KTOVW Kitov Pharma Ltd

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

The following description of our share capital and certain provisions of our articles of association are summaries and do not purport to be complete. The description is qualified by reference to our corporate documents, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Authorized Share Capital. Our authorized share capital is 250,000,000 ordinary shares, with no par value (herein referred to as “Ordinary Share(s)” or “ordinary share(s)”), and 50,000,000 non-voting senior preferred shares, with no par value, divided into five classes of 10,000,000 preferred shares in each class. On July 2, 2020, we announced the convening of a special general meeting of our shareholders to be held on August 6, 2020, at which, amongst other matters on the agenda, our shareholders are being asked to approve an increase of our authorized and registered ordinary share capital by an additional 750,000,000 ordinary shares, with no par value, and amend the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Association Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association accordingly. Should such proposal be approved by our shareholders, following such increase, our authorized and registered share capital will consist of 1,000,000,000 ordinary shares, with no par value, and 50,000,000 non-voting senior preferred shares, with no par value, divided into five classes of 10,000,000 preferred shares in each class.

As of December 31, 2019, we had 19,564,449 ordinary shares outstanding (after giving effect to a reverse share split of our ordinary shares, at an exchange ratio of 1-for-20, which was completed on January 4, 2019, which ordinary shares would be represented by 19,564,449 of our ADSs) and no non-voting senior preferred shares outstanding, and as of July 9, 2020, we had 158,039,074 ordinary shares outstanding (which would be represented by 158,039,074 of our ADSs) and no non-voting senior preferred shares outstanding. The above amounts include one dormant ordinary share held in treasury.

Ordinary Shares

The following is a description of our ordinary shares.

The ordinary shares do not have preemptive rights, preferred rights or any other right to purchase our securities. Neither our amended and restated articles of association nor the laws of the State of Israel restrict the ownership or voting of ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel, except under certain circumstances for ownership by nationals of certain countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.

Transfer of Shares. Our fully paid ordinary shares may generally be freely transferred under our amended and restated articles of association, unless the transfer is restricted or prohibited by applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which the shares are traded.

Notices. Under the Companies Law, and regulations promulgated thereunder, and our amended and restated articles of association, we are required to publish notices on our website, at least 21 days’ prior notice of a shareholders’ meeting. However, under regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, we are required to publish notices on our website at least 35 calendar days prior any shareholders’ meeting in which the agenda includes matters which may be voted on by voting slips. Regulations under the Companies Law exempt companies whose shares are listed for trading both on a stock exchange in and outside of Israel, from some provisions of the Companies Law. These regulations exempt us from some of the requirements of the Israeli proxy regulations, under certain circumstances.

According to the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as applicable to the Company, for purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at such meeting, the board of directors may fix the record date not more than 40 nor less than four calendar days prior to the date of the meeting, provided that an announcement regarding the general meeting shall be given prior to the record date.

