Unassociated Document
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant:
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant:
|
o
|
|
Check
the appropriate box:
|
|
|
|
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
|
|
|
|
|
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
|
|
|
|
|
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
|
|
|
|
|
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section
240.14a-12
|
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the
Registrant)
|
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate
box):
|
|
No
fee required.
|
|
|
|
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
|
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials:
|
|
|
|
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
|
(1)
|
Amount
Previously Paid:
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
Filing
Party:
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
Date
Filed:
|
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
110
EAST 59TH STREET, 25TH FLOOR
NEW
YORK, NY 10022
(212)
557-9000
April
29,
2008
Dear
Stockholder:
Brainstorm
Cell Therapeutics Inc. will hold its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on
Thursday, June 5, 2008 beginning at 9:00 a.m., Israel time, at 12 Bazel Street,
POB 10019 Kiryat Aryeh, Petach Tikva, Israel 49001. We look forward to you
attending either in person or by proxy. The enclosed notice of meeting, the
proxy statement, and the proxy card from the Board of Directors describe the
matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
Your
vote
is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, your shares
should be represented. Therefore, we urge you to complete, sign, date and
promptly return the enclosed proxy card.
On
behalf
of the Board of Directors, we would like to express our appreciation for your
continued interest in our company.
|
|
|
Sincerely
yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABRAHAM EFRATI
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
110
EAST 59TH STREET, 25TH FLOOR
NEW
YORK, NY 10022
(212)
557-9000
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD
THURSDAY,
JUNE 5, 2008
To
the
Stockholders of Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.:
Notice
is
hereby given that the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (the "Company") will be held on Thursday,
June
5, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., Israel time, at the offices of the Company’s subsidiary,
12 Bazel Street, POB 10019 Kiryat Aryeh, Petach Tikva, Israel 49001, for the
following purposes:
|
1.
|
To
elect four (4) directors;
|
|
2.
|
To
amend and restate the Company’s 2004 Global Share Option Plan and
2005 U.S. Stock Option and Incentive Plan to increase the number
of shares
of Common Stock available for issuance thereunder by 5,000,000
shares;
|
|
3.
|
To
ratify the appointment of Brightman Almagor & Co., a member of
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, as the Company's independent registered
public
accounting firm for the current fiscal year;
and
|
|
4.
|
To
transact such business that may properly come before the Meeting
and any
adjournments or postponements of the
Meeting.
|
The
Board
of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 10, 2008 as the record
date for the Meeting. All stockholders of record on that date are entitled
to
notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.
YOUR
VOTE
IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE
PROVIDED WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING IN PERSON.
IF
YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY CONTINUE TO HAVE YOUR SHARES VOTED AS INSTRUCTED
IN THE PROXY OR YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE YOUR SHARES IN
PERSON.
|
|
|
BY
ORDER OF THE
BOARD OF |
|
|
|
DIRECTORS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas B. Rosedale, Secretary
Boston, Massachusetts
April 29, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
PROXY
STATEMENT
Annual
Meeting of Stockholders
To
Be
Held on Thursday, June 5, 2008
This
Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by
the Board of Directors of Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (the "Company")
for
use at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be held on
Thursday, June 5, 2008, at the time and place set forth in the accompanying
notice of the Meeting, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. The
approximate date on which this Proxy Statement and form of proxy are first
being
sent to stockholders is on or about May 2, 2008.
The
Company's principal executive offices are located at 110 East 59th
Street,
25th Floor, New York, New York 10022 and its telephone number is (212)
557-9000.
Voting
and Revocability of Proxies
If
the
enclosed proxy is properly executed and is received prior to the meeting, it
will be voted in the manner directed by the stockholder. If no instructions
are
specified with respect to any particular matter to be acted upon, properly
executed proxies will be voted:
|
1. |
For
the election of the four director
nominees;
|
|
2. |
For
the amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2004 Global Share Option
Plan and 2005 U.S. Stock Option
and Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock
available for issuance thereunder
by 5,000,000 shares;
|
|
3. |
For
the ratification of the appointment of Brightman Almagor & Co., a
member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, as the Company's independent
registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year;
and
|
|
4. |
At
the discretion of the designated proxies named on the enclosed
Proxy Card,
on any other matter that
may properly come before the Meeting, and any adjournment or postponement
thereof.
|
Any
person giving the enclosed form of proxy has the power to revoke it by voting
in
person at the Meeting, by giving a duly executed proxy bearing a later date
or
by giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company any
time
before the proxy is exercised. A stockholder of record attending the Meeting
may
vote in person whether or not a proxy has been previously given, but the
presence, without further action, of a stockholder at the Meeting will not
constitute revocation of a previously given proxy.
