Xtl Biopharmaceuticals Ltd 6-K, filed Jan 20, 2023
Xtl Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (XTLB)
About this 6-K
Xtl Biopharmaceuticals Ltd filed this 6-K on January 20, 2023.
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 January, 2023
011-36000
(Commission File Number)
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
5 Badner St.
Ramat Gan, Israel, 5218102
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☒ Form 40-F ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
On January 20, 2023, XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (the “Company”) announced that it will hold an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) on February 23, 2023, at the offices of the Company’s attorneys, Doron Tikotzky Kantor Gutman Nass & Amit Gross., 7 Metsada St., B.S.R Tower 4, 33 Floor, Bnei Brak, Israel. In connection with the Meeting, the Company furnishes the following documents:
| 1. | A copy of the Notice and Proxy Statement with respect to the Company’s Meeting describing the proposals to be voted upon at the Meeting, the procedure for voting in person or by proxy at the Meeting and various other details related to the Meeting, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1; |
| 2. | A form of Proxy Card whereby holders of ordinary shares of the Company may vote at the Meeting without attending in person, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2; and |
| 3. | A form of Voting Instruction Card whereby holders of American Depositary Shares of the Company may vote at the Meeting without attending in person, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3. |
1
Exhibit Index
2
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.
| XTL BIOPHARMACEUTICALS LTD. | |
| Date: January 20, 2023 | /s/ Shlomo Shalev |
Shlomo Shalev |
3
Exhibit 99.1
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 23, 2023
To the shareholders of XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.:
Notice is hereby given that an Annual General Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of the shareholders of XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (the “Company”) will be held at the offices of the Company’s attorneys, Doron Tikotzky Kantor Gutman Nass & Amit Gross, at 7 Metsada St., B.S.R Tower 4, Bnei Brak, Israel at 15:00 PM (Israel Time), on February 23, 2023.
The agenda of the Annual Meeting will be as follows:
| 1. | To discuss the auditor’s report of our independent registered public accounting firm and audited financial statements for the year ended as of December 31, 2021. | |
| 2. | To re-appoint Somekh Chaikin, Certified Public Accountants in Israel and a member firm of KPMG as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, and to authorize the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Company’s audit committee (the “Audit Committee”), to determine the auditors’ remuneration to be fixed in accordance with the volume and nature of their services to the Company for such fiscal year. | |
3. |
To re-elect Messrs. Alexander Rabinovitch, Dr. Jonathan Schapiro, Shlomo Shalev, Doron Turgeman and Dr. Dobroslav Melamed to our Board of Directors, each for a term expiring at our next Annual Meeting. | |
| 4. | To re-elect Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon to hold office as an external director of the Company for a second consecutive three (3) years term. | |
| 5. | To approve the grant of 150,000 options to Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon |
Only shareholders and holders of ordinary shares represented by American Depositary Shares at the close of business on January 23, 2023 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person.
If you are unable to attend the Meeting in person, you are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and to return it promptly in the pre-addressed envelope provided. Shareholders who attend the Annual Meeting may revoke their proxies and vote their shares in person.
Beneficial owners who hold ordinary shares through members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or the TASE, may either vote their shares in person at the Annual Meeting by presenting a certificate signed by the TASE Clearing House member through which the shares are held, which complies with the Israel Companies Regulations (Proof of Ownership for Voting in General Meetings)-2000 as proof of ownership of the shares on the record date, or send such certificate along with a duly executed proxy (in the form filed by us on MAGNA, the distribution site of the Israeli Securities Authority, at www.magna.isa.gov.il), to us at 5 Badner Street, Ramat Gan 5218102, Israel, Attention: Chief Executive Officer.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| /s/ Shlomo Shalev | |
Shlomo Shalev | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
| Dated: |
5 Badner St.
Ramat Gan, Israel, 5218102
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON FEBURARY 23, 2023
This Proxy Statement is furnished to our holders of ordinary shares, par value NIS 0.1 per share and holders of our ordinary shares that are represented by American Depository Shares, or ADSs, in connection with the Annual General Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”), to be held on February 23, 2023, at 15:00 PM Israel time at the offices of the Company’s attorneys, Doron Tikotzky Kantor Gutman Nass & Amit Gross, at 7 Metsada St., B.S.R Tower 4, Bnei Brak, Israel.
