Wearable Devices Ltd 6-K, filed Sep 26, 2024
Wearable Devices Ltd. (WLDS)
About this 6-K
Wearable Devices Ltd filed this 6-K on September 26, 2024.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of September 2024 (Report No. 3)
Commission file number: 001-41502
WEARABLE DEVICES Ltd.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
5 Ha-Tnufa Street
Yokne-am Illit, Israel 2066736
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
CONTENTS
Results of Annual and Special General Meeting of Shareholders
On September 26, 2024, Wearable Devices Ltd. (the “Company”) convened its Annual and Special General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”).
At the Meeting, a quorum was present and the shareholders of the Company voted upon and approved, by the applicable required majority, Proposal Nos. 1 through 5 and Proposal Nos. 7 through 13, as were proposed and described in the Company’s Notice and Proxy Statement for the Meeting, which were included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 22, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”). Following the approval of Proposal No. 3, Proposal No. 6 was not voted upon at the Meeting, as originally described in the Company’s Proxy Statement.
Amended and Restated Compensation Policy
At the Meeting, among other items, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the current Compensation Policy for the Company’s Executive Officers and Directors (the “Compensation Policy”). The amendment to the Compensation Policy relates to, among other things: (1) the exchange of basic salary and/or accrued and unpaid cash salary given to office holders, with equity-based compensation upon the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors’ decision and subject to several limitations under the Compensation Policy and under the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999; (2) increased limits of insurer’s liability per claim as set under the Company’s insurance policy; (3) recoupment in accordance with the Company’s Recoupment Policy; and (4) the ability to adopt, from time to time, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or any similar plan (and to amend such plans).
The foregoing description of the Compensation Policy is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Compensation Policy filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Amended and Restated Articles of Association
At the Meeting, among other items, the Company’s shareholders also approved the cancelation of the Company’s ordinary shares’ nominal value, and the amendment of the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Association (the “Articles”) to reflect the same. The amendment to the Articles became effective at the Meeting and immediately after shareholders’ approval. After giving effect to the cancelation of the nominal value of the Company’s ordinary shares, the authorized share capital of the Company, as set in the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Association, are divided into 50,000,000 ordinary shares, no par value per share.
The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Articles of Association, as amended, is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Articles of Association filed as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
This Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K (this “Report”), including its exhibits, is incorporated by reference into the Company’s Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File No. 333-269869 and 333-274343) and Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-274841), filed with the SEC, to be a part thereof from the date on which this Report is submitted, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | ||
| 99.1 | Amended and Restated Compensation Policy for the Company’s Executive Officers and Directors. | |
| 99.2 | Amended and Restates Articles of Association of the Company, as amended. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Wearable Devices Ltd. | ||
| Date: September 26, 2024 | By: | /s/ Asher Dahan |
| Asher Dahan | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
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Exhibit 99.1
Wearable Devices Ltd.
(“the Company”)
Compensation Policy for Company’s Office Holders
Dated: August 2024
| 1. | Introduction |
| 1.1 | Pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Law, 1999 (hereafter – “the Companies Law”), on March 6, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a compensation policy (hereafter – the “Policy”) with respect to the terms of service and / or employment of Company’s office holders (as defined below) (hereafter - the “office holders”), after discussing and considering the recommendations of the Company’s Compensation Committee regarding this matter. |
| 1.2 | The provisions of the Policy shall be subject to the provisions of any cogent law applicable to the Company and its office holders in any territory. |
| 1.3 | The underlying principles and purposes of the Policy are as follows: (a) promoting the Company’s goals, its work plan and its policy for the long-term; (b) compensating and providing incentives to office holders, while considering the risks that the Company’s activities involve; (c) adjusting the compensation package to the size of the Company and the nature and scope of its activities; (d) creating incentives that are suitable to Company’s office holders by compensating those entitled for compensation under the Policy in accordance with their positions, areas of responsibility and contribution to the development of the Company’s business, the promotion of its targets and the maximization of profits in the short and long-term, taking into account, among other things, the need to recruit and retain qualified, highly-skilled officers in a global and competitive market; and (e) adjusting the compensation of office holders to the contribution of the office holder to the achievement of the Company’s goals. |
| 1.4 | This Policy is a multi-annual policy that will be effective for a period of five years from the date of its approval. This policy shall be brought forward for re-approval by the Company’s Compensation Committee, the Company’s Board of Directors and the general meeting of its shareholders after three years have elapsed since the date of approval thereof and so forth, unless any changes need to be made to the Policy in accordance with the law and/or in accordance with the Company’s needs. |
| 1.5 | Without derogating from the provisions set out in Section 1.4 above, the Company’s Compensation Committee and Board of Directors shall check, from time to time, whether the compensation that is granted under this policy, does, indeed, comply with the terms of this policy and the parameters set therein for each Company office holder. |
| 1.6 | This Policy is based, among other things, on the Company’s assessments as to the competitive environment in which it operates and the challenge it faces in recruiting and retaining high-quality officers in such an environment; it is also based on employment terms generally accepted in public companies operating in the Company’s area of activity and on existing employment agreements between the Company and its office holder, which – in order to remove any doubt – this policy cannot change. |
| 2. | The Policy |
| 2.1 | Definitions |
Office holder- as defined in the Companies Law- 5759-1999, i.e., Chief Executive Officer (CEO), deputy CEO, Directors, Chairman, Subordinate office holder, any person filling any of these positions in the Company even if he holds a different title, and any other manager directly subordinate to the CEO.
Subordinate office holder- Office holder subordinate reporting directly to the CEO.
Foreign office holder- Office holder who his / her residency is outside of Israel.
| 2.2 | Components of the Policy |
In accordance with the Policy, the compensation of the Company’s office holders shall be based on all or some of the following components:
| 2.2.1 | Basic salary component– refers to the monthly salary of that employee, excluding any social benefits and related benefits, and in respect to compensation paid as consultancy fee or equivalent (to a non-employee office holder) – the monthly gross consultation fees, excluding VAT (if applicable); |
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| 2.2.2 | Social and related benefits - social benefits as prescribed by local law (pension savings, contributions towards severance pay, contributions towards training fund, vacation pay, sick leave, recreation pay, etc.) and related benefits, such as company vehicle/vehicle maintenance, telephone expenses, laptop, meals at the workplace, gifts on public holidays, etc. |
| 2.2.3 | Variable cash compensation (bonus) – short and medium-term compensation, which includes annual bonuses, which are based on results and achievement of targets. The Company may also determine that a certain office holder will be paid discretionary annual bonuses, considering his/her contribution to the Company and the restrictions placed under this policy. |
| 2.2.4 | Variable equity-based compensation– share-based payment or another long-term compensation (subject to the existence of valid long-term compensation plans and provided that the Company decides to award such compensation). |
(The components in sections 2.2.3 and 2.2.4 above shall be called hereafter: “the variable components”).
At the time of approval of the compensation package of an office holder, the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors of the Company shall assess the compliance of each of those components and of the total cost of employment and/or consultancy fee with the criteria set out in this plan.
| 2.3 | Parameters for reviewing compensation terms |
Generally, some or all of the following parameters will be considered when reviewing the compensation terms of a Company office holder.
| 2.3.1 | Education, skills, expertise, tenure (specifically in the Company and in the office holder’s field of expertise in general), professional experience and achievements of the office holder; |
| 2.3.2 | The role of the office holder, his areas of responsibility and his employment or services terms under previous wage agreements entered into with this office holder; |
| 2.3.3 | The office holder’s contribution to the Company’s business, the achievement of its strategic goals and implementation of its work plans, the maximization of its profits and the enhancement of its strength and stability. |
| 2.3.4 | The extent of responsibility delegated to the office holder. |
| 2.3.5 | The Company’s need to recruit or retain an office holder with unique skills, knowledge, or expertise. |
| 2.3.6 | Whether a material change has been made to the role or function of the office holder, or to the Company’s requirements from this office holder. |
| 2.3.7 | The size of the Company and the nature of its activities. |
| 2.3.8 | As to service and employment terms that include retirement grants – the term of service or employment of the office holder, the terms of his service and employment over the course of this period, the Company’s performances in the said period, the office holder’s contribution to the achievement of the Company’s goals and the circumstances of the retirement. |
| 2.3.9 | (a) The market conditions of the industry in which the Company operates at any relevant time, including the office holder’s salary compared to the salaries of other office holders working in similar positions (or in position of comparable level) in companies whose characteristics are similar to those of the Company in terms of its activity (as described in section 2.3.1 below); (b) the availability of suitable candidates that can serve as office holders in the Company, the recruitment and retainment of the office holders and the need to offer an attractive compensation package in a global competitive market; and (c) changes in the Company’s area of activity and in the scope and complexity of its activities. |
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| 2.4 | Payroll review |
| 2.4.1 | For the purpose of determining the payroll that can be offered to an office holder upon recruitment, the Company will review from time to time the payroll generally accepted in the relevant markets for similar positions in companies, which are similar to the Company in terms of its area of activity/scope of activity/complexity of activity/market value/revenues and other relevant parameters (if such companies exist). |
| 2.4.2 | The payroll review will be conducted by the Company itself, or by an external advisor, at the Company’s discretion, after the Compensation Committee has issued its recommendations regarding this matter. |
| 2.5 | Basic salary, benefits and other related benefits |
| 2.5.1 | The basic salary of a new Company office holder shall be determined taking into accounts the parameters described in section 2.3 above and the conclusions of the payroll review described in section 2.4 above (should such a review be conducted). |
| 2.5.2 | The basic salary shall be in absolute numbers. The Company may determine that an office holder’s salary shall be linked to a certain currency or index. |
The Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors may decide to exchange basic salary with equity-based compensation, either in whole or in part, by issuing Restricted Shares (“RS”) or Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) or options to purchase ordinary shares (“Options” and together with the RS and RSUs, the “Awards”) which may be granted in a minimum par value per share as allowed under applicable law and may be vested on a monthly basis, in accordance with applicable law.
In such case, the calculation of the Awards value in comparison to the basic salary will be up to two (2) times of the basic salary for the relevant month.
| 2.5.3 | In any case, the basic monthly salary, or alternatively, the monthly consultation fees shall not exceed the maximum amount set out below (linked to the Consumer Price Index commencing May 2015): |
| Position** | Maximum basic salary* in $ | |||
| Active Chairman of the Board of Directors (“Active Chairman”) | 30,000 | |||
| Company’s CEO (“CEO”) | 27,500 | |||
| Subordinate Office holders | 25,000 | |||
| Foreign Office holders | 25,000 | |||
| * | An amount paid to an office holder other than an Active Chairman, as monthly consultation fees (in respect of which an invoice is issued), which is up to 1.3 times higher than the maximum basic salary set for his position, shall not be considered to be a deviation from the Policy. |
| ** | The amounts presented above are in respect of a full-time position; those amounts shall change in proportion to the scope of position of the office holder. |
| 2.5.4 | Social benefits1, related benefits, reimbursement of expenses |
The compensation package may include benefits that are generally acceptable in the market where employee serves, such as vacation pay2, contributions towards pension, life insurance, education fund, training fund saving, health insurance, social rights and benefits, mobile phone (including grossing up of the taxable value of the phone), internet and landline, gifts on public holidays, recreation, medical tests, medical insurance and/or undertaking such an insurance policy and other expenses, all as approved by the Compensation Committee and the Company’s Board of Directors, at their discretion and in accordance with the applicable Company policy.
| 1 | As to an office holder that has entered into engagement with the Company whereby no employer-employee relationship exists, the Company may pay the social benefits described above on top of his monthly fee in lieu of the said expenses. |
| 2 | An office holder shall be entitled to annual leave as prescribed by law, but the Company may grant him further paid leave up to a maximum of 24 working days per year. The Company may allow the office holder to accumulate vacation days over his term of office in accordance with Company’s procedures. |
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| 2.5.5 | Vehicle |
Company office holders shall be entitled to receive a Company vehicle (including by way of leasing) in the following costs:
| ● | CEO- up to $70,000 or by way of leasing in the amount of up to $1,700 per month excluding VAT, linked to the consumer price index. |
| ● | Subordinate office holders- up to $60,000 or by way of leasing in the amount of up to $1,600 per month before VAT, linked to the consumer price index. |
Such entitlement may include grossing up the taxable value of this benefit, fuel expenses, licensing, insurance and other related expenses.