Quorum
and Required Vote
The
holders of a majority of all shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.00005 par
value per share (the “Common Stock”), issued, outstanding and entitled to vote
are required to be present in person or to be represented by proxy at the
Meeting in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Votes
withheld, abstentions and shares held in "street name" by brokers or nominees
who indicate on their proxies that they do not have discretionary authority
to
vote such shares as to a particular matter ("broker non-votes") shall be counted
for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the
transaction of business at the Meeting.
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the issued and outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock voting in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote is required for the election of directors (Proposal No. 1). The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast in person or
by
proxy of the shares entitled to vote is required to amend and restate the
Company’s 2004 Global Share Option Plan and 2005 U.S. Stock Option and Incentive
Plan (Proposal No.2) and to ratify the appointment of Brightman Almagor &
Co., a member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, as the Company's independent
registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year (Proposal No.
3).
Shares
which abstain from voting on a particular matter and broker non-votes will
not
be counted as votes in favor of such matter and will also not be counted as
votes cast or shares voting on such matter. Accordingly, abstentions and broker
non-votes will have no effect on any of the proposals.
Record
Date and Voting Securities
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on April 10, 2008 (the "Record
Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. At the close of
business on that date, there were 44,617,268 shares of Common Stock outstanding
and entitled to vote. Each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock
entitles the record holder to cast one (1) vote for each matter to be voted
upon.
Expenses
and Solicitation
The
cost
of this solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. In addition to
soliciting stockholders by mail through its regular employees, the Company
may
request banks, brokers, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to
solicit their customers who have stock of the Company registered
in
the
names of a nominee, and, if so, will reimburse such banks, brokers and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs.
Solicitation by officers and employees of the Company may also be made of some
stockholders in person or by mail, telephone or facsimile following the original
solicitation. Such officers and employees will receive no compensation in
connection with any such solicitations, other than compensation paid pursuant
to
their duties described elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth certain information as of March 17, 2008 with respect
to the beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Company by the following:
(i)
each of the Company's current directors; (ii) each of the Named Executive
Officers; (iii) all of the current executive officers and directors as a group;
and (iv) each person known by the Company to own beneficially more than five
percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock.
For
purposes of the following table, beneficial ownership is determined in
accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for
any other purpose. Except as otherwise noted in the footnotes to the table,
the
Company believes that each person or entity named in the table has sole voting
and investment power with respect to all shares of the Company’s Common Stock
shown as beneficially owned by that person or entity (or shares such power
with
his or her spouse). Under the SEC’s rules, shares of the Company’s Common Stock
issuable under options that are exercisable on or within 60 days after March
17,
2008 (“Presently Exercisable Options”) or under warrants that are exercisable on
or within 60 days after March 17, 2008 (“Presently Exercisable Warrants”) are
deemed outstanding and therefore included in the number of shares reported
as
beneficially owned by a person or entity named in the table and are used to
compute the percentage of the Common Stock beneficially owned by that person
or
entity. These shares are not, however, deemed outstanding for computing the
percentage of the Common Stock beneficially owned by any other person or entity.
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person listed in the table
is
c/o Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., 110 East 59th
Street,
New York, New York 10022.
The
percentage of the Common Stock beneficially owned by each person or entity
named
in the following table is based on 42,617,268 shares of Common Stock outstanding
as of March 17, 2008 plus any shares issuable upon exercise of Presently
Exercisable Options and Presently Exercisable Warrants held by such person
or
entity.
|
|
Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
|
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number
of Shares
|
|
Percentage
of Class
|
|
Directors,
Nominees and Named Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abraham
Efrati
|
|
|
166,667
|
(1)
|
|
*
|
|
Chaim
Lebovits
|
|
|
57,006,925
|
(2)
|
|
66.9
|
%
|
Yoram
Drucker
|
|
|
1,276,038
|
(3)
|
|
2.9
|
%
|
David
Stolick
|
|
|
626,389
|
(4)
|
|
1.4
|
%
|
Irit
Arbel
|
|
|
2,566,666
|
(5)
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
Jonathan
Javitt
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
(6)
|
|
2.6
|
%
|
Moshe
Lion
|
|
|
100,000
|
(7)
|
|
*
|
|
Robert
Shorr
|
|
|
300,000
|
(8)
|
|
*
|
|
All
directors and Named Executive Officers
as
a group (8 persons)
|
|
|
63,142,685
|
|
|
71.4
|
%
|
5%
Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCBT
Corp.
Morgan
& Morgan Building
Pasea
Estate, Road Town
Tortola
British
Virgin Islands
|
|
|
57,006,925
|
(9)
|
|
66.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramot
at Tel Aviv University Ltd.
32
Haim Levanon St.