Throughout this Proxy Statement, we use terms such as “XTL Biopharmaceuticals,” “XTL,” “we”, “us”, “our” and the “Company” to refer XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. and terms such as “you” and “your” to refer to our shareholders and ADS holders.
Agenda Items
The agenda of the Annual Meeting will be as follows:
1. To discuss the auditor’s report of our independent registered public accounting firm and audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021.
2. To appoint Somekh Chaikin, Certified Public Accountants in Israel and a member firm of KPMG as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, and to authorize the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee to determine the auditors’ remuneration to be fixed in accordance with the volume and nature of their services to the Company for such fiscal year.
3. To re-elect Mr. Alexander Rabinovitch to our Board of Directors for a term expiring at our next Annual Meeting.
4. To re-elect Dr. Jonathan Schapiro to our Board of Directors for a term expiring at our next Annual Meeting.
5. To re-elect Mr. Shlomo Shalev to our Board of Directors for a term expiring at our next Annual Meeting.
6. To re-elect Mr. Doron Turgeman to our Board of Directors for a term expiring at our next Annual Meeting.
7. To re-elect Dr. Dobroslav Melamed to our Board of Directors for a term expiring at our next Annual Meeting.
8. To re-elect Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon to hold office as an external director of the Company for a second consecutive three (3) years term.
9. To approve the grant of 150,000 options to Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon.
We currently are unaware of any other matters that may be raised at the Annual Meeting. Should any other matters be properly raised at the Annual Meeting, the persons designated as proxies shall vote according to their own judgment on those matters.
2
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each of proposals 2 to 9.
Who Can Vote
Only shareholders and ADS holders at the close of business on January 23, 2023 shall be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.
How You Can Vote
You can vote your ordinary shares by attending the Annual Meeting. If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting, the method of voting will differ for shares held as a record holder, shares held in “street name” (through a Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or TASE, member) and shares underlying ADSs that you hold. Record holders of shares will receive proxy cards. Holders of shares in “street name” through a TASE member will also vote via a proxy card, but through a different procedure (as described below). Holders of ADSs (whether registered in their name or in “street name”) will receive voting instruction cards in order to instruct their banks, brokers or other nominees on how to vote.
Shareholders of Record
If you are a shareholder of record, you can submit your vote by completing, signing and submitting a proxy card, which has been published at www.magna.isa.gov.il, to the Company’s office at 5 Badner Street, Ramat Gan 5218102, Israel.
Please follow the instructions on the proxy card.
Shareholders Holding in “Street Name” through the TASE
If you hold ordinary shares in “street name,” that is, through a bank, broker or other nominee that is admitted as a member of the TASE, your shares will only be voted if you provide instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee as to how to vote, or if you attend the Annual Meeting in person.
If voting by mail, you must sign and date a proxy card in the form filed by us on MAGNA on January 20, 2023 and attach to it a certificate signed by the TASE Clearing House member through which the shares are held, which complies with the Israel Companies Regulations (Proof of Ownership for Voting in General Meetings)-2000 as proof of ownership of the shares on the record date, and return the proxy card, along with the proof of ownership certificate, to the offices of our attorneys, Doron Tikotzky Kantor Gutman Nass & Amit Gross. (Attention: Ronen Kantor, Adv.) located at 7 Metsada st., B.S.R Tower 4, Bnei Brak, Israel, as described in the instructions available on MAGNA.
If you choose to attend the Annual Meeting (where ballots will be provided), you must bring the proof of ownership certificate from the TASE’s Clearing House member through which the shares are held, indicating that you were the beneficial owner of the shares on the record date.
