Registration No. 333-_______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT Under THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 65-0643773 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| of incorporation or organization) | Identification Number) |
2 University Plaza, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 696-9345
(Address of principal executive offices)
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. Amended & Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full title of plan)
Dror Bashan, President and Chief Executive Officer
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
2 University Plaza, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 696-9345
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a Copy to:
Anna T. Pinedo
Brian D. Hirshberg
Mayer Brown LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020-1001
(212) 506-2500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):
| Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | x | Smaller reporting company | x | |||
| Emerging growth company | ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or the Company, previously filed a registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-148983) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, in connection with the registration of an aggregate of 974,165 shares of its common stock, par value $.001 per share, or common stock, to be issued under the Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. Amended & Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, or the Plan, and subsequently filed (i) a second registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-182677) with the Commission in connection with the registration of 160,000 additional shares of its common stock to be issued under the Plan; (ii) a third registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-203960) with the Commission in connection with the registration of 250,000 additional shares of its common stock to be issued under the Plan; (iv) a fourth registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-225526) with the Commission in connection with the registration of 1,000,000 additional shares of its common stock to be issued under the Plan; and (v) a fifth registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-239101) with the Commission in connection with the registration of 3,341,006 additional shares of its common stock to be issued under the Plan.
Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the Company is filing this registration statement on Form S-8 solely to register an additional 2,750,000 shares of its common stock available for issuance under the Plan. This increase was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders. Pursuant to Instruction E, the contents of Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-148983, 333-182677, 333-203960, 333-225526 and 333-239101), including without limitation periodic reports that the Company filed, or will file, after this Registration Statement to maintain current information about the Company, are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, with the exception of Items 3 and 8 of Part II of such prior Registration Statement, each of which is amended and restated in its entirety herein.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
| Item 1. | Plan Information. |
The documents containing the information specified in Part I (plan and registrant information) will be delivered in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Commission, either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
| Item 2. | Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information. |
Upon written or oral request, any of the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, which are also incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus, other documents required to be delivered to eligible participants pursuant to Rule 428(b), or additional information about the Plan, will be available without charge by contacting the Corporate Secretary, Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., 2 University Plaza, Suite 100, Hackensack, NJ 07601, Telephone: +1 (201) 696-9345 or 2 Snunit Street, Science Park, P.O. Box 455, Carmiel 2161401, Israel, Telephone: +972-4-988-9488.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
| Item 3. | Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the Commission, which means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below as well as any future filings made with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that is “furnished” to the Commission, but not deemed “filed.” The following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Commission on March 31, 2022; |
| • | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 filed with the Commission on May 16, 2022; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 24, 2022, March 31, 2022, April 4, 2022 (other than Items 2.02 and 9.01), May 2, 2022, May 16, 2022 (other than Items 2.02 and 9.01), and June 30, 2022; |
| • | our definitive Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 30, 2022 filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022 (other than information furnished rather than filed); and |
| • | the description of our common stock included in our registration statement on Form 8-A12B (File No. 001-33357) filed with the Commission on March 9, 2007, including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents (other than information that is furnished in such documents but deemed by the rules of the Commission not to have been filed). Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement. You may request and obtain a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or phone number:
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
2 University Plaza, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ 07601
+1
(201) 696-9345
Attn: Eyal Rubin, Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
You should rely only on the information in this prospectus and the documents that are incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not offering these securities in any state where the offering is prohibited by law. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any incorporated document is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document.
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| Item 4. | Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
| Item 5. | Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
Not applicable.
| Item 6. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
We indemnify our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law for the costs and liabilities of acting or failing to act in an official capacity. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors to provide them with the maximum indemnification allowed under our amended and restated bylaws and applicable Delaware law, including indemnification for all judgments and expenses incurred as the result of any lawsuit in which such person is named as a defendant by reason of being our director, officer or employee, to the extent indemnification is permitted by the laws of Delaware. We believe that the indemnification agreements will enhance our ability to continue to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.
The articles of association of Protalix Ltd., our wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in Israel, allow it to exculpate, indemnify, and insure its office holders to the fullest extent permitted by Israeli law, as described below. Accordingly, Protalix Ltd. has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its officers and directors undertaking to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by Israeli law. As required by law, the indemnification is limited to events determined as foreseeable by the board of directors of Protalix Ltd. based on the activities of Protalix Ltd. upon adoption of the form of indemnification in 2016, and to an amount determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances.
We purchase and maintain a directors and officers liability insurance policy that covers the liability of our directors and officers on a “claims made” basis for their ongoing activity since December 28, 2006, with a limit of $20,000,000 for any one claim and in the aggregate for the period of insurance. The policy also covers reasonable legal defense costs in Israel in accordance with Israeli law in addition to said limit.
Furthermore, we purchase and maintain a Side A Excess and Difference In Conditions insurance that covers the non-indemnifiable liability of our directors and officers on a “claims made” basis for their ongoing activity since December 28, 2006, with a limit of $15,000,000 for any one claim and in the aggregate for the period of insurance. The policy also covers reasonable legal defense costs in Israel in accordance with Israeli law in addition to said limit.
As of the date of hereof, no claims for directors’ and officers’ liability insurance have been filed under those policies and neither we nor Protalix Ltd. is aware of any pending or threatened litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers, or those of Protalix Ltd., in which indemnification is sought.
We have undertaken to fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of Protalix Ltd. pursuant to any indemnification agreements between Protalix Ltd. and its directors in effect prior to December 31, 2006 and to provide any substitute director and the officers of Protalix Ltd. with similar indemnification agreements. We further agreed that any provision of Protalix Ltd.’s charter documents that relate to exculpation and indemnification of officers and directors of Protalix Ltd. will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the rights of the directors and officers, unless such modification is required by any applicable law.
