Plan.
Vesting Terms and Conditions of the Options. Unless otherwise determined
by the administrator, options under the 2007 Plan vest and become exercisable as follows: 25% of the shares covered by the options vested
on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, 1/3 of the remaining shares vest on each subsequent anniversary of the vesting
commencement date and all options become fully vested by the fourth anniversary of the vesting commencement date.
Israeli Tax Law. Unless otherwise determined by the administrator,
any underlying shares issued upon exercise of options (granted through the “capital gains track through a trustee” in accordance
with Section 102(b)(2) of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version), 1961(the “Israeli Tax Ordinance”), will be held
by a trustee until the lapse of the holding period (as defined in the 2007 Plan), or, subject to a tax ruling, until the earlier of a
merger (as defined in the 2007 Plan) or an initial public offering. We appointed a trustee to hold the allocated options and underlying
shares issued upon the exercise off such options in a trust on behalf of each applicable Israeli grantee. No underlying shares or additional
rights we issue to the trustee will be held for a period longer than 20 years after the end of the term of the options.
Termination of Employment or Service. In the event that the employment
or service of a grantee terminates (other than by reason of death, disability retirement or for cause), all options of such grantee that
are vested but unexercised on the date of the termination may be exercised unless earlier terminated in accordance with their terms and
if not previously expired, no later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after such termination and (ii) the term of the option. All other
granted options will expire upon such termination. In the event of a grantee’s death during employment or service, or in the event
of a grantee’s termination due to retirement or disability, all of the grantee’s vested but unexercised options will be exercisable
until the earlier of (i) 180 days after the date of termination of employment and (ii) the term of the option. In the event of a grantee’s
termination for cause, all options, whether vested or unvested, will expire.
Merger. In the event of a merger transaction (as defined in the
2007 Plan), the administrator in its sole discretion, will decide (i) if and how the unvested options will be canceled, replaced or accelerated,
(ii) if and how vested options will be exercised, replaced and/or sold by us or the trustee on the behalf of Israeli participants and
(iii) how underlying shares issued upon exercise of the options and held by the trustee on behalf of Israeli participants will be replaced
and/or sold by the trustee on behalf of the Israeli participant.
2008 U.S. Stock Plan
Effective Date and Shares Reserved. On May 25, 2008, our board
of directors adopted the 2008 U.S. Stock Plan(the “2008 Plan”). The 2008 Plan generally allowed us to grant no statutory share
options, incentive share options that satisfied the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, and the sale or award of shares to our employees,
outside directors and consultants and those of Tufin Software North America, Inc., as well as any of our other subsidiaries. We no longer
make awards under the 2008 Plan. As of February 23, 2022, options to purchase a total of 343,658 shares were outstanding under the 2008
Plan.
Plan Administration. The 2008 Plan may be administered by one or
more committees of the board of directors. The entire board of directors may administer the 2008 Plan if no committee is otherwise appointed.
Subject to the provisions of the 2008 Plan, the board of directors will have full authority and discretion to take any actions it deems
necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2008 Plan. All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the board of directors
will be final and binding on all participants.
Terms and Conditions of Awards. Any shares issued upon exercise
of an option or awarded or sold under the 2008 Plan may be subject to the special forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights
of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the board of directors may determine.
Options. The 2008 Plan requires that options have an exercise price
that is not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the grant date. Incentive share options granted to an employee owning
more than 10% of our or any of our subsidiaries’ combined voting power will have an exercise price of at least 110% of the fair
market value of the share on the grant date. The expiration date of an option may be no later than the 10th anniversary of the date of
grant (or the fifth anniversary in the case of incentive share options granted to employees who, at the time of grant, own more than 10%
of our or any of our subsidiaries’ combined voting power).
Change in Control. In the event that we are a party to a merger,
consolidation, exchange of shares, sale of all or substantially all of its assets or like event, all outstanding options will be subject
to the applicable transaction agreement, which will provide for one or more of the following: (i) the continuation of our outstanding
options (if we are the surviving corporation); (ii) the assumption of the outstanding option by the surviving corporation or its parent
in a manner that complies with Section 424(a) of the Code; (iii) the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent of new options
for the outstanding options in a manner that complies with Section 424(a) of the Code; or (iv) the cancelation of the outstanding options
without the payment of any consideration.
2018 U.S. Equity-Based Incentive Plan
Effective Date and Shares Reserved. On April 9, 2018, our board
of directors adopted the 2018 U.S. Equity-Based Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”). The 2018 Plan generally allowed us to grant
options to our employees, directors, executive officers, consultants, advisors and any other person providing services to us or any of
our affiliates who are U.S. citizens or who are resident aliens of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We no longer
make awards under the 2018 Plan. As of February 23, 2022 options to purchase a total of 79,778 shares were outstanding under the 2018
Plan.
Plan Administration. The 2018 Plan may be administered by a committee
of the board of directors. The entire board of directors may administer the 2018 Plan if no committee is otherwise appointed. Subject
to the provisions of the 2018 Plan, the administrator of the 2018 Plan has full authority and discretion to take any actions it deems
necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2018 Plan. All decisions, interpretations and other actions of the administrator
of the 2018 Plan will be final and binding on all participants, unless otherwise determined by the board of directors.
Options. The 2018 Plan allows for the grant of nonqualified share
options and incentive share options that satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Each award will be evidenced by an option
agreement that will govern such award’s terms and conditions. Only our employees or employees of our parent or subsidiaries are
eligible to receive incentive share options. The 2018 Plan requires that incentive share options have an exercise price that is not less
than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the grant date and that nonqualified share options have an exercise price equal to the
fair market value of a share on the grant date unless the committee administering the 2018 Plan specifies otherwise and the option complies
with Section 409A of the Code. Incentive share options granted to an employee owning more than 10% of our or our and our subsidiaries’
combined voting power will have an exercise price of at least 110% of the fair market value of the shares on the grant date. The expiration
date of an option may be no later than the 10th anniversary of the date of grant, unless otherwise determined by the committee administering
the 2018 Plan (or the fifth anniversary in the case of incentive share options granted to employees who, at the time of grant, own more
than 10% of our or our parent’s or subsidiaries’ combined voting power).
Termination of Employment or Service. In the event that the employment
or service of a grantee terminates (other than by reason of death, disability or retirement), all awards of such grantee that are unvested
at the time of such termination will terminate on the date of such termination, and all awards of such grantee that are vested and exercisable
at the time of such termination may, unless earlier terminated in accordance with their terms, be exercised within 12 months after the
date of such termination (or such different period as the committee administering the 2018 Plan will prescribe). In the event of a grantee’s
death during employment or service or within three months following such grantee’s termination, or in the event of a grantee’s
termination due to disability, all of the grantee’s vested awards may be exercised at any time within one year after such death
or disability. In the event of a grantee’s retirement, all of the grantee’s vested awards, unless earlier terminated in accordance
with their terms, may be exercised at any time within the three month period following such retirement. If we (or our affiliate, when
applicable) terminate the grantee’s employment or service for cause, or if at any time during the exercise period, facts or circumstances
arise or are discovered with respect to the grantee that would have constituted cause, all awards theretofore granted to such grantee
will, to the extent not theretofore exercised, terminate on the date of such termination (or on such subsequent date on which such facts
or circumstances arise or are discovered, as the case may be) unless otherwise determined by the committee administering the 2018 Plan.
Merger or Sale. In the event of a merger or sale, unless otherwise
determined by the committee administering the 2018 Plan in its sole and absolute discretion, any award then outstanding will be assumed
or will be substituted by us or by the successor corporation in the merger or sale or by any affiliate thereof under substantially the
same terms as the award. In the event that awards are not assumed or substituted for equivalent awards, the committee administering the
2018 Plan may (i) provide for a grantee to have the right to exercise an award, or otherwise accelerate vesting of an award, as to all
or part of the shares covered thereby, including shares covered by the award which would not otherwise be exercisable or vested, and/or
(ii) provide for the cancelation of each outstanding award at the closing of the merger or sale, and payment to the grantee. In the event
of a merger or sale, the committee administering the 2018 Plan may, without the consent of the grantee, amend, modify or terminate awards
as the committee will deem in good faith to be appropriate.
2019 Equity-Based Incentive Plan
Effective Date and Shares Reserved. On February 28, 2019, our board
of directors approved our 2019 Equity-Based Incentive Plan(the “2019 Plan”), which became effective upon shareholder approval
on March 21, 2019. Our 2019 Plan replaced our 2007 Plan and our 2018 Plan(the “Prior Plans”), under which further grants will
not be made. The 2019 Plan generally allows for the grant of options, restricted shares, restricted share units and other share-based
awards to our and our affiliates’ employees, directors, officers, consultants and advisors. The 2019 Plan enables us to issue awards
under varying tax regimes, including Section 102 and Section 3(i) awards pursuant to the Israeli Tax Ordinance and incentive stock options
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to awards under the
2019 Plan is the sum of (a) 1,833,333 shares plus (b) on January 1 of each calendar year during the term of the 2019 Plan commencing in
2020, a number of shares equal to the lesser of: (i) an amount determined by our board of directors, if so determined prior to the January
1 of the calendar year in which the increase will occur, (ii) 5% of the total number of shares outstanding on December 31 of the immediately
preceding calendar year and (iii) 5,000,000 shares.