The Company may add an amount equal to the vehicle costs as additional salary to the office holder, provided that the total payroll will be in accordance to the limitation of the Policy.
| 2.5.6 | Insurance, indemnification, and exemption |
Insurance
| 2.5.6.1 | Company’s office holders shall be entitled to insurance coverage, including “run-off” and/or SIDE A type policies, to be provided by a liability insurance policy of directors and office holders, including the controlling shareholders, which the Company will purchase from time to time, subject to the approvals required by law. |
| 2.5.6.2 | Subject to the provisions of the law, as amended from time to time, and without detracting from the provisions of section 2.5.6.1 above, the Company’s office holders shall be entitled to benefit from coverage provided by a liability insurance of directors and office holders, which the Company will purchase from time to time, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee alone (and the approval of the Board of Directors, if required by law), provided that the insurance policy meets the following criteria and provided that the engagement with the insurer is entered into under market conditions and will not have a material effect on the Company’s profitability, its assets or liabilities: |
| a. | The limit of insurer’s liability under the insurance policy shall not exceed $30,000,000 per claim and during the insurance period covered by that policy, plus reasonable litigation expenses in excess of the abovementioned limit. |
| b. | The insurance policy may include an entity cover that will cover the Company itself in case of lawsuits filed against it under the securities law (whether those lawsuits are filed only against the Company and whether they are filed against the Company and office holder thereof or an office holder in its related companies). Such cover will be subject to priorities for payment of any insurance benefits according to which the rights of the Directors and Officers to receive indemnity from the Insurer’s take precedence over the right of the Company itself. |
| c. | Without derogating Section 2.5.6.2(b) above, the total annual premium that the Company will pay to an insurance company for the office holders liability insurance as described above, shall be (i) in market conditions and in an immaterial cost; or (ii) shall not exceed a total of $1,200,000. |
| d. | In case of a material change in risk, or a change in control, or in case the policy is not renewed, the Company shall be entitled to purchase a Run-Off coverage of up to 7 years (the “Run Off period”), for a premium for the Run Off period in the rate of up to 300% of the last paid annual premium. |
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| e. | The excess amounts set in the insurance policies shall not exceed the amounts normally applicable in the insurance market for policies of this type as of the date of purchasing and renewing the insurance on a periodic basis. |
| f. | In this section 2.5.6.2, if the overages do not exceed 10%, this will not be considered as an exemption of the Policy. |
Indemnification and Exemption
| 2.5.6.3 | The Company’s office holders may be entitled to an indemnification arrangement in accordance with arrangements that are normally acceptable and subject to the provisions of the law and the Company’s articles of association. The overall amount of indemnification per event to each office holder and to all office holders together, individually or in aggregate, shall not exceed the greater of: (i) 25% of the effective shareholders’ equity of the Company; and (ii) $5,000,000 (the maximum indemnification amount). |
For that purpose, the “effective shareholders’ equity of the Company” means the amount of the Company’s shareholders’ equity in accordance with the last consolidated audited or reviewed financial statements of the Company (as applicable) at the time of actual payment of the indemnification. It is hereby clarified that the indemnification shall be paid in excess of any amount paid under the liability insurance of directors and office holders, which the Company has purchased or will purchase from time to time.
| 2.5.6.4 | Company office holders may be entitled to an exemption arrangement in accordance with arrangements that are normally acceptable and subject to the provisions of the law and the Company’s articles of association. |
| 2.6 | Compensation in connection with termination of employment |
| 2.6.1 | Advance notice period |
| 2.6.1.1 | An office holder may be entitled to advance notice period or payment in lieu of advance notice period, as follows: |
Chairman- up to 60 days advance notice period.
CEO- up to 90 days advance notice period.
Subordinate office holder- up to 60 days advance notice period.
| 2.6.1.2 | Over the course of the advance notice period, the office holder shall continue to do his job in the Company at the request of the Company, unless the Company decides that he will not do so, in which case the office holder may be entitled to continue and receive over the advance notice period all employment and service terms, which were agreed upon in his employment agreement. |
| 2.6.1.3 | The service or employment terms of the office holders may include a provision whereby the Company may terminate the services or employment of the office holder without an advance notice period in cases which deny eligibility for severance pay according to the law, including the following cases: (a) conviction of an offence involving moral turpitude; (b) an office holder who will conduct himself in a disloyal and/or unreliable and/or dishonest manner in his relations with the Company and/or while carrying out actions on its behalf and/or will harm the Company’s reputation; (c) in case the office holder will breach the confidentiality duty towards the Company and/or his duty to protect the Company rights which were developed due to or as part of his work at the Company; (d) Any other case in which the Company is legally entitled to refrain from payment of severance pay. |
| 2.6.2 | Severance pay |
Office holders, who are Company’s employees, will be entitled to severance pay in accordance with the provisions of the local law.
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| 2.6.3 | Retirement terms |
| 2.6.3.1 | The retirement terms of Company’s office holders shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, in accordance with the following table, while taking into account, among other things, the parameters set out in section 2.3 above, the period of service or employment of the office holder, the terms of service and employment over the course of this period, his contribution to the achievement of the Company’s and the circumstances of the retirement: |
| Seniority | Validation of the right from termination of employment / services date | |
| 3 Years and above | Up to 2 monthly salaries of adjustment | |
| 5 Years and above | Up to 3 months salaries of adjustment |
| 2.7 | Annual bonus |
In addition to the basic salary, the compensation package of Company’s office holders may include eligibility to an annual bonus that is based on measurable targets and to an annual discretionary bonus (hereafter jointly: “the annual bonus”).
For the purpose of this Annual bonus section, whenever the term “salary” is used, it means (i) in the case of an employed office holder – the gross salary in terms of employer cost as paid to the office holder for the month of December in the relevant year, including any social benefits and related benefits as detailed in section 2.5.4 and 2.5.5 herein and (ii) in the case of office holder with no employer-employee relationship – the fee paid to the office holder for the month of December in the relevant year, excluding VAT (if applicable).
| 2.7.1 | Components of the annual bonus |
The Company may grant an Office holder an annual bonus up to the maximum annual bonus as described in the table in section 2.7.7 below, based on the compensation plan which will be approved by the compensation committee and the Board of Directors for each year in advance.
At the end of each year, the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors will review the office holders’ meeting their measurable targets in order to determine that component of the annual bonus, which is based on measurable targets. The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors may determine to pay only part of the component of the annual bonus, which is based on measurable targets, if the office holder meets only some of the targets.
According to the rates stated below, the components for each of the Office holders of the annual bonus will be:
| (i) | Measurable Company Targets (from the categories in the list below); | |
| (ii) | Measurable Personal Targets (from the categories in the list below); and | |
| (iii) | Discretionary Bonus (according to the limitations set forth herein) |
| Measurable Company Targets | Measurable Personal Targets | Discretionary Bonus | ||||
| Active Chairman / CEO | 0-100% | 0-100% | 0-35% (by Board of Directors), see section 2.7.3(1) below | |||
| Subordinate Office holders | 0-100% | 0-100% | 0-50% (by CEO), see section 2.7.3(2) below. |
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| 2.7.2 | Measurable Targets (Company and Personal) |
Set forth below are several suggested criteria for the annual bonus that is based on measurable targets. It should be clarified that this list is not a closed and binding list. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors may consider adding or removing some of those criteria, considering the role of each office holder, his areas of responsibility and the Company’s activity.
a bonus that is based on meeting principal and personal performance metrics that are quantified and set out in the Company’s work plan and attributed to the relevant office holder. These performance metrics may include, among other things:
Active Chairman and CEO Measurable Targets Criteria
| (a) | Sales and marketing targets. | |
| (b) | Increase of revenue targets. | |
| (c) | Engagement in contracts with revenue potential in a determined amount. | |
| (d) | Engagement in collaboration contracts. | |
| (e) | Engagement of material contracts and/or strategic contracts. | |
| (f) | Achievement of product development milestones. | |
| (g) | Reducing costs. | |
| (h) | Achievement of targets/milestones relating to Company’s products and projects. | |
| (i) | Promotion of strategic plans and targets, including targets which were set for the office holder, and which are relevant to the relevant office holder’s area of activity. | |
| (j) | Achievement of regulatory approvals. | |
| (k) | Achievement of reimbursement for the Company’s products. | |
| (l) | Achievement of financial indicators targets: gross margin, operational profit/loss, net profit/loss, cash balance, revenue. | |
| (m) | Achievement of funding targets: raising loans, private placement, public or rights offering of shares, bonds, etc. | |
| (n) | Achievement of achieving new and/or innovative technologies. |
Subordinate Measurable Targets Criteria
| (a) | Sales and marketing targets. | |
| (b) | Increase of revenue targets. | |
| (c) | Engagement in contracts with revenue potential in a determined amount. | |
| (d) | Engagement in collaboration contracts. | |
| (e) | Engagement of material contracts and/or strategic contracts. | |
| (f) | Achievement of product development milestones. | |
| (g) | Reducing costs. | |
| (h) | Achievement of targets/milestones relating to Company’s products and projects. | |
| (i) | Promotion of strategic plans and targets, including targets which were set for the office holder, and which are relevant to the relevant office holder’s area of activity. | |
| (j) | Achievement of regulatory approvals. | |
| (k) | Achievement of reimbursement for the Company’s products. | |
| (l) | Budget and work plan related targets. | |
| (m) | Inventory and Production related targets. | |
| (n) | Achievement of financial indicators targets: gross margin, operational profit/loss, net profit/loss, cash balance, revenue. | |
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| (o) | Achievement of funding targets: raising loans, private placement, public or rights offering of shares, bonds, etc. | |
| (p) | Achievement of achieving new and/or innovative technologies. |
| 2.7.3 | Discretionary bonus |
| (1) | With regard to the Company’s CEO and an active Chairman of the Board of Directors – most of the annual bonus will be based on measurable targets and an immaterial portion of the annual bonus (for that purpose “immaterial portion” – the higher of (a) a total of 3 (gross) monthly salaries or (b) 35% of the variable components of the bonus (actual bonus and equity-based payment) shall be a discretionary bonus that is based on qualitative criteria. |
Notwithstanding the above, if in a specific year the Company does not pay the CEO or the active Chairman (as applicable) an annual bonus that is based on measurable targets (i.e., if the discretionary annual bonus paid to the CEO or the active Chairman (as applicable) constitutes the total annual bonus paid on that year), then the amount of the discretionary bonus that the Company may pay to the CEO and to the active Chairman (as applicable and separately) shall not exceed three (3) gross monthly salaries of that office holder.
| (2) | With regard to Subordinate Office Holders– subject to the provisions of the law, Subordinate Office Holders, may be eligible to an annual bonus that is based on measurable targets and to a discretionary annual bonus. It should be clarified that the amount of the discretionary bonus that the Company may pay to Subordinate Office Holders, shall not exceed three (3) gross monthly salaries of the Subordinate Office Holder. |
The amount of the annual bonus that is based on measurable targets shall be calculated based on measurable criteria, that will be determined (if they are determined) for each and every office holder at a time close to the date of the discussion held by the Board of Directors for review of the Company’s budget for the forthcoming year, in accordance with the role of the relevant office holder, by the competent organs of the Company (in accordance with the provisions of the law and the positions of the Securities Authority, as amended from time to time), provided that the targets applicable to Subordinate Office Holders, shall be determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, at the recommendation of the CEO.
| 2.7.4 | Neutralization of one-off events |
As part of the calculation of the eligibility to annual bonus that is based measurable targets on the basis of financial statements data (if such targets are set) the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee will be authorized to neutralize the effect of “one-off events”, or alternatively to decide that such events should not be neutralized in a certain year, as applicable.
| 2.7.5 | The Company’s competent organs shall approve this component based, among other things, on data presented by the Company’s management and based on personal assessment and recommendation issued by the Company’s CEO (with regard to Subordinate office holders) and by the Company’s Board of Directors with regard to active Chairman and the CEO, while listing the underlying reasons for their recommendation. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to applicable law, the Company’s competent organs shall be entitled to approve payment of discretionary bonus on an Annual, quarterly, monthly, or otherwise basis.