Election of Directors. Under our amended and restated articles of association, the number of directors on our Board will be no less than four and no more than nine (including any external directors, to the extent that we may be required to appoint external directors in accordance with the Companies Law and any Regulations enacted thereunder) (“Maximum Number”). The majority of the members of the Board shall be residents of Israel, unless our center of management shall have been transferred to another country in accordance with a resolution of our Board by a majority of three quarters (75%) of the participating director votes. The number of directors may be changed, at any time and from time to time, by our shareholders with a majority of (a) 75% of the voting rights participating and voting on the matter in the applicable general meeting of our shareholders and (b) more than 47.9% of all of the voting rights in the Company as of the record date established for the applicable general meeting of our shareholders (“Special Majority”). Our directors shall generally be nominated by our Board of Directors, and then appointed at our general meeting of shareholders with a regular majority. In accordance with our amended and restated articles of association, the directors elected to serve are divided into three classes, with each class comprising one-third of the members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”) (who are not external directors, if any were appointed), (hereinafter the “first class”; the “second class”; and the “third class”). If the number of directors is not equally divisible by three, each of the first class and the second class will be comprised of a different number, the closest and lowest to one-third, while the third class will be comprised of the remaining directors (who are not external directors, if any were appointed). If the number of directors changes, the number of directors in each class will change in accordance with the aforesaid rule. In the annual general meeting of our shareholders that will take place each year, the shareholders shall be entitled to elect directors who shall be elected for a Three-Year Term to replace the class of directors whose term in office has expired as of such annual general meeting of our shareholders, and so on ad infinitum, so that the directors who shall be elected as stated above shall enter office at the end of the annual general meeting of our shareholders at which they were elected, unless a later date for commencement of the term was decided at the time of the appointment, and shall serve for Three-Year Terms (unless their appointment will be terminated in accordance with the provisions of our amended and restated articles of association), and so that each year, the terms in office of one of the classes of directors shall expire at the annual general meeting of our shareholders for such year. A “Three-Year Term” means a term of office of a director until the third annual general meeting of our shareholders which shall be held following the date of their election as director, provided that each director shall continue to serve in office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his or her retirement, death, resignation or removal. Our Board may appoint a director at any time to fill any vacancies until the annual meeting of our shareholders set to take place at the end of the Three-Year Term for the class of directors to which such director is so appointed by the Board, provided that the total number of the members of the Board serving at such time will not exceed the Maximum Number. The shareholders may at all times, by a Special Majority vote of the shareholders, replace or dismiss a director (in the case of replacement, only if the appointed director is not a corporation). A director to be replaced shall be given a reasonable opportunity to address the shareholders at their meeting. The tenure of a director expires pursuant to the provisions of our amended and restated articles of association and the Companies Law, upon death or if s/he becomes incompetent, unless removed from office as described above.

Dividend and Liquidation Rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred shares, our profits, in respect of which a resolution was passed to distribute them as dividend or bonus shares, shall be paid pro rata to the number of shares held by the shareholders. In the event of our liquidation, the liquidator may, with the general meeting’s approval, and subject to any preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred shares, distribute parts of our property in specie among the shareholders and he or she may, with similar approval, deposit any part of our property with trustees in favor of the shareholders as the liquidator, with the approval mentioned above, deems fit.

Voting, Shareholders’ Meetings and Resolutions. Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. The quorum required for an ordinary meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present, in person or by proxy, or by voting slip indicating the way in which he or she is voting, who hold or represent, in the aggregate, at least 25% of the voting rights of our outstanding share capital. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum is adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or any time and place as prescribed by the board of directors in notice to the shareholders. At the reconvened meeting one shareholder at least, present in person or by proxy constitutes a quorum except where such meeting was called at the demand of shareholders. With the agreement of a meeting at which a quorum is present, the chairman may, and on the demand of the meeting he must, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, as the meeting resolves.

Annual general meetings of our shareholders are to be held once every year within a period of not more than 15 months after the last preceding annual general shareholders’ meeting. Our board of directors may call special general meetings of shareholders. The Companies Law provides that a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors or by a request of two directors or 25% of the directors in office, whichever is the lower, or by shareholders holding at least 5% of our issued share capital and at least 1% of the voting rights, or of shareholders holding at least 5% of our voting rights, subject to the provisions set forth in our amended and restated articles of association.

An ordinary resolution requires approval by the holders of a majority of the voting rights present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting and voting on the resolution.

Allotment of Shares. Our Board of Directors has the power to allot or to issue shares to any person, with restrictions and condition as it deems fit.

Preferred Shares

Pursuant to Israel’s securities laws, a company whose ordinary shares are registered for trade on TASE may not have more than one class of shares for a period of one year following initial registration of the company on TASE. After a period of one year, it is permitted to issue preferred shares if the preference of those shares is limited to a preference in the distribution of dividends and these preferred shares have no voting rights, and if such issuance is otherwise in accordance with any then applicable TASE regulations or directives with respect to the issuance of preferred shares by a company whose ordinary shares are listed on TASE.