Under Israeli law, an Israeli company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach of the duty of loyalty of the office holder. An Israeli company may exculpate an office holder in advance from liability, in whole or in part, for damages caused due to a breach of duty of care owed to the company (other than in the event that such liability arises out of a breach of duty of care to the company upon distribution) but only if a provision authorizing such exculpation is inserted in its articles of association. Protalix Ltd.’s articles of association include such a provision.
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An Israeli company may indemnify an office holder in respect of certain liabilities or expenses either in advance of an event or following an event provided a provision authorizing such indemnification is inserted in its articles of association. Protalix Ltd.’s articles of association contain such an authorization. An Israeli company may indemnify an office holder against the following liabilities or expenses incurred for acts performed as an office holder:
| (A) | financial liability imposed on or incurred by him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, settlement or arbitrator’s award approved by a court; |
| (B) | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an authority authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding, provided that (i) no indictment was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (ii) no financial liability, such as a criminal penalty, was imposed upon him or her as a substitute for the criminal proceeding as a result of such investigation or proceeding or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent or with regard to a monetary sanction; |
| (C) | reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder or imposed by a court in proceedings instituted against him or her by the company, on its behalf or by a third party or in connection with criminal proceedings in which the office holder was acquitted or as a result of a conviction for a crime that does not require proof of criminal intent; and |
| (D) | a payment that the office holder is obligated to make to an injured party as set forth in Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Israeli Securities Law, 5278-1968, as amended, or the Israeli Securities Law, and reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that the office holder incurred in connection with a proceeding under Chapters H’3, H’4 or I’1 of the Israeli Securities Law. |
An undertaking provided in advance by an Israeli company to indemnify an office holder with respect to (A), as abovementioned, must be limited to events that, in the opinion of the board of directors, can be foreseen based on the company’s activities when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking shall detail the abovementioned events and amount or criteria. We are permitted to provide an office holder advance payments to cover expenses covered under (D) above.
An Israeli company may insure an office holder against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed as an office holder:
| • | a breach of duty of care to the company or to a third party; |
| • | a breach of duty of loyalty to the company, to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not be detrimental to the interests of the company; |
| • | a financial liability imposed on the office holder in favor of a third party in respect of an act performed in his or her capacity as an office holder; and |
| • | a payment that the office holder is obligated to make to an injured party as set forth in Section 52(54)(a)(1)(a) of the Israeli Securities Law and reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that the office holder incurred in connection with a proceeding under Chapters H’3, H’4 or I’1 of the Israeli Securities Law. |
An Israeli company may not insure, indemnify or exculpate an office holder against any of the following:
| • | a breach of duty of loyalty, except to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not be detrimental to the interests of the company; |
| • | a grossly negligent or intentional violation of an office holder’s duty of care; |
| • | an act or omission committed with intent to derive illegal personal benefit; or |
| • | a fine, civil fine, monetary sanction or ransom levied against the office holder. |
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Under the Israeli law, exculpation, indemnification and insurance of office holders must be approved by the board of directors of Protalix Ltd. and, in respect of directors of Protalix Ltd., also by the stockholders of Protalix Ltd. Such approvals were properly obtained.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors and officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. With respect to insurance and indemnification for liabilities and expenses arising under the Israeli Securities Law, such insurance and indemnification is permissible only to the extent described in this Item 6.
| Item 7. | Exemption from Registration Claims. |
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
| Item 9. | Undertakings. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration statement (or most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the change in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and
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(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement;
(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tel Aviv, State of Israel, on July 14, 2022.
| PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dror Bashan | |
| Dror Bashan | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Dror Bashan and Eyal Rubin, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, including any subsequent registration statement for the same offering that may be filed under Rule 462(b), with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| /s/ Dror Bashan | President, Chief Executive Officer | July 14, 2022 |
| Dror Bashan | (Principal Executive Officer) and Director | |
| /s/ Eyal Rubin | Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary | July 14, 2022 |
| Eyal Rubin | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| /s/ Zeev Bronfeld | Chairman of the Board | July 14, 2022 |
| Zeev Bronfeld | ||
| /s/ Amos Bar Shalev | Director | July 14, 2022 |
| Amos Bar Shalev | ||
| /s/ Shmuel Ben Zvi, Ph.D. | Director | July 14, 2022 |
| Shmuel Ben Zvi, Ph.D. | ||
| /s/ Pol F. Boudes, M.D. | Director | July 14, 2022 |
| Pol F. Boudes, M.D. | ||
| /s/ Gwen A. Melincoff | Director | July 14, 2022 |
| Gwen A. Melincoff | ||
| /s/ Aharon Schwartz | Director | July 14, 2022 |
| Aharon Schwartz, Ph.D. |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit 4.1
PROTALIX BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED
(June 30, 2022)
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business.
2. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply as used herein and in the individual Award Agreements except as defined otherwise in an individual Award Agreement. In the event a term is separately defined in an individual Award Agreement, such definition shall supercede the definition contained in this Section 2.
(a) “3(I) Option” means Award granted under Section 3(I).
(b) “102 Option” means Award granted under Section 102.
(c) “Administrator” means the Board or any of the Committees appointed to administer the Plan.
(d) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(e) “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
(f) “Assumed” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award.
(g) “Award” means the grant of an Option, SAR, Dividend Equivalent Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or other right or benefit under the Plan.
(h) “Award Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any amendments thereto.