| 2.7.6 | Annual bonus that is based on measurable targets only |
| 2.7.6.1 | Subject to the provisions of the law and the positions of the Israeli Securities Authority (as amended from time to time): |
| a. | The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors alone will be allowed to determine the measurable targets applicable to active Chairman of the Board of Directors or any other director, if one of the following (1) or (2) is fulfilled: |
| (1) | All of the following conditions are met: (a) the resolution is in line with the Policy; (b) the grant in question is based only on measurable targets; (c) the amount of the potential grant is immaterial (up to three salaries); and (d) the targets were pre-determined by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors. |
| (2) | All of the following conditions are met: (a) the resolution is in line with the Policy; (b) the office holder in question serves both as a director and in an operational role in the Company; (c) The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors approved the targets, other than the said directors, who receive from the Company a bonus based on measurable targets, did not take part in the approval of those targets (whether in their capacity as directors or in their capacity as other office holders in the Company). |
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| b. | The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors alone will be allowed to determine the measurable targets applicable to an office holder, who is a controlling shareholder or a relative thereof (as these terms are defined in the Companies Law), if one of the following (1) or (2) is fulfilled: |
| (1) | All of the following conditions are met: (a) the resolution is in line with the Policy; (b) the grant in question is based only on measurable targets; (c) the amount of the potential grant is immaterial (up to three salaries); and (d) the targets were pre-determined by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors. |
| (2) | The Board of Directors has determined a clear target that is based on financial statements data and which applies in the same manner to the controlling shareholder and his relative and to other office holders, who are not related to the controlling shareholder. |
| 2.7.7 | The maximum annual bonus of office holders as of date of payment thereof (both in respect of Discretionary Bonus and in respect of bonus based on Measurable Targets): |
| Role | Maximum Annual Bonus3 | |
| Active Chairman | Up to 9 salaries (subject to the provisions of section 2.7.3(1) above) | |
| CEO | Up to 9 salaries (subject to the provisions of section 2.7.3(1) above) | |
| Other Subordinate Office holders | Up to 6 salaries |
| 2.7.8 | The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors may decide to pay the annual bonus in cash and/or equity. |
| 2.7.9 | The Compensation Committee and Board of Directors may decide to postpone the payment of the annual bonus or reduce the amount of the annual bonus to which the office holder is entitled, at their own discretion. |
| 2.7.10 | The Company may pay an office holder, who has not completed a full year of employment, a proportionate share of the bonus according to the period of employment of the office holder. |
| 2.7.11 | he office holder shall repay to the Company that portion of the bonus he received, which was based on measurable targets, should it be determined that this component was paid to him on the basis of erroneous data and/or data that were restated in the Company’s financial statements, provided that the date of restatement of the financial statements does not fall later than three (3) years after the original approval of the relevant financial statements. |
| 2.8 | One-Time Bonus |
The Board of Directors, subject to the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and the officer’s direct supervisor, may decide to grant a one-time bonus (beyond the Annual Bonus, as described in Section 2.7 above), to an office holder, including the chairman and directors, in respect of special efforts performed by the officer and / or in respect of the significant contribution of the officer to the Company’s operations, special projects or extra ordinary achievements which are not in the Company’s general course of business (the “One-Time Bonus”).
| 3 | The maximum values are in respect of the aggregate annual bonus – bonus based on measurable targets and discretionary bonus. |
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The aggregate amount of one-time bonus and annual bonus, shall not exceed 9 monthly base salaries. The One-Time Bonus is separate from the Special Bonus and the annual bonus.
An approval of a One-Time Bonus to the CEO, that meets the aforesaid conditions, shall not be subject to the approval of the General Meeting, as long as the aggregate amount of the all discretionary bonuses does not exceed 12 monthly salaries.
| 2.9 | Special Bonus- merger or sale or assignment by the Company of all or substantially all of its shares or assets |
The Board of Directors, subject to the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and the officer’s direct supervisor, may decide to grant a special bonus (beyond the Annual Bonus, as described in Section 2.7 above), to an office holder, including board members and chairman, in case of a consummation of a merger, or sale or assignment by the Company of all or substantially all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company and/or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (the “Special Bonus"). The Special Bonus for all office holders together will be subject to a limit of 8% of the Transaction value, and in accordance with applicable law (the “Special Bonus”).
The Special Bonus is separate from the One-Time Bonus and the Annual Bonus.
An approval of a Special Bonus to the CEO, that meets the aforesaid conditions, shall not be subject to the approval of the General Meeting, as long as the aggregate amount of the all discretionary bonuses does not exceed 9 monthly salaries.
| 2.10 | Commissions |
The CEO, may decide to grant Office holders that are providing services of sales and/or business development for the Company, with commissions, as shall be determined in their employment agreement (the “Sales Office holders” and “Commission”, respectively). The purpose of granting Commissions to Sales Office holders is to incentivize Sales Office holders to increase the amount of sales of Company’s products. For each Sales Office holder, the aggregate amount of Commissions paid by the Company in each calendar year shall be up to 5% from direct contribution to the Company’s income from sales, and in any case, the amount paid for each Sales Office holder shall not exceed $150,000. The Commissions will be paid on either a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. The maximum amount of Commissions shall be considered from time to time
The Commission paid to a Sales Office holder shall be separate from the Annual Bonus and/or Special Bonus given to them, or instead of Annual Bonus and/or Special Bonus, as suggested by in each case by the CEO and approved by the Compensation committee.
The Commission shall be limited by the ratio between the fixed compensation and variable compensation, as further specified in section 2.12 herein
| 2.11 | Long-term compensation |
| 2.11.1 | The purpose of granting long term compensation is to create an identity of interests between the company’s long term business results and the office holder’s compensation. In addition, granting long term compensation is a tool for preserving good personnel. The principles for the long-term compensation are as follows: |
| 2.11.1.1 | The Company will provide equity-based compensation, which can include Options, RSUs and or any other equity-based compensation in accordance with the Option Plan, to office holders, from time to time at the Board’s discretion. |
| 2.11.1.2 | Vesting Period- The vesting period will not be less than one year, except in cases of acceleration, in accordance with the Policy, the employment agreement and / or services with the office holder and as will be from time to time, or in case the vesting depends on milestones. |
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| 2.11.1.3 | Acceleration Mechanism- The Board of directors (and in relation to the CEO or directors, as required by applicable law) may allow immediate acceleration for any unvested options and/or RSUs granted to office holders, upon closing of a Deemed Liquidation (as defined below): |
“Deemed Liquidation” - shall mean: (i) the acquisition of the Company by, or the merger of the Company with another entity, consolidation, reorganization and/or recapitalization; provided that any of the said events results in an event prescribed under subsection (iii) below; (ii) sale, assignment or disposal by the Company of all or substantially all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company; (iii) any other transaction or series of transactions following which the shareholders of the Company prior to the closing of such transaction own, directly or indirectly, less than 50% (fifty percent) of the voting power of the surviving entity (except in connection with public offering).
It is clarified that the Company’s Board of Directors will be entitled to reduce the definition of “Deemed Liquidation” at the time of the equity-based grant, and to determine that “a deemed liquidation is one or more of the aforementioned criteria.”
| 2.11.1.4 | Exercise Price- The exercise price of the equity-based compensation will be determined according to the average price of the last 30 trading days share price, prior to the grant date. |
| 2.11.1.5 | Expiration date - up to ten (10) years from the date of grant. |
| 2.11.1.6 | The grant of equity-based compensation will be granted as far as possible under section 102 of the Income Tax Ordinance to employees employed in Israel (in cases of workers abroad under the existing law in those countries). |
| 2.11.1.7 | the equity-based compensation is subject to the following principles (and in any case- the lowest of): |
| 1. | The value of compensation in accordance with number of monthly salaries as specified below. The maximum compensation value is for one-year term and shall be calculated on a linear basis4. |
| 2. | the maximum rate of dilution for shareholders which will not exceed the rate listed below. |
Maximum amounts as follows:
| Role | Chairman | CEO | Subordinate Office holder | |||||||||
| Maximum Monthly Salaries | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||
| Maximum Dilution Rate | 2 | % | 2 | % | 2 | % | ||||||
| 2.11.1.8 | Other conditions for long-term compensation will be in accordance with the Wearable Devices Ltd. 2015 Share Option Plan or any other long term compensation plan that will be adopted by the Company. |
| 2.11.1.9 | The above-mentioned ratios and guidance will be effective to grants following the closing of a public offering. |
| 2.11.2 | The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors (and in relation to the CEO or directors, as required by applicable law) may decide to exchange accrued and unpaid cash salary given to office holders, including controlling shareholders and/or relatives of controlling shareholders (if applicable and only in the event described in this section 2.11.2), with RSUs or any other equity-based compensation in accordance with the Company’s than in effect equity incentive plans (the “Exchanged equity-based compensation”). |
| 4 | The calculation of the maximum annual value of such grant will take into consideration all previous grants’ value to the officer holder in each year. |
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The Exchanged equity-based compensation terms will be determined according to the following:
| 2.11.2.1. | Vesting Period- will be no less than one month. |
| 2.11.2.2 | Share Price- will be calculated at the Board of Directors’ discretion granted in the minimum par value per share and allowed under applicable law. In such case the calculation of RSU value in comparison to the basic salary will be up to two (2) times of the basic salary for the relevant month. |
All other relevant terms will be as specified in section 2.11.1 above.
| 2.11.3 | Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
Without derogating from section 2.5.2 and section 2.11.2 above, subject to applicable law and any additional approval as may be required by applicable law, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, may adopt, from time to time, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (or “ESPP”), or any similar plan (and to amend such plans), for the purpose of enabling, among others, officeholders and directors of the Company, to use payroll deductions to purchase the Company’s ordinary shares, and thereby acquire an ownership interest in the Company. The terms of such acquisitions shall be determined and described within such plans.
| 2.12 | The ratio between the variable components and the basic salary component5 |
| Role | The ratio between the variable components and the total compensation | |
| Active Chairman of the Board of Directors | Up to 60% | |
| CEO | Up to 60% | |
| Subordinate Office Holders, if any | Up to 60% | |
| Foreign Office holders | Up to 60% |
| 2.13 | Extending the term of existing agreements with Company office holders and making amendments to those agreements |
| 2.13.1 | Prior to extending the term of the services or employment agreement with a Company office holder (whether this involves changes to the terms of employment or not), the office holder’s existing compensation package will be assessed in relation to the parameters set out in section 2.3 above and bearing in mind the payroll review, which was conducted by the Company as per section 2.4 above. |
| 2.13.2 | Subject to the provisions of the law and the positions of the Israeli Securities Authority, as amended from time to time, immaterial changes (as defined below) made to the service or employment terms of the Company’s CEO will need to be approved by the Compensation Committee alone, if it approves that the changes are, indeed, immaterial and the change complies with the provisions of this Policy. |
| 2.13.3 | Subject to the provisions of the law and the positions of the Israeli Securities Authority, as amended from time to time, immaterial changes made to the service or employment terms of the Subordinate Office Holders shall be approved by the Company’s CEO alone, and the approval of the Compensation Committee will not be required, provided that the service and employment terms of that office holder comply with the provisions of this Policy. |
| 5 | For that purpose, the “variable components” include the annual bonus, one-time bonus, special bonus and annual value of the share-based payment (excluding share-based expenses related to grants made prior to the public offering). |
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In sections 2.13.2 and 2.13.3 above, “immaterial changes to the service and employment terms” are changes, the aggregate value of which does not exceed 5% of the overall annual cost of compensation of the office holder.
| 2.14 | Compensation of directors |
| 2.14.1 | The directors of the Company will be entitled to annual compensation and participation compensation which will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Regulations (rules regarding remuneration and expenses for an external director), 2000 hereafter and the Companies Regulations (exemptions for dual companies), 2000 (“the compensation regulations”), as they will be from time to time and according to the Company’s rank. |
| 2.14.2 | In addition, the directors of the Company will be entitled to compensation of travel and parking expenses. In the case of a director (except for external directors) with additional expertise in the Company’s operations and / or in other areas where the Board has decided that they are necessary for the Company, the Company will be entitled, to award that director, solely that the aggregate amount of the annual compensation to which the director is entitled, does not exceed the amount specified in section 2.5.3. |
| 2.14.3 | The Company may grant equity-based compensation to directors, including external directors and independent directors, from time to time, all in accordance with applicable law. The fair value of securities granted to directors at the grant date, as reflected in the Company’s financial statements, will be calculated on the basis of accepted valuation methods (such as Black & Scholes / Intermediate), and will not exceed 75% of the total annual compensation and participation compensation given to directors in the 12 months preceding grant date, or up to $50,000. |
| 2.14.4 | All other provisions regarding the long-term compensation that apply to the officers under this Policy, will also apply to the long-term compensation granted to directors. |
| 2.15 | Recoupment Policy |
The Company may seek reimbursement of all, or a portion of any compensation paid to an Office Holder based on financial data included in Company’s financial statements in any fiscal year that are found to be inaccurate and are subsequently restated.
In any such event, Company will seek reimbursement from the Office holders to the extent such Office Holders would not have been entitled to all or a portion of such compensation, based on the financial data included in the restated financial statements.
The Compensation Committee will be responsible for approving the amounts to be recouped and for setting terms for such recoupment from time to time in accordance with a recoupment policy adopted from time to time by the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors. Any recoupment under this Section 2.15 may be in addition to (and not limited by) any other remedies or rights of recoupment available to the Company pursuant to the terms of any similar policy or under applicable law.
| 2.16 | Exchange Rate |
Monetary amounts in this Policy are quoted in $, yet subject to the applicable currency exchange rates.
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| 2.17 | The ratio between the salary of office holders and the salary of all other Company employees as of the date of the compensation policy |
The ratio of the average and median salary between the officers to the other full-time employees will be up to the following ratios:
| Role | Ratio to the average salary6 | Ratio
to Median salary | ||||||
| CEO | 7 | 7 | ||||||
| Subordinate office holders | 6 | 6 | ||||||
As of the date of the compensation policy in the Company, there are 12 full-time employees who are not office holders. It is clarified that for the purpose of calculating the aforesaid ratios, only the employees of Wearable Devices Ltd. were included.