Tel
Aviv University, Ramat Aviv
Tel
Aviv, L3 61392
|
|
|
3,181,924
|
(10)
|
|
6.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eldad
Melamed
c/o
Rabin Medical Center
Beilinson
Campus
Sackler
School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
Petah-Tikva,
L3 49100
|
|
|
2,750,678
|
(11)
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel
Offen
c/o
Felsenstein Medical Research Center
Rabin
Medical Center, Tel Aviv University
Petah-Tikva,
L3 49100
|
|
|
2,750,677
|
(12)
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zegal
& Ross Capital
1748
54th
Street
Brooklyn,
NY 11204
|
|
|
2,600,000
|
(13)
|
|
6.1
|
%
|
*
|
|
Less
than 1%.
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
Consists
of 166,667 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Options.
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 12,375,000 shares of Common Stock that may be acquired at
any time
pursuant to a Subscription Agreement, (ii) 13,612,500 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant that may be acquired
and
exercised at any time pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, (iii)
16,637,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Warrants and (iv) 14,381,925 shares of Common Stock owned
by
ACCBT Corp. ACCBT Corp. and ACC International Holdings Ltd. may each
be
deemed the beneficial owners of these shares. Based solely on information
provided in Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by
ACCBT
Corp. on April 28, 2008.
|
(3)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 400,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Drucker; and (ii)
876,038 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Options.
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
|
Consists
of 626,389 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Options.
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 2,300,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Dr. Arbel; and (ii)
266,666 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Options. Dr. Arbel’s address is 6 Hadishon Street, Jerusalem,
Israel.
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 100,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of
Presently Exercisable Options and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Common
Stock
issuable upon the exercise of Presently Exercisable Warrants.
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
|
Consists
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Options.
|
|
|
|
(8)
|
|
Consists
of 300,000 shares of restricted stock, which shares are subject to
the
Company’s right to repurchase.
|
|
|
|
(9)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 12,375,000 shares of Common Stock that may be acquired at
any time
pursuant to a Subscription Agreement, (ii) 13,612,500 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of a warrant that may be acquired
and
exercised at any time pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, (iii)
16,637,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Warrants and (iv) 14,381,925 shares of Common Stock owned
by
ACCBT Corp. ACC International Holdings Ltd. and Chaim Lebovits may
each be
deemed the beneficial owners of these shares. Based solely on information
provided in Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by
ACCBT
Corp. on April 28, 2008.
|
|
|
|
(10)
|
|
Consists
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Presently
Exercisable Warrants. Tel Aviv University and Tel Aviv University
Economic
Corp. Ltd. may each be deemed the beneficial owners of these shares.
Based
solely on information provided in an Amendment to Schedule 13D filed
with
the SEC by Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd. on September 17,
2007.
|
|
|
|
(11)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 2,688,178 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of
Presently Exercisable Warrants and (ii) 62,500 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of Presently Exercisable Options. Based
solely
on information provided in Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by Prof.
Eldad
Melamed on September 26, 2005.
|
|
|
|
(12)
|
|
Consists
of (i) 2,688,177 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of
Presently Exercisable Warrants and (ii) 62,500 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of Presently Exercisable Options. Based
solely on information provided in Schedule 13D filed with the SEC
by
Daniel Offen on September 26, 2005.
|
|
|
|
(13)
|
|
Based
solely on information provided in Schedule 13D filed with the SEC
by Zegal
& Ross Capital on July 16,
2004.
|
Change
in Control
Subscription
Agreement
On
July
2, 2007, we entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”)
with ACCBT Corp. (“ACCBT”), pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue (i) up
to 27,500,000 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate subscription price
of
up to $5.0 million, and (ii) for no additional consideration, warrants to
purchase up to 30,250,000 shares of our Common Stock. Subject to certain closing
conditions, separate closings of the purchase and sale of the shares and the
warrants are scheduled to take place from August 30, 2007 through November
15,
2008. If ACCBT purchases all of the shares that it is entitled to under the
Subscription Agreement and converts all of the warrants that it is entitled
to
receive, it will own approximately 66.9% of the Common Stock of the Company.
A
change in control of the Company will occur upon ACCBT’s purchase and/or
conversion of more than 50% of our Common Stock. To date, ACCBT has purchased
14,381,925 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.
Security
Holders Agreement
Pursuant
to the Subscription Agreement, ACCBT and certain other security holders of
the Company holding at least 31% of the issued and outstanding shares of our
Common Stock entered into a Security Holders Agreement (the “Security Holders
Agreement”). The security holders party to the Security Holders Agreement
agreed, upon the payment by ACCBT of its first $1.0 million under the
Subscription Agreement, to vote all of their shares such that ACCBT’s nominees
to our Board of Directors will constitute a minimum of 40% of the Board of
Directors, and, upon the payment by ACCBT of its second $1.0 million, to vote
all of their shares such that ACCBT’s nominees will constitute a minimum of
50.1% of the Board of Directors. However, if ACCBT stops making payments after
the first closing date such that ACCBT pays us less than $4.0 million, ACCBT
will be entitled to appoint only 40% of the members of our Board of Directors.