(i) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(j) “Cause” means, with respect to the termination by the Company or a Related Entity of the Grantee's Continuous Service, that such termination is for “Cause” as such term (or word of like import) is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or such Related Entity, or in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, is based on, in the determination of the Administrator, the Grantee’s: (i) performance of any act or failure to perform any act in bad faith which is materially detrimental to the Company or a Related Entity as reasonably determined in good faith by a unanimous decision of members of the Board entitled to vote thereon; (ii) dishonesty, intentional misconduct or material breach of any agreement with the Company or a Related Entity; (iii) commission of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional harm to any person; (iv) embezzlement of funds of the Company or a Related Entity; (v) ownership, direct or indirect (i.e., by means of a holding company or family member), of an interest in a person or entity (other than a minority interest in a publicly traded company) in competition with the products or services of the Company or a Related Entity, including those products or services contemplated in a plan adopted by the Board; (vi) any breach of the Grantee’s fiduciary duties or duties of care to the Company or a Related Entity (except for conduct taken in good faith); (vii) any material failure to carry out a reasonable and legitimate directive of the Board; or (viii) any material breach of an Employee's undertakings of confidentiality and non competition.
(k) “Change in Control” means a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through either of the following transactions:
(i) the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than an acquisition from or by the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders which a majority of the Continuing Directors who are not Affiliates or Associates of the offeror do not recommend such stockholders accept, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve (12) months or less such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number) ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who are Continuing Directors.
(l) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(m) “Committee” means any committee composed of members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
(n) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
(o) “Company” means Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor entity that adopts the Plan in connection with a Corporate Transaction.
(p) “Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.
(q) “Continuing Directors” means members of the Board who either (i) have been Board members continuously for a period of at least twelve (12) months or (ii) have been Board members for less than twelve (12) months and were elected or nominated for election as Board members by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (i) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board.
(r) “Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws. A Grantee’s Continuous Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Grantee provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave. For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, if such leave exceeds three (3) months, and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of such three (3) month period.
(s) “Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Administrator shall determine under parts (iv) and (v) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;
(iii) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
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(iv) any reverse merger or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse merger (including, but not limited to, a tender offer followed by a reverse merger) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such merger are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) in which securities possessing more than forty percent (40%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger or the initial transaction culminating in such merger; or
(v) acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Administrator determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction (provided however that the Administrator shall have no discretion in connection with a Corporate Transaction for the purchase of all or substantially all of the shares of the Company unless the principal purpose of such transaction is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated).
(t) “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is a “covered employee” under Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.
(u) “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
(v) “Disability” means as defined under the long-term disability policy of the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides services regardless of whether the Grantee is covered by such policy. If the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Grantee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. A Grantee will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator in its discretion.
(w) “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right entitling the Grantee to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Common Stock.
(x) “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
(y) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(z) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation the American Stock Exchange, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is listed (as determined by the Administrator) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
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(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith.
(aa) “Grantee” means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an Award under the Plan.
(bb) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(cc) “Israeli Employee” means Employees, office holders of the Company or a Related Company (“Nosei Misra” - as such term is defined in the Israeli Companies Law 1999) and Directors (excluding those who are considered a “Controlling Shareholder” pursuant to Section 32(9) of the Tax Ordinance or otherwise excluded by the Tax Ordinance).
(dd) “Israeli Grantee” means Grantees who are residents of the State of Israel or those who are deemed to be residents of the State of Israel for the payment of tax (whether such grantee is entitled to the tax benefits under Section 102 or not).
(ee) “ITA” means Israeli Tax Authorities.
(ff) “Non-Employee” means Consultants or any other person who is not an Israeli Employee.
(gg) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(hh) “Non-Trustee 102 Option” shall mean a 102 Option granted pursuant to Section 102(c) of the Tax Ordinance and not held in trust by the Trustee.
(ii) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(jj) “Option” means an option to purchase Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan.
(kk) “Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(ll) “Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(mm) “Plan” means this Amended and Restated 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.
(nn) “Related Entity” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. With respect to Israeli Grantees of 102 Options, the definition shall further include any entity permitted under Section 102 (a) of the Tax Ordinance.
(oo) “Replaced” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction the Award is replaced with a comparable stock award or a cash incentive program of the Company, the successor entity (if applicable) or Parent of either of them which preserves the compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or a more favorable) vesting schedule applicable to such Award. The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(pp) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under the Plan to the Grantee for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, and other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator.
(qq) “Restricted Stock Units” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon the passage of time or the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator.
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(rr) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto.
(ss) “SAR” means a stock appreciation right entitling the Grantee to Shares or cash compensation, as established by the Administrator, measured by appreciation in the value of Common Stock.
(tt) “Section 3(I)” means section 3(I) of the Tax Ordinance as may be amended from time to time.
(uu) “Section 102” means section 102 of the Tax Ordinance as may be amended from time to time.
(vv) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock.
(ww) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(xx) “Tax Ordinance” means the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance [New Version], 1961 (including as amended pursuant to Amendment 132 thereto) and to the extent not specifically indicated hereunder also the rules, regulations and orders or procedures promulgated thereunder from time to time, as amended or replaced from time to time.
(yy) “Trustee” means any individual appointed by the Company to serve as trustee and approved by the ITA, in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(a) of the Tax Ordinance and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(zz) “Trustee 102 Option” means a 102 Option granted pursuant to Section 102(b) of the Tax Ordinance and held in trust by the Trustee for the benefit of an Israeli Grantee.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 10, below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards (including Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan is 8,475,171 Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Shares issued from and after November 10, 2014 in connection with Awards other than Options and SARs shall be counted against the limit set forth herein as one and one-half (1.5) Shares for every one (1) Share issued in connection with such Award (and shall be counted as one and one-half (1.5) Shares for every one (1) Share returned or deemed not have been issued from the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b) below in connection with Awards other than Options and SARs). The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at the lower of their original purchase price or their Fair Market Value at the time of repurchase, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (i) Shares tendered or withheld in payment of an Option exercise price shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan; (ii) Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan; and (iii) all Shares covered by the portion of an SAR that is exercised (whether or not Shares are actually issued to the Grantee upon exercise of the SAR) shall be considered issued pursuant to the Plan.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Plan Administrator.