Additionally, any share (i) underlying an award under the 2019 Plan or the Prior Plans (in an amount not
to exceed 813,515 shares under the Prior Plans) that has expired, or was canceled, terminated, forfeited, repurchased or settled in cash
in lieu of issuance of shares, for any reason, without having been exercised, (ii) tendered to pay the exercise price of an award (or
the exercise price or other purchase price of any option or other award under the Prior Plans), or withholding tax obligations with respect
to an award (or any awards under the Prior Plans), or (iii) subject to an award (or any award under the Prior Plans) that is not delivered
to a grantee because such shares are withheld to pay the exercise price (or of any award under the Prior Plans), or withholding tax obligations
with respect to such award (or such other award) will automatically be available for grant under the 2019 Plan. As of February 23, 2022,
options to purchase a total of 2,068,509 shares and 2,453,049 unvested RSUs were outstanding under the 2019 Plan. In addition,
our board of directors approved the grant of 1,679,300 RSUs to certain of our employees, which grant became effective on March 1, 2022.
Plan Administration. Either our board of directors or a committee
established by our board of directors administers the 2019 Plan, and such administrator will have full authority in its discretion to
determine (i) eligible grantees, (ii) grants of awards and setting the terms and provisions of award agreements (which need not be identical)
and any other agreements or instruments under which awards are made, including the number of shares underlying each award and the class
of shares underlying each award (if more than one class was designated by our board of directors), (iii) the time or times at which awards
will be granted, (iv) the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired
upon the exercise or (if applicable) vesting thereof, (v) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability of any award or
the vesting thereof, including with respect to the period following a grantee’s termination of employment or other service, (vi)
the interpretation of the 2019 Plan and any award agreement and the meaning, interpretation and applicability of terms referred to in
applicable laws, (vii) policies, guidelines, rules and regulations relating to and for carrying out the 2019 Plan, and any amendment,
supplement or rescission thereof, as it may deem appropriate, (viii) to adopt supplements to, or alternative versions of, the 2019 Plan,
including, without limitation, as it deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax regime or custom
of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens or residents may be granted awards, (ix) the fair market value of the shares or other property,
(x) the tax track (capital gains, ordinary income track or any other track available under the Section 102 of the Israeli Tax Ordinance)
for the purpose of Section 102 to the Israeli Tax Ordinance, (xi) the authorization and approval of conversion, substitution, cancelation
or suspension under and in accordance with the 2019 Plan of any or all awards or shares, (xii) the amendment, modification, waiver or
supplement of the terms of each outstanding award (with the consent of the applicable grantee, if such amendments refers to the increase
of the exercise price of awards or reduction of the number of shared underlying an award (but, in each case, other than as a result of
an adjustment or exercise of rights in accordance with the provisions of the 2019 Plan) unless otherwise provided under the terms of the
2019 Plan, (xiii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject to the provisions of applicable law, to grant to a grantee
who is the holder of an outstanding award, in exchange for the cancelation of such award, a new award having an exercise price lower than
that provided in the award so canceled and containing such other terms and conditions as the committee may prescribe in accordance with
the provisions of the 2019 Plan or to set a new exercise price for the same award lower than that previously provided in the award, (xiv)
to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the 2019 Plan or any award agreement and all other determinations
and take such other actions with respect to the 2019 Plan or any award as it may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the
provisions of the 2019 Plan or applicable law, (xv) to designate any of our officers or other persons to manage the day to day administration
of the awards granted under the 2019 Plan or authorize any of them to act on behalf of the committee with respect to any matter, right,
obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the committee herein, (xvi) to determine
that awards, shares issuable upon the exercise or (if applicable) vesting of awards and/or any securities issued or distributed with respect
thereto, shall be allocated or issued to, or held by, the representative in trust for the benefit of the grantees and (xvii) any other
matter which is necessary or desirable for, or incidental to, the administration of the 2019 Plan and any award thereunder. The board
of directors and the committee need not take the same action or determination with respect to all awards, with respect to certain types
of awards, with respect to all service providers or any certain type of service providers and actions and determinations may differ as
among the grantees, and as between the grantees and any other holders of our securities. The board of directors may, at any time, suspend,
terminate, modify, or amend the 2019 Plan, whether retroactively or prospectively.
Types and Terms and Conditions of Awards. The committee may grant
awards intended to qualify as an incentive stock option, non-qualified stock option, Section 102 award, Section 3(i) award, or other designations
under other regimes. The 2019 Plan generally requires that incentive stock options have an exercise price that is not less than 100% of
the fair market value of a share underlying such options or 110% in case of an employee who at the time of the grant owns shares possessing
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our shares or of any of our subsidiaries on the date of grant of such
options or such other price as may be determined pursuant to the Code. The exercise price of any other awards granted will be determined
by the committee.
The exercise period of an option award will be 10 years from the date of grant of the award unless otherwise
determined by the committee, but subject to the vesting and the early termination provisions, provided that the period of an incentive
stock option granted to an employee who at the time of the grant owns shares possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power
of all classes of our shares or of any of our subsidiaries, shall not exceed five years from the date of grant. Except as described below,
an award generally may not be exercised unless the grantee is then in our employ or service and unless the grantee has remained continuously
so employed since the date of grant of the award and throughout the vesting dates. In the event that the employment or service of a grantee
terminates (other than by reason of death, disability or retirement), unless otherwise determined by the committee, all awards of such
grantee that are unvested at the time of such termination shall terminate on the date of such termination, and all awards of such grantee
that are vested and exercisable at the time of such termination may, unless earlier terminated in accordance with their terms, be exercised
within up to three months after the date of such termination (or such different period as the committee will prescribe), but in any event
no later than the date of expiration of the award’s term as set forth in the award agreement or pursuant to this 2019 Plan. In the
event of a grantee’s death during employment or service or within three months following such grantee’s termination, (or such
longer period as determined by the committee), or in the event of a grantee’s termination due to disability, all of the grantee’s
vested awards may be exercised at any time within one year after such death or disability (or such longer period as determined by the
committee). In the event of a grantee’s retirement, all of the grantee’s vested awards, unless earlier terminated in accordance
with their terms, may be exercised at any time within the three month period following such retirement (or such different period as the
committee shall prescribe). If we (or our affiliate, when applicable) terminate the grantee’s employment or service for cause (as
defined in the 2019 Plan), or if at any time during the exercise period (whether prior to and after termination of employment or service,
and whether or not the grantee’s employment or service is terminated by either party as a result thereof), facts or circumstances
arise or are discovered with respect to the grantee that would have constituted cause, all awards theretofore granted to such grantee
(whether vested or not) shall, to the extent not theretofore exercised, terminate on the date of such termination (or on such subsequent
date on which such facts or circumstances arise or are discovered, as the case may be) unless otherwise determined by the committee.
Section 102 of the Israeli Tax Ordinance allows our employees, directors and executive officers who are
not controlling shareholders and are Israeli residents for tax purposes to receive favorable tax treatment for share-based awards. Section
102 includes two alternatives for tax treatment involving the issuance of awards to a trustee for the benefit of the grantees and also
includes an additional alternative for the issuance of awards directly to the grantee. We elected the “capital gain track”
pursuant to Section 102(b)(2) of the Israeli Tax Ordinance for grants to eligible Israeli grantees as provided above, which may allow
favorable tax treatment for such grantees. In order to comply with the terms of the capital gain track, all awards granted under the 2019
Plan and subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Israeli Tax Ordinance, as well as the shares issued upon exercise of such awards
and any rights granted thereunder, including bonus shares, must be registered in the name of a trustee selected by the board and held
in trust for the benefit of the relevant grantee for the requisite period prescribed by the Israeli Tax Ordinance or such longer period
as set by the committee. The trustee may release these awards or shares to the holders thereof after the expiration of the required statutory
holding period, provided that the trustee has received an acknowledgment from the Israeli Tax Authority that the grantee paid all applicable
taxes, or the trustee and/or us and/or our affiliate withholds all applicable taxes and compulsory payments due. Our non-employee service
providers and controlling shareholders may only be granted options or RSUs under Section 3(i) of the Israeli Tax Ordinance, which will
be taxed as ordinary income upon the exercise of such awards into shares.
The administrator may grant restricted share units, or RSUs, under the 2019 Plan, which are awards covering
a number of shares that are settled, if vested, by issuance of those shares. The award agreement for any restricted shares granted will
provide the vesting schedule and purchase price, if any, for the restricted shares. If a grantee’s employment or services to us
or any of our affiliates terminates for any reason prior to the vesting of such grantee’s restricted shares, any shares that remain
subject to vesting will be forfeited by such grantee. No payment of exercise price (subject to applicable law and the terms of the award
agreement) will be required as consideration for RSUs.
The administrator may grant other awards under the 2019 Plan, including shares (which may, but need not,
be restricted shares), cash, a combination of cash and shares, awards denominated in share units, and share appreciation rights. However,
to qualify as Section 102 or Section 3(i) awards pursuant to the Israeli Tax Ordinance, the award must be share-based compensation only
and not cash compensation or any award that is settled in cash.