To date, ACCBT has paid $2.75 million pursuant to the Subscription Agreement
and
therefore has the right to nominate 50.1% of the Board of Directors under the
Security Holders Agreement.
The
security holders who are parties to the Security Holders Agreement also agreed,
for so long as ACCBT holds at least 5% of the issued and outstanding shares
of
our Common Stock, not to vote any of their shares to approve the following
matters, without the written consent of ACCBT: (i) any change in our certificate
of incorporation or bylaws, or alteration of our capital structure; (ii) the
declaration or payment of a dividend or the making of any distributions; (iii)
the taking of any steps to liquidate, dissolve, wind-up or otherwise terminate
our corporate existence; or (iv) the entering into any transaction the effect
of
which would place control of our business in the hands of an arm’s length third
party.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
The
Board
of Directors recommends that the four nominees named below be elected to serve
on the Board of Directors, each of whom is presently serving as a director.
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality
of the votes cast in person or by proxy at an annual meeting of stockholders
by
the shares entitled to vote is required for the election by stockholders of
directors to the Board of Directors. Shares of Common Stock represented by
all
proxies received and not marked so as to withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee or for all nominees will be voted for the election of the
four nominees named below. Each nominee has consented to being named in this
Proxy Statement and has indicated
his
willingness to serve if elected. If for any reason any nominee should become
unable or unwilling to serve, the persons named as proxies may vote the proxy
for the election of a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors.
The
Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable
to
serve.
Shareholders may vote for no more than four nominees for director.
Under
the
Security Holders Agreement, ACCBT is entitled to nominate 50.1% of our Board
of
Directors. Dr. Jonathan C. Javitt and Moshe Lion were nominated pursuant to
this
provision.
Biographical
and certain other information concerning the Company's nominees for election
to
the Board of Directors is set forth below. Information with respect to the
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock beneficially owned by each
director as of March 17, 2008 appears above under "Security
Ownership
of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management." No director or executive officer
is related by blood, marriage or adoption to any other director or executive
officer.
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Irit
Arbel
|
|
48
|
|
Director
|
Jonathan
C. Javitt
|
|
51
|
|
Director
|
|
|
46
|
|
Director
|
Robert
Shorr
|
|
54
|
|
Director
|
Dr.
Irit
Arbel joined the Company in May 2004 as a director and as our President. She
served as President until she resigned in November 2004 in order to enable
Dr.
Beck's appointment. Dr. Arbel was President and CEO of Pluristem Life Systems,
Inc. from 2002 to June 2004, and was Israeli Sales Manager of Merck, Sharp
&
Dohme from 1998 to 2002. From 1995 to 1997, Dr. Arbel served as the head of
research for Hadassa-Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem. Dr. Arbel specialized
in
the use of pharmaceuticals for neurology, ophthalmology and dermatology
treatments. Dr. Arbel earned her Post Doctorate degree in 1997 in Neurobiology,
after performing research in the area of Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Arbel also
holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the Technion, Israel's Institute of
Technology.
Dr.
Jonathan C. Javitt joined the Company as a director in August 2007. Dr. Javitt
is a physician with a background in information technology, health economics,
and public health. Since 2001, Dr. Javitt has served as a Senior Fellow of
the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, and since 1998 has also served as
Chairman and CEO of Health Directions, LLC, an investment and consulting group
that focuses on healthcare information technology and biotechnology. Dr. Javitt
has been a founder of health information technology companies that have become
part of Siemens, Inc., United Health Group, Inc., and Aetna, Inc. Currently,
he
serves as Managing Director for Health Care and Life Sciences of BTI, Inc.
and
is a Director of Flexscan, Inc. Since 1988, Dr. Javitt has also served as
a Professor of Ophthalmology (adjunct) at the Johns Hopkins University. Dr.
Javitt has considerable expertise and experience in the development of new
drugs, having worked extensively over the past twenty years with Merck, Inc.,
Pfizer, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Alcon, Inc., OSI, Inc., and others in bringing
new
drugs and medical devices to the marketplace.
Mr.
Moshe
Lion joined the Company as a director in July 2007. Since 1999, Mr. Lion has
been a senior partner of Lion, Orlitzky and Co., a member of Moore Stephens
International. Mr. Lion also serves as a director for Elbit Medical Imaging
Ltd.
Previously, Mr. Lion was Chairman of Israel Railways, Director of the Israel
Council for Higher Education and the Wingate Institute for Physical Education,
Director of Elscint Ltd, Director of Massad Bank and Director of Bank Tefahot.
Prior to that, Mr. Lion served as Director General of the Israeli Prime
Minister's Office as well as an economic advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister.
He also served as the Head of the Bureau of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.
Mr. Lion holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and economics and a
Master's Degree in Law (LL.M.) from Bar Ilan University.
Dr.