(i) Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers. With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and to permit such grants and related transactions under the Plan to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
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(ii) Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may authorize one or more Officers to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Board determines from time to time.
(iii) Administration With Respect to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of Awards to any Covered Employee intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made only by a Committee (or subcommittee of a Committee) which is comprised solely of two or more Directors eligible to serve on a committee making Awards qualifying as Performance-Based Compensation. In the case of such Awards granted to Covered Employees, references to the “Administrator” or to a “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to such Committee or subcommittee.
(iv) Administration With Respect to Israeli Grantees. With respect to grants of Awards to Israeli Grantees, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee or one or more Officers designated by the Board, which Committee or Officers shall be constituted or appointed in such a manner as to satisfy the ITA and the Applicable Laws applicable to Awards for Israeli Grantees. Once appointed, such Committee or Officer shall continue to serve in its/his/her designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
(v) Administration Errors. In the event an Award is granted in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection (a), such Award shall be presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;
(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder;
(vi) to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that (A) any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s written consent, provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an Incentive Stock Option to become a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be treated as adversely affecting the rights of the Grantee, (B) the reduction of the exercise price of any Option awarded under the Plan and the base appreciation amount of any SAR awarded under the Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval and (C) canceling an Option or SAR at a time when its exercise price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, in exchange for another Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, or other Award or for cash shall be subject to stockholder approval, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a Corporate Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, canceling an Option or SAR in exchange for another Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, or other Award or for cash with an exercise price, purchase price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) that is equal to or greater than the exercise price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) of the original Option or SAR shall not be subject to stockholder approval;
(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any notice of award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;
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(viii) to grant Awards to Employees, Directors and Consultants employed outside the United States on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Plan; and
(ix) to designate Awards as 102 Options (whether through a trustee or not) or 3(I) Options subject to the limitations under the ITA or any other Applicable Law and to determine the type and route of the Trustee 102 Options.
(x) to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.
The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Administrator shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Administrator; provided that the Administrator may not exercise any right or power reserved to the Board. Any decision made, or action taken, by the Administrator or in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.
(c) Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board and any Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be defended and indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law on an after-tax basis against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same.
5. Eligibility. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company. An Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards. Awards may be granted to such Employees, Directors or Consultants who are residing in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Administrator may determine from time to time, provided however that Awards to Israeli Grantees under Section 102 or Section 3(I) of the Tax Ordinance shall be subject to Section 20 below.
The Company does not warrant that the Plan will be recognized by the income tax authorities in any jurisdiction or that future changes will not be made to the provisions of applicable laws or rules or regulations which are promulgated from time to time thereunder, or that any exemption or benefit currently available, whether by the ITA pursuant to Section 102 or otherwise, will not be abolished.
6. Terms and Conditions of Awards.
(a) Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) an Option, a SAR, or similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions. Such awards include, without limitation, Options, SARs, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Dividend Equivalent Rights, and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two (2) or more of them in any combination or alternative.
(b) Designation of Award. Each Award shall be designated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the Option shall be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option and with respect to Israeli Grantees may be further designated as 102 Options or 3(I) Options under the Tax Ordinance subject to the qualifications described in Section 20 below. However, notwithstanding such designation, an Option will qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded. The $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is calculated based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company). For purposes of this calculation, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the grant date of the relevant Option. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the date the Plan becomes effective to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to Incentive Stock Options, then such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.
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(c) Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The performance criteria established by the Administrator may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following: (i) increase in share price, (ii) earnings per share, (iii) total stockholder return, (iv) operating margin, (v) gross margin, (vi) return on equity, (vii) return on assets, (viii) return on investment, (ix) operating income, (x) net operating income, (xi) pre-tax profit, (xii) cash flow, (xiii) revenue, (xiv) expenses, (xv) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation, (xvi) economic value added and (xvii) market share. The performance criteria may be applicable to the Company, Related Entities and/or any individual business units of the Company or any Related Entity. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award Agreement. In addition, the performance criteria shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards and any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item, as determined by the Administrator, occurring after the establishment of the performance criteria applicable to the Award intended to be performance-based compensation. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of performance criteria in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Grantee’s rights with respect to an Award intended to be performance-based compensation.
(d) Acquisitions and Other Transactions. The Administrator may issue Awards under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution for, outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards in connection with the Company or a Related Entity acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in a Related Entity whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction.
(e) Deferral of Award Payment. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Grantee to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.
(f) Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.
(g) Individual Limitations on Awards.
(i) Individual Limit for Options and SARs. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be 8,475,171 Shares. Shares which shall not count against the limit set forth in the previous sentence. The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section 10, below. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code or the regulations thereunder, in applying the foregoing limitations with respect to a Grantee, if any Option or SAR is canceled, the canceled Option or SAR shall continue to count against the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to the Grantee. For this purpose, the repricing of an Option (or in the case of a SAR, the base amount on which the stock appreciation is calculated is reduced to reflect a reduction in the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock) shall be treated as the cancellation of the existing Option or SAR and the grant of a new Option or SAR.
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(ii) Individual Limit for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. For awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which such Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be 8,475,171 Shares. The foregoing limitation shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section 10, below.
(iii) Deferral. If the vesting or receipt of Shares under an Award is deferred to a later date, any amount (whether denominated in Shares or cash) paid in addition to the original number of Shares subject to such Award will not be treated as an increase in the number of Shares subject to the Award if the additional amount is based either on a reasonable rate of interest or on one or more predetermined actual investments such that the amount payable by the Company at the later date will be based on the actual rate of return of a specific investment (including any decrease as well as any increase in the value of an investment).