Holders of ADSs
Under the terms of the Deposit Agreement between the Company, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, or BNY Mellon, and the holders of our ADSs, BNY Mellon shall endeavor (insofar as is practicable) to vote or cause to be voted the number of shares represented by ADSs in accordance with the instructions provided by the holders of ADSs to BNY Mellon. For ADSs that are held in “street name”, through a bank, broker or other nominee, the voting process will be based on the underlying beneficial holder of the ADSs directing the bank, broker or other nominee to arrange for BNY Mellon to vote the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs in accordance with the beneficial holder’s voting instructions. If no instructions are received by BNY Mellon from any holder of ADSs (whether held directly by a beneficial holder or in “street name”) with respect to any of the shares represented by the ADSs on or before the date established by BNY Mellon for such purpose, BNY Mellon shall not vote or attempt to vote the shares represented by such ADSs.
3
Multiple Record Shareholders or Accounts
You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this document and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, shareholders who hold ADSs in more than one brokerage account will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which ADSs are held. Shareholders of record whose shares are registered in more than one name will receive more than one proxy card. You should complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card you receive.
Our Board of Directors urges you to vote your shares so that they will be counted at the Annual Meeting or at any postponements or adjournments of the Annual Meeting.
Solicitation of Proxies
By appointing “proxies”, shareholders and ADS holders may vote at the Annual Meeting whether or not they attend. If a properly executed proxy in the attached form is received by us at least 48 hours prior to the Annual Meeting (and received by BNY Mellon no later than the date indicated on the voting instruction card, in the case of ADS holders), all of the shares represented by the proxy shall be voted as indicated on the form or, if no preference is noted, shall be voted in favor of the matter described above, and in such manner as the holder of the proxy may determine with respect to any other business as may come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Shareholders and ADS holders may revoke their proxies at any time before the deadline for receipt of proxies by filing with us (in the case of holders of ordinary shares) or with BNY Mellon (in the case of holders of ADSs), a written notice of revocation or duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
Proxies are being distributed to shareholders and to ADS holders on or about January 20, 2023. Certain officers, directors, employees, and agents of ours, none of whom will receive additional compensation therefor, may solicit proxies by telephone, emails, or other personal contact. We will bear the cost for the solicitation of the proxies, including postage, printing, and handling, and will reimburse the reasonable expenses of brokerage firms and others for forwarding material to beneficial owners of shares and ADSs.
To the extent you would like to submit a position statement with respect to any of the Proposals described in this proxy statement pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999 (the “Companies Law”), you may do so by delivery of appropriate notice to the offices of our attorneys, Doron Tikotzky Kantor Gutman Nass & Amit Gross. (Attention: Ronen Kantor, Adv.) located at 7 Metsada St., B.S.R Tower 4, Bnei Brak, Israel, not later than ten days before the convening of the Annual Meeting. Response of the Board of Directors to the position statement may be submitted not later than five days after the deadline for sending the position statement.
Quorum
At the close of business of January 20, 2023, we had outstanding 544,906,149 ordinary shares, of which 290,048,900 were represented by ADSs. Each ordinary share (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs) outstanding as of the close of business on the record date is entitled to one vote upon each of the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting.
The quorum required to hold the Annual Meeting consists of at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy who hold or represent between them at least one-third of the voting rights in the Company. If the Meeting is adjourned for lack of a quorum it will be held on the same day in the following week at the same time and place (with no need for any notice to the shareholders) or until such other later time if we serve notice to the shareholders no less than seven days before the date fixed for the such adjourned Meeting (the “Deferred Meeting”). If at a Deferred Meeting there is no quorum present half an hour after the time set for the Meeting, any number participating in the Deferred Meeting shall represent a quorum and shall be entitled to discuss the matters set down on the agenda for the original Annual Meeting.
4
Vote Required for Each Proposal
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented and voting on such Proposals in person or by proxy at the Meeting is necessary for the approval of each of Proposal 2 through 9.