We presently do not have any issued and outstanding preferred shares. On December 5, 2016, our shareholders approved the amendment to our amended and restated articles of association, as well as to our memorandum of association, for the addition to Kitov Pharma’s registered share capital of 50,000,000 non-voting senior preferred shares, with no par value, divided into 5 classes of 10,000,000 preferred shares in each class (the “Preferred Shares”).

Pursuant to our amended and restated articles of association, our Board of Directors is authorized to fix, by resolution of the Board of Directors, (i) the number of issued Preferred Shares (subject to the maximum number of Preferred Shares authorized in such class), (ii) the designation of such class of Preferred Shares, and (iii) the conversion, redemption, optional and other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of the shares of such class of Preferred Shares. Consequently, the issuance of Preferred Shares would be available for issuance without further actions by the Company’s shareholders, unless shareholder approval is required by Israeli law, the rules of any exchange or other market on which the Company’s securities may then be listed or traded, the Company’s Articles of Association then in effect, or any other applicable rules and regulations. For so long as we are also listed on TASE, the issuance of any Preferred Shares will also be subject to the requirements of any TASE regulations or directives governing the issuance of preferred shares by companies whose ordinary shares are listed on the TASE.

Subject to the actual terms of issuance determined by our Board of Directors for any Preferred Shares when issued, our Preferred Shares may be convertible into our ordinary shares or another series of Preferred Shares. Each such series of Preferred Shares shall have such number of shares, designations, preferences, qualifications, and special or relative rights or privileges as shall be determined by the Board of Directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and preemptive rights, rights, qualifications, limitations and/or restrictions determined by our Board of Directors in accordance with our articles of association in effect at the time of any such issuance, including, but not limited to, some or all of the following: (i) the number of Preferred Shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of Preferred Shares then outstanding) from time to time by action of the Board of Directors; (ii) the dividend rate and the manner and frequency of payment of dividends on the Preferred Shares of that series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and, if so, from which date; (iii) the terms and conditions of any conversion privilege of the series, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors may determine; (iv) whether or not the shares of that series will be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption; (v) whether that series will have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of Preferred Shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund; (vi) whether or not the Preferred Shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the Preferred Shares of any other series or class in any respect; (vii) the rights of the Preferred Shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of Preferred Shares of that series; and any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.

Issuance of Preferred Shares by our Board of Directors may result in such shares having dividend or liquidation preferences senior to the rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and, Preferred Shares which are convertible into our ordinary shares could potentially dilute the voting rights of the holders of our ordinary shares.

Once designated by our Board of Directors, each series of Preferred Shares may have specific financial and other terms.

Each Preferred Share shall be entitled to receive upon distribution, and in preference to our ordinary shares, (i) dividends in excess of the general dividends issued to all shareholders including holders of Ordinary Shares, and/or (ii) amounts paid in a distribution of our surplus assets on winding up, in an amount equal to the original issue price for such Preferred Shares as set forth in the Company’s share registrar (adjusted for share combinations or subdivisions or other recapitalizations of the Company’s shares), and less the amount of any dividend previously paid in preference, all pro rata to the number of the Company’s Preferred Shares of each specific class of Preferred Shares issued and outstanding at such time, without having regard to any premium paid or discount thereon, and all subject to the provisions hereof.

Furthermore, and after payment of the Preferred Shares’ dividend preferences or liquidation preferences as aforesaid, each Preferred Share in the Company’s capital shall be entitled to receive upon distribution, (i) a general dividend issued to all shareholders, (ii) bonus shares, and (iii) amounts paid in a distribution of the Company’s surplus assets on winding up, all pro rata to the number of the Company’s Shares (Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares) issued and outstanding at such time, without having regard to any premium paid thereon or discount, and all subject to the provisions hereof.

All Preferred Shares shall be non-voting shares and shall not vest the holder thereof with any right to participate in the Company’s general meetings, to receive notice thereof and/or to vote thereat, except as otherwise specifically required by Israeli law. Without limitation to the above, the Preferred Shares shall not confer upon the holders thereof any voting rights or any right to appoint directors or any other right with respect to general meetings, including without limitation, attending, voting at or requesting to convene, such general meetings or proposing matters for the agenda of such general meetings, except as expressly set forth below or as otherwise specifically provided by Israeli law.