Adjustment Provisions. In the event of a division or subdivision
of our outstanding share capital, any distribution of bonus shares (share split), consolidation or combination of our share capital (reverse
stock split), reclassification with respect to our shares or any similar recapitalization events, a merger (including, a reverse merger
and a reverse triangular merger), consolidation, amalgamation or like transaction of us with or into another corporation, reorganization
(which may include a combination or exchange of shares, spin-off or other corporate divestiture or division, or other similar occurrences),
the committee shall have the authority to make, without the need for a consent of any holder of an award, such adjustments as determined
by the committee to be appropriate, in its discretion, in order to adjust (i) the number and class of shares reserved and available for
grants of awards, (ii) the number and class of shares covered by outstanding awards, (iii) the exercise price per share covered by any
award, (iv) the terms and conditions concerning vesting and exercisability and the term and duration of the outstanding awards and (v)
any other terms of the award that in the opinion of the committee should be adjusted.
In the event of (i) a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or a sale (including an exchange)
of all or substantially all of our shares, to any person, or a purchase by any of our shareholders or by an affiliate of such shareholder,
of all or substantially all of our shares held by all or substantially all other shareholders or by other shareholders who are not affiliated
with such acquiring party; (ii) a merger (including, a reverse merger and a reverse triangular merger), consolidation, amalgamation or
like transaction of us with or into another corporation; (iii) a scheme of arrangement for the purpose of effecting such sale, merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or other transaction; (iv) change in board event, which means any time at which individuals who, as of the
effective date of the 2019 Plan, constitute the incumbent board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board; provided,
however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the effective date of the 2019 Plan whose election, or nomination for election
by our shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the incumbent board shall be considered
as though such individual were a member of the incumbent board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption
of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the board; (v) approval by our shareholders
of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the company; or (vi) such other transaction or set of circumstances that is determined by
the board (being the incumbent board in case of a change in board event), in its discretion, to be a transaction subject to these provisions
of the 2019 Plan; excluding any of the above transactions in clauses (i) through (v) if the board (being the incumbent board in case of
a change in board event) determines that such transaction should be excluded from the definition hereof and the applicability of this
provision of the 2019 Plan, any award then outstanding will be assumed or will be substituted by us or by the successor corporation in
such change in control or by any affiliate thereof, as determined by the committee in its discretion, under terms as determined by the
committee or the terms of the 2019 Plan applied by the successor corporation to such assumed or substituted award, unless otherwise determined
by the sole and absolute discretion of the committee. Regardless of whether awards are assumed or substituted the committee may (but will
not be obligated to), in its sole discretion: (a) provide for grantees to have the right to exercise their awards or otherwise for the
acceleration of vesting of award in respect of all or part of the shares covered by the awards which would not otherwise be exercisable
or vested, under such terms and conditions as the committee will determine, including the cancelation of all unexercised awards (whether
vested or unvested) upon or immediately prior to the closing of the change in control; and/or (b) provide for the cancelation of each
outstanding and unexercised award at or immediately prior to the closing of the change in control, and payment to the grantees of an amount
in cash, our shares, the acquirer or of a corporation or other business entity which is a party to the change in control or other property,
as determined by the committee to be fair in the circumstances, and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the committee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of change in control, the committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that upon completion
of such change in control, the terms of any award be otherwise amended, modified or terminated, as the committee deems in good faith to
be appropriate.
Miscellaneous Provisions. Awards under the 2019 Plan are not transferable
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to a grantee’s designated beneficiary, unless, in the case of awards
other than incentive stock options, otherwise determined by our committee or under the 2019 Plan, and generally expire 10 years following
the grant date. The board of directors may at any time amend, suspend, terminate or modify the 2019 Plan and the administrator may at
any time modify or amend any award under the 2019 Plan.
Corporate Governance Practices
Under the Israeli Companies Law, companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel whose shares
are publicly traded, including companies with shares listed on NYSE, are considered public companies under Israeli law and are required
to comply with various corporate governance requirements under Israeli law relating to matters such as external directors, the audit committee,
the compensation committee and an internal auditor. This is the case even though our shares are not listed on a stock exchange in Israel.
Subject to certain exceptions, these requirements are in addition to the corporate governance requirements imposed by NYSE rules and other
applicable provisions of U.S. securities laws to which we are subject (as a foreign private issuer). Under NYSE rules, a foreign private
issuer, such as us, may generally follow its home country rules of corporate governance in lieu of the comparable NYSE corporate governance
requirements, except for certain matters, including the composition and responsibilities of the audit committee and the independence of
its members within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the SEC.
We currently comply with the rules generally applicable to U.S. domestic companies listed on NYSE. We may
in the future decide to use the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to certain NYSE corporate governance requirements.
Board of Directors and Executive Officers
Under the Israeli Companies Law, our board of directors determines our policies and supervises the performance
of our chief executive officer. 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 executive officers are responsible for our day-to-day management. Our executive officers serve
at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to the terms of their respective employment agreements.
Independent Directors
We comply with NYSE rules, which require that a majority of our directors are independent. Our board of
directors has determined that all of our directors, other than Reuven Kitov and Reuven Harrison, qualify as independent under such rules.
Board Composition and Election
Under our amended and restated articles of association, the number of directors on our board of directors
must be no less than six and no more than 10, including any director appointed by one or both of our founders, or a founder director,
pursuant to the appointment rights described under “—Appointment Rights.” The minimum and maximum number of directors
may be changed, at any time and from time to time, by a special vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding shares.
Other than any founder director, our directors are divided into three classes with staggered three-year
terms. Each class of directors consists, as nearly as possible, of 1/3 of the total number of directors constituting the entire board
of directors (other than any founder director). At each annual general meeting of our shareholders, the election or re-election of directors
following the expiration of the term of office of the directors of that class of directors is for a term of office that expires on the
third annual general meeting following such election or re-election, such that at each annual general meeting the term of office of only
one class of directors will expire. Each director, aside from any founder director, holds office until the annual general meeting of our
shareholders for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor is duly appointed, unless the tenure of such
director expires earlier pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law upon the occurrence of certain events or unless removed from office by
a vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our shareholders at a general meeting of our shareholders in accordance
with our amended and restated articles of association.
Our directors who are not founder directors are divided among the three classes as follows:
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the Class I directors consist of Edouard Cukierman, Reuven Harrison and Yuval Shachar, and their terms
will expire at our annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2023; |
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the Class II directors, consist of Ohad Finkelstein, Reuven Kitov and Brian Gumbel and their terms will
expire at our annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2024; and |
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the Class III directors consist of Yair Shamir, Tom Schodorf, Dafna Gruber and Peter Campbell and their
terms will expire at our annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2022. |
External Directors
Under the Israeli Companies Law, companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel that are
public companies, including companies with shares listed on NYSE, are required to appoint at least two external directors.
Pursuant to regulations enacted under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors of a public company
whose shares are listed on certain non-Israeli stock exchanges, including NYSE, that do not have a controlling shareholder (as such term
is defined in the Israeli Companies Law), may, subject to certain conditions, elect to “opt-out” of the requirements of the
Israeli Companies Law regarding the election of external directors and to the composition of the audit committee and compensation committee,
provided that the company complies with the requirements as to director independence and audit committee and compensation committee composition
applicable to companies that are incorporated in the jurisdiction in which its stock exchange is located. In May 2020, our board of directors
elected to opt-out of the Israeli Companies Law requirements to appoint external directors and related Israeli Companies Law rules concerning
the composition of the audit committee and compensation committee.
The foregoing exemptions will continue to be available to us so long as: (i) we do not have a “controlling
shareholder” (as such term is defined under the Israeli Companies Law), (ii) our shares are traded on a U.S. stock exchange, including
NYSE, and (iii) we comply with NYSE rules applicable to domestic U.S. companies. If in the future we were to have a controlling shareholder,
we would again be required to comply with the requirements relating to external directors and composition of the audit committee and compensation
committee.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the term “controlling shareholder” means a shareholder with
the ability to direct the activities of the company, other than by virtue of being an office holder. A shareholder is presumed to be a
controlling shareholder if the shareholder holds 50% or more of the voting rights in a company or has the right to appoint the majority
of the directors of the company or its general manager. For the purpose of approving transactions with controlling shareholders, the term
“controlling shareholder” also includes any shareholder that holds 25% or more of the voting rights of the company if no other
shareholder holds more than 50% of the voting rights in the company.
Lead Independent Director
As approved by our board of directors, for so long as the same person serves both as our Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Board, the non-executive board members will select a Lead Independent Director from among the independent
directors of the Board. If at any meeting of the Board the Lead Independent Director is not present, a majority of the independent members
of the Board present will select an independent member of the Board to act as Lead Independent Director for the purpose and duration of
such meeting. The authorities and responsibilities of the Lead Independent Director include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Presiding at all meetings of the Board of Directors
at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors; |
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Serving as a liaison between the Chairman and
the independent directors; |
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Having the authority to recommend that the
Board of Directors retain consultants or advisers that report directly to the Board of Directors; |
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Approving information sent to the Board of
Directors; |
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Approving meeting agendas for the Board of
Directors; |
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Approving meeting schedules to assure that
there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items; |
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Having the authority to call meetings of the
independent directors; and |
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If requested by major shareholders, ensuring
that he is available for consultation and direct communication. |
As Mr. Reuven Kitov is currently the Company’s Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer, the non-executive board members elected Tom Schodorf to be the Lead Independent Director.