At the time of approval of the compensation policy, the compensation committee examined the existing gaps between the officers and the other employees. The existing Ratio of CEO and subordinate office holders to average salary is approximately 2. The compensation committee and the Board of Directors believe that these data have a limited effect on determining the salaries of the Company’s officers, given the structure of the Company, the small number of full-time employees and the low salary of CEO and office holders reflected by the financial condition of the company prior the significant fund raising.
| 3. | The powers of the Compensation Committee and the Company’s Board of Directors regarding the Policy |
| 3.1. | The Company’s Board of Directors is charged with the management of the Policy and all actions required for management thereof, including the power to interpret the provisions of the Policy where doubts arise as to the manner of its implementation. |
| 3.2. | The Company’s Compensation Committee and Board of Directors will assess, from time to time, the Policy and the need to adjust it, inter alia, in accordance with the considerations and principles set out in this policy, while taking into account the changes in the Company’s goals, market conditions, Company’s profits and revenues in previous periods in real time and any other relevant information. |
| 3.3. | In order to assess the Company’s Policy, the Company’s Compensation Committee and its Board of Directors will monitor the implementation of the Policy in the Company. |
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| 6 | The ratio to the average salary and the median salary refers to the salary cost of the employees of Wearable Devices Ltd. only, and does not include the cost of the salaries of the officers |
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Exhibit 99.2
AMENDED & RESTATED ARTICLES
THE COMPANIES LAW, 1999
A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
WEARABLE DEVICES LTD.
| 1. | Definitions; Interpretation. |
(a) In these Articles, the following terms (whether or not capitalized) shall bear the meanings set forth opposite to them respectively, unless inconsistent with the subject or context.
| “Articles” | shall mean these Articles of Association, as amended from time to time. |
| “Board of Directors” | shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. |
| “Chairperson” | shall mean the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or the Chairperson of the General Meeting, as the context provides; |
| “Company” | shall mean WEARABLE DEVICES LTD. וורבל דיוויסס בע”מ |
| “Companies Law” | shall mean the Israeli Companies Law, 5759-1999 and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Companies Law shall include reference to the Companies Ordinance (New Version), 5743-1983, of the State of Israel, to the extent in effect according to the provisions thereof. |
| “Director(s)” | shall mean the member(s) of the Board of Directors holding office at any given time, including alternate directors. |
| “General Meeting” | shall mean an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Shareholders, as the case may be. |
| “NIS” | shall mean New Israeli Shekels. |
| “Office” | shall mean the registered office of the Company at any given time. |
| “Office Holder” or “Officer” | shall mean as defined in the Companies Law. |
| “RTP Law” | shall mean the Israeli Restrictive Trade Practices Law, 5758-1988. |
| “Securities Law” | shall mean the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. |
| “Shareholder(s)” | shall mean the shareholder(s) of the Company, at any given time. |
| “in writing” or “writing” | shall mean written, printed, photocopied, photographic, typed, sent via email, facsimile or produced by any visible substitute for writing, or partly one and partly another, and signed shall be construed accordingly. |
(b) Unless otherwise defined in these Articles or required by the context, terms used herein shall have the meaning provided therefor under the Companies Law.
(c) Unless the context shall otherwise require: words in the singular shall also include the plural, and vice versa; any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”; the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to these Articles in its entirety and not to any part hereof; all references herein to Articles, Sections or clauses shall be deemed references to Articles, Sections or clauses of these Articles; any references to any agreement or other instrument or law, statute or regulation are to it as amended, supplemented or restated, from time to time (and, in the case of any law, to any successor provisions or re-enactment or modification thereof being in force at the time); any reference to “law” shall include any supranational, national, federal, state, local, or foreign statute or law and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including, any rules, regulations or forms prescribed by any governmental authority or securities exchange commission or authority, if and to the extent applicable); any reference to a “day” or a number of “days” (without any explicit reference otherwise, such as to business days) shall be interpreted as a reference to a calendar day or number of calendar days; reference to month or year means according to the Gregorian calendar; any reference to a “company”, “corporate body” or “entity” shall include a, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof, and reference to a “person” shall mean any of the foregoing or an individual.
(d) The captions in these Articles are for convenience only and shall not be deemed a part hereof or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision hereof.
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Limited Liability
| 2. | The Company is a limited liability company and therefore each shareholder’s obligations to the Company shall be limited to the payment of the nominal value of the shares held by such shareholder, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law. |
Public Company; Company’s Objectives
| 3. | Public Company; Objectives. |
(a) The Company is a Public Company as such term is defined in and as long as it so qualifies under the Companies Law.
(b) The Company’s objectives are to carry on any business, and do any act, which is not prohibited by law.
| 4. | Donations. |
The Company may donate a reasonable amount of money (in cash or in kind, including the Company’s securities) for any purpose that the Board of Directors finds appropriate.
Share Capital
| 5. | Authorized Share Capital. |
(a) The share capital of the Company shall consist of 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares, no par value each (the “Shares”).
(b) The Shares shall rank pari passu in all respects.
| 6. | Increase of Authorized Share Capital. |
(a) The Company may, from time to time, by a Shareholders’ resolution, whether or not all the shares then authorized have been issued, and whether or not all the shares theretofore issued have been called up for payment, increase its authorized share capital by the creation of new shares. Any such increase shall be in such amount and shall be divided into shares of such nominal amounts, and such shares shall confer such rights and preferences, and shall be subject to such restrictions, as such resolution shall provide.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in such resolution, any new shares included in the authorized share capital increased as aforesaid shall be subject to all the provisions of these Articles which are applicable to shares of such class included in the existing share capital without regard to class (and, if such new shares are of the same class as a class of shares included in the existing share capital, to all of the provisions which are applicable to shares of such class included in the existing share capital).
| 7. | Special or Class Rights; Modification of Rights. |
(a) If at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class, unless otherwise provided by the Companies Law or these Articles, may be modified or cancelled by the Company by a resolution of the General Meeting of the holders of all shares as one class, without any required separate resolution of any class of shares.
(b) The provisions of these Articles relating to General Meetings shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to any separate General Meeting of the holders of the shares of a particular class, it being clarified that the requisite quorum at any such separate General Meeting shall be two or more shareholders present in person or by proxy and holding not less than 15 percent of the issued shares of such class.
(c) Unless otherwise provided by these Articles, an increase in the authorized share capital, the creation of a new class of shares, an increase in the authorized share capital of a class of shares, or the issuance of additional shares thereof out of the authorized and unissued share capital, shall not be deemed, for purposes of this Article 7, to modify or derogate or cancel the rights attached to previously issued shares of such class or of any other class.
| 8. | Consolidation, Division, Cancellation and Reduction of Share Capital. |
(a) The Company may, from time to time, by or pursuant to an authorization of a Shareholders’ resolution, and subject to applicable law:
(i) consolidate all or any part of its issued or unissued authorized share capital into shares of a per share nominal value which is larger, equal to or smaller than the per share nominal value of its existing shares;
(ii) divide or sub-divide its shares (issued or unissued) or any of them, into shares of smaller or the same nominal value (subject, however, to the provisions of the Companies Law), and the resolution whereby any share is divided may determine that, as among the holders of the shares resulting from such subdivision, one or more of the shares may, in contrast to others, have any such preferred or deferred rights or rights of redemption or other special rights, or be subject to any such restrictions, as the Company may attach to unissued or new shares;
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(iii) cancel any shares which, at the date of the adoption of such resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and reduce the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so canceled; or
(iv) reduce its share capital in any manner.
(b) With respect to any consolidation of issued shares and with respect to any other action which may result in fractional shares, the Board of Directors may settle any difficulty which may arise with regard thereto, as it deems fit, and, in connection with any such consolidation or other action which could result in fractional shares, may, without limiting its aforesaid power:
(i) determine, as to the holder of shares so consolidated, which issued shares shall be consolidated into a share of a larger, equal or smaller nominal value per share;
(ii) issue, in contemplation of or subsequent to such consolidation or other action, shares sufficient to preclude or remove fractional share holdings;
(iii) redeem such shares or fractional shares sufficient to preclude or remove fractional share holdings;
(iv) round up, round down or round to the nearest whole number, any fractional shares resulting from the consolidation or from any other action which may result in fractional shares; or
(v) cause the transfer of fractional shares by certain shareholders of the Company to other shareholders thereof so as to most expediently preclude or remove any fractional shareholdings, and cause the transferees of such fractional shares to pay the transferors thereof the fair value thereof, and the Board of Directors is hereby authorized to act in connection with such transfer, as agent for the transferors and transferees of any such fractional shares, with full power of substitution, for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this sub-Article 8(b)(v).
| 9. | Issuance of Share Certificates, Replacement of Lost Certificates. |
(a) To the extent that the Board of Directors determines that all shares shall be certificated or, if the Board of Directors does not so determine, to the extent that any shareholder requests a share certificate, share certificates shall be issued under the corporate seal of the Company or its written, typed or stamped name and may bear the signature of one Director, the Company’s CEO or of any other person or persons authorized therefor by the Board of Directors. Signatures may be affixed in any mechanical or electronic form, as the Board of Directors may prescribe. For the avoidance of doubt, any transfer agent designated by the Company may issue share certificates on behalf of the Company even if the signatories on the share certificate no longer serve in the relevant capacities at the time of such issuance.
(b) Subject to the Article 9(a), each Shareholder shall be entitled to one numbered certificate for all the shares of any class registered in his name. Each certificate may also specify the amount paid up thereon. The Company (as determined by an officer of the Company to be designated by the Chief Executive Officer) shall not refuse a request by a Shareholder to obtain several certificates in place of one certificate, unless such request is, in the opinion of such officer, unreasonable. Where a Shareholder has sold or transferred some of such Shareholder’s shares, such Shareholder shall be entitled to receive a certificate in respect of such Shareholder’s remaining shares, provided that the previous certificate is delivered to the Company before the issuance of a new certificate.
(c) A share certificate registered in the names of two or more persons shall be delivered to the person first named in the Register of Shareholders in respect of such co-ownership.
(d) A share certificate which has been defaced, lost or destroyed, may be replaced, and the Company shall issue a new certificate to replace such defaced, lost or destroyed certificate upon payment of such fee, and upon the furnishing of such evidence of ownership and such indemnity, as the Board of Directors in its discretion deems fit.
| 10. | Registered Holder. |
Except as otherwise provided in these Articles or the Companies Law, the Company shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of each share as the absolute owner thereof, and accordingly, shall not, except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, or as required by the Companies Law, be obligated to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person.
| 11. | Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. |
(a) The unissued shares from time to time shall be under the control of the Board of Directors (and to the full extent permitted by law any Committee thereof), which shall have the power to issue or otherwise dispose of shares and of securities convertible or exercisable into or other rights to acquire from the Company to such persons, on such terms and conditions (including inter alia terms relating to calls set forth in Article 13(f) hereof), and either at par or at a premium, or subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, at a discount and/or with payment of commission, and at such times, as the Board of Directors (or the Committee, as the case may be) deems fit, and the power to give to any person the option to acquire from the Company any shares or securities convertible or exercisable into or other rights to acquire from the Company, either at par or at a premium, or, subject as aforesaid, at a discount and/or with payment of commission, during such time and for such consideration as the Board of Directors (or the Committee, as the case may be) deems fit.
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(b) The Company may at any time and from time to time, subject to the Companies Law, repurchase or finance the purchase of any shares or other securities issued by the Company, in such manner and under such terms as the Board of Directors shall determine, whether from any one or more shareholders. Such purchase shall not be deemed as payment of dividends and no shareholder will have the right to require the Company to purchase his shares or offer to purchase shares from any other shareholders.
| 12. | Payment in Installment. |
If pursuant to the terms of issuance of any share, all or any portion of the price thereof shall be payable in installments, every such installment shall be paid to the Company on the due date thereof by the then registered holder(s) of the share or the person(s) then entitled thereto.
| 13. | Calls on Shares. |
(a) The Board of Directors may, from time to time, as it, in its discretion, deems fit, make calls for payment upon shareholders in respect of any sum (including premium) which has not been paid up in respect of shares held by such shareholders and which is not, pursuant to the terms of issuance of such shares or otherwise, payable at a fixed time, and each shareholder shall pay the amount of every call so made upon him (and of each installment thereof if the same is payable in installments), to the person(s) and at the time(s) and place(s) designated by the Board of Directors, as any such times may be thereafter extended and/or such person(s) or place(s) changed. Unless otherwise stipulated in the resolution of the Board of Directors (and in the notice hereafter referred to), each payment in response to a call shall be deemed to constitute a pro rata payment on account of all the shares in respect of which such call was made.
(b) Notice of any call for payment by a shareholder shall be given in writing to such shareholder not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the time of payment fixed in such notice, and shall specify the time and place of payment, and the person to whom such payment is to be made. Prior to the time for any such payment fixed in a notice of a call given to a shareholder, the Board of Directors may in its absolute discretion, by notice in writing to such shareholder, revoke such call in whole or in part, extend the time fixed for payment thereof, or designate a different place of payment or person to whom payment is to be made. In the event of a call payable in installments, only one notice thereof needs be given.