So long as any Preferred Shares are outstanding, the provisions of the section below titled “Modification of class rights”, and the provisions of this section shall apply, such that the adoption of a resolution, by a regular majority in voting power of the Preferred Shares who are present, entitled to vote thereon (if any) and voting thereon, voting together as a single class, given in person or by proxy or by an authorized proxy holder, at a meeting of holders of Preferred Shares shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

(i) Authorization of Senior Shares. Any amendment or alteration of the Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association of the Company so as to authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any class or series of shares to be so authorized, created or increased after the initial issuance of any class of Preferred Shares, the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior to the outstanding class or classes of Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and distribution rights upon the liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company (collectively, “Senior Shares”);

(ii) Amendment of the Preferred Shares. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Articles of Association so as to adversely affect the special rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Preferred Shares.

(iii) Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Preferred Shares, or of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, unless in each case (x) the Preferred Shares remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Company is not the surviving or resulting entity (or the Preferred Shares are otherwise exchanged or reclassified), are converted or reclassified into or exchanged for preferred shares of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such Preferred Shares that remain outstanding or such preferred shares, as the case may be, have rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, of the Preferred Shares immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction;

provided, however, that (A) for all purposes of this section, (1) any increase in the amount of the Company’s authorized Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares or the issuance of any additional Ordinary Shares or Preferred Shares or (2) the authorization or creation of any class or series of shares established after the initial issuance of any class of Preferred Shares, the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series ranks senior to or on a parity with the previously issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and distribution rights upon any liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company (collectively, “Junior Shares”); or the authorization or creation of any class or series of shares established after the initial issuance of any class of Preferred Shares the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank on a parity with the previously issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and distribution rights upon any liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company (collectively, “Parity Shares”); and, any increase in the amount of authorized but unissued shares of such class or series of Parity Shares or Junior Shares or the issuance of additional shares of such class or series of Parity Shares or Junior Shares, will be deemed not to adversely affect (or to otherwise cause to be materially less favorable) the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the previously issued and outstanding Preferred Shares and shall not require the consent or the adoption of a resolution by the holders of the previously issued and outstanding Preferred Shares; (B) in the event of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Preferred Shares, or of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity, as described above in which the provisions of sub-section (b)(iii)(x) and (y) above are complied with, the consent or the adoption of a resolution by the holders of the previously issued Preferred Shares shall not be required in order to effect, validate or approve such share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation; and (C) to the extent that, notwithstanding the provisions of immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B), the consent or approval of the holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, is nonetheless required by applicable law or the Articles of Association in such circumstances, or such consent or approval is otherwise required by applicable law or the Articles of Association with respect to any matter that is not set forth in the provisions of items (i)-(iii) of this section above, such approval or consent may be given by the adoption of a resolution, by a simple majority of the voting power of the Preferred Shares who are present, entitled to vote thereon (if any) and voting thereon, voting together as a single class, given in person or by proxy or by an authorized person, at a meeting of holders of Preferred Shares and the legal quorum for any such meeting shall be as set forth above with respect to meeting of holders of our Ordinary Shares.

The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Preferred Shares (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other procedural aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of our amended and restated articles of association (including the provisions set forth above), applicable law and, if applicable, the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Preferred Shares are listed or traded at the time.

Although our Board of Directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize the issuance of a series of Preferred Shares that could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer, change of control or other takeover attempt.

Board of Directors

Under our amended and restated articles of association, resolutions by the Board of Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes of the directors present, or participating, in the case of voting by media, and voting, each director having one vote. In the event of a tie, the chairman of the Board does not hold a casting vote.

Under the Companies Law, companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel that are “public companies,” including companies with shares listed on NASDAQ, are required to appoint at least two external directors.