(h) Early Exercise. The Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise any part or all of the Award prior to full vesting of the Award. Any unvested Shares received pursuant to such exercise may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Related Entity or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
(i) Term of Award. The term of each Award shall be the term stated in the Award Agreement, provided, however, that the term of an Award shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Grantee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
(j) Transferability of Awards. Incentive Stock Options or Options to Israeli Grantees may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Grantee, only by the Grantee. Other Awards shall be transferable (i) by will and by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) during the lifetime of the Grantee, to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Administrator but only to the extent such transfers are made to family members, to family trusts, to family controlled entities, to charitable organizations, and pursuant to domestic relations orders or agreements, in all cases without payment for such transfers to the Grantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may designate one or more beneficiaries of the Grantee’s Award in the event of the Grantee’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Administrator.
(k) Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall for all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator.
7. Award Exercise or Purchase Price, Consideration and Taxes.
(a) Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise or purchase price, if any, for an Award shall be as follows:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(iii) In the case of Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the exercise or purchase price, if any, shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
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(iv) In the case of SARs (other than with respect to Israeli Grantees), the base appreciation amount shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(v) In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the Administrator.
(vi) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), in the case of an Award issued pursuant to Section 6(d), above, the exercise or purchase price for the Award shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the relevant instrument evidencing the agreement to issue such Award.
(b) Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator. In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following:
(i) cash;
(ii) check;
(iii) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award shall be exercised;
(iv) with respect to Options, payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Grantee (A) shall provide written instructions to a Company designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (B) shall provide written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction; or
(v) with respect to Options, payment through a “net exercise” such that, without the payment of any funds, the Grantee may exercise the Option and receive the net number of Shares equal to (i) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value per Share (on such date as is determined by the Administrator) less the Exercise Price per Share, and the denominator of which is such Fair Market Value per Share (the number of net Shares to be received shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares);
(vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
The Administrator may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard forms of Award Agreement described in Section 4(b)(iv), or by other means, grant Awards which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment for the Shares or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(c) Taxes. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any non-U.S., federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of Shares. Upon exercise or vesting of an Award the Company shall withhold or collect from the Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, including, but not limited to, by surrender of the whole number of Shares covered by the Award sufficient to satisfy the minimum applicable tax withholding obligations incident to the exercise or vesting of an Award (reduced to the lowest whole number of Shares if such number of Shares withheld would result in withholding a fractional Share with any remaining tax withholding settled in cash).
8. Exercise of Award.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.
(i) Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement provided however that the standard vesting schedule for Israeli Grantees shall be as set forth in Section 20.
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(ii) An Award shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been made, including, to the extent selected, use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the purchase price as provided in Section 7(b).
(b) Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service. In the event of termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service for any reason other than Cause, Disability or death, such Grantee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the date of such termination (or such longer or shorter period as specified in the Award Agreement but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement), exercise the portion of the Grantee’s Award that was vested at the date of such termination or such other portion of the Grantee’s Award as may be determined by the Administrator. To the extent that the Grantee’s Award was unvested at the date of termination, or if Grantee does not exercise the vested portion of the Grantee’s Award within the time specified herein, the Award shall terminate.
(c) Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service for Cause. In the event of termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service for Cause, such Grantee may, but only within fourteen (14) days from the date of such termination (or such longer or shorter period as specified in the Award Agreement but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement), exercise the portion of the Grantee’s Award that was vested at the date of such termination or such other portion of the Grantee’s Award as may be determined by the Administrator. To the extent that the Grantee’s Award was unvested at the date of termination, or if Grantee does not exercise the vested portion of the Grantee’s Award within the time specified herein, the Award shall terminate.
(d) Disability of Grantee. In the event of termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her Disability, such Grantee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the date of such termination (or such longer or shorter period as specified in the Award Agreement but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement), exercise the portion of the Grantee’s Award that was vested at the date of such termination or such other portion of the Grantee’s Award as may be determined by the Administrator. To the extent that the Grantee’s Award was unvested at the date of termination, or if Grantee does not exercise the vested portion of the Grantee’s Award within the time specified herein, the Award shall terminate.
(e) Death of Grantee. In the event of a termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her death, or in the event of the death of the Grantee during the post-termination exercise periods following the Grantee’s termination of Continuous Service specified in this Section 8, above, the Grantee’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance may exercise the portion of the Grantee’s Award that was vested as of the date of termination or such other portion of the Grantee’s Award as may be determined by the Administrator, within twelve (12) months from the date of death (or such longer or shorter period as specified in the Award Agreement but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement). To the extent that, at the time of death, the Grantee’s Award was unvested, or if the Grantee’s estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the vested portion of the Grantee’s Award within the time specified herein, the Award shall terminate.
(f) The holder of an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to the Option until such shares are transferred to the holder (or the Trustee, if applicable) upon the exercise of the Option.
9. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise, vesting or any other provision of an Award is or may be unlawful under Applicable Laws, the vesting or right to exercise an Award or to otherwise receive Shares pursuant to the terms of an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Shares under federal or state laws or other Applicable Laws.
(b) As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award make such representations and warranties which, in the opinion of the Company, are required to ensure that such exercise, or a subsequent sale or disposition of any Shares obtained upon such exercise, does not contravene any Applicable Law, including inter alia, representations and warranties at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable Laws.
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(c) Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, Shares issued to a Grantee or the Trustee, as applicable, shall be subject to such restrictions as required by the appropriate securities’ law and in the event that the Company's shares shall be registered for trading in any public market, Grantee's rights to sell the Shares may be subject to certain limitations (including a lock-up period), as will be requested by the Company or its underwriters, and the Grantee by executing an Award Agreement unconditionally agrees and accepts any such limitations and undertakes to further execute any agreement as may be requested by the Company or its underwriters from time to time.
10. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii) any other transaction with respect to Common Stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” In the event of any distribution of cash or other assets to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, the Administrator shall also make such adjustments as provided in this Section 10 or substitute, exchange or grant Awards to effect such adjustments (collectively “adjustments”). Any such adjustments to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards. In connection with the foregoing adjustments, the Administrator may, in its discretion, prohibit the exercise of Awards or other issuance of Shares, cash or other consideration pursuant to Awards during certain periods of time. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award.