In addition, the approval of the Proposals 8 and 9 must either include at least a majority of the ordinary shares voted by shareholders who are not controlling shareholders nor are they shareholders who have a personal interest in the proposal, or the total ordinary shares of non-controlling shareholders and non-interested shareholders voted against the proposal must not represent more than 2% of the outstanding ordinary shares.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, in general, you will be deemed to be a controlling shareholder if you have the power to direct our activities, otherwise than by reason of being a director or other office holder of ours, if you hold 250% or more of the voting rights in our Company or have the right to appoint the majority of the directors of the Company or its chief executive officer, and you are deemed to have a personal interest if any member of your immediate family or their spouse has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. In addition, you are deemed to have a personal interest if a company, other than Can-Fite, that is affiliated to you has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. Such company is a company in which you or a member of your immediate family serves as a director or chief executive officer, has the right to appoint a director or the chief executive officer, or owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares. However, you are not deemed to have a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal if your interest in such proposal arises solely from your ownership of our shares, or to a matter that is not related to a relationship with a controlling shareholder.
In the proxy card and voting instruction card attached to the proxy statement you will be asked to indicate whether you have a personal interest with respect to the proposal. If any shareholder casting a vote in connection hereto does not notify us whether or not they have a personal interest with respect to the proposal, their vote with respect to the proposal will be disqualified.
If you provide specific instructions (mark boxes) with regard to certain Proposals, your shares will be voted as you instruct. If you sign and return your proxy card or voting instruction form without giving specific instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors. The proxy holders will vote in their discretion on any other matters that properly come before the Annual Meeting.
If you are a shareholder of record and do not return your proxy card, your shares will not be voted. If you hold shares (or ADSs representing shares) beneficially in street name, your shares will also not be voted at the Annual Meeting if you do not return your proxy card or voting instruction card to instruct your broker or BNY Mellon how to vote. For all proposals, a broker (and BNY Mellon) may only vote in accordance with instructions from a beneficial owner of shares or ADSs. This will be true even for a routine matter, such as proposal 2 (the approval of the re-appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm and authorization of our Board of Directors to fix such accounting firm’s annual compensation), as your broker and BNY Mellon will not be permitted to vote your shares in their discretion on any proposal at the Annual Meeting. For all proposals, a broker (and BNY Mellon) may only vote in accordance with instructions from a beneficial owner of shares or ADSs.
Availability of Proxy Materials
Copies of the proxy card and voting instruction card, the Notice of the Annual Meeting and this Proxy Statement are available at the “Investor Information” portion of our website, http://www.xtlbio.com/. The contents of that website are not a part of this Proxy Statement.
Reporting Requirements
We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, applicable to foreign private issuers. We fulfill these requirements by filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Our filings with the Commission may be inspected without charge at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings are also available to the public on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act, or Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements. The circulation of this notice and proxy statement should not be taken as an admission that we are subject to the proxy rules under the Exchange Act.
5
PROPOSAL 1:
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF AUDITOR’S REPORT AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At the Annual Meeting, in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Law, our auditor’s report, annual report and consolidated financial statements for the year ended as of December 31, 2021 will be presented. We will furthermore hold a discussion with respect to such financial statements at the Annual Meeting. This item will not involve a vote of the shareholders.
The foregoing auditor’s report and the audited consolidated financial statements, as well as our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended as of December 31, 2021 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2022), may be reviewed at the “Investors” portion of our website at http://www.xtlbio.com, through the EDGAR website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, through the Israeli Securities Authority’s electronic filing system at: http://www.magna.isa.gov.il, or through the website of the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd. at: http://maya.tase.co.il. None of the auditor’s report, audited consolidated financial statements, Form 20-F and its amendments or the contents of our website form part of the proxy solicitation material.
6
PROPOSAL 2:
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND
AUTHORIZATION OF THE BOARD, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, TO DETERMINE THE AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION TO BE FIXED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOLUME AND NATURE OF THEIR SERVICES TO THE COMPANY FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR
Background
It is proposed to re-appoint Somekh Chaikin, Certified Public Accountants in Israel and a member firm of KPMG as the Company’s independent auditors (the “Proposed Auditors”) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, until our next Annual Meeting and to authorize our Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Audit Committee to determine KPMG’s remuneration to be fixed in accordance with the volume and nature of their services to the Company for such fiscal year.