Robert Shorr joined the Company as a director in March 2005. Since 2000, Dr.
Shorr has served as President and CEO of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, a bio
technology company. Since 1998, he has also served as Director of Business
Development at the State University of New York at the Stony Brook Center for
Advanced Technology. From 1998 until 2002, Dr. Shorr was Vice-President of
Science and Technology (CSO) of United Therapeutics, a NASDAQ listed company.
He
has served as trustee at the Tissue Engineering Charities, Imperial College,
London since 1999. Prior to 1998 he held management positions at Enzon Inc.,
a
NASDAQ listed company, and AT Biochem of which he was also founder. Dr. Shorr
also
served on the Board of Directors of Biological Delivery Systems Inc., a NASDAQ
listed company. Dr. Shorr holds both a Ph.D. and a D.I.C. from the University
of
London, Imperial College of Science and Technology as well as a B.Sc. from
the
State University of New York.
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of the nominees named
above as directors of the Company.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF 2004 GLOBAL SHARE OPTION
PLAN
AND
2005 U.S. STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
On
November 25, 2004, our Board of Directors adopted the 2004 Global Share Option
Plan (as amended, the “Global Plan”). On February 24, 2005, our Board of
Directors adopted the 2005 U.S. Stock Option and Incentive Plan (as amended,
the
“U.S. Plan” and together with the Global Plan, the “Plans”). On February 24,
2005, the Board also amended the Global Plan to provide that any awards granted
under the Global Plan and the U.S. Plan will reduce the total number of shares
available for future issuance under each Plan. The stockholders approved the
Plans on March 28, 2005. We believe that our future success and the continued
growth in stockholder value depends, in large part, on our ability to attract,
retain and motivate key employees and consultants with experience and ability
in
today’s intensely competitive market. Participation in the Plans rewards key
employees for superior performance by giving them an opportunity to participate
in this success. We believe that the stock options that may be granted and
other
stock-based compensation awards that may be made under the Plans are consistent
with the grants and awards made by companies with which we compete for key
talent. We currently have three executive officers, four directors and fourteen
additional employees who are eligible to participate in the Plans. We may also
grant awards to consultants.
Under
the
Plans, we are currently authorized to grant equity awards for the issuance
of up
to an aggregate of 9,143,462 shares of Common Stock. As of March 31, 2008,
8,991,778 shares of Common Stock had been issued, or are reserved for issuance,
pursuant to awards granted under the Plans to plan participants. We estimate
that the remaining 151,684 shares available for issuance under the Plans will
not be sufficient to meet our future needs.
Accordingly,
on April 28, 2008 our Board approved, subject to stockholder approval, the
amendment and restatement of the Plans to increase the number of shares
available for issuance under the Plans (subject to adjustment for certain
changes in the Company’s capitalization) by an additional 5,000,000 shares,
bringing the total number of shares available for issuance under the Plans
to
5,151,684 shares.
If
the
stockholders do not approve the proposed amendment and restatement of the Plans,
our ability to grant any further options or make any further awards of stock
under the Plans will be significantly curtailed and our flexibility in granting
the most appropriate type of award will be significantly limited. This is likely
to adversely impact our ability to attract, retain and motivate current and
prospective employees.
The
Board of Directors believes the amendment and restatement of the Plans is in
the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders and recommends a vote “FOR”
the approval of such amendment and restatement.
Description
of the Global Plan
The
following description of certain features of the Global Plan, including Appendix
A thereto related to participants who are residents of Israel (the “Israeli
Appendix”), is intended to be a summary only. The summary is qualified in its
entirety by the full text of the Global Plan and the Israeli Appendix as amended
and restated, which are attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Administration.
To date,
the Global Plan has been administered by the Board of Directors. The Board
may,
however, delegate its powers under the Global Plan to a compensation committee
of the Board (the "Compensation Committee") which shall consist of at least
two
(2) members of the Company's Board of Directors. Notwithstanding, the Board
shall automatically have residual administrative authority (i) if no committee
shall be constituted, (ii) with respect to rights not delegated by the Board
to
the Committee, or (iii) if the Compensation Committee shall cease to operate
for
any reason whatsoever.
Participation.
The
Global Plan provides that the persons eligible for participation in the Global
Plan shall include employees, directors, and/or service providers such as
consultants, or advisers of the Company or any affiliate, or any other person
who is not an employee (also referred to as non-employee). In determining the
eligibility of an individual to be granted options pursuant to the Global Plan,
as well as in determining the number of options to be granted to any individual,
the Board of Directors takes into account the position and responsibilities
of
the individual being considered, the nature and value to the Company or its
subsidiaries of the individual's service and accomplishments, his or her present
and potential contribution to the success of the Company or its subsidiaries,
and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. The number
of
individuals potentially eligible to participate in the Global Plan currently
included three officers, fourteen employees, three scientific consultants,
four
non-employee directors and an indeterminate number of additional consultants
and
service providers of the Company.