Appointment Rights
Under our amended and restated articles of association, our founders, Reuven Kitov and Reuven Harrison,
jointly have the right to appoint one director to our board of directors so long as they each hold voting control over 2% of our outstanding
ordinary shares. Pursuant to an agreement between them, Reuven Kitov will designate the director to be appointed in this instance subject
to prior consultation with Reuven Harrison. If only one of the founders holds voting control over 2% of our outstanding ordinary shares,
such founder has the sole right to appoint one director. The appointment rights of our founders are suspended if either founder is otherwise
serving on our board of directors. The term of office for a founder director expires if the appointment rights are suspended or if the
founders or founder, as the case may be, no longer holds the requisite voting control.
Under our amended and restated articles of association, our board of directors may appoint new directors
to fill vacancies (whether such vacancy is due to a director no longer serving or due to the number of directors serving being less than
the maximum required in our amended and restated articles of association). Our amended and restated articles of association provide that
the term of a director appointed by our board of directors to fill any vacancy will be for the remaining term of office of the director(s)
whose office(s) have been vacated. See “Item 6.C. Board Practices—External Directors” for a description of the exemption
from the requirements under the Israeli Companies Law to appoint external directors.
Other Considerations
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the chief executive officer of a public company may not serve as the chairman
of the board of directors of that company unless approved by a special majority of shareholders. However, if the roles of chief executive
officer and chairman of the board of directors are held by the same person and this arrangement was approved by the company’s shareholders
prior to its initial public offering and is described in the company’s initial public offering prospectus, shareholder approval
is only required upon the lapse of the fifth anniversary of the initial public offering. Reuven Kitov, our Chief Executive Officer, also
serves as our Chairman of the board of directors, as was approved by our shareholders in 2019 prior to our initial public offering. We
may, at the conclusion of the five-year period, and again thereafter, seek further shareholder approval for the renewal of such dual role
for up to an additional three years at a time.
In addition, under the Israeli Companies Law, our board of directors must determine the minimum number
of directors who are required to have “accounting and financial expertise.” Under applicable regulations, a director with
accounting and financial expertise is a director who, by reason of his or her education, professional experience and skill, possesses
an expertise in and understanding of financial and accounting matters and financial statements. He or she must be able to thoroughly comprehend
the financial statements of the company and initiate debate regarding the manner in which financial information is presented. In determining
the number of directors required to have such expertise, the 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 we require at least one director
with the requisite accounting and financial expertise, and it has determined Dafna Gruber has such expertise.
There are no familial relationships among any of our office holders (including directors).
Audit Committee
Israeli Companies Law Requirements
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors of a public company must appoint an audit committee
comprised of at least three directors. Our audit committee consists of three independent directors, Tom Schodorf (Lead Independent Director),
Peter Campbell and Dafna Gruber.
Listing Requirements
Under NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are required to maintain an audit committee consisting
of at least three independent directors, all of whom are financially literate and one of whom has accounting or related financial management
expertise.
Our audit committee consists of Dafna Gruber, Peter Campbell and Tom Schodorf. Peter Campbell serves as
the chairperson of our audit committee. All members of our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC and NYSE corporate governance rules. Our board of directors has determined in its business judgment that
each of Peter Campbell and Dafna Gruber are audit committee financial experts as defined by the SEC rules and has the requisite accounting
or related financial management expertise as required by NYSE corporate governance requirements. Each of Dafna Gruber, Peter Campbell
and Tom Schodorf is “independent” as such term is defined in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act and NYSE corporate governance
requirements for audit committee members.
Approval of Transactions with Related Parties
The approval of the audit committee is required to effect specified actions and transactions with office
holders and controlling shareholders and their relatives, or in which they have a personal interest. See “Item 6.C. Board Practices—Fiduciary
Duties and Approval of Specified Related Party Transactions and Compensation under Israeli Law.” The audit committee may not approve
an action or a transaction with a controlling shareholder or with an office holder unless, among other things, at the time of approval
the audit committee meets the composition requirements under the Israeli Companies Law.
Audit Committee Role
Our board of directors has adopted an audit committee charter that sets forth the responsibilities of the
audit committee consistent with the Israeli Companies Law, SEC rules and NYSE corporate governance requirements, which include, among
other responsibilities:
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retaining and terminating our independent auditors,
subject to board of directors and shareholder ratification; |
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overseeing the independence, compensation and
performance of the company’s independent auditors; |
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the appointment, compensation, retention and
oversight of any accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit services;
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pre-approval of audit and non-audit services
to be provided by the independent auditors; |
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reviewing with management and our independent
directors our financial statements prior to their submission to the SEC; and |
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approval of certain transactions with office
holders and controlling shareholders, as described below, and other related party transactions. |
Additionally, under the Israeli Companies Law, the role of the audit committee includes the identification
of irregularities in our business management, among other things, by consulting with the internal auditor or our independent auditors
and suggesting an appropriate course of action to the board of directors. In addition, the audit committee or the board of directors,
as set forth in the articles of association of the company, is required to approve the yearly or periodic work plan proposed by the internal
auditor. The audit committee is required to assess the company’s internal audit system and the performance of its internal auditor.
The Israeli Companies Law also requires that the audit committee assess the scope of the work and compensation of the company’s
external auditor. In addition, the audit committee is required to determine whether certain related party actions and transactions are
“material” or “extraordinary” for the purpose of the requisite approval procedures under the Israeli Companies
Law and whether certain transactions with a controlling shareholder will be subject to a competitive procedure (regardless of whether
such transactions are deemed extraordinary transactions) and to set forth the approval process for transactions that are “non-negligible”
(meaning, transactions with a controlling shareholder that are classified by the audit committee as non-negligible, even though they are
not deemed extraordinary transactions), as well as determining which types of transactions would require the approval of the audit committee,
optionally based on criteria which may be determined annually in advance by the audit committee.
The audit committee charter states that the audit committee is empowered to conduct or authorize investigations
into any matters within its scope of responsibilities.
Compensation Committee
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors of any public company must appoint a compensation
committee. Our compensation committee consists of three independent directors, Peter Campbell, Dafna Gruber and Brian Gumbel. Peter Campbell
serves as the chairman of our compensation committee.
Listing Requirements
Under SEC and NYSE rules, there are heightened independence standards for members of the compensation committee,
including a prohibition against the receipt of any compensation from us other than standard supervisory board member fees. Although foreign
private issuers are not required to meet this heightened standard or the requirements general for a compensation committee, our board
of directors has determined that all of our compensation committee members meet this heightened standard and other independence requirements.
Each of Peter Campbell, Dafna Gruber and Brian Gumbel is “independent” under the NYSE corporate governance requirements for
compensation committee members.
Compensation Committee Role
Our board of directors has adopted a compensation committee charter that sets forth the responsibilities
of the compensation committee consistent with the Israeli Companies Law, SEC rules and NYSE corporate governance requirements, which include,
among other responsibilities:
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recommending to the board of directors the
compensation policy for directors and executive officers, and to recommend to the board of directors once every three years whether the
compensation policy that had been approved should be extended for a period of more than three years; |
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recommending to the board of directors updates
to the compensation policy, from time to time, and examine its implementation; |
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deciding whether to approve the terms of office
and employment of directors and executive officers that require approval of the compensation committee; |
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deciding whether the compensation terms of
the chief executive officer, which were determined pursuant to the compensation policy, will be exempted from approval by the shareholders
because such approval would harm the ability to engage the chief executive officer; and |
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administering and, where applicable, recommending
to our board of directors regarding the awarding of employee equity grants. |
Compensation Policy
In general, under the Israeli Companies Law, a public company must have a compensation policy approved
by the board of directors after receiving and considering the recommendations of the compensation committee. In addition, the compensation
policy requires the approval of the general meeting of the shareholders, which approval requires one of the following: (i) the majority
of shareholder votes counted at a general meeting including the majority of all of the votes of those shareholders who are non-controlling
shareholders and do not have a personal interest in the approval of the compensation policy, who vote at the meeting (excluding abstentions)
or (ii) the total number of votes against the proposal among the shareholders mentioned in clause (i) above does exceed 2% of the voting
rights in the company. However, under special circumstances, the board of directors may override the shareholders’ decision and
approve the compensation policy despite the objection of the shareholders on the condition that the compensation committee and then the
board of directors decide, on the basis of detailed arguments and after discussing again the compensation policy, that approval of the
compensation policy, despite the objection of the meeting of shareholders, is for the benefit of the company.
If a company that initially offers its securities to the public adopts a compensation policy in advance
of its initial public offering, and describes it in its prospectus, as we did in the prospectus for our initial public offering, then
such compensation policy shall be deemed a validly adopted policy in accordance with the Israeli Companies Law requirements described
above. Furthermore, if the compensation policy is set in accordance with the aforementioned relief, then it will remain in effect for
term of five years from the date such company has become a public company.