Pursuant to regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, companies with shares traded on a U.S. stock exchange, including NASDAQ, may, subject to certain conditions, “opt out” from the Companies Law requirements to appoint external directors and related Companies Law rules concerning the composition of the audit committee and compensation committee of the board of directors. In accordance with these regulations, in July 2016, we elected to “opt out” from the Companies Law requirements to appoint external directors and related Companies Law rules concerning the composition of the audit committee and compensation committee of the board of directors.

Under these regulations, the exemptions from such Companies Law requirements will continue to be available to us so long as: (i) we do not have a “controlling shareholder” (as such term is defined under Section 1 of the Companies Law), (ii) our shares are traded on a U.S. stock exchange, including NASDAQ, and (iii) we comply with the director independence requirements, the audit committee and the compensation committee composition requirements, under U.S. laws (including applicable Nasdaq Rules) applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. 

A majority of our Board members are independent as required by the NASDAQ Listing Rules. Furthermore, our Audit Committee consists of at least three independent directors, and our Compensation Committee consists of at least two independent directors.

The Companies Law requires that certain transactions, actions and arrangements be approved as provided for in a company’s articles of association and in certain circumstances by the audit committee or the compensation committee and by the board of directors itself. Those transactions that require such approval pursuant to a company’s articles of association must be approved by its board of directors. In certain circumstances, audit committee and shareholder approval is also required. The vote required by the audit committee and the board of directors for approval of such matters, in each case, is a majority of the directors participating in a duly convened meeting.

Under the provisions of the Companies Law, whoever has a personal interest in a matter, which is considered at a meeting of the board of directors or the audit committee, may not be present at this meeting or vote on this matter, unless it is not an extraordinary transaction as defined in the Companies Law. However, if the chairman of the board of directors or the chairman of the audit committee has determined that the presence of an office holder with a personal interest is required for the presentation of a matter, such officer holder may be present at the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the majority of the directors have a personal interest in a matter, they shall be allowed to participate and vote on this matter, but the approval of the transaction by the shareholders in the general meeting is required.

According to the Companies Law, an arrangement between the company and its directors, regarding their conditions of service, including the grant to them of exemption from liability from certain actions, insurance, and indemnification as well as an arrangement between the company and its directors on conditions of their employment, in other capacities, generally requires the approval of the compensation committee (or the audit committee acting in lieu of a compensation committee pursuant to the Companies Law), the board of directors, and the shareholders.

Under the Companies Regulations (Relief from Related Party Transactions), 5760-2000, promulgated under the Companies Law, as amended, certain extraordinary transactions between a public company and its controlling shareholder(s) do not require shareholder approval. Such exempt extraordinary transactions must however be approved by both the board of directors and the audit committee. In addition, under such regulations, directors’ compensation and employment arrangements in a public company do not require the approval of the shareholders if both the compensation committee (or the audit committee acting in lieu of a compensation committee pursuant to the Companies Law) and the board of directors agree that such arrangements are solely for the benefit of the company, provided that the compensation due under such arrangements does not exceed the compensation sums prescribed for external directors under applicable companies regulations. Employment and compensation arrangements for an office holder that is a controlling shareholder of a public company, or the provision of directors’ and officers’ insurance for the chief executive officer, do not require shareholder approval if certain criteria are met. The Board, following the prior determination of the Audit Committee or Compensation Committee, as applicable, may also determine that the compensation being offered to certain office holders (including directors) is an engagement which, pursuant to the leniencies set forth in the Relief Regulations, can be entered into by a company immediately, with the approval by the shareholders being deferred to the next shareholder meeting to be called by the Company, is such compensation is consistent with compensation policy of the company which was approved by the shareholders of the company in accordance with the Companies Law, and are no more beneficial to the recipient as such similar compensation previously granted to other holders of the same office.

Exchange Controls

There are currently no material Israeli currency control restrictions on payments of dividends or other distributions with respect to our securities or the proceeds from the sale of our securities, except under certain circumstances, for shareholders who are subjects of countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel or otherwise as set forth in this section. However, legislation remains in effect pursuant to which currency controls can be imposed by administrative action at any time. Israeli residents have an obligation to file reports with the Bank of Israel regarding certain transactions. In addition, Bank of Israel regulations require us to submit regular quarterly update reports concerning foreign investments in the Company.