Terms
and Provisions of Options.
Options
granted under the Global Plan are exercisable at such times and during such
period as is set forth in the option agreement, and shall terminate upon the
earlier of (i) the date set forth in the option agreement, (ii) the expiration
of ten (10) years from the date of grant, or (iii) the expiration of any
extended period in any of the events set forth below. The option agreement
may
contain such provisions and conditions as may be determined by the Compensation
Committee. The Option exercise price for each share subject to an Option shall
be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole and absolute discretion
in accordance with applicable law, subject to any guidelines as may be
determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The exercise price
shall
be payable upon the exercise of an Option in cash, check, or wire
transfer.
An
Option
or any right with respect thereto of any optionee to exercise an Option granted
under the Global Plan is not assignable or transferable, nor may it be given
as
collateral nor may any right with respect thereto be given to a third party
whatsoever, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or
as
specifically otherwise allowed under the Global Plan. Moreover, during the
lifetime of the optionee, each and all of such optionee's rights to purchase
shares under the Global Plan shall be exercisable only by the
optionee.
In
the
event of a termination of optionee's employment or service, all Options granted
to such optionee shall immediately expire. Notwithstanding the foregoing and
unless otherwise determined in the optionee's option agreement, an Option may
be
exercised after the date of termination as follows: If the termination is
without cause, the unexpired vested Options still in force may be exercised
within a period of three (3) months after the date of such termination. If
such
termination of employment is the result of death or disability, the vested
unexpired Options still in force may be exercised within a period of twelve
(12)
months after such date of termination. If such termination of employment or
service is for cause, any outstanding unexercised Option will immediately expire
and terminate, and the optionee shall not have any right in respect thereof.
In
no event shall an option be exercisable after the date upon which it expires
by
its terms. The Compensation Committee has the authority to extend the term
of
all or part of the vested Options beyond the date of such termination for a
period not to exceed the period during which the Options by their terms would
otherwise have been exercisable.
Merger;
Acquisition; Reorganization.
The
Global Plan provides that in the event of a merger, acquisition, or
reorganization of the Company or in the event of a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets or shares of the Company to another entity (a "Transaction")
the unexercised Options shall be assumed or substituted for an appropriate
number of shares of each class of shares or other securities of the successor
corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation) as were
distributed to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the
Transaction. In the case of such assumption and/or substitution of Options,
appropriate adjustments shall be made to the exercise price so as to reflect
such Option and all other terms and conditions of the option agreements, all
subject to the determination of the Compensation Committee or the Board of
Directors, which determination shall be in their sole discretion and final.
The
Global Plan further provides that in the event that the outstanding shares
shall
at any time be changed or exchanged by declaration of a share dividend (bonus
shares), share split or reverse share split, combination or exchange of shares,
recapitalization, or any other like event by or of the Company, and as often
as
the same shall occur, then the number, class and kind of shares subject to
the
Global Plan or subject to any Options theretofore granted, and the exercise
prices, shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted so as to maintain the
proportionate number of shares without changing the aggregate exercise price,
provided, however, that no adjustment shall be made by reason of the
distribution of subscription rights on outstanding shares. Upon the occurrence
of any of the above, the class and aggregate number of shares issuable pursuant
to the Global Plan, in respect of which Options have not yet been exercised,
shall be appropriately adjusted.
The
Board
of Directors or the Compensation Committee shall also have the power to
determine that in certain option agreements there shall be a clause instructing
that if in any Transaction the successor corporation (or parent or subsidiary
of
the successor corporation) does not agree to assume or substitute the Options,
the vesting dates of outstanding Options shall be accelerated so that any
unvested Option or any portion thereof shall be immediately vested ten (10)
days
prior to the effective date of the Transaction.
Upon
voluntary dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Company shall
immediately notify all unexercised Option holders of such voluntary liquidation,
and the Option holders shall then have ten (10) days to exercise any unexercised
vested Options held by them at that time. Upon the expiration of such ten-day
period, all remaining outstanding Options will terminate
immediately.
Termination
and Amendment.
Unless
sooner terminated, the Global Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from November
25, 2004, the date upon which it was adopted by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may at any time terminate or suspend the Global Plan or
make
such modification or amendment as it deems advisable; provided, however, that
no
amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Global Plan shall impair
the rights of any optionee, unless mutually agreed otherwise by the optionee
and
the Company. Termination of the Global Plan prior to the termination date shall
not affect the Board of Director’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it
thereunder with respect to Options granted under the Global Plan prior to the
date of such earlier termination. The Company shall obtain the approval of
the
Company's stockholders for amendment to the Global Plan if stockholders'
approval is required under any applicable law or if stockholders' approval
is
required by any authority or by any governmental agencies or national securities
exchanges.