(c) If pursuant to the terms of issuance of a share or otherwise, an amount is made payable at a fixed time (whether on account of such nominal value of such share or by way of premium), such amount shall be payable at such time as if it were payable by virtue of a call made by the Board of Directors and for which notice was given in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Article 13, and the provision of these Articles with regard to calls (and the non-payment thereof) shall be applicable to such amount or such installment (and the non-payment thereof).
(d) Joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls for payment in respect of such share and all interest payable thereon.
(e) Any amount called for payment which is not paid when due shall bear interest from the date fixed for payment until actual payment thereof, at such rate (not exceeding the then prevailing debitory rate charged by leading commercial banks in Israel), and payable at such time(s) as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
(f) Upon the issuance of shares, the Board of Directors may provide for differences among the holders of such shares as to the amounts and times for payment of calls for payment in respect of such shares.
| 14. | Prepayment. |
With the approval of the Board of Directors, any shareholder may pay to the Company any amount not yet payable in respect of such shareholder’s shares, and the Board of Directors may approve the payment by the Company of interest on any such amount until the same would be payable if it had not been paid in advance, at such rate and time(s) as may be approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may at any time cause the Company to repay all or any part of the money so advanced, without premium or penalty. Nothing in this Article 14 shall derogate from the right of the Board of Directors to make any call for payment before or after receipt by the Company of any such advance.
| 15. | Forfeiture and Surrender. |
(a) If any shareholder fails to pay an amount payable by virtue of a call, installment or interest thereon as provided for in accordance herewith, on or before the day fixed for payment of the same, the Board of Directors, may at any time after the day fixed for such payment, so long as such amount (or any portion thereof) or interest thereon (or any portion thereof) remains unpaid, forfeit all or any of the shares in respect of which such payment was called for. All expenses incurred by the Company in attempting to collect any such amount or interest thereon, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs of legal proceedings, shall be added to, and shall, for all purposes (including the accrual of interest thereon) constitute a part of, the amount payable to the Company in respect of such call.
(b) Upon the adoption of a resolution as to the forfeiture of a shareholder’s share, the Board of Directors shall cause notice thereof to be given to such shareholder, which notice shall state that, in the event of the failure to pay the entire amount so payable by a date specified in the notice (which date shall be not less than fourteen (14) days after the date such notice is given and which may be extended by the Board of Directors), such shares shall be ipso facto forfeited, provided, however, that, prior to such date, the Board of Directors may cancel such resolution of forfeiture, but no such cancellation shall stop the Board of Directors from adopting a further resolution of forfeiture in respect of the non-payment of the same amount.
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(c) Without derogating from Articles 52 and 56 hereof, whenever shares are forfeited as herein provided, all dividends, if any, theretofore declared in respect thereof and not actually paid shall be deemed to have been forfeited at the same time.
(d) The Company, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may accept the voluntary surrender of any share.
(e) Any share forfeited or surrendered as provided herein, shall become the property of the Company as a dormant share, and the same, subject to the provisions of these Articles, may be sold, re-issued or otherwise disposed of as the Board of Directors deems fit.
(f) Any person whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a shareholder in respect of the forfeited or surrendered shares, but shall, notwithstanding, be liable to pay, and shall forthwith pay, to the Company, all calls, interest and expenses owing upon or in respect of such shares at the time of forfeiture or surrender, together with interest thereon from the time of forfeiture or surrender until actual payment, at the rate prescribed in Article 13(e) above, and the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to, enforce or collect the payment of such amounts, or any part thereof, as it shall deem fit. In the event of such forfeiture or surrender, the Company, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may accelerate the date(s) of payment of any or all amounts then owing to the Company by the person in question (but not yet due) in respect of all shares owned by such shareholder, solely or jointly with another.
(g) The Board of Directors may at any time, before any share so forfeited or surrendered shall have been sold, re-issued or otherwise disposed of, nullify the forfeiture or surrender on such conditions as it deems fit, but no such nullification shall stop the Board of Directors from re-exercising its powers of forfeiture pursuant to this Article 15.
| 16. | Lien. |
(a) Except to the extent the same may be waived or subordinated in writing, the Company shall have a first and paramount lien upon all the shares registered in the name of each shareholder (without regard to any equitable or other claim or interest in such shares on the part of any other person), and upon the proceeds of the sale thereof, for his debts, liabilities and engagements to the Company arising from any amount payable by such shareholder in respect of any unpaid or partly paid share, whether or not such debt, liability or engagement has matured. Such lien shall extend to all dividends from time to time declared or paid in respect of such share. Unless otherwise provided, the registration by the Company of a transfer of shares shall be deemed to be a waiver on the part of the Company of the lien (if any) existing on such shares immediately prior to such transfer.
(b) The Board of Directors may cause the Company to sell a share subject to such a lien when the debt, liability or engagement giving rise to such lien has matured, in such manner as the Board of Directors deems fit, but no such sale shall be made unless such debt, liability or engagement has not been satisfied within fourteen (14) days after written notice of the intention to sell shall have been served on such shareholder, his executors or administrators.
(c) The net proceeds of any such sale, after payment of the costs and expenses thereof or ancillary thereto, shall be applied in or toward satisfaction of the debts, liabilities or engagements of such shareholder in respect of such share (whether or not the same have matured), and the residue (if any) shall be paid to the shareholder, his executors, administrators or assigns.
| 17. | Sale After Forfeiture of Surrender or in Enforcement of Lien. |
Upon any sale of a share after forfeiture or surrender or for enforcing a lien, the Board of Directors may appoint any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the share so sold and cause the purchaser’s name to be entered in the Register of Shareholders in respect of such share. The purchaser shall be registered as the shareholder and shall not be bound to see to the regularity of the sale proceedings, or to the application of the proceeds of such sale, and after his name has been entered in the Register of Shareholders in respect of such share, the validity of the sale shall not be impeached by any person, and person, and the remedy of any person aggrieved by the sale shall be in damages only and against the Company exclusively.
| 18. | Redeemable Shares. |
The Company may, subject to applicable law, issue redeemable shares or other securities and redeem the same upon terms and conditions to be set forth in a written agreement between the Company and the holder of such shares or in their terms of issuance.
Transfer of Shares
| 19. | Registration of Transfer. |
No transfer of shares shall be registered unless a proper writing or instrument of transfer (in any customary form or any other form satisfactory to the Board of Directors) has been submitted to the Company (or its transfer agent), together with any share certificate(s) and such other evidence of title as the Board of Directors may reasonably require. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, shares registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or its nominee shall be transferrable in accordance with the policies and procedures of The Depository Trust Company. Until the transferee has been registered in the Register of Shareholders in respect of the shares so transferred, the Company may continue to regard the transferor as the owner thereof. The Board of Directors, may, from time to time, prescribe a fee for the registration of a transfer, and may approve other methods of recognizing the transfer of shares in order to facilitate the trading of the Company’s shares on the Nasdaq or on any other stock exchange on which the Company’s shares are then listed for trading.
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| 20. | Suspension of Registration. |
The Board of Directors may, in its discretion to the extent it deems necessary, close the Register of Shareholders of registration of transfers of shares for a period determined by the Board of Directors, and no registrations of transfers of shares shall be made by the Company during any such period during which the Register of Shareholders is so closed.
Transmission of Shares
| 21. | Decedents’ Shares. |
(a) In case of a share registered in the names of two or more holders, the Company may recognize the survivor(s) as the sole owner(s) thereof unless and until the provisions of Article 21(b) have been effectively invoked.
(b) Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death of any person, upon producing evidence of the grant of probate or letters of administration or declaration of succession (or such other evidence as the Board of Directors may reasonably deem sufficient (or to an officer of the Company to be designated by the Chief Executive Officer)), shall be registered as a shareholder in respect of such share, or may, subject to the provisions as to transfer contained herein, transfer such share.
| 22. | Receivers and Liquidators. |
(a) The Company may recognize any receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed to wind-up, dissolve or otherwise liquidate a corporate shareholder, and a trustee, manager, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed in bankruptcy or in connection with the reorganization of, or similar proceeding with respect to a shareholder or its properties, as being entitled to the shares registered in the name of such shareholder.
(b) Such receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed to wind-up, dissolve or otherwise liquidate a corporate shareholder and such trustee, manager, receiver, liquidator or similar official appointed in bankruptcy or in connection with the reorganization of, or similar proceedings with respect to a shareholder or its properties, upon producing such evidence as the Board of Directors (or an officer of the Company to be designated by the Chief Executive Officer) may deem sufficient as to his authority to act in such capacity or under this Article, shall with the consent of the Board of Directors (which the Board of Directors may grant or refuse in its absolute discretion), be registered as a shareholder in respect of such shares, or may, subject to the regulations as to transfer herein contained, transfer such shares.
General Meetings
| 23. | General Meetings. |
(a) An annual General Meeting (“Annual General Meeting”) shall be held at such time and at such place, either within or out of the State of Israel, as may be determined by the Board of Directors, no later than fifteen (15) months after the date of the last Annual General Meeting.
(b) All General Meetings other than Annual General Meetings shall be called “Special General Meetings”.
| 24. | Record Date for General Meeting. |
Notwithstanding any provision of these Articles to the contrary, and to allow the Company to determine the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any General Meeting or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or grant of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of or to take or be the subject of any other action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than the maximum period and not less than the minimum period permitted by law. A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
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| 25. | Shareholder Proposal Request. |
(a) Any Shareholder or Shareholders of the Company holding at least one percent (1%) or a higher percent, as may be required by the Companies Law from time to time, of the voting rights of the Company (the “Proposing Shareholder(s)”) may request, subject to the Companies Law, that the Board of Directors include a matter on the agenda of a General Meeting to be held in the future, provided that the Board determines that the matter is appropriate to be considered in a General Meeting (a “Proposal Request”). In order for the Board of Directors to consider a Proposal Request and whether to include the matter stated therein in the agenda of a General Meeting, notice of the Proposal Request must be timely delivered in accordance with applicable laws, and the Proposal Request must comply with the requirement of these Articles (including this Article 25) and any applicable law and stock exchange rules and regulations. The Proposal Request must be in writing, signed by all of the Proposing Shareholder(s) making such request, delivered, either in person or by certified mail, postage prepaid, and received by the Secretary (or, in the absence thereof by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company). To be considered timely, a Proposal Request must be received within the time periods prescribed by applicable law. The announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a General Meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the delivery of a Proposal Request as described above. In addition to any information required to be included in accordance with applicable law, the Proposal Request must include the following: (i) the name, address, telephone number, fax number and email address of the Proposing Shareholder (or each Proposing Shareholder, as the case may be) and, if an entity, the name(s) of the person(s) that controls or manages such entity; (ii) the number of Shares held by the Proposing Shareholder(s), directly or indirectly (and, if any of such Shares are held indirectly, an explanation of how they are held and by whom), which shall be in such number no less than as is required to qualify as a Proposing Shareholder, accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Company of the record holding of such Shares by the Proposing Shareholder(s) as of the date of the Proposal Request, and a representation that the Proposing Shareholder(s) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting; (iii) the matter requested to be included on the agenda of a General Meeting, all information related to such matter, the reason that such matter is proposed to be brought before the General Meeting, the complete text of the resolution that the Proposing Shareholder proposes to be voted upon at the General Meeting and, if the Proposing Shareholder wishes to have a position statement in support of the Proposal Request, a copy of such position statement that complies with the requirement of any applicable law (if any), (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the Proposing Shareholders and any other Person(s) (naming such Person or Persons) in connection with the matter that is requested to be included on the agenda and a declaration signed by all Proposing Shareholder(s) of whether any of them has a personal interest in the matter and, if so, a description in reasonable detail of such personal interest; (v) a description of all Derivative Transactions (as defined below) by each Proposing Shareholder(s) during the previous twelve (12) month period, including the date of the transactions and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic terms of, such Derivative Transactions; and (vi) a declaration that all of the information that is required under the Companies Law and any other applicable law and stock exchange rules and regulations to be provided to the Company in connection with such matter, if any, has been provided to the Company. The Board of Directors, may, in its discretion, to the extent it deems necessary, request that the Proposing Shareholder(s) provide additional information necessary so as to include a matter in the agenda of a General Meeting, as the Board of Directors may reasonably require.
A “Derivative Transaction” means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit of, any Proposing Shareholder or any of its affiliates or associates, whether of record or beneficial: (1) the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Company, (2) which otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the Company, (3) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit of security value or price changes, or (4) which provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Shareholder, or any of its affiliates or associates, with respect to any shares or other securities of the Company, which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right, short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proposing Shareholder in the securities of the Company held by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proposing Shareholder is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member.
(b) The information required pursuant to this Article shall be updated as of (i) the record date of the General Meeting, (ii) five business days before the General Meeting, and (iii) as of the General Meeting, and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
(c) The provisions of Articles 25(a) and 25(b) shall apply, mutatis mutandis, on any matter to be included on the agenda of a Special General Meeting which is convened pursuant to a request of a Shareholder duly delivered to the Company in accordance with the Companies Law.