The compensation policy must be based on certain considerations, include certain provisions and needs to
reference certain matters as set forth in the Israeli Companies Law.
The compensation policy must serve as the basis for decisions concerning the financial terms of employment
or engagement of office holders, including exculpation, insurance, indemnification or any monetary payment or obligation of payment in
respect of employment or engagement. The compensation policy must relate to certain factors, including advancement of the company’s
objectives, business plan and long-term strategy, and creation of appropriate incentives for office holders. It must also consider, among
other things, the company’s risk management, size and the nature of its operations. The compensation policy must furthermore consider
the following additional factors:
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the education, skills, experience, expertise
and accomplishments of the relevant office holder; |
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the office holder’s position, responsibilities
and prior compensation agreements with that office holder; |
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the ratio between the cost of the terms of
employment of an office holder and the cost of the employment of other employees of the company, including employees employed through
contractors who provide services to the company, in particular the ratio between such cost, the average and median salary of the employees
of the company, as well as the impact of such disparities on the work relationships in the company; |
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if the terms of employment include variable
components—the possibility of reducing variable components at the discretion of the board of directors and the possibility of setting
a limit on the value of non-cash variable equity-based components; and |
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if the terms of employment include severance
compensation—the term of employment or office of the office holder, the terms of his or her compensation during such period, the
company’s performance during the such period, his or her individual contribution to the achievement of the company goals and the
maximization of its profits and the circumstances under which he or she is leaving the company. |
The compensation policy must also include:
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with regard to variable components: |
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with the exception of office holders who report
directly to the chief executive officer, determining the variable components on long-term performance basis and on measurable criteria;
however, the company may determine that an immaterial part of the variable components of the compensation package of an office holder’s
shall be awarded based on non-measurable criteria, if such amount is not higher than three monthly salaries per annum, while taking into
account such office holder contribution to the company; and |
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the ratio between variable and fixed components,
as well as the limit of the values of variable components at the time of their grant; |
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a condition under which the office holder will
return to the company, according to conditions to be set forth in the compensation policy, any amounts paid as part of his or her terms
of employment, if such amounts were paid based on information later to be discovered to be wrong, and such information was restated in
the company’s financial statements; |
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the minimum holding or vesting period of variable
equity-based components to be set in the terms of office or employment, as applicable, while taking into consideration long-term incentives;
and |
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a limit to retirement grants. |
Our compensation policy, which was adopted and approved on March 21, 2019 and amended on July 29, 2020
and July 15, 2021, is designed to promote retention and motivation of directors and executive officers, incentivize superior individual
excellence, align the interests of our directors and executive officers with our long-term performance and provide a risk management tool.
To that end, a portion of an executive officer compensation package is targeted to reflect our short- and long-term goals, as well as
the executive officer’s individual performance. On the other hand, our compensation policy includes measures designed to reduce
the executive officer’s incentives to take excessive risks that may harm us in the long-term, such as limits on the value of cash
bonuses and equity-based compensation, limitations on the ratio between the variable and the total compensation of an executive officer
and minimum vesting periods for equity-based compensation.
Our compensation policy also addresses each of our executive officers’ individual characteristics
(such as his or her respective position, education, scope of responsibilities and contribution to the attainment of our goals) as the
basis for compensation variation among our executive officers, and considers the internal ratios between compensation of our executive
officers and directors and other employees. Pursuant to our compensation policy, the compensation that may be granted to an executive
officer may include: base salary, annual bonuses and other cash bonuses (such as a signing bonus and special bonuses with respect to any
special achievements, such as outstanding personal achievement, outstanding personal effort or outstanding company performance), equity-based
compensation, benefits and retirement and termination of service arrangements. All cash bonuses are limited to a maximum amount linked
to the executive officer’s base salary. In addition, the total variable compensation components (cash bonuses and equity-based compensation)
may not exceed 95% of each executive officer’s total compensation package with respect to any given calendar year.
An annual cash bonus may be awarded to executive officers upon the attainment of pre-set periodic objectives
determined by the compensation committee and individual targets. The annual cash bonus, which may be granted to our executive officers
other than our chief executive officer, is based on performance objectives and a discretionary evaluation of the executive officer’s
overall performance by our chief executive officer and subject to minimum thresholds. The annual cash bonus that may be granted to executive
officers other than our chief executive officer may be based entirely on a discretionary evaluation. Furthermore, the performance objectives
are recommended by our chief executive officer and approved by our compensation committee (and, if required by law, by our board of directors).
The performance measurable objectives of our chief executive officer are determined annually by our compensation
committee and board of directors, and include the weight to be assigned to each achievement in the overall evaluation. A less significant
portion of the chief executive officer’s annual cash bonus may be based on a discretionary evaluation of the chief executive officer’s
overall performance by the compensation committee and the board of directors based on quantitative and qualitative criteria.
The equity-based compensation under our compensation policy for our executive officers (including members
of our board of directors) is designed in a manner consistent with the underlying objectives in determining the base salary and the annual
cash bonus, with its main objectives being to enhance the alignment between the executive officers’ interests with our long-term
interests and those of our shareholders and to strengthen the retention and the motivation of executive officers in the long term. Our
compensation policy provides for executive officer compensation in the form of share options or other equity-based awards, such as restricted
shares and restricted share units, in accordance with our equity incentive plans then in place. All equity-based incentives granted to
executive officers shall be subject to vesting periods in order to promote long-term retention of the executive officers. The equity-based
compensation shall be granted from time to time and be individually determined and awarded according to the performance, educational background,
prior business experience, qualifications, role and the personal responsibilities of the executive officer.
In addition, our compensation policy contains compensation recovery provisions which allows us under certain
conditions to recover bonuses paid in excess, enables our chief executive officer to approve an immaterial change in the terms of employment
of an executive officer (provided that the changes of the terms of employment are in accordance our compensation policy) and allows us
to exculpate, indemnify and insure our executive officers and directors subject to certain limitations set forth thereto.
Our compensation policy also provides for compensation to the members of our board of directors either
(i) in accordance with the amounts provided in the Israeli Companies Regulations (Rules Regarding the Compensation and Expenses of an
External Director) of 2000, as amended by the Israeli Companies Regulations (Relief for Public Companies Traded in Stock Exchange Outside
of Israel) of 2000, as such regulations may be amended from time to time, or (ii) in accordance with the amounts determined in our compensation
policy.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Dafna Gruber, Yuval Shachar and Yair Shamir.
Yuval Shachar serves as the chairperson of our nominating and corporate governance committee.
Listing Requirements
Under NYSE corporate governance requirements, we are required to maintain a nominating and corporate governance
committee composed only of independent directors, but may opt out as a foreign private issuer. Our board of directors has determined that
all of our nominating and corporate governance committee members meet such standards. Each of Dafna Gruber, Yuval Schachar and Yair Shamir
is “independent” under NYSE corporate governance requirements.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Role
Our board of directors has adopted a nominating and corporate governance committee charter that sets forth
the responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee consistent with the Israeli Companies Law, SEC rules and NYSE
corporate governance requirements, which include, among other responsibilities:
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supporting and advising our board of directors
in selecting director nominees, consistent with the criteria approved by our board of directors, who are best able to fulfill the responsibilities
of a director; |
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overseeing the evaluation of our board of directors
and our management; and |
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otherwise taking a leadership role in shaping
our corporate governance establishing and maintaining effective corporate governance policies and practices, including developing and
recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to our company. |
Internal Auditor
Under the Israeli Companies Law, the board of directors of a public company must appoint an internal auditor
based on the recommendation of the audit committee. 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 Israeli Companies Law, the internal auditor may not be an
interested party or an office holder or a relative of an interested party or of an office holder, nor may the internal auditor be the
company’s independent auditor or the representative of the same.
An “interested party” is defined in the Israeli 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.
Chaikin, Cohen, Rubin & Co. has been appointed as our internal auditor.
Fiduciary Duties and Approval of Specified Related Party Transactions and Compensation
under Israeli Law
Fiduciary Duties of Office Holders
The Israeli Companies Law imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on all office holders of a company.
The duty of care requires an office holder to act with the degree of skill and care with which a reasonable office holder in the same
position would have acted under the same circumstances. The duty of care includes, among other things, a duty to use reasonable means,
in light of the circumstances, to obtain:
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information on the advisability of a given action brought 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 such action. |
The duty of loyalty incumbent on an office holder requires him or her to act in good faith and for the
benefit of the company, and includes, among other things, 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.
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Disclosure of Personal Interests of an Office Holder and Approval
of Certain Transactions
Under the Israeli Companies Law, a company may approve an act specified above which would otherwise constitute
a breach of the office holder’s fiduciary duty, provided that the office holder acted in good faith, the act or its approval does
not harm the company, and the office holder discloses to the company his or her personal interest in the transaction (including any significant
fact or document) a reasonable time before the approval of such act. Any such approval is subject to the terms of the Israeli Companies
Law, setting forth, among other things, the appropriate bodies of the company required to provide such approval, and the methods of obtaining
such approval.