Description
of the U.S. Plan
The
following description of certain features of the U.S. Plan is intended to be
a
summary only. The summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of
the
U.S. Plan, as amended and restated, that is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
U.S.
Plan Administration.
The U.S.
Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors or a committee of not fewer
than two non-employee directors who are independent (the “Administrator”). The
Administrator has full power to select, from among the individuals eligible
for
awards, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, to make any combination
of awards to participants, and to determine the specific terms and conditions
of
each award, subject to the provisions of the U.S. Plan.
Eligibility
and Limitations on Grants.
Persons
eligible to participate in the U.S. Plan will be those current or prospective
officers, employees, non-employee directors and other key persons (including
consultants) of the Company and its subsidiaries as selected from time to time
by the Administrator. An indeterminate number of consultants and service
providers of the Company are currently eligible to participate in the U.S.
Plan.
No more than 14,143,462 shares shall be issued in the form of incentive stock
options.
Stock
Options.
The U.S.
Plan permits the granting of (i) options to purchase Common Stock intended
to
qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code and (ii)
options that do not so qualify. Options granted under the U.S. Plan will be
non-qualified options if they (i) fail to qualify as incentive options, (ii)
are
granted to a person not eligible to receive incentive options under the Code,
or
(iii) otherwise so provide. Non-qualified options may be granted to any persons
eligible to receive incentive options, to non-employee directors and other
non-employee key persons. The option exercise price of each option will be
determined by the Administrator but may not be less than 100% of the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.
The
term
of each option will be fixed by the Administrator and may not exceed ten years
from the date of grant. The Administrator will determine at what time or times
each option may be exercised and, subject to the provisions of the U.S. Plan,
the period of time, if any, after retirement, death, disability or termination
of employment during which options may be exercised. Options may be made
exercisable in installments and the exercisability of options may be accelerated
by the Administrator.
Upon
exercise of options, the option exercise price must be paid in full either
in
cash or by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the
Administrator or, if the Administrator so permits, by delivery (or attestation
to the ownership) of shares of Common Stock that meet such requirements as
may
be specified by the Administrator including shares of Common Stock that are
not
subject to any restrictions imposed by the Company and that have been held
by
the optionee for at least six months or that were purchased in the open market
by the optionee. Subject to applicable law, the exercise price may also be
delivered to the Company by a broker pursuant to irrevocable instructions to
the
broker from the optionee.
To
qualify as incentive options, options must meet additional federal tax
requirements, including a $100,000 limit on the value of shares subject to
incentive options that first become exercisable by a participant in any one
calendar year, and a shorter term and higher minimum exercise price in the
case
of certain large stockholders.
Restricted
Stock.
The
Administrator may award shares of Common Stock to participants subject to such
conditions and restrictions as the Administrator may determine. These conditions
and restrictions may include the achievement of certain performance goals and/or
continued employment with the Company through a specified restricted period.
The
purchase price (if any) of shares of Restricted Stock will be determined by
the
Administrator. If the performance goals and other restrictions are not attained,
the grantee will automatically forfeit their awards of restricted stock to
the
Company.
Tax
Withholding.
Participants in the U.S. Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal,
state or local taxes that the Company is required by law to withhold upon any
option exercise or vesting of other awards. Subject to approval by the
Administrator, participants may elect to have the minimum tax withholding
obligations satisfied either by authorizing the Company to withhold shares
of
Common Stock to be issued pursuant to an option exercise or other award, or
by
transferring to the Company shares of Common Stock having a value equal to
the
amount of such taxes.
Adjustments
for Stock Dividends, Stock Splits, Etc.
The U.S.
Plan authorizes the Administrator to make appropriate adjustments to outstanding
awards to reflect stock dividends, stock splits and similar events. In the
event
of a merger, consolidation, sale of the Company or similar event, the
Administrator will make appropriate adjustments in the limits specified in
the
U.S. Plan and to outstanding awards. The Administrator may also adjust
outstanding awards to take into consideration material changes in accounting
practices or extraordinary dividends or similar events if the Administrator
determines that such adjustments are appropriate.
Change
in Control Provisions.
The U.S.
Plan provides that in the event of a sale event (as defined in the U.S. Plan)
resulting in a change in control of the Company, all stock options and
restricted stock awards will be appropriately adjusted and assumed with the
same
vesting schedule by the successor entity (unless otherwise provided in the
award
agreement or by the Administrator). If any awards are not so assumed, the
Administrator will provide for a period of time before the change in control
during which then exercisable options may be exercised. In addition, in the
event of a sale event in which the Company's stockholders will receive cash
consideration, the Company may make or provide for a cash payment to
participants holding options equal to the difference between the per share
cash
consideration and the exercise price of the options.
Amendments
and Termination.
The
Board of Directors may at any time amend or discontinue the U.S. Plan and the
Administrator may at any time amend or cancel any outstanding award for the
purpose of satisfying changes in the law or for any other lawful purpose.