The following table sets forth for year 2021, the fees billed by the Company’s independent registered public: firm.
| Service Rendered | Year
ended December 31, 2021 | |||
| Audit (1) | US$ | 80,000 | ||
| Audit related services (2) | ||||
| Tax | ||||
| All other fees | ||||
| Total | ||||
(1) Audit fees consist of services that would normally be provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including services that generally only the independent accountant can reasonably provide.
(2) Audit related services consist of services that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or reviews of our financial statements and not included under “Audit Fees” above, including, principally, providing consents for registration statement filings.
Proposed Resolution
It is proposed that at the Annual Meeting the following resolution shall be adopted:
“RESOLVED, that the appointment of Somekh Chaikin, Certified Public Accountants in Israel and a member firm of KPMG, as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, until our next Annual Meeting and the same hereby is, approved, and that the Company’s Board of Directors be, and the same hereby is, authorized, subject to the approval of the Audit Committee, to determine their fees, as presented to the shareholders, be and the same hereby are, approved.”
Required Vote
Under the Israeli Companies Law the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented and voting on this Proposal in person or by proxy is necessary to approve the resolution to approve the appointment of our independent auditors and authorize the Audit Committee to fix the independent auditors’ renumeration.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the foregoing resolution approving the appointment of our independent auditors and authorization of our Audit Committee or Board of Directors to fix the independent auditors’ compensation.
7
PROPOSALS 3-7:
RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Background
Under the Companies Law and our articles of association, the management of our business is vested in our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all powers and may take all actions that are not specifically granted to our shareholders.
Our Board of Directors currently consists of seven directors, including two external directors. Our directors, excluding the external directors, are elected at each Annual Meeting. All of the members of our Board of Directors, other than the external directors, may be re-elected for an unlimited number of terms upon completion of their then-current term of office.
Each of the nominees, whose professional background is provided below, has advised us that he or she are willing, able and ready to serve as a director if re-elected. We do not have any understanding or agreement with respect to the future election of any of the nominees named.
Alexander Rabinovich joined our Board of Directors in April 2017. He has significant public company experience with both NASDAQ and TASE listed companies. Mr. Rabinovich is currently the Chief Executive Officer and director of Green Forest Holdings Ltd., a fully owned company engaged in capital investments and of Intercure Ltd. In addition, he serves as a director of Green Filed Capital Ltd. Mr. Rabinovich served as director in Pilat Media Global PLC, public company listed on TASE and on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange and several other private companies such as Visuality Systems Ltd. Mr. Rabinovich holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Haifa.
Dr. Jonathan Schapiro joined our Board of Directors in December 2014. He is currently an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a Director of HIV/AIDS at the National Hemophilia Center at Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Aviv, Israel. He has served as a committee member on the United States Food and Drug Administration Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee and is a member of the World Health Organization Global HIV Drug Resistance Network Steering Group. Dr. Schapiro is on the organizing and scientific committee of international conferences on antiviral drug development, clinical pharmacology and resistance, as well as contributing to guidelines publications. His research has appeared in major journals such as Lancet and Annals of Internal Medicine. He has served on the scientific advisory Boards of major pharmaceutical and molecular diagnostic companies and has been involved in the development of multiple antiviral drugs over the last 20 years. Dr. Schapiro has devoted his career to HIV clinical care, research and education since completing his Fellowship in Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA. He graduated from the Ben Gurion University School of Medicine and completed his Medical Residency at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel.
Shlomo Shalev joined our Board of Directors in December 2014 and in August 2015 was appointed to serve as Chairman and served in such capacity until July 2018 and currently serves as the Company CEO. He most recently served as Chairman of the board of directors at Micronet, a TASE listed company. In addition to serving as a Board member on a number of NASDAQ and TASE listed companies, such as OphirOptronics, Arel Communications and PowerDsine, Mr. Shalev was the Senior Vice President of Investments for Ampal. He has also worked on a number of transactions in mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings. With an educational background in economics, Mr. Shalev was Israel’s Consul for Economic Affairs and the Economic Advisor to the Director General, Ministry of Industry and Trade. Mr. Shalev holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Ben Gurion, Beer Sheva, Israel.