The Israeli Companies Law requires that an office holder promptly disclose to the company any direct or
indirect personal interest that he or she may have and all related material information or documents known to him or her relating to any
existing or proposed transaction by the company. An interested office holder’s disclosure must be made promptly and, in any event,
no later than the first meeting of the board of directors at which the transaction is considered. An office holder is not obliged to disclose
such information if the personal interest of the office holder derives solely from the personal interest of his or her relative in a transaction
that is not considered an extraordinary transaction.
If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, the office holder must also disclose any personal interest
held by:
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the office holder’s relatives (spouse,
siblings, parents, grandparents, descendants, spouse’s descendants and the spouses of any of these people); or |
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any company in which the office holder or his
or her relatives holds 5% or more of the shares or voting rights, serves as a director or general manager or has the right to appoint
at least one director or the general manager. |
Under the Israeli Companies Law, unless the articles of association of a company provide otherwise, a transaction
with an office holder or with a third party in which the office holder has a personal interest, which is not an extraordinary transaction,
requires approval by the board of directors or a committee authorized by the board of directors. Our amended and restated articles of
association provide that such a transaction, which is not an extraordinary transaction, shall be approved by the board of directors or
a committee of the board of directors or any other body or person (which has no personal interest in the transaction) authorized by the
board of directors. If the transaction considered is an extraordinary transaction with an office holder or third party in which the office
holder has a personal interest, then audit committee approval is required prior to approval by the board of directors. Under specific
circumstances, shareholder approval may also be required. For the approval of compensation arrangements with directors and executive officers,
see “Item 6.B. Compensation—Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers.”
Any persons who have a personal interest in the approval of a transaction that is brought before a meeting
of the board of directors or the audit committee may not be present at the meeting or vote on the matter. However, if the chairman of
the board of directors or the chairman of the audit committee, as applicable, has determined that the presence of an office holder with
a personal interest is required, such office holder may be present at the meeting for the purpose of presenting the matter. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a director who has a personal interest may be present at the meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee (as
applicable) and vote on the matter if a majority of the members of the board of directors or the audit committee (as applicable) have
a personal interest in the approval of such transaction. If a majority of the directors at a board of directors meeting have a personal
interest in the transaction, such transaction also generally requires approval of the shareholders of the company.
A “personal interest” is defined under the Israeli Companies Law as the personal interest of
a person in an action or in a transaction of the company, including the personal interest of such person’s relative or the interest
of any other corporate body in which the person and/or such person’s relative is a director or general manager, a 5% shareholder
or holds 5% or more of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of its voting rights, or has the right to appoint at
least one director or the general manager, but excluding a personal interest stemming solely from the fact of holding shares in the company.
A personal interest also includes (i) a personal interest of a person who votes according to a proxy of another person, including in the
event that the other person has no personal interest, and (ii) a personal interest of a person who gave a proxy to another person to vote
on his or her behalf regardless of whether the discretion of how to vote lies with the person voting.
An “extraordinary transaction” is defined under the Israeli Companies Law 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;
or |
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a transaction that may have a material impact
on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities. |
Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder and
Approval of Transactions
Pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law, the disclosure requirements that apply to an office holder also
apply to a controlling shareholder of a public company. Extraordinary transactions with a controlling shareholder or in which a controlling
shareholder has a personal interest, including a private placement in which a controlling shareholder has a personal interest, and the
terms of engagement of the company, directly or indirectly, with a controlling shareholder or a controlling shareholder’s relative
(including through a corporation controlled by a controlling shareholder), regarding the company’s receipt of services from the
controlling shareholder, and if such controlling shareholder is also an office holder or employee of the company, regarding his or her
terms of employment, require the approval of each of (i) the audit committee (or the compensation committee with respect to the terms
of the engagement as an office holder or employee, including insurance, indemnification and compensation), (ii) the board of directors
and (iii) the shareholders, in that order. In addition, the shareholder approval must fulfill one of the following requirements:
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a majority of the shares held by shareholders
who have no personal interest in the transaction and are voting at the meeting must be voted in favor of approving the transaction, excluding
abstentions; or |
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the shares voted by shareholders who have no
personal interest in the transaction who vote against the transaction represent no more than 2% of the voting rights in the company.
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Such majority determined in accordance with the majority requirement described above is hereinafter referred
to as the Compensation Special Majority Requirement.
Any such transaction for which the term is more than three years must be approved in the same manner every
three years, unless with respect to certain transactions as permitted by the Israeli Companies Law, the audit committee has determined
that a longer term is reasonable under the circumstances. In addition, transactions with a controlling shareholder or a controlling shareholder’s
relative who serves as an executive officer in a company, directly or indirectly (including through a corporation under his control),
involving the receipt of services by a company or their compensation can have a term of five years from the company’s initial public
offering under certain circumstances.
The Israeli Companies Law requires that every shareholder that participates, in person or by proxy, in
a vote regarding a transaction with a controlling shareholder, must indicate in advance or in the ballot whether or not that shareholder
has a personal interest in the vote in question. Failure to so indicate generally results in the invalidation of that shareholder’s
vote.
Disclosure of Compensation of Executive Officers
For so long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer, we are not required to comply with the proxy rules
applicable to U.S. domestic filers, including the requirement applicable to emerging growth companies to disclose the compensation of
our chief executive officer and other two most highly compensated executive officers on an individual, rather than an aggregate, basis.
Nevertheless, regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law require us to disclose in the proxy statement for the annual general
meeting of our shareholders (or to include a reference therein to other previously furnished public disclosure) the annual compensation
of our five most highly compensated executive officers on an individual, rather than an aggregate, basis. This disclosure will not be
as extensive as that required of a U.S. domestic issuer.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
Directors. Under the Israeli 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 regulations promulgated under the Israeli Companies Law, the approval of the shareholders at a general meeting. If the compensation
of our directors is inconsistent with our compensation policy, then, provided that those provisions that must be included in the compensation
policy according to the Israeli Companies Law have been considered by the compensation committee and board of directors, and provided
that shareholder approval is obtained by the Compensation Special Majority Requirement.
Executive Officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer). The
Israeli Companies Law requires the approval of the compensation of a public company’s executive officers (other than the chief executive
officer) in the following order: (i) the compensation committee, (ii) the company’s board of directors and (iii) if such compensation
arrangement is inconsistent with the company’s compensation policy, the company’s shareholders (the Compensation Special Majority
Requirement). However, if the shareholders of the company do not approve a compensation arrangement with an executive officer that is
inconsistent with the company’s compensation policy, the compensation committee and board of directors may override the shareholders’
decision if each of the compensation committee and the board of directors provide detailed reasons for their decision.
Chief Executive Officer. The Israeli Companies Law requires the
approval of the compensation of a public company’s chief executive officer in the following order: (i) the company’s compensation
committee, (ii) the company’s board of directors and (iii) the company’s shareholders (the Compensation Special Majority Requirement).
However, if the shareholders of the company do not approve the compensation arrangement with the chief executive officer, the compensation
committee and board of directors may override the shareholders’ decision if each of the compensation committee and the board of
directors provide a detailed report for their decision. The approval of each of the compensation committee and the board of directors
should be in accordance with the company’s compensation policy; however, in special circumstances, they may approve compensation
terms of a chief executive officer that are inconsistent with such policy provided that they have considered those provisions that must
be included in the compensation policy according to the Israeli Companies Law and that shareholder approval was obtained (by a special
majority vote as discussed above with respect to the approval of director compensation). In addition, the compensation committee may waive
the shareholder approval requirement with regards to the approval of the engagement terms of a candidate for the chief executive officer
position, if the compensation committee determines that the compensation arrangement is consistent with the company’s compensation
policy, and that the chief executive officer did not have a prior business relationship with the company or a controlling shareholder
of the company and that subjecting the approval of the engagement to a shareholder vote would impede the company’s ability to employ
the chief executive officer candidate.
Duties of Shareholders
Under the Israeli 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, when voting at meetings of shareholders on the following matters:
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an amendment to the articles of association;
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• |
an increase in the company’s authorized
share capital; |
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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 also apply to a breach of the shareholder duties
mentioned above, and in the event of discrimination against other shareholders, additional remedies may be 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 any other power with respect to a company, is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company.
The Israeli Companies Law does not describe the substance of this duty except to state that the remedies generally available upon a breach
of contract 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.
Approval of Private Placements
Under the Israeli Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, a private placement of securities
of an Israeli public company whose shares are traded solely outside of Israel does not require approval at a general meeting of the shareholders
of a company; provided however, that in special circumstances, such as a private placement, which is intended to obviate the need to conduct
a special tender offer or a private placement which qualifies as a related party transaction, for which approval at a general meeting
of the shareholders of a company is required. See “Item 10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Acquisitions under Israeli
Law.”
However, we are subject to NYSE corporate governance requirements relating to private placements.
Exculpation, Insurance and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Under the Israeli Companies Law, a company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach
of the duty of loyalty. An Israeli company may exculpate an office holder in advance from liability to the company, in whole or in part,
for damages caused to the company as a result of a breach of duty of care but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is included
in its articles of association. Our amended and restated articles of association include such a provision. The company may not exculpate
in advance a director from liability arising from a breach of his or her duty of care in connection with a prohibited dividend or distribution
to shareholders.