Access to Corporate Records

Under the Companies Law, shareholders are provided access to minutes of our general meetings, our shareholders register and principal shareholders register, our amended and restated articles of association, our financial statements and any document that we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israel Securities Authority. In addition, shareholders may request to be provided with any document related to an action or transaction requiring shareholder approval under the related party transaction provisions of the Companies Law. We may deny this request if we believe it has not been made in good faith or if such denial is necessary to protect our interest or protect a trade secret or patent.

Modification of Class Rights

Under the Companies Law and our amended and restated articles of association, the rights attached to any class of share, such as voting, liquidation and dividend rights, may be amended by adoption of a resolution by the holders of a majority of the shares of that class present at a separate class meeting, or otherwise in accordance with the rights attached to such class of shares, as set forth in our amended and restated articles of association. The enlargement of an existing class of shares or the issuance of additional shares thereof, shall not be deemed to modify the rights attached to the previously issued shares of such class or of any other class, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the shares.

Acquisitions under Israeli Law

Special Tender Offer

According to the Companies Law, an acquisition pursuant to which a purchaser will hold a “controlling stake”, that is defined as 25% or more of the voting rights if no other shareholder holds a controlling stake, or an acquisition pursuant to which such purchaser will hold more than 45% of the voting rights of the company if no other shareholder owns more than 45% of the voting rights, may not be performed by way of market accumulation, but rather by way of a special tender offer (as defined in the Companies Law) made to all of the company’s shareholders on a pro rata basis, or pursuant to a private placement approved by the company’s shareholders with the purpose of approving the acquisition of controlling stake, or 45% or more of the company’s voting rights. In accordance with the Companies Law, such procedures are not required if the controlling stake or 45% of the company’s voting rights are purchased from an existing holder or a controlling stake or 45% of the company’s voting rights. A special tender offer may not be consummated unless a majority of the shareholders who announced their stand on such offer have accepted it (in counting the total votes of such shareholders, shares held by the controlling shareholders, shareholders who have personal interest in the offer, shareholders who own 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, relatives or representatives of any of the above or the bidder and corporations under their control, shall not be taken into account). A shareholder may be free to object to such an offer without such objection being deemed as a waiver of his right to sell its respective shares if the transaction is approved by a majority of the company’s shareholders despite his objection. Shares purchased not in accordance with those provisions will become “dormant shares” and will not grant the purchaser any rights so long as they are held by the purchaser.

In the event that a special tender offer is made, a company’s board of directors is required to express its opinion on the advisability of the offer, or shall abstain from expressing any opinion if it is unable to do so, provided that it gives the reasons for its abstention. In addition, the board of directors must disclose any personal interest each member of the board of directors has in the offer or stems therefrom.

In the event that a special tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it or under common control with the purchaser or such controlling person or entity shall refrain from making a subsequent tender offer for the purchase of shares of the target company and cannot execute a merger with the target company for a period of one year from the date of the offer, unless the purchaser or such person or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special tender offer.

Full Tender Offer

A person wishing to acquire shares or a class of shares of an Israeli public company and who would, as a result, own more than 90% of the target company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of certain class of its shares, is required by the Companies Law to make a full tender offer (as defined in the Companies Law) to all of the company’s shareholders for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company or class of shares. If either (i) the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold, in the aggregate, less than 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class, and more than half of the shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the offer accept the offer, or (ii) the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold less than 2% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class, then all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. However, a shareholder that had its shares so transferred, whether or not it accepted the tender offer (unless otherwise provided in the offering memorandum), may, within six (6) months from the date of acceptance of the tender offer, petition the court to determine that the tender offer was for less than fair value and that the fair value should be paid as determined by the court. If the shareholders who did not accept the tender offer hold at least 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class of shares, the acquirer may not acquire shares of the company that will increase its holdings to more than 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of the applicable class from shareholders who accepted the tender offer.