8
Doron Turgeman joined our Board of Directors in December 2014 and currently serve as Chairman. He has significant public company experience with both NASDAQ and TASE listed companies. Mr. Turgeman is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Internet Gold (IGLD), and since 2011 until January 2019 also used to be the CEO of B Communications (BCOM), both of which are listed on the NASDAQ. Mr. Turgeman has gained considerable experience in mergers and acquisitions involving both debt and equity, with, among other things, the purchase of the controlling interest of Bezeq by B Communications. He is knowledgeable in capital markets in Israel, the U.S. and Europe as well as SEC and TASE reporting standards. Mr. Turgeman holds a B.A. degree in Economics and Accounting from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a certified public accountant in Israel.
Dr. Dobroslav Melamed joined our Board of Directors in December 2014. He is a biotech entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in the life science industry. Until September 2014, he was the President of SciVac (formerly SciGen IL), a high growth biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets recombinant human health care biotechnology derived products, including vaccines. Dr. Melamed was responsible for SciVac’s operations, clinical trials and new business. Dr. Melamed is the co-founder of Periness LTD, a developer of new drugs for male infertility and Oshadi LTD, a developer of oral carriers for proteins like insulin. He has also been a researcher at Bar-Ilan University’s Male Fertility clinic, where he assisted in the development of new drugs for male infertility; and QBI, where he worked in the Pre-clinical and Research Pharmacology Department establishing In-Vivo models for drug discovery and delivery. Dr. Melamed earned a PhD in Biotechnology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biotechnology from the Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
Proposed Resolutions
It is proposed that at the Annual Meeting the following resolutions shall be adopted:
“RESOLVED, that the re-election of Alexander Rabinovitch as a director of the Company, to serve until our next Annual Meeting be, and hereby is, approved in all respects.
RESOLVED, that the re-election of Dr. Jonathan Schapiro as a director of the Company, to serve until our next Annual Meeting of shareholders be, and hereby is, approved in all respects.
RESOLVED, that the re-election of Shlomo Shalev as a director of the Company, to serve until our next Annual Meeting, and hereby is, approved in all respects.
RESOLVED, that the re-election of Doron Turgeman as a director of the Company, to serve until our next Annual Meeting be, and hereby is, approved in all respects.
RESOLVED, that the re-election of Dr. Dobroslav Melamed as a director of the Company, to serve until our next Annual Meeting be, and hereby is, approved in all respects.”
Required Vote
Under the Companies Law and our articles of association, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the ordinary shares represented at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, entitled to vote and voting on the matter, is required to re-elect as directors each of the nominees named above.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the re-election of the foregoing director nominees.
It is hereby clarified that resolutions approving the re-election of each director shall be adopted separately.
9
PROPOSAL 8:
RE-ELECTION OF MRS. IRIS SHAPIRA YALON TO HOLD OFFICE AS EXTERNAL DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
Background
In accordance with the Companies Law and the relevant regulations, we must have at least two external directors who meet the statutory requirements of independence. Under Companies Law, an external director serves for a term of three years, which may be extended for two additional three-year terms. Further, an external director can be removed from office only under very limited circumstances. In addition, under the Companies Law, all of the external directors must serve on our audit committee and compensation committee (including one external director serving as the chairman of our audit committee and as the chairman of our compensation committee), and at least one external director must serve on each other committee of our Board of Directors.
To qualify as an external director, an individual must meet various independence requirements, including that such individual may not have, and may not have had at any time during the previous two years, any “affiliation” (as defined in the Companies Law) with the company or with certain of its affiliates. In addition, no individual may serve as an external director if the individual’s position or other activities create or may create a conflict of interest with his or her role as an external director.
Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon served as an external director of the Company from February 2020 and the re-election proposed herein will be for a second consecutive term of three (3) years commencing as of February 23, 2023.