11. Corporate Transactions and Changes in Control.
(a) Termination of Award to Extent Not Assumed in Corporate Transaction. Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding Awards under the Plan shall terminate. However, all such Awards shall not terminate to the extent they are Assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction.
(b) Acceleration of Award Upon Corporate Transaction or Change in Control.
(i) Corporate Transaction. Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement, in the event of a Corporate Transaction and:
(A) for the portion of each Award that is Assumed or Replaced, then such Award (if Assumed), the replacement Award (if Replaced), or the cash incentive program (if Replaced) automatically shall become fully vested, exercisable and payable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such Assumed or Replaced portion of the Award, immediately upon termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service if such Continuous Service is terminated by the successor company or the Company without Cause within twelve (12) months after the Corporate Transaction; and
(B) for the portion of each Award that is neither Assumed nor Replaced, such portion of the Award shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such portion of the Award, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, provided that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has not terminated prior to such date.
(ii) Change in Control. Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement, following a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which also is a Corporate Transaction) and upon the termination of the Continuous Service of a Grantee if such Continuous Service is terminated by the Company or Related Entity without Cause within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, each Award of such Grantee which is at the time outstanding under the Plan automatically shall become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value), immediately upon the termination of such Continuous Service.
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(c) Effect of Acceleration on Incentive Stock Options. Any Incentive Stock Option accelerated under this Section 11 in connection with a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded.
12. Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect until December 31, 2028 unless sooner terminated. Subject to Section 17, below, and Applicable Laws, Awards may be granted under the Plan upon its becoming effective.
13. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.
(a) The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent such approval is required by Applicable Laws, or if such amendment would lessen the stockholder approval requirements of Section 4(b)(vi) or this Section 13(a).
(b) No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.
(c) No suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section 11, above) shall adversely affect any rights under Awards already granted to a Grantee.
14. Reservation of Shares.
(a) The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
(b) The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
15. No Effect on Terms of Employment/Consulting Relationship. The Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the Grantee’s Continuous Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the right of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without cause, including but not limited to, Cause, and with or without notice. The ability of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the employment of a Grantee who is employed at will is in no way affected by its determination that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has been terminated for Cause for the purposes of this Plan.
16. No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The Plan is not a “Pension Plan” or “Welfare Plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
17. Stockholder Approval. The grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted excluding Incentive Stock Options issued in substitution for outstanding Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code. Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan prior to approval by the stockholders, but until such approval is obtained, no such Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable. In the event that stockholder approval is not obtained within the twelve (12) month period provided above, all Incentive Stock Options previously granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as Non-Qualified Stock Options.
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18. Unfunded Obligation. Grantees shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Grantees pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Neither the Company nor any Related Entity shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Grantee account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any Related Entity and a Grantee, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Grantee or the Grantee’s creditors in any assets of the Company or a Related Entity. The Grantees shall have no claim against the Company or any Related Entity for any changes in the value of any assets that may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
19. Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
20. Israeli Grantees. This Section shall apply only to Israeli Grantees and is intended to enable the Company to grant Awards under the Plan pursuant and subject to Section 102 and Section 3(I) of the Tax Ordinance. Accordingly, the Plan is designated to comply with the Tax Ordinance and the rules, regulations and orders or procedures promulgated thereunder from time to time, as amended or replaced from time to time and shall be submitted to the ITA as required thereunder.
In any case of contradiction, whether explicit or implied, between the provisions of this Section and the Plan, the provisions set out in this Section shall prevail unless the Administrator decides otherwise to ensure compliance with the Tax Ordinance and other Applicable Laws.
(a) Eligibility. 102 Options may be granted only to Israeli Employees. Non-Employees may only be granted 3(I) Options. The grant of an Award hereunder shall neither entitle the Grantee to participate nor disqualify the Israeli Grantee from participating in, any other grant of Awards pursuant to the Plan or any other option or stock plan of the Company or any Related Company.
(b) Grant of Awards in Trust
(i) Grants Made Under Section 102.
The Company may designate 102 Options as Trustee 102 Options or Non-Trustee 102 Options. The designation of Non-Trustee 102 Options and Trustee 102 Options shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(ii) Grant of Trustee 102 Options.
(1) The grant of the Trustee 102 Options shall be made under the Plan and shall be conditional upon the approval of the Plan by the ITA. Trustee 102 Options may be granted at any time after the passage of thirty (30) days following the delivery by the Company to the ITA of a notice pertaining to the appointment of the Trustee and the adoption of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the ITA. Options which shall be granted pursuant to Section 102 and/or any Shares issued upon exercise of such Options and/or other shares received subsequently following any realization of rights, shall be issued to the Trustee. Each Israeli Grantee in respect of whom a Trustee 102 Option is granted and held in trust by the Trustee shall be referred to as a “beneficial optionee” hereunder.
(2) Trustee 102 Option(s) may either be classified as Capital Gain Option(s) or Ordinary Income Option(s):
(A) Trustee 102 Option(s) elected and designated by the Company to qualify under the capital gain tax treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(2) shall be referred to herein as “Capital Gain Option(s)” or “CGO”.
(B) Trustee 102 Option(s) elected and designated by the Company to qualify under the ordinary income tax treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(1) shall be referred to herein as “Ordinary Income Option(s)” or “OIO”.
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(3) The Company’s election of the type of Trustee 102 Options as CGO or OIO granted to Employees (the “Election”) shall be appropriately filed with the ITA 30 days before the date of grant of a Trustee 102 Option, unless otherwise determined by the ITA. Such Election shall become effective beginning the first date of grant of a Trustee 102 Option under this Plan and shall remain in effect until the end of the year following the year during which the Company first granted Trustee 102 Options. The Election shall obligate the Company to grant only the type of Trustee 102 Option it has elected, and shall apply to all Israeli Grantees who were granted Trustee 102 Options during the period indicated herein or therein, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(g) of the Tax Ordinance. Notwithstanding, such Election shall not prevent the Company from granting Non-Trustee 102 Options simultaneously.