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| 26. | Notice of General Meetings; Omission to Give Notice. |
(a) The Company is not required to give notice of a General Meeting, subject to any mandatory provision of the Companies Law, and any other requirements applicable to the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent permitted under the Companies Law, with the consent of all Shareholders entitled to vote thereon, a resolution may be proposed and passed at such meeting although a lesser notice period than hereinabove prescribed has been given.
(b) The accidental omission to give notice of a General Meeting to any Shareholder, or the non-receipt of notice sent to such Shareholder, shall not invalidate the proceedings at such meeting or any resolution adopted thereat.
(c) No Shareholder present, in person or by proxy, at any time during a General Meeting shall be entitled to seek the cancellation or invalidation of any proceedings or resolutions adopted at such General Meeting on account of any defect in the notice of such meeting relating to the time or the place thereof, or any item acted upon at such meeting.
(d) The Company may add additional places for Shareholders to review the full text of the proposed resolutions to be adopted at a General Meeting, including an internet site.
Proceedings at General Meetings
| 27. | Quorum. |
(a) No business shall be transacted at a General Meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, unless the quorum required under these Articles for such General Meeting or such adjourned meeting, as the case may be, is present when the meeting proceeds to business.
(b) In the absence of contrary provisions in these Articles, two or more shareholders (not in default in payment of any sum referred to in Article 13 hereof), present in person or by proxy and holding shares conferring in the aggregate at least twenty five percent (25%) of the voting power of the Company, shall constitute a quorum in Company’s General Meetings. A proxy may be deemed to be two (2) or more Shareholders pursuant to the number of Shareholders represented by the proxy holder.
(c) If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, then the meeting shall be canceled if it was convened upon requisition under Section 63 of the Companies Law, and in any other case, without any further notice the meeting shall be adjourned either (i) to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place, (ii) to such day and at such time and place as indicated in the notice to such meeting, or (iii) to such day and at such time and place as the Chairperson of the General Meeting shall determine (which may be earlier or later than the date pursuant to clause (i) above). No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. At such adjourned meeting any shareholder (not in default as aforesaid) present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum.
| 28. | Chairperson of General Meeting. |
The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall preside as Chairperson of every General Meeting of the Company. If at any meeting the Chairperson is not present within fifteen (15) minutes after the time fixed for holding the meeting or is unwilling to act as Chairperson, any of the following may preside as Chairperson of the meeting (and in the following order): Director, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or any person designated by any of the foregoing. If at any such meeting none of the foregoing persons is present or all are unwilling to act as Chairperson, the Shareholders present (in person or by proxy) shall choose a Shareholder or its proxy present at the meeting to be Chairperson. The office of Chairperson shall not, by itself, entitle the holder thereof to vote at any General Meeting nor shall it entitle such holder to a second or casting vote (without derogating, however, from the rights of such Chairperson to vote as a shareholder or proxy of a shareholder if, in fact, he is also a shareholder or such proxy).
| 29. | Adoption of Resolutions at General Meetings. |
(a) Except as required by the Companies Law or these Articles, including, without limitation, Article 39 below, a resolution of the Shareholders shall be adopted if approved by the holders of a simple majority of the voting power represented at the General Meeting in person or by proxy and voting thereon, as one class, and disregarding abstentions from the count of the voting power present and voting. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a resolution with respect to a matter or action for which the Companies Law prescribes a higher majority or pursuant to which a provision requiring a higher majority would have been deemed to have been incorporated into these Articles, but resolutions with respect to which the Companies Law allows the Company’s Articles to provide otherwise, shall be adopted by a simple majority of the voting power represented at the General Meeting in person or by proxy and voting thereon, as one class, and disregarding abstentions from the count of the voting power present and voting.
(b) Every question submitted to a General Meeting shall be decided by a show of hands, but the Chairperson of the General Meeting may determine that a resolution shall be decided by a written ballot. A written ballot may be implemented before the proposed resolution is voted upon or immediately after the declaration by the Chairperson of the results of the vote by a show of hands. If a vote by written ballot is taken after such declaration, the results of the vote by a show of hands shall be of no effect, and the proposed resolution shall be decided by such written ballot.
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(c) A declaration by the Chairperson of the General Meeting that a resolution has been carried unanimously, or carried by a particular majority, or rejected, and an entry to that effect in the minute book of the Company, shall be prima facie evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favor of or against such resolution.
| 30. | Power to Adjourn. |
A General Meeting, the consideration of any matter on its agenda or the resolution on any matter on its agenda, may be postponed or adjourned, from time to time and from place to place: (i) by the Chairperson of a General Meeting at which a quorum is present (and he shall if so directed by the meeting, with the consent of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented in person or by proxy and voting on the question of adjournment), but no business shall be transacted at any such adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting as originally called, or a matter on its agenda with respect to which no resolution was adopted at the meeting originally called; or (ii) by the Board (whether prior to or at the General Meeting).
| 31. | Voting Power. |
Subject to the provisions of Article 32(a) and to any provision hereof conferring special rights as to voting, or restricting the right to vote, every Shareholder shall have one vote for each share held by him of record, on every resolution, without regard to whether the vote thereon is conducted by a show of hands, by written ballot or by any other means.
| 32. | Voting Rights. |
(a) No shareholder shall be entitled to vote at any General Meeting (or be counted as a part of the quorum thereat), unless all calls then payable by him in respect of his shares in the Company have been paid.
(b) A company or other corporate body being a Shareholder of the Company may duly authorize any person to be its representative at any meeting of the Company or to execute or deliver a proxy on its behalf. Any person so authorized shall be entitled to exercise on behalf of such Shareholder all the power which the Shareholder could have exercised if it were an individual. Upon the request of the Chairperson of the General Meeting, written evidence of such authorization (in form acceptable to the Chairperson) shall be delivered to him.
(c) Any Shareholder entitled to vote may vote either in person or by proxy (who need not be Shareholder of the Company), or, if the Shareholder is a company or other corporate body, by representative authorized pursuant to Article (b) above.
(d) If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the vote(s) of the other joint holder(s). For the purpose of this Article 32(d), seniority shall be determined by the order of registration of the joint holders in the Register of Shareholder.
(e) A Shareholder who wishes to vote at a General Meeting shall prove his title to a share to the Company as required under the Companies Law and regulations promulgated thereunder. Without prejudice to the aforesaid, the Board of Directors may prescribe regulations and procedures with regard to proof of title to the Company’s shares.
Proxies
| 33. | Instrument of Appointment. |
(a) An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be substantially in the following form:
| “I | of | ||
| (Name of Shareholder) | (Address of Shareholder) |
Being a shareholder of WEARABLE DEVICES LTD. hereby appoints
| of | |||
| (Name of Proxy) | (Address of Proxy) |
as my proxy to vote for me and on my behalf at the General Meeting of the Company to be held on the day of , and at any adjournment(s) thereof.
Signed this ____ day of ___________, ______.
(Signature of Appointor)”
or in any such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors.
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(b) Subject to the Companies Law, the original instrument appointing a proxy or a copy thereof (and the power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which such instrument has been signed) shall be delivered to the Company (at its Office, at its principal place of business, or at the offices of its registrar or transfer agent, or at such place as notice of the meeting may specify) not less than forty eight (48) hours (or such shorter period as the notice shall specify) before the time fixed for such meeting. Notwithstanding the above, the Chairperson shall have the right to waive the time requirement provided above with respect to all instruments of proxies and to accept any and all instruments of proxy until the beginning of a General Meeting. A document appointing a proxy shall be valid for every adjourned meeting of the General Meeting to which the document relates.
| 34. | Effect of Death of Appointor of Transfer of Share and or Revocation of Appointment. |
(a) A vote cast in accordance with an instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the prior death or bankruptcy of the appointing shareholder (or of his attorney-in-fact, if any, who signed such instrument), or the transfer of the share in respect of which the vote is cast, unless written notice of such matters shall have been received by the Company or by the Chairperson of such meeting prior to such vote being cast.
(b) Subject to the Companies Law, an instrument appointing a proxy shall be deemed revoked (i) upon receipt by the Company or the Chairperson, subsequent to receipt by the Company of such instrument, of written notice signed by the person signing such instrument or by the Shareholder appointing such proxy canceling the appointment thereunder (or the authority pursuant to which such instrument was signed) or of an instrument appointing a different proxy (and such other documents, if any, required under Article 33(b) for such new appointment), provided such notice of cancellation or instrument appointing a different proxy were so received at the place and within the time for delivery of the instrument revoked thereby as referred to in Article 33(b) hereof, or (ii) if the appointing shareholder is present in person at the meeting for which such instrument of proxy was delivered, upon receipt by the Chairperson of such meeting of written notice from such shareholder of the revocation of such appointment, or if and when such shareholder votes at such meeting. A vote cast in accordance with an instrument appointing a proxy shall be valid notwithstanding the revocation or purported cancellation of the appointment, or the presence in person or vote of the appointing shareholder at a meeting for which it was rendered, unless such instrument of appointment was deemed revoked in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article 34(b) at or prior to the time such vote was cast.
Board of Direct ors
| 35. | Powers of Board of Directors. |
(a) The Board of Directors may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as the Board of Directors is authorized by law or as the Company is authorized to exercise and do and are not hereby or by law required to be exercised or done by the General Meeting. The authority conferred on the Board of Directors by this Article 35 shall be subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, these Articles and any regulation or resolution consistent with these Articles adopted from time to time at a General Meeting, provided, however, that no such regulation or resolution shall invalidate any prior act done by or pursuant to a decision of the Board of Directors which would have been valid if such regulation or resolution had not been adopted.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may, from time to time, set aside any amount(s) out of the profits of the Company as a reserve or reserves for any purpose(s) which the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, shall deem fit, including without limitation, capitalization and distribution of bonus shares, and may invest any sum so set aside in any manner and from time to time deal with and vary such investments and dispose of all or any part thereof, and employ any such reserve or any part thereof in the business of the Company without being bound to keep the same separate from other assets of the Company, and may subdivide or re-designate any reserve or cancel the same or apply the funds therein for another purpose, all as the Board of Directors may from time to time think fit.
| 36. | Exercise of Powers of Board of Directors. |
(a) A meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the authorities, powers and discretion vested in or exercisable by the Board of Directors.
(b) A resolution proposed at any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be deemed adopted if approved by a majority of the Directors present, entitled to vote and voting thereon when such resolution is put to a vote.
(c) The Board of Directors may adopt resolutions, without convening a meeting of the Board of Directors, in writing or in any other manner permitted by the Companies Law.
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| 37. | Delegation of Powers. |
(a) The Board of Directors may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, delegate any or all of its powers to committees (in these Articles referred to as a “Committee of the Board of Directors”, or “Committee”), each consisting of one or more persons (who may or may not be Directors), and it may from time to time revoke such delegation or alter the composition of any such Committee. No regulation imposed by the Board of Directors on any Committee and no resolution of the Board of Directors shall invalidate any prior act done pursuant to a resolution by the Committee which would have been valid if such regulation or resolution of the Board had not been adopted. The meeting and proceedings of any such Committee of the Board of Directors shall, mutatis mutandis, be governed by the provisions herein contained for regulating the meetings of the Board of Directors, so far as not superseded by any regulations adopted by the Board of Directors or by the Companies Law. Unless otherwise expressly prohibited by the Board of Directors in delegating powers to a Committee of the Board of Directors, such Committee shall be empowered to further delegate such powers.
(b) Without derogating from the provisions of Article 49, the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint a Secretary to the Company, as well as officers, agents, employees and independent contractors, as the Board of Directors deems fit, and may terminate the service of any such person. The Board of Directors may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, determine the powers and duties, as well as the salaries and compensation, of all such persons.
(c) The Board of Directors may from time to time, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person, company, firm or body of persons to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company at law or in fact for such purposes(s) and with such powers, authorities and discretions, and for such period and subject to such conditions, as it deems fit, and any such power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Board of Directors deems fit, and may also authorize any such attorney to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.
| 38. | Number of Directors. |
(a) The Board of Directors shall consist of such number of Directors, not less than three (3) nor more than twelve (12), including the External Directors, which will be elected if and as required under the Companies Law, as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Article 38 may only be amended or replaced by a resolution adopted at a General Meeting by a majority of 70% of the voting power represented at the General Meeting in person or by proxy and voting thereon, disregarding abstentions from the count of the voting power present and voting.
| 39. | Election and Removal of Directors. |
(a) The Directors, excluding the External Directors if any (who shall be elected and serve in office in strict accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law, if so required by the Companies Law), shall be classified, with respect to the term for which they each severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as practicable, hereby designated as Class I, Class II and Class III.