Iris Shapira Yalon joined the Bords of Directors of the Company in February 2020. She most recently served as External Director of Electra Real Estate Ltd., as well as Director of Rotem Industries Ltd. (Israeli government-owned company). In addition to serving as Board member on a number of TASE listed companies, including Computer Direct Group Ltd. and on a dual listed company such as TAT Technologies Ltd., Ms. Yalon served as the Chief Financial Officer of multiple companies such as Kryon Systems Ltd., Haldor Advanced Technologies Ltd., Mofet Technology Fund Ltd., and Cloverleaf Media Ltd., which was acquired in 2010 by Dot Hill. Moreover, Ms. Yalon has served as Audit Team Manager at Ernest & Young. She earned a BA in Economics and Accounting (cum laude) at Tel Aviv University and she is licensed accountant.
Proposed Resolutions
It is proposed that at the Annual Meeting the following resolutions be adopted:
“RESOLVED, to re-elect Mrs. Shapira Yalon as external director of the Company Board, commencing as of the Meeting date and for a period of 3 years thereon.”
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented and voting on this proposal in person or by proxy is necessary for the approval of the resolution to approve the re-election of the external director. In addition, the shareholders’ approval must either include at least a majority of the ordinary shares voted by shareholders who are not controlling shareholders nor are they shareholders who have a personal interest in the approval of the re-election of the external director, or the total ordinary shares of non-controlling shareholders and non-interested shareholders voted against this proposal must not represent more than 2% of the outstanding ordinary shares.
For this purpose, you are asked to indicate on your proxy card or voting instruction card whether you have a personal interest in the re-election of the external director. Under the Israeli Companies Law, in general, you are deemed to have a personal interest if any member of your immediate family or their spouse has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. In addition, you are deemed to have a personal interest if a company, other than the Company, that is affiliated to you has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. Such company is a company in which you or a member of your immediate family serves as a director or chief executive officer, has the right to appoint a director or the chief executive officer, or owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares. However, you are not deemed to have a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal if your interest in such proposal arises solely from your ownership of our shares, or to a matter that is not related to a relationship with a controlling shareholder.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of the foregoing external director nominee.
10
PROPOSAL 9:
APPROVAL OF OPTION GRANT TO MRS. IRIS SHAPIRA YALON
Background
In accordance with the Israeli Companies Law and the relevant regulations, we are required to pay our external directors in consideration of their service under the Israeli Remuneration Regulations 5760-2000 (“Remuneration Regulations”). Under the Remuneration Regulations the equity renumeration of external directors shall be determined by Shareholders of the Company at the time of election of the external directors and such remuneration shall not be amended for a period of time of three (3) years.
It is customary of the Company to determine the grant of 150,000 options as equity remuneration of external directors (“Option Grant”) at the time of their election. On the time of election of Mrs. Shapira Yalon in February 2020, the resolution in relation to the Option Grant was mistakenly omitted from the agenda of the Annual Meeting in the framework of which Mrs. Yalon Shapira was elected to hold office as external director of the Board of Directors of the company for the first term of three (3) years (“First Election”).
Therefore, it is proposed that Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon is entitled to a grant of 150,000 options to purchase, 150,000 Ordinary Shares of the Company, at an exercise price of Israeli Agurot 4.95 (average Company’s share price in the thirty trading days prior to First Election date) per option. The options shall vest on a quarterly basis over thirty-six months as of November 27, 2019 so that 1/12 of the options shall vest on the last day of each three months period, provided that on such date Mrs. Shapira Yalon shall serve as a non-executive director of the Company.
Proposed Resolutions
It is proposed that at the Annual Meeting the following resolutions be adopted:
“RESOLVED, to approve that Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon shall receive, for its services as external director to the Board of Directors of the Company the equity remuneration as described in this proxy statement.”
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented and voting on this proposal in person or by proxy is necessary for the approval of the resolution to approve the equity remuneration of the external director. In addition, the shareholders’ approval must either include at least a majority of the ordinary shares voted by shareholders who are not controlling shareholders nor are they shareholders who have a personal interest in the approval of the re-election of the external director, or the total ordinary shares of non-controlling shareholders and non-interested shareholders voted against this proposal must not represent more than 2% of the outstanding ordinary shares.