As permitted under the Israeli Companies Law, our amended and restated articles of association provide
that we may indemnify an office holder in respect of the following liabilities, payments and expenses incurred for acts performed by him
or her as an office holder, either in advance of an event or following an event:
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a monetary liability incurred by or imposed
on the office holder in favor of another person pursuant to a court judgment, including pursuant to a settlement confirmed as judgment
or arbitrator’s decision approved by a competent court. However, if an undertaking to indemnify an office holder with respect to
such liability is provided in advance, then such an undertaking must be limited to events which, in the opinion of the board of directors,
can be foreseen based on the company’s activities when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an amount or according to criteria
determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking shall detail the abovementioned foreseen
events and amount or criteria; |
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reasonable litigation expenses, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees, which were incurred by the office holder as a result of an investigation or proceeding filed against the office
holder by an authority authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding, provided that such investigation or proceeding was either
(i) concluded without the filing of an indictment against such office holder and without the imposition on him of any monetary obligation
in lieu of a criminal proceeding, (ii) concluded without the filing of an indictment against the office holder but with the imposition
of a monetary obligation on the office holder in lieu of criminal proceedings for an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent
or (iii) in connection with a monetary sanction; |
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reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’
fees, incurred by the office holder or which were imposed on the office holder by a court (i) in a proceeding instituted against him or
her by the company, on its behalf, or by a third party, (ii) in connection with criminal indictment of which the office holder was acquitted
or (iii) in a criminal indictment which the office holder was convicted of an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent;
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expenses he or she incurs as a result of administrative
proceedings that may be instituted against him or her under Israeli securities laws, if applicable, and payments made to injured persons
under specific circumstances thereunder; and |
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any other matter in respect of which it is
permitted or will be permitted under applicable law to indemnify an office holder in the company. |
As permitted under the Israeli Companies Law, our amended and restated articles of association provide
that we may insure an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed by him or her as an office holder:
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a breach of the 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;
|
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a breach of duty of care to the company or
to another person, to the extent such a breach arises out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; |
|
• |
a monetary liability imposed on the office
holder in favor of a third party; |
|
• |
expenses he or she incurs as a result of administrative
proceedings that may be instituted against him or her under the Israeli securities laws if applicable, and payments made to injured persons
under specific circumstances thereunder; and |
|
• |
any other matter in respect of which it is
permitted or will be permitted under applicable law to insure the liability of an office holder in the company. |
Under the Israeli Companies Law, a company may not indemnify, exculpate or insure an office holder against
any of the following:
|
• |
a breach of the 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 prejudice the company; |
|
• |
a breach of duty of care committed intentionally
or recklessly, excluding a breach arising out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; |
|
• |
an act or omission committed with intent to
derive illegal personal benefit; or |
|
• |
a fine, monetary sanction or forfeit levied
against the office holder. |
Under the Israeli 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 directors or controlling shareholders, their relatives and
third parties in which controlling shareholders have a personal interest, also by the shareholders.
Our amended and restated articles of association permit us to exculpate, indemnify and insure our office
holders to the fullest extent permitted or to be permitted by law. Our office holders are currently covered by a directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policy. As of the date of this annual report, no claims for directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance have been filed under this policy and we are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation or proceeding involving any of
our office holders, including our directors, in which indemnification is sought.
We have entered into agreements with each of our current office holders exculpating them from a breach
of their duty of care to us to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to limited exceptions, and undertaking to indemnify them to
the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to limited exceptions, including to the extent that these liabilities are not covered by
insurance. This indemnification is limited, with respect to any monetary liability imposed in favor of a third party, to events determined
as foreseeable by the board of directors based on our activities. The maximum aggregate amount of indemnification that we may pay to our
office holders based on such indemnification agreement is the greater of (i) 25% of our total shareholders’ equity pursuant to our
most recent financial statements as of the time of the actual payment of indemnification and (ii) $40.0 million (as may be increased from
time to time by shareholders’ approval); provided, however, that in relation to indemnification claimed in connection with a public
offering of our securities, the amount, if higher, shall be equal to the aggregate proceeds from the sale by the Company and/or any shareholder
of the Company in connection with such public offering. Such indemnification amounts are in addition to any insurance amounts. Each office
holder who agrees to receive this letter of indemnification also gives his approval to the termination of all previous letters of indemnification
that we have provided to him or her in the past, if any. However, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification of office holders for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and therefore unenforceable.
Employment and Consulting Agreements with Executive Officers
We have entered into written employment or service agreements with each of our executive officers. See
“Item 7.B. Related Party Transactions—Employment Agreements.”
As of December 31, 2021, we had 542 employees, independent consultants and independent contractors,
of which 282 were in located in Israel, 159 were located in the United States, 27 were located in the United Kingdom and approximately
74 were located across 19 other countries. Set forth below is a breakdown of our global workforce of employees, independent consultants
and independent contractors by category of activity as of the dates indicated:
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Services, support and fulfillment |
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
187 |
|
|
|
177 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
194 |
|
|
|
198 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
73 |
|
Total |
|
|
568 |
|
|
|
533 |
|
|
|
542 |
|
With respect to our Israeli employees, 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. 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 that comply with the applicable Israeli legal requirements, and we make monthly contributions to severance pay funds
for all Israeli employees, which cover potential severance pay obligations.
Extension orders issued by the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry (formerly the Israeli Ministry
of Industry, Trade and Labor) apply to our employees in Israel and affect matters such as, living adjustments to salaries, length of working
hours and week, recuperation pay, travel expenses, and pension rights. We have never experienced labor-related work stoppages or strikes
and believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory.
For information regarding the share ownership of our directors and executive officers, please refer to
“Item 6.B. Compensation” and “Item 7.A. Major Shareholders.”
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Not applicable.
|
B. |
Memorandum and Articles of Association |
A copy of our amended and restated articles of association is attached as
Exhibit
1.1 to this annual report. The information called for by this Item is set forth in
Exhibit
2.5 to this annual report and is incorporated by reference into this annual report.
For a description of the registration rights that we granted under our Fourth Amended Investor Rights Agreement,
please refer to “Item 7.B. Related Party Transaction—Registration Rights.”
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 certain countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel at such time.
The following is a brief summary of material Israeli income tax laws and government programs applicable
to us. Some parts of this discussion are based on new Israeli tax legislation, which has not been subject to judicial or administrative
interpretation. The discussion is general in nature, should not be construed as comprehensive legal or professional tax advice and does
not cover all possible tax considerations in general and especially tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor in
light of his, her or its personal investment circumstances or to some types of investors which are subject to special treatment under
Israeli tax law. 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 Consequences
General Corporate Tax Structure in Israel
Israeli resident companies are generally subject to corporate tax on their taxable income at the rate of
23% for the year ended December 31, 2021 (in 2019 and 2020 the corporate tax rate was also 23%). However, the effective tax rate payable
by a company that derives income from an Approved Enterprise, a Beneficiary Enterprise, a Preferred Enterprise, a Special Preferred Enterprise,
a Preferred Technology Enterprise or Special Preferred Technology Enterprise (as defined below) may be considerably less.
Capital gains derived by an Israeli resident company are subject to tax at the corporate tax rate of 23%,
as mentioned above. Under Israeli tax legislation, a corporation will be considered as an “Israeli resident company” if (i)
it was incorporated in Israel or (ii) the control and management of its business are exercised in Israel.
Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969
The Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 5729-1969, generally referred to as the Industry Encouragement
Law, provides several tax benefits for “Industrial Companies.”
The Industry Encouragement Law defines an “Industrial Company” as a company, resident in Israel,
that was incorporated in Israel, which 90% or more of its income in any tax year, other than income from defense loans, is derived from
an “Industrial Enterprise” owned by it and that is located in Israel or in the “Area”, in accordance with the
definition under section 3A of the Israeli Tax Ordinance. An “Industrial Enterprise” is defined as an enterprise whose principal
activity in a given tax year is industrial production.
The following corporate tax benefits, among others, are available to Industrial Companies:
|
• |
amortization over an eight-year period of the
cost of purchased know-how and patents and rights to use a patent and know-how which are used for the development or advancement of the
Industrial Enterprise, commencing on the year in which such rights were first utilized; |
|
• |
under limited conditions, an election to file
consolidated tax returns with related Israeli Industrial Companies; and |
|
• |
expenses related to a public offering are deductible
in equal amounts over three years commencing on the year of the offering. |
Eligibility for benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not subject to receipt of prior approval
from any governmental authority.
Although as of the date of this annual report, we do not have industrial production activities, we may
qualify as an Industrial Company in the future and may be eligible for the benefits described above.
Tax Benefits and Grants for Research and Development
Israeli tax law allows, under certain conditions, a tax deduction for expenditures related to scientific
research and development projects, including capital expenditures, in the year in which they are incurred, if:
|
• |
the expenditures are approved by the relevant
Israeli government ministry, determined by the field of research; |
|
• |
the research and development must be for the
promotion or development of the company; and |
|
• |
the research and development is carried out
by or on behalf of the company seeking such tax deduction. |
The amount of such deductible expenses is reduced by the sum of any funds received through government grants
for the financing of such scientific research and development projects. No deduction under these research and development deduction rules
is allowed if such deduction is related to an expense invested in an asset depreciable under the general depreciation rules of the Israeli
Tax Ordinance. Expenditures related to research for the promotion or development of the company not so approved, are deductible in equal
amounts over three years.