Mergers

The Companies Law provides that corporate mergers require the approval of both companies’ boards of directors and shareholders. The board of directors of a merging company is required pursuant to the Companies Law to discuss and determine whether in its opinion there exists a reasonable concern that as a result of a proposed merger, the surviving company will not be able to satisfy its obligations towards its creditors, taking into account the financial status of the merging companies. If the board of directors has determined that such a concern exists, it may not approve a proposed merger. In the event, however, that shares of the target company are held by the acquiring company or by a person holding 25% or more of any type of controlling means of the acquiring company, the merger will not be approved if a majority of the shareholders of the target company attending and voting at the meeting at which the merger is considered (without taking into account, for that purpose, the shares held by the acquiring company or by a person holding 25% or more of any type of controlling means of the acquiring company) object to and do not vote in favor of the merger. If a person holds 25% or more of any type of controlling means of more than one merging company, the same provisions shall apply with regard to the shareholders’ vote with respect to each such company. Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, the court may delay or prevent the merger if the court concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that as a result of the merger the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the target company’s obligations. Furthermore, a merger may not close unless at least 30 days have passed from the time that the general meeting of each of the merging companies was held and at least 50 days have passed from the date on which the merger proposal was sent to the Israeli Registrar of Companies.

Private Placements

Under the Companies Law, if (i) as a result of a private placement a person would become a controlling shareholder or (ii) a private placement will entitle investors to receive 20% or more of the voting rights of a company as calculated before the private placement, and all or part of the private placement consideration is not in cash or in public traded securities or is not in market terms and if as a result of the private placement the holdings of a substantial shareholder shall increase or as a result of it a person shall become a substantial shareholder, then in either case, the allotment must be approved by the board of directors and by the shareholders of the company. A “substantial shareholder” in connection with a private placement as set forth above, is defined as a shareholder who holds five percent or more of the company’s outstanding share capital or voting rights, and which assumes the exercise of all of the securities convertible into shares either held by that person prior to such private placement or offered to such person under the private placement. In order for the private placement to be on “market terms” the board of directors has to determine and explain in detail that the private placement is on market terms, unless proven otherwise. Otherwise, under the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, a private placement of securities does not require approval at a general meeting of the shareholders of a company; provided however, that in other special circumstances, such as a private placement completed in lieu of a special tender offer, or a private placement under circumstances which qualifies as a related party transaction requiring shareholder approval, approval at a general meeting of the shareholders of a company is then also required. A Registered Direct Offering in the United States is generally considered a private placement under the Companies Law.

DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, will register and deliver American Depositary Shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS will represent one ordinary share (or a right to receive one ordinary share) deposited with an Israeli commercial bank, as custodian for the depositary in Israel. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s office at which the ADSs will be administered is located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286. The Bank of New York Mellon’s principal executive office is located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286.

You may hold ADSs either (A) directly (i) by having an American Depositary Receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (ii) by having uncertificated ADSs registered in your name, or (B) indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through your broker or other financial institution that is a direct or indirect participant in The Depository Trust Company, also called DTC. If you hold ADSs directly, you are a registered ADS holder, also referred to as an ADS holder. This description assumes you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

Registered holders of uncertificated ADSs will receive statements from the depositary confirming their holdings.

As an ADS holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Israeli law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the shares underlying your ADSs. As a registered holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, ADS holders and all other persons indirectly or beneficially holding ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR. Directions on how to obtain copies of those documents are provided under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information”.

Dividends and Other Distributions 

How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?

The depositary has agreed to pay or distribute to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, upon payment or deduction of its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent.

Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

Before making a distribution, any withholding taxes, or other governmental charges that must be paid will be deducted. See “Taxation and Government Programs - Taxation of our Shareholders” for more detail. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some of the value of the distribution.

Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell shares which would require it to deliver a fraction of an ADS (or ADSs representing those shares) and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new shares. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed shares (or ADSs representing those shares) sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution. 