(i) The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the first Annual General Meeting to be held in 2022 and when their successors are elected and qualified,
(ii) The term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the first Annual General Meeting following the Annual General Meeting referred to in clause (i) above and when their successors are elected and qualified, and
(iii) The term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the first Annual General Meeting following the Annual General Meeting referred to in clause (ii) above and when their successors are elected and qualified.
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(b) Directors (other than External Directors), may be elected only in Annual Meetings. At each Annual General Meeting, commencing with the Annual General Meeting to be held in 2022, each of the successors elected to replace the Directors of a Class whose term shall have expired at such Annual General Meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third Annual General Meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her respective successor shall have been elected and qualified. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each Director shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until such earlier time as such Director’s office is vacated.
(c) If the number of Directors (excluding External Directors) that constitutes the Board of Directors is hereafter changed, the then-serving Directors shall be redesignated to other Classes and/or any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the classes so as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable, provided that no decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
(d) Prior to every Annual General Meeting of the Company at which Directors are to be elected, and subject to clauses 39(a) and (h) of this Article, the Board of Directors (or a Committee thereof) shall select, by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors (or such Committee), a number of Persons to be proposed to the Shareholders for election as Directors at such Annual General Meeting (the “Nominees”).
(e) Any Proposing Shareholder requesting to include on the agenda of an Annual General Meeting a nomination of a Person to be proposed to the Shareholders for election as Director (such person, an “Alternate Nominee”), may so request provided that it complies with this Article 39(e) and Article 25 and applicable law. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, a Proposal Request relating to Alternate Nominee is deemed to be a matter that is appropriate to be considered only in an Annual General Meeting. In addition to any information required to be included in accordance with applicable law, such a Proposal Request shall include information required pursuant to Article 25, and shall also set forth: (i) the name, address, telephone number, fax number and email address of the Alternate Nominee and all citizenships and residencies of the Alternate Nominee; (ii) a description of all arrangements, relations or understandings between the Proposing Shareholder(s) or any of its affiliates and each Alternate Nominee; (iii) a declaration signed by the Alternate Nominee that he consents to be named in the Company’s notices and proxy materials relating to the Annual General Meeting, if provided or published, and, if elected, to serve on the Board of Directors and to be named in the Company’s disclosures and filings, (iv) a declaration signed by each Alternate Nominee as required under the Companies Law and any other applicable law and stock exchange rules and regulations for the appointment of such an Alternate Nominee and an undertaking that all of the information that is required under law and stock exchange rules and regulations to be provided to the Company in connection with such an appointment has been provided (including, information in respect of the Alternate Nominee as would be provided in response to the applicable disclosure requirements under Form 20-F or any other applicable form prescribed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission); (v) a declaration made by the Alternate Nominee of whether he or she meets the criteria for an independent director and/or External Director of the Company under the Companies Law and/or under any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rules, and if not, then an explanation of why not; and (vi) any other information required at the time of submission of the Proposal Request by applicable law, regulations or stock exchange rules. In addition, the Proposing Shareholder shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Company. The Board of Directors may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing. The Company shall be entitled to publish any information provided by a Proposing Shareholder pursuant to this Article 39(e) and Article 25, and the Proposing Shareholder shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness thereof.
(f) The Nominees or Alternate Nominees shall be elected by a resolution adopted at the Annual General Meeting at which they are subject to election.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Article 39 and Article 42(e) may only be amended, replaced or suspended by a resolution adopted at a General Meeting by a majority of 70% of the voting power represented at the General Meeting in person or by proxy and voting thereon, disregarding abstentions from the count of the voting power present and voting.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Articles, the election, qualification, removal or dismissal of External Directors shall be only in accordance with the applicable provisions set forth in the Companies Law.
(i) Directors whose terms of office have expired or terminated may be re-elected. The aforesaid will not apply to external directors, whose reappointment shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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| 40. | Commencement of Directorship. |
Without derogating from Article 39, the term of office of a Director shall commence as of the date of his appointment or election, or on a later date if so specified in his appointment or election.
| 41. | Continuing Directors in the Event of Vacancies. |
The Board may at any time and from time to time appoint any person as a Director to fill a vacancy (whether such vacancy is due to a Director no longer serving or due to the number of Directors serving being less than the maximum number stated in Article 38 hereof). In the event of one or more such vacancies in the Board of Directors, the continuing Directors may continue to act in every matter, provided, however, that if they number less than the minimum number provided for pursuant to Article 38 hereof, they may only act in an emergency or to fill the office of director which has become vacant up to a number equal to the minimum number provided for pursuant to Article 38 hereof. The office of a Director that was appointed by the Board of Directors to fill any vacancy shall only be for the remaining period of time during which the Director whose service has ended was filled would have held office, or in case of a vacancy due to the number of Directors serving being less than the maximum number stated in Article 38 hereof, the Board shall determine at the time of appointment the class pursuant to Article 39 to which the additional Director shall be assigned.
| 42. | Vacation of Office. |
The office of a Director shall be vacated and he or she shall be dismissed or removed:
(a) ipso facto, upon his or her death;
(b) if he or she is prevented by applicable law from serving as a Director;
(c) if the Board determines that due to his or her mental or physical state he or she is unable to serve as a director;
(d) if his or her directorship expires pursuant to these Articles and/or applicable law;
(e) by a resolution adopted at an Annual Meeting by a majority of 70% of the voting power represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and voting thereon, disregarding abstentions from the count of the voting power present and voting. Such removal shall become effective on the date fixed in such resolution;
(f) by his or her written resignation, such resignation becoming effective on the date fixed therein, or upon the delivery thereof to the Company, whichever is later; or
(g) with respect to an External Director, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, only pursuant to applicable law.
| 43. | Conflict of Interests; Approval of Related Party Transactions. |
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and these Articles, no Director shall be disqualified by virtue of his office from holding any office or place of profit in the Company or in any company in which the Company shall be a shareholder or otherwise interested, or from contracting with the Company as vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any such contract, or any contract or arrangement entered into by or on behalf of the Company in which any Director shall be in any way interested, be avoided, nor, other than as required under the Companies Law, shall any Director be liable to account to the Company for any profit arising from any such office or place of profit or realized by any such contract or arrangement by reason only of such Director’s holding that office or of the fiduciary relations thereby established, but the nature of his interest, as well as any material fact or document, must be disclosed by him at the meeting of the Board of Directors at which the contract or arrangement is first considered, if his interest then exists, or, in any other case, at no later than the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the acquisition of his interest.
| 44. | Alternate Directors. |
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, a Director may, by written notice to the Company, appoint, remove or replace any person as an alternate for himself; provided that the appointment of such person shall have effect only upon and subject to its being approved by the Board (in these Articles, an “Alternate Director”). Unless the appointing Director, by the instrument appointing an Alternate Director or by written notice to the Company, limits such appointment to a specified period of time or restricts it to a specified meeting or action of the Board of Directors, or otherwise restricts its scope, the appointment shall be for all purposes, and for a period of time concurrent with the term of the appointing Director.
(b) Any notice to the Company pursuant to Article 44(a) shall be given in person to, or by sending the same by mail to the attention of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the principal office of the Company or to such other person or place as the Board of Directors shall have determined for such purpose, and shall become effective on the date fixed therein, upon the receipt thereof by the Company (at the place as aforesaid) or upon the approval of the appointment by the Board, whichever is later.
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(c) An Alternate Director shall have all the rights and obligations of the Director who appointed him, provided however, that (i) he may not in turn appoint an alternate for himself (unless the instrument appointing him otherwise expressly provides), and (ii) an Alternate Director shall have no standing at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any Committee thereof while the Director who appointed him is present.
(d) Any individual, who qualifies to be a member of the Board of Directors, may act as an Alternate Director. One person may not act as Alternate Director for several directors.
(e) The office of an Alternate Director shall be vacated under the circumstances, mutatis mutandis, set forth in Article 42, and such office shall ipso facto be vacated if the office of the Director who appointed such Alternate Director is vacated, for any reason.
Proceedings of the Board of Directors
| 45. | Meetings. |
(a) The Board of Directors may meet and adjourn its meetings and otherwise regulate such meetings and proceedings as the Directors think fit.
(b) Any Director may at any time, and the Secretary, upon the request of such Director, shall, convene a meeting of the Board of Directors, but not less than forty-eight (48) hours’ notice shall be given of any meeting so convened, unless such notice is waived by all of the Directors as to a particular meeting or unless the matters to be discussed at such meeting are of such urgency and importance, as determined by the Chairperson, that notice ought reasonably to be waived under the circumstances.
(c) Notice of any such meeting shall be given in writing.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, failure to deliver notice to a director of any such meeting in the manner required hereby may be waived by such Director, and a meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened notwithstanding such defective notice if such failure or defect is waived prior to action being taken at such meeting, by all Directors entitled to participate at such meeting to whom notice was not duly given as aforesaid. Without derogating from the foregoing, no Director present at any time during a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to seek the cancellation or invalidation of any proceedings or resolutions adopted at such meeting on account of any defect in the notice of such meeting relating to the date, time or the place thereof or the convening of the meeting.
| 46. | Quorum. |
Until otherwise unanimously decided by the Board of Directors, a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be constituted by the presence in person or by any means of communication of a majority of the Directors then in office who are lawfully entitled to participate and vote in the meeting. No business shall be transacted at a meeting of the Board of Directors unless the requisite quorum is present (in person or by any means of communication) when the meeting proceeds to business.
| 47. | Chairperson of the Board of Directors. |
The Board of Directors shall, from time to time, elect one of its members to be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, remove such Chairperson from office and appoint in his place. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall preside at every meeting of the Board of Directors, but if there is no such Chairperson, or if at any meeting he is not present within fifteen (15) minutes of the time fixed for the meeting or if he is unwilling to take the chair, the Directors present shall choose one of the Directors present at the meeting to be the Chairperson of such meeting. The office of Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall not, by itself, entitle the holder to a second or casting vote.
| 48. | Validity of Acts Despite Defects. |
All acts done or transacted at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of a Committee of the Board of Directors, or by any person(s) acting as Director(s), shall, notwithstanding that it may afterwards be discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of the participants in such meeting or any of them or any person(s) acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if there were no such defect or disqualification.
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Chief Executive Officer
| 49. | Chief Executive Officer. |
(a) The Board of Directors shall from time to time appoint one or more persons, whether or not Directors, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and may confer upon such person(s), and from time to time modify or revoke, such titles and such duties and authorities of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors may deem fit, subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. Such appointment(s) may be either for a fixed term or without any limitation of time, and the Board of Directors may from time to time (subject to any additional approvals required under, and the provisions of, the Companies Law and of any contract between any such person and the Company) fix their salaries and compensation, remove or dismiss them from office and appoint another or others in his or their place or places.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have authority with respect to the management and operations of the Company in the ordinary course of business.
Minutes
| 50. | Minutes. |
Any minutes of the General Meeting or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, if purporting to be signed by the Chairperson of the General Meeting, the Board or a committee thereof, as the case may be, or by the Chairperson of the next succeeding General Meeting, meeting of the Board or meeting of a committee thereof, as the case may be, shall constitute prima facie evidence of the matters recorded therein.
Dividends
| 51. | Declaration of Dividends. |
The Board of Directors may from time declare, and cause the Company to pay, such dividend as may appear to the Board of Directors to be justified by the profits of the Company and as permitted by the Companies Law. The Board of Directors shall determine the time for payment of such dividends and the record date for determining the shareholders entitled thereto.
| 52. | Amount Payable by Way of Dividends. |
(a) Subject to the provisions of these Articles and subject to the rights or conditions attached at that time to any share in the capital of the Company granting preferential, special or deferred rights or not granting any rights with respect to dividends, any dividend paid by the Company shall be allocated among the shareholders (not in default in payment of any sum referred to in Article 13 hereof) entitled thereto in proportion to their respective holdings of the shares in respect of which such dividends are being paid.
(b) Whenever the rights attached to any shares or the terms of issue of the shares do not provide otherwise, shares which are fully paid up or which are credited as fully or partly paid within any period which in respect thereof dividends are paid shall entitle the holders thereof to a dividend in proportion to the amount paid up or credited as paid up in respect of the nominal value of such shares and to the date of payment thereof (pro rata temporis).
| 53. | Interest. |
No dividend shall carry interest as against the Company.