(4) All Trustee 102 Options must be held in trust by and issued on the name of the Trustee, as described below.
(5) With respect to Trustee 102 Options, the provisions of the Plan and/or an Award Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of Section 102 and the ITA’s permit, and the said provisions and permit shall be deemed an integral part of this Section and of the Award Agreement for the respective Grantees thereof. Any provision of Section 102 and/or the said permit which is necessary in order to receive and/or to keep any tax benefit pursuant to Section 102, which is not expressly specified in the Plan or the Award Agreement, shall be considered binding upon the Company and the Israeli Grantee.
(iii) Issuance to Trustee.
(1) All Trustee 102 Options granted under the Plan and/or any Shares allocated or issued upon exercise of such Trustee 102 Options and/or other and all rights deriving from or in connection therewith, including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 10 above or any bonus shares or stock dividends issued in connection therewith shall be granted by the Company to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall hold each such Trustee 102 Option and the Shares issued upon exercise thereof in trust for such period of time as required by Section 102 or any regulations, rules or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder (the “Holding Period”), for the benefit of the Grantees in respect of whom such Trustee 102 Option was granted. All certificates representing Shares issued to the Trustee under the Plan shall be deposited with the Trustee, and shall be held by the Trustee until such time that such Shares are released from the Trust as herein provided.
(2) In event the requirements for Trustee 102 Options are not met for any reason whatsoever, then the Trustee 102 Options may be treated as Non-Trustee 102 Options, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(3) With respect to any Trustee 102 Option, subject to the provisions of Section 102 and any rules or regulations or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder, an Israeli Grantee shall not be entitled to sell or release from Trust the Trustee 102 Option, the Shares received upon the exercise of such Option and/or any right deriving from or in connection therewith, including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 10 above or any bonus shares or stock dividends issued in connection therewith, until the later of: (i) the lapse of the Holding Period required under Section 102, and (ii) the vesting of such Options set forth in the respective Award Agreement (such later date being hereinafter referred to as the “Release Date”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such sale or release occurs during the Holding period, the provisions of Section 102 and the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder shall apply and any expenses and/or tax consequences therefrom shall be borne by the Israeli Grantee.
(4) Subject to the terms hereof, at any time after the Release Date with respect to any Trustee 102 Options or Shares the following shall apply:
(A) Trustee 102 Options granted, and/or Shares or rights issued to the Trustee shall continue to be held by the Trustee, on behalf of the beneficial optionee. From and after the Release Date, upon the written request of any beneficial optionee, the Trustee shall release from the Trust the Trustee 102 Options granted, and/or the Shares or rights issued, on behalf of such beneficial optionee, by executing and delivering to the Company such instrument(s) as the Company may require, giving due notice of such release to such beneficial optionee, provided, however, that the Trustee shall not so release any such Trustee 102 Options and/or Shares and/or rights to such beneficial optionee unless the latter, prior to, or concurrently with, such release, provides the Trustee with evidence, satisfactory in form and substance to the Trustee, that all taxes, if any, required to be paid upon such release have, in fact, been paid.
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(B) Alternatively, from and after the Release Date, upon the written instructions of the beneficial optionee to sell any Shares and rights issued upon exercise of Trustee 102 Options, the Trustee shall use its best efforts to effect such sale and shall transfer such Shares to the purchaser thereof concurrently with the receipt, or after having made suitable arrangements to secure the payment, of the purchase price in such transactions. The Trustee shall withhold from such proceeds any and all taxes required to be paid in respect of such sale, shall remit the amount so withheld to the appropriate tax authorities and shall pay the balance thereof directly to the beneficial optionee, reporting to such beneficial optionee and to the Company the amount so withheld and paid to said authorities.
(C) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the underwriters of securities of the Company impose restrictions on the transferability of the Shares during a lock-up period, the beneficial optionee shall not be entitled to release from Trust the Trustee 102 Options granted and/or the Shares issued and/or to instruct the Trustee to effect a sale of same, for as long as the restrictions are in effect. In the event the Trustee 102 Options granted and/or the Shares issued have been released from trust the restrictions imposed on the transferability of same shall nevertheless apply to said optionee’s Trustee 102 Options and/or Shares in the same manner. Consequently, the Israeli Grantee shall sign any documents required in order to effect the restrictions, for as long as the restrictions are in effect.
(D) Upon receipt of the Award, the Israeli Grantee will sign an undertaking to release the Trustee from any liability in respect of any action or decision duly taken and bona fide executed in relation with the Plan, or any Option or Share or rights granted to same thereunder. The Trustee may establish additional terms and conditions in connection with Awards held in trust by the Trustee.
(iv) Grant of Non-Trustee 102 Options
(1) Awards granted pursuant to this subsection are intended to constitute Non-Trustee 102 Options and shall be subject to the general terms and conditions of the Plan and Section 20, except for provisions of the Plan applying to Trustee 102 Awards or Options under a different tax law or regulation.
(2) With respect to Non-Trustee 102 Options, if the Grantee ceases to be employed by or of service to the Company or a Related Company, the Grantee may be required to extend to the Company a security or guarantee for the payment of tax due at the time of sale of Shares or other rights, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 and the rules, regulation or orders promulgated thereunder.