Rights to purchase additional shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may (i) exercise those rights on behalf of ADS holders, (ii) distribute those rights to ADS holders or (iii) sell those rights and distribute the net proceeds to ADS holders, in each case after deduction or upon payment of its fees and expenses. To the extent the depositary does not do any of those things, it will allow the rights to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. The depositary will exercise or distribute rights only if we ask it to and provide satisfactory assurances to the depositary that doing so does not require registration of any securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities Act.” If the depositary will exercise rights, it will purchase the securities to which the rights relate and distribute those securities or, in the case of shares, new ADSs representing the new shares, to subscribing ADS holders, but only if ADS holders have paid the exercise price to the depositary. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute rights or ADSs or other securities issued on exercise of rights to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer.

Other Distributions. The depositary will send to ADS holders anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to ADS holders unless it receives satisfactory assurances from us that such distribution does not require registration of such securities under the Securities Act. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed securities or property sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution. U.S. securities laws may restrict the ability of the depositary to distribute securities to all or certain ADS holders, and the securities distributed may be subject to restrictions on transfer 

The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. 

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation 

How are ADSs issued?  

The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons that made the deposit. 

How can ADS holders withdraw the deposited securities? 

You may surrender your ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal at the depositary’s office. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or governmental charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to the ADS holder or a person the ADS holder designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible. The depositary may charge you a fee and its expenses for instructing the custodian regarding delivery of deposited securities. 

How do ADS holders interchange between certificated ADSs and uncertificated ADSs? 

You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS holder a statement confirming that the ADS holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.  

Voting Rights  

How do you vote? 

ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote the number of deposited shares their ADSs represent. If we request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions (and we are not required to do so), the depositary will notify you of a shareholders’ meeting and send or make voting materials available to you. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how ADS holders may instruct the depositary how to vote. For instructions to be valid, they must reach the depositary by a date set by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to the laws of Israel and the provisions of our articles of association or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as instructed by ADS holders. If we do not request the depositary to solicit your voting instructions, you can still send voting instructions, and, in that case, the depositary may try to vote as you instruct, but it is not required to do so. 

Except by instructing the depositary as described above, you won’t be able to exercise voting rights unless you surrender your ADSs and withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. In any event, the depositary will not exercise any discretion in voting deposited securities and it will only vote or attempt to vote as instructed by the holder of the ADSs or as described in the following sentence.  If we asked the depositary to solicit your instructions at least 30 days before the meeting date but the depositary does not receive voting instructions from you by the specified date, it will consider you to have authorized and directed it to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the number of deposited securities represented by your ADSs.  The depositary will give a discretionary proxy in those circumstances to vote on all questions at to be voted upon unless we notify the depositary that:

We are required to notify the depositary if one of the conditions specified above exists.

We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise voting rights and there may be nothing you can do if your shares are not voted as you requested. 

In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we agree to give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date.

The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may collect any of its fees by deduction from any cash distribution payable (or by selling a portion of securities or other property distributable) to ADS holders that are obligated to pay those fees. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

From time to time, the depositary may make payments to us to reimburse us for costs and expenses generally arising out of establishment and maintenance of the ADS program, waive fees and expenses for services provided to us by the depositary or share revenue from the fees collected from ADS holders. In performing its duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary may use brokers, dealers, foreign currency or other service providers that are owned by or affiliated with the depositary and that may earn or share fees, spreads or commissions. 

The depositary may convert foreign currency itself or through any of its affiliates and, in those cases, acts as principal for its own account and not as an agent, fiduciary or broker on behalf of any other person and earns revenue, including, without limitation, fees and spreads that it will retain for its own account.  The spread is the difference between the exchange rate assigned to the currency conversion made under the deposit agreement and the rate that the depositary or its affiliate receives in an offsetting foreign currency trade. The depositary makes no representation that the exchange rate used or obtained in any currency conversion under the deposit agreement will be the most favorable rate that could be obtained at the time or as to the method by which that rate will be determined, subject to its obligations under the deposit agreement.

Payment of Taxes

You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register any transfer of your ADSs or allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until those taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to ADS holders any proceeds, or send to ADS holders any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.