For this purpose, you are asked to indicate on your proxy card or voting instruction card whether you have a personal interest in the equity remuneration of the external director. Under the Israeli Companies Law, in general, you are deemed to have a personal interest if any member of your immediate family or their spouse has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. In addition, you are deemed to have a personal interest if a company, other than the Company, that is affiliated to you has a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal. Such company is a company in which you or a member of your immediate family serves as a director or chief executive officer, has the right to appoint a director or the chief executive officer, or owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares. However, you are not deemed to have a personal interest in the adoption of the proposal if your interest in such proposal arises solely from your ownership of our shares, or to a matter that is not related to a relationship with a controlling shareholder.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the foregoing external director equity remuneration.
11
OTHER BUSINESS
Other than as set forth above, as of the mailing of this Proxy Statement, management knows of no business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting, but, if any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the attached form of proxy will vote upon such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| /s/ Shlomo Shalev | |
Shlomo Shalev | |
| Chief Executive Officer | |
| Dated: January 20, 2023 |
12
Exhibit 99.2
XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 23, 2023
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby appoints Shlomo Shalev, Chief Executive Officer, attorney, agent and proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution to each of them, to represent and to vote on behalf of the undersigned all the ordinary shares in XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the offices of the Company’s attorneys, Doron Tikotzky Kantor Gutman Nass & Amit Gross., at 7 Metsada St., B.S.R Tower 4, Bnei Brak, Israel, on February 23, 2023 at 15:00 PM (Israel time), and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, upon the following matters, which are more fully described in the Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Notice”) and proxy statement relating to the Annual Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”).
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Notice and Proxy Statement of the Company relating to the Annual Meeting. All terms that are not defined in this Proxy shall have the same meaning of such terms in the Notice and/or the Proxy Statement.
This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned. If no direction is made with respect to any matter, this Proxy will be voted FOR such matter. Any and all proxies heretofore given by the undersigned are hereby revoked.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHREHOLDERS OF
XTL BIOPHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
February 23, 2023, 15:00 p.m. (Israel time)
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS FOR THE MEETING
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE ☒
| 1. | To appoint Somekh Chaikin, Certified Public Accountants in Israel and a member firm of KPMG as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
| 2. | To re-elect Alexander Rabinovitch to the Company’s Board of Directors for a term expiring at the Company’s next Annual Meeting. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
| 3. | To re-elect Dr. Jonathan Schapiro to the Company’s Board of Directors for a term expiring at the Company’s next Annual Meeting. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
| 4. | To re-elect Shlomo Shalev to the Company’s Board of Directors for a term expiring at the Company’s next Annual Meeting. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
| 5. | To re-elect Doron Turgeman to the Company’s Board of Directors for a term expiring at the Company’s next Annual Meeting. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
| 6. | To re-elect Dr. Dobroslav Melamed to the Company’s Board of Directors for a term expiring at the Company’s next Annual Meeting. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
| 7. | To re-elect Ms. Iris Shapira Yalon to hold office as an external director of the Company, commencing on February 23, 2023 for a period of three (3) years, until February 23, 2026. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
2
Are you a controlling shareholder of the Company, or do you have a personal interest in the approval of Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon’s re-election other than a personal interest unrelated to relationships with a controlling shareholder of the Company? Please note: If you do not mark either Yes or No, your shares will not be voted for this proposal.
| ☐ | Yes | ☐ | No |
| 8. | To approve that Ms. Iris Shapira Yalon non-executive director, shall receive a grant of 150,000 options as described in the proxy statement. |
| ☐ | for | ☐ | against | ☐ | abstain |
Are you a controlling shareholder of the Company, or do you have a personal interest in the approval of Mrs. Iris Shapira Yalon’s equity remuneration other than a personal interest unrelated to relationships with a controlling shareholder of the Company? Please note: If you do not mark either Yes or No, your shares will not be voted for this proposal.
| ☐ | Yes | ☐ | No |
In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
| Date: ________, 2023 | Date_________, 2023 | |||||
| SIGNATURE | SIGNATURE |
Please sign exactly as your name appears on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signed is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
3
Exhibit 99.3