From time to time, we may apply to the Innovation Authority for approval to allow a tax deduction for all
research and development expenses during the year incurred. There can be no assurance that such application will be accepted.
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 enterprises including in the cases of capital investments in production facilities (or other eligible
assets). Generally, an enterprises that may be either an “Approved Enterprise”, a “Beneficiary Enterprise”, a
“Preferred Enterprise”, a “Special Preferred Enterprise”, a “Preferred Technology Enterprise” or “Special
Preferred Technology Enterprise”, is entitled to benefits as discussed below. These benefits may include cash grants from the Israeli
government and tax benefits, based upon, among other things, the location within 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 or, a Preferred Enterprise,
a Special Preferred Enterprise, a Preferred Technology Enterprise or Special Preferred Technology Enterprise, is required to comply with
the requirements of the Investment Law.
The Investment Law has been amended several times over the recent years, with the three most significant
changes effective as of April 1, 2005, referred to as the 2005 Amendment, as of January 1, 2011, referred to as the 2011 Amendment, and
as of January 1, 2017, referred to as 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 instead of the benefits granted in
accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law prior to the 2011 Amendment, yet companies entitled to benefits under the Investment
Law as in effect up 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 elect for the benefits of the 2011 Amendment. The 2017 Amendment introduced
new benefits for Technological Enterprises, alongside the existing tax benefits.
Tax Benefits Prior to the 2005 Amendment
An investment program that is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law prior
to the 2005 Amendment, referred to as an “Approved Enterprise”, is entitled to certain benefits. A company that wished to
receive benefits as an Approved Enterprise must have received approval from the Investment Center of the Israeli Ministry of Economy and
Industry, referred to as the Investment Center. Each certificate of approval for an Approved Enterprise relates to a specific investment
program in the Approved Enterprise, delineated both by the financial scope of the investment and by the physical characteristics of the
facility or the asset.
In general, an Approved Enterprise was entitled to receive a grant from the Israeli government under the
“Grant Track” or an alternative package of tax benefits, known as the “Alternative Track”. The tax benefits from
any certificate of approval relate only to taxable profits attributable to the specific Approved Enterprise and are contingent upon meeting
the criteria set out in the certificate of approval. Income derived from activity that is not integral to the activity of the Approved
Enterprise does not qualify for the tax benefits.
In addition, a company that has an Approved Enterprise program is eligible for further tax benefits if
it qualifies as a Foreign Investors’ Company, or a FIC, which is a company with a level of foreign investment, as defined in the
Investment Law, of more than 25%. The level of foreign investment is measured as the percentage of rights in the company (in terms of
shares, rights to profits, voting and appointment of directors), and of combined share and loan capital, that are owned, directly or indirectly,
by persons who are not residents of Israel. The determination as to whether a company qualifies as an FIC is made on an annual basis according
to the lowest level of foreign investment during the year.
We are currently not entitled to tax benefits for Approved Enterprise.
Tax Benefits Subsequent to the 2005 Amendment
The 2005 Amendment applies to new investment programs commencing after 2004, but does not apply to investment
programs approved prior to April 1, 2005. The 2005 Amendment provides that terms and benefits included in any certificate of approval
that was granted before the 2005 Amendment became effective on April 1, 2005 will remain subject to the provisions of the Investment Law
as in effect on the date of such approval. Pursuant to the 2005 Amendment, the Investment Center will continue to grant Approved Enterprise
status to qualifying investments. The 2005 Amendment, however, limits the scope of enterprises that may be approved by the Investment
Center by setting criteria for the approval of a facility as an Approved Enterprise, such as provisions generally requiring that at least
25% of the Approved Enterprise’s income be derived from exports.
An enterprise that qualifies under these provisions is referred to as a “Beneficiary Enterprise”,
rather than “Approved Enterprise”. The 2005 Amendment provides that the Investment Center’s approval is required only
for Approved Enterprise that receive cash grants. As a result, it was no longer required to obtain Approved Enterprise status in order
to receive the tax benefits previously available under the Alternative Track. Rather, a company may claim the tax benefits offered by
the Investment Law directly in its tax returns, provided that its facilities meet the criteria for tax benefits set forth in the 2005
Amendment. Companies are entitled to approach the Israeli Tax Authority for a pre-ruling regarding their eligibility for benefits under
the Investment Law, as amended.
In order to receive the tax benefits, the 2005 Amendment states that a company must make an investment
which meets all of the conditions, including exceeding a minimum investment amount specified in the Investment Law. Such investment allows
a company to receive “Beneficiary Enterprise” status, and may be made over a period of no more than three years ending in
the year in which the company chose to have the tax benefits apply to its Beneficiary Enterprise (the “Year of Election”).
Where a company requests to apply the tax benefits to an expansion of existing facilities, only the expansion
will be considered to be a Beneficiary Enterprise and the company’s effective tax rate will be the weighted average of the applicable
rates. In this case, the minimum investment required in order to qualify as a Beneficiary Enterprise is required to exceed a certain percentage
of the value of the company’s production assets before the expansion.
The benefits period is subject to a limitation of 7 to 10 years from the Commencement Year (the Commencement
Year being defined as the later of: (i) the first tax year in which the company derives income for tax purposes from the Beneficiary Enterprise
or (ii) the Year of Election) provided that 12 years have not elapsed from the first day of the Year of Election.
The extent of the tax benefits available under the 2005 Amendment to qualifying income of a Beneficiary
Enterprise depend on, among other things, the geographic location in Israel of the Beneficiary Enterprise. Such tax benefits include an
exemption from corporate tax on undistributed income for a period of between two to 10 years, depending on the geographic location of
the Beneficiary Enterprise in Israel, and a reduced corporate tax rate of between 10% to 25% for the remainder of the benefits period,
depending on the level of foreign investment in the company in each year. A company qualifying for tax benefits under the 2005 Amendment
which pays a dividend out of income derived by its Beneficiary Enterprise during the tax exemption period, will be subject to corporate
tax in respect of the amount of the dividend distributed (grossed-up to reflect the pre-tax income that it would have had to earn in order
to distribute the dividend) at the otherwise applicable corporate tax rate (while taking into account the entitlement for reduced rates
under the Investment Law . Dividends paid to Israeli shareholders out of income attributed to a Beneficiary Enterprise are generally subject
to withholding tax at source at the rate of 15% (in the case of non-Israeli shareholders - subject to the receipt in advance of a valid
certificate from the ITA allowing for a reduced tax rate, 15%, or 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). The reduced rate of 15%
is limited to dividends and distributions out of income attributed to a Beneficiary Enterprise during the benefits period and which are
actually paid at any time up to 12 years thereafter (except with respect to an FIC, in which case the 12-year limit does not apply).
The benefits available to a Beneficiary Enterprise are subject to the fulfillment of conditions stipulated
in the Investment Law and its regulations. If a company does not meet these conditions, it may be required to refund the amount of tax
benefits, as adjusted by the Israeli consumer price index, and interest, or other monetary penalties.
We applied for tax benefits as a Beneficiary Enterprise with 2009 and 2011 as the Years of Election. We
may be entitled to tax benefits under this regime in respect of the 2011 Year of Election once we are profitable for tax purposes and
subject to the fulfillment of all the relevant conditions. If we do not meet these conditions, the tax benefits may not be applicable
which would result in adverse tax consequences to us. Alternatively, and subject to the fulfillment of all the relevant conditions, we
may elect in the future to irrevocably waive the tax benefits available for Beneficiary Enterprise and claim the tax benefits available
to Preferred Enterprise under the 2011 Amendment (as defined below).
Tax Benefits Under the 2011 Amendment
The Investment Law was significantly amended as of January 1, 2011. 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.
The 2011 Amendment introduced new tax benefits for income generated by a “Preferred Company”
through its “Preferred Enterprise,” in accordance with the definition of such term in the Investment Law, as of January 1,
2011. A Preferred Company is defined as either (i) a company incorporated in Israel which is not wholly owned by a governmental entity,
or (ii) a limited partnership that: (a) was registered under the Israeli Partnerships Ordinance and; (b) all of its limited partners are
companies incorporated in Israel, but not all of them are governmental entities; which has, among other things, Preferred Enterprise status
and is controlled and managed from Israel.
Since 2017 and thereafter, the corporate tax rate for Preferred Enterprise, which is located in development
zone A, was decreased to 7.5%, while the reduced corporate tax rate for other development zones remains 16%. 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 to 5% if the Special Preferred Enterprise is located in development
zone A. Our operations are currently not located in development zone A.
Dividends paid to Israeli shareholders out of income attributed to a Preferred Enterprise are generally
subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 20% (in the case of non-Israeli shareholders - subject to the receipt in advance of
a valid certificate from the ITA allowing for a reduced tax rate, 20%), or such lower rate as may be provided in an applicable tax treaty.
However, if such dividends are paid to an Israeli company, no tax is required to be withheld (although, if such dividends are subsequently
distributed to individuals or a non-Israeli company, the aforesaid will apply).
We are currently not entitled to tax benefits for a Preferred Enterprise or Special Preferred Enterprise.