(v) Grants Made Under Section 3(I). Awards granted pursuant to this subsection are intended to constitute 3(I) Options and shall be subject to the general terms and conditions of the Plan and Section 20 thereof, except for said provisions of the Plan applying to Awards under a different tax law or regulation. The Administrator may choose to deposit the Awards granted pursuant to Section 3(I) of the Tax Ordinance with a trustee. In such event, said trustee shall hold such Option in trust, until exercised by the Grantee, pursuant to the Company's instructions from time to time. If determined by the Administrator, the trustee shall be responsible for withholding any taxes to which a Grantee become liable upon the exercise of Options.
(c) Award Agreement. Without derogating from the powers of the Administrator under the Plan, the Administrator shall adopt the form of Award Agreement for Israeli Grantees in form acceptable by the ITA and in compliance with the Tax Ordinance. The Award Agreement shall further indicate the type of Options (102, 3(I), Trustee, Non-Trustee etc.) granted thereunder.
(d) Vesting. Without derogating from the terms of any Award Agreement or the discretionary authority of the Administrator, the standard vesting for Options to Israeli Grantees shall be as follows:
(i) Twenty five percent (25%) of the Options granted under each Award Agreement shall vest on the end of the first year of Continuous Service following the vesting commencement date determined by the Administrator and if not specified the date of the grant of an Option (the “First Anniversary”); and
(ii) The remaining 75% of the Options shall vest on a quarterly basis over a period of three years commencing as of the First Anniversary in twelve (12) equal portions subject to Continuous Service of the Grantee.
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(e) With respect to all Shares (in contrast to unexercised Options) allocated or issued upon the exercise of Options by the Israeli Grantee, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive dividends in accordance with the quantity of such Shares, subject however to any applicable taxation on distribution of dividends. Subject to the Tax Ordinance and any restrictions imposed by the Trustee or the ITA, during the period in which Shares are held by the Trustee on behalf of the Israeli Grantee, the cash dividends paid with respect thereto shall be paid directly to the Grantee after deduction of withholding tax applicable thereto.
(f) Without derogating from anything in the Plan, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, any tax consequences, attributable to the Israeli Grantee, arising from the grant or exercise of any Option, from the payment for Shares covered thereby or from any other event or act (of the Company, a Related Company, the Trustee or the Grantee), hereunder, shall be borne solely by the Grantee. The Company and/or or a Related Company and/or the Trustee shall withhold taxes according to the requirements under the Applicable Laws, rules, and regulations, including withholding taxes at source. Furthermore, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Grantee shall agree to indemnify the Company and/or a Related Company and/or the Trustee and hold them harmless against and from any and all liability for any such tax or interest or penalty thereon, including without limitation, liabilities relating to the necessity to withhold, or to have withheld, any such tax from any payment made to the Grantee. The Administrator and/or the Trustee shall not be required to release any Share certificate to a Grantee until all required payments have been fully made.
The Plan, to the extent applicable to Israeli Grantees, shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws. The competent courts of Tel-Aviv, Israel shall have sole jurisdiction in any matters pertaining to Israeli Grantees.
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Exhibit 5.1
| Mayer Brown LLP 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020-1001 | |
| July 14, 2022 | Main Tel +1 212 506 2500 Main Fax +1 212 262 1910 www.mayerbrown.com |
| Anna T. Pinedo Direct Tel +1 212 506 2275 apinedo@mayerbrown.com |
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
2 Snunit Street
Science Park
POB 455
Carmiel, Israel 2161401
Re: Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of up to 2,750,000 shares of its common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), which will be issuable under the Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. 2006 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan, as amended on June 30, 2022 (the “Plan”). This opinion is being rendered solely in connection with the registration of the offering and sale of the shares of common stock under the Plan (the “Plan Shares”) under the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
As your counsel in connection with the Registration Statement, we have examined the proceedings taken by you in connection with the adoption of the Plan and the authorization of the issuance of the Plan Shares, and such documents as we have deemed necessary to render this opinion. For the purpose of the opinion rendered below, we have assumed that in connection with the issuance of the Plan Shares, the Company will receive consideration in an amount not less than the aggregate par value of the Plan Shares covered by each such issuance. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Plan Shares, when issued and outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Please note that we are opining only as to the matters expressly set forth herein and that no opinion should be inferred as to any other matter. This opinion is based upon currently existing statutes, rules, regulations and judicial decisions, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change in any of these sources of law or subsequent legal or factual developments which might affect any matters or opinions set forth herein.
We hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement to be filed by the Company with the Commission. We further consent to your filing a copy of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such permission, we do not admit hereby that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. We disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Mayer Brown LLP
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Protalix Biotherapeutics, Inc. of our report dated March 31, 2022 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
| Tel-Aviv, Israel | /s/ Kesselman & Kesselman |
| July 14, 2022 | Certified Public Accountants (Isr.) |
| A member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited |
| Kesselman & Kesselman, Derech Menachem Begin 146, Tel-Aviv 6492103, Israel, P.O Box 7187 Tel-Aviv 6107120 Telephone: +972 -3- 7954555, Fax:+972 -3- 7954556, www.pwc.co.il |
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
FORM S-8
(Form Type)
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
| Security Type | Security Class Title | Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule | Amount Registered (1)(2) | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit | Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (3) | Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee | |||||||||||||
| Fees to Be Paid | Equity | Common Stock | Rule 457(c) | 2,750,000 | $ | 1.10 | $ | 3,025,000 | $92.70 per $1,000,000 | $ | 280.42 | |||||||||
| Total Offering Amounts | $ | 3,025,000 | $ | 280.42 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Offsets | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Fee Due | $ | 280.42 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | This Registration Statement also registers additional securities to be offered or issued upon adjustments or changes made to registered securities by reason of any stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions as permitted by Rule 416(a) and Rule 416(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. | |
| (2) | Represents 132,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan. | |
| (3) | Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. The maximum price per Security and the maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average of the $1.12 (high) and $1.08 (low) sale price of the Registrant's common stock as reported on the NYSE American on July 13, 2022, which date is within five business days of the filing of this Registration Statement. |