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| 54. | Capitalization of Profits, Reserves, etc. |
The Board of Directors may determine that the Company (i) may cause any moneys, investments, or other assets forming part of the undivided profits of the Company, standing to the credit of a reserve fund, or to the credit of a reserve fund for the redemption of capital, or in the hands of the Company and available for dividends, or representing premiums received on the issuance of shares and standing to the credit of the share premium account, to be capitalized and distributed among such of the shareholders as would be entitled to receive the same if distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportion, on the footing that they become entitled thereto as capital, or may cause any part of such capitalized fund to be applied on behalf of such shareholders in paying up in full, either at par or at such premium as the resolution may provide, any unissued shares or debentures or debenture stock of the Company which shall be distributed accordingly, in payment, in full or in part, of the uncalled liability on any issued shares or debentures or debenture stock; and (ii) may cause such distribution or payment to be accepted by such shareholders in full satisfaction of their interest in the said capitalized sum.
| 55. | Implementation of Powers. |
For the purpose of giving full effect to any resolution under Article 54, and without derogating from the provisions of Article 56 hereof, the Board of Directors may settle any difficulty which may arise in regard to the distribution as it thinks expedient, and, in particular, may fix the value for distribution of any specific assets and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any shareholders upon the footing of the value so fixed, or that fractions of less value than a certain determined value may be disregarded in order to adjust the rights of all parties, and may vest any such cash, shares, debentures, debenture stock or specific assets in trustees upon such trusts for the persons entitled to the dividend or capitalized fund as may seem expedient to the Board of Directors. Where requisite, a proper contract shall be filed in accordance with Section 291 of the Companies Law, and the Board of Directors may appoint any person to sign such contract on behalf of the persons entitled to the dividend or capitalized fund.
| 56. | Deductions from Dividends. |
The Board of Directors may deduct from any dividend or other moneys payable to any Shareholder in respect of a share any and all sums of money then payable by such Shareholder to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company and/or on account of any other matter of transaction whatsoever.
| 57. | Retention of Dividends. |
(a) The Board of Directors may retain any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of a share on which the Company has a lien, and may apply the same in or toward satisfaction of the debts, liabilities, or engagements in respect of which the lien exists.
(b) The Board of Directors may retain any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of a share in respect of which any person is, under Articles 21 or 22, entitled to become a Shareholder, or which any person is, under said Articles, entitled to transfer, until such person shall become a Shareholder in respect of such share or shall transfer the same.
| 58. | Unclaimed Dividends. |
All unclaimed dividends or other moneys payable in respect of a share may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board of Directors for the benefit of the Company until claimed. The payment by the Directors of any unclaimed dividend or such other moneys into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof, and any dividend unclaimed after a period of seven years from the date of declaration of such dividend, and any such other moneys unclaimed after a like period from the date the same were payable, shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company, provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, at its discretion, cause the Company to pay any such dividend or such other moneys, or any part thereof, to a person who would have been entitled thereto had the same not reverted to the Company. The principal (and only the principal) of any unclaimed dividend of such other moneys shall be, if claimed, paid to a person entitled thereto.
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| 59. | Mechanics of Payment. |
Any dividend or other moneys payable in cash in respect of a share may be paid by check or warrant sent through the post to, or left at, the registered address of the person entitled thereto or by transfer to a bank account specified by such person (or, if two or more persons are registered as joint holders of such share or are entitled jointly thereto in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise, to the joint holder whose name is registered first in the Register of Shareholders or his bank account or the person who the Company may then recognize as the owner thereof or entitled thereto under Article 21 or 22 hereof, as applicable, or such person’s bank account), or to such person and at such other address as the person entitled thereto may by writing direct, or in any other manner the Board deems appropriate. Every such check or warrant or other method of payment shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom it is sent, or to such person as the person entitled thereto as aforesaid may direct, and payment of the check or warrant by the banker upon whom it is drawn shall be a good discharge to the Company.
| 60. | Receipt from a Joint Holder. |
If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, or are entitled jointly thereto in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder or otherwise, any one of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of such share.
Accounts
| 61. | Books of Account. |
The Company’s books of account shall be kept at the Office of the Company, or at such other place or places as the Board of Directors may think fit, and they shall always be open to inspection by all Directors. No shareholder, not being a Director, shall have any right to inspect any account or book or other similar document of the Company, except as conferred by law or authorized by the Board of Directors. The Company shall make copies of its annual financial statements available for inspection by the Shareholders at the principal offices of the Company. The Company shall not be required to send copies of its annual financial statements to the Shareholders.
| 62. | Auditors. |
The appointment, authorities, rights and duties of the auditor(s) of the Company, shall be regulated by applicable law, provided, however, that in exercising its authority to fix the remuneration of the auditor(s), the shareholders in General Meeting may act (and in the absence of any action in connection therewith shall be deemed to have so acted) to authorize the Board of Directors (with right of delegation to management) to fix such remuneration subject to such criteria or standards, and if no such criteria or standards are so provided, such remuneration shall be fixed in an amount commensurate with the volume and nature of the services rendered by such auditor(s).
| 62A. | Internal auditor. |
To the extent required by the Companies Law the Board of Directors will appoint an internal auditor according to the audit committee’s recommendation (“Internal Auditor”).
The Internal Auditor shall submit, for the approval of the Board of Directors or the audit committee, as determined by the Board of Directors, a proposal for an annual or periodic work plan, and the Board of Directors or the audit committee shall approve such plan with such changes as it deems fit. Unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, the work plan shall be submitted to the Board of Directors and approved by it.
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Supplementary Registers
| 63. | Supplementary Registers. |
Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 138 and 139 of the Companies Law, the Company may cause supplementary registers to be kept in any place outside Israel as the Board of Directors may think fit, and, subject to all applicable requirements of law, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt such rules and procedures as it may think fit in connection with the keeping of such branch registers.
Exemption, Indemnity and Insurance
| 64. | Insurance. |
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law with regard to such matters, the Company may enter into a contract for the insurance of the liability, in whole or in part, of any of its Office Holders imposed on such Office Holder due to an act performed by or an omission of the Office Holder in the Office Holder’s capacity as an Office Holder of the Company arising from any matter permitted by law, including the following:
(a) a breach of duty of care to the Company or to any other person;
(b) a breach of duty of loyalty to the Company, provided that the Office Holder acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds to assume that the act that resulted in such breach would not prejudice the interests of the Company;
(c) a financial liability imposed on such Office Holder in favor of any other person; and
(d) any other event, occurrence, matter or circumstance under any law with respect to which the Company may, or will be able to, insure an Office Holder, and to the extent such law requires the inclusion of a provision permitting such insurance in these Articles, then such provision is deemed to be included and incorporated herein by reference (including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 56h(b)(1) of the Securities Law, if and to the extent applicable, and Section 50P of the RTP Law).
| 65. | Indemnity. |
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may retroactively indemnify an Office Holder of the Company with respect to the following liabilities and expenses, provided that such liabilities or expenses were imposed on such Office Holder or incurred by such Office Holder due to an act performed by or an omission of the Office Holder in such Office Holder’s capacity as an Office Holder of the Company:
(i) a financial liability imposed on an Office Holder in favor of another person by any court judgment, including a judgment given as a result of a settlement or an arbitrator’s award which has been confirmed by a court in respect of an act performed by the Office Holder;
(ii) reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, expended 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, or in connection with a financial sanction, provided that (1) no indictment (as defined in the Companies Law) was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (2) no financial liability in lieu of a criminal proceeding (as defined in the Companies Law) was imposed upon him or her as a result of such investigation or proceeding or if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offence that does not require proof of criminal intent;
(iii) reasonable litigation costs, including attorney’s fees, expended by an Office Holder or which were imposed on an Office Holder by a court in proceedings filed against the Office Holder by the Company or in its name or by any other person or in a criminal charge in respect of which the Office Holder was acquitted or in a criminal charge in respect of which the Office Holder was convicted for an offence which did not require proof of criminal intent; and
(iv) any other event, occurrence, matter or circumstance under any law with respect to which the Company may, or will be able to, indemnify an Office Holder, and to the extent such law requires the inclusion of a provision permitting such indemnity in these Articles, then such provision is deemed to be included and incorporated herein by reference (including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 56h(b)(1) of the Securities Law, if and to the extent applicable, and Section 50P(b)(1) of the RTP Law).
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(b) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may undertake to indemnify an Office Holder, in advance, with respect to those liabilities and expenses described in the following Articles:
(i) Sub-Article 65(a)(ii) to 65(a)(iv); and
(ii) Sub-Article 65(a)(i), provided that:
(1) the undertaking to indemnify is limited to such events which the Board of Directors shall deem to be likely to occur in light of the operations of the Company at the time that the undertaking to indemnify is made and for such amounts or criterion which the Directors may, at the time of the giving of such undertaking to indemnify, deem to be reasonable under the circumstances; and
(2) the undertaking to indemnify shall set forth such events which the Directors shall deem to be likely to occur in light of the operations of the Company at the time that the undertaking to indemnify is made, and the amounts and/or criterion which the Directors may, at the time of the giving of such undertaking to indemnify, deem to be reasonable under the circumstances.
The maximum amount of indemnification payable by the Company with respect to those liabilities and expenses described in Sub-Article 65(a)(i), for each Office Holder and for all Office Holders together, individually or in aggregate, under all letters of indemnification issued or to be issued by the Company, shall not exceed the amount stated in the Company’s compensation policy, as amended from time to time, if applicable, or as approved according to applicable law.
| 66. | Exemption. |
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the Securities Law, the Company may exempt and release, in advance, any Office Holder from any liability to the Company for damages arising out of a breach of the Office Holder’s duty of care towards the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not exempt a Director in advance from his liability for damages with respect to violation of his duty of care to the Company with respect to distributions. In addition, the Company may not exempt an Office Holder from his liability to the Company with regard to a resolution and/or a transaction in which the controlling Shareholder and/or any Office Holder has a personal interest.
| 67. | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the provisions of any other law, the Company may exempt, insure and/or indemnify (whether retroactively or by way of advance indemnity undertaking) a person who has held, holds or will hold office and/or who was employed, is employed or will be employed on the Company’s behalf or in another company in which the Company holds securities, directly or indirectly, or in which the Company has any interest due to liability, payment or cost imposed upon him or expensed by him in consequence of an action made by him in his capacity as an officer or an employee in such company, and Articles 64 through 66 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in that respect. |
| 68. | The provisions of Articles 64 through 66 shall also apply to an alternate director. |
| 69. | General. |
(a) Any amendment to the Companies Law adversely affecting the right of any Office Holder to be indemnified or insured pursuant to Articles 64 to 68 and any amendments to Articles 64 to 68 shall be prospective in effect and shall not affect the Company’s obligation or ability to indemnify or insure an Office Holder for any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, unless otherwise provided by applicable law.
(b) The provisions of Articles 64 to 68 (i) shall apply to the maximum extent permitted by law (including, the Companies Law, the Securities Law and the RTP Law); and (ii) are not intended, and shall not be interpreted so as to restrict the Company, in any manner, in respect of the procurement of insurance and/or in respect of indemnification (whether in advance or retroactively) and/or exemption, in favor of any person who is not an Office Holder, including, without limitation, any employee, agent, consultant or contractor of the Company who is not an Office Holder; and/or any Office Holder to the extent that such insurance and/or indemnification is not specifically prohibited under law.
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Winding Up
| 70. | Winding Up. |
If the Company is wound up, then, subject to applicable law and to the rights of the holders of shares with special rights upon winding up, the assets of the Company available for distribution among the shareholders shall be distributed to them in proportion to the nominal value of their respective holdings of the shares in respect of which such distribution is being made.
Exclusive Forum
| 71. | Exclusive Forum. |
Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this exclusive forum provision. This exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Notices
| 72. | Notices. |
(a) Any written notice or other document may be served by the Company upon any shareholder either personally, by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, or by sending it by prepaid mail (airmail if sent internationally) addressed to such shareholder at his address as described in the Register of Shareholders or such other address as he may have designated in writing for the receipt of notices and other documents.
(b) Any written notice or other document may be served by any shareholder upon the Company by tendering the same in person to the Secretary or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the principal office of the Company, by facsimile transmission, or by sending it by prepaid registered mail (airmail if posted outside Israel) to the Company at its Office.
(c) Any such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been served:
(i) in the case of mailing, forty-eight (48) hours after it has been posted, or when actually received by the addressee if sooner than forty-eight hours after it has been posted;
(ii) in the case of overnight air courier, on the next business day following the day sent, with receipt confirmed by the courier, or when actually received by the addressee if sooner than three business days after it has been sent;
(iii) in the case of personal delivery, when actually tendered in person, to such addressee; or
(iv) in the case of facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, on the first business day (during normal business hours in place of addressee) on which the sender receives automatic electronic confirmation by the addressee’s facsimile machine that such notice was received by the addressee or delivery confirmation from the addressee’s email or other communication server.
(d) If a notice is, in fact, received by the addressee, it shall be deemed to have been duly served, when received, notwithstanding that it was defectively addressed or failed, in some other respect, to comply with the provisions of this Article 71.
(e) All notices to be given to the shareholders shall, with respect to any share to which persons are jointly entitled, be given to whichever of such persons is named first in the Register of Shareholders, and any notice so given shall be sufficient notice to the holders of such share.
(f) Any shareholder whose address is not described in the Register of Shareholders, and who shall not have designated in writing an address for the receipt of notices, shall not be entitled to receive any notice from the Company.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, notice by the Company of a General Meeting, containing the information required by applicable law and these Articles to be set forth therein, which is published, within the time otherwise required for giving notice of such meeting, in the manner required by applicable law.
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