However, no such action may adversely affect any rights under any outstanding
award without the holder's consent. Any amendments that materially change the
terms of the U.S. Plan, including any amendments that increase the number of
shares reserved for issuance under the U.S. Plan, expand the types of awards
available, materially expand the eligibility to participate in, or materially
extend the term of, the U.S. Plan, or materially change the method of
determining fair market value of Common Stock, will be subject to approval
by
stockholders. Amendments shall also be subject to approval by the Company's
stockholders if and to the extent determined by the Administrator to be required
by the Code to preserve the qualified status of incentive options. In addition,
except in connection with a reorganization of the Company or a merger or other
transaction, the Board may not reduce the exercise price of an outstanding
stock
option or effect repricing of an outstanding stock option through cancellation
or regrants.
Plan
Benefits
As
of
March 31, 2008, approximately 24 persons were eligible to receive awards
under the Plans, including our three executive officers, three scientific
consultants and four non-employee directors. We may also grant awards to
consultants. The granting of awards under the Plans is discretionary, and we
cannot now determine the number or type of awards to be granted in the future
to
any particular person or group. On April 28, 2008, the last reported sale price
of our Common Stock was $0.36.
Since
approval of the Plans in March 2005, as of March 31, 2008 the following
options and shares of restricted stock have been granted under the Plans to
the
following persons and groups:
Grantees
|
|
No.
of Options Granted
|
|
Shares
of Restricted Stock
|
|
Named
Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chaim
Lebovits
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Abraham
Efrati
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
David
Stolick
|
|
|
850,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
Yoram
Drucker
|
|
|
1,035,760
|
|
|
—
|
|
All
Current Executive Officers as a Group
|
|
|
2,885,760
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors
who are not Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Irit
Arbel
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jonathan
C. Javitt
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
Moshe
Lion
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
Robert
Shorr
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
All
Current Directors who are not Executive Officers as a
Group
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each
Associate of any of such Directors or Executive Officers
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each
Other Person who Received or is to Receive Five Percent of Options
under
the Plans
|
|
|
957,163
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Employees, including all Current Officers who are not Executive
Officers,
as a Group
|
|
|
2,075,000
|
|
|
— |
|
Israeli
Appendix and Tax Matters
Section
102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance (New Version), 1961, as amended (the
"Section 102"; "Tax Ordinance", respectively) shall apply to allocation of
Options and/or shares to employees, including directors and office holders,
but
excluding controlling shareholders (as defined in Section 32(9) of the
Ordinance) (the "Employees"). Options granted under the amended Section 102
may
be classified as Approved 102 Option to be held by a trustee for the benefit
of
the Employees for such period of time as required by Section 102 or any
regulations, rules or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder (the
"Trustee"; "Holding Period", respectively) or as Unapproved 102 Option, without
a trustee. The Trustee is an individual who is appointed by the Company and
approved by the Israeli Tax Authorities. Under the trustee track, the trustee
may not release any shares allocated or issued upon exercise of Approved 102
Options prior to the full payment of optionee's tax liabilities arising from
Approved 102 Options which were granted to him and/or any shares allocated
or
issued upon exercise of such Options. With respect to any Approved 102 Option,
an optionee shall not sell or release from trust any share received upon the
exercise of an Approved 102 Option and/or any share received subsequently
following any realization of rights, including bonus shares, until the lapse
of
the Holding Period described above. If any such sale or release shall occur
during the Holding Period the sanctions under Section 102 shall apply and shall
be borne by such optionee. Approved 102 Options may either be classified as
"ordinary income option" or "capital gains option". The classification of the
type of options as "ordinary income option" or "capital gain option" depends
on
the election made by the Company prior to the date of grant, and obligates
the
Company to grant such type of option to all of its Employees for a period of
one
year following the year during which options were first granted.
We
have
chosen to grant Options to our Employees as Approved 102 Options under the
capital gain track. Such election was appropriately filed with the Israeli
tax
authorities before the grant of an Approved 102 Option. Under such track, the
Employee will realize a capital gain upon the sale of shares received following
the exercise of such options or upon release of such shares from trust,
whichever is earlier.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
The
following generally summarizes the United States federal income tax consequences
that generally will arise with respect to awards granted under the Plans. This
summary is based on the tax laws in effect as of the date of this Proxy
Statement. Changes to these laws could alter the tax consequences described
below.
Incentive
Options.
No
taxable income is generally realized by the optionee upon the grant or exercise
of an incentive option. If shares of Common Stock issued to an optionee pursuant
to the exercise of an incentive option are sold or transferred after two years
from the date of grant and after one year from the date of exercise, then (i)
upon sale of such shares, any amount realized in excess of the option price
(the
amount paid for the shares) will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital
gain, and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss, and (ii) there
will be no deduction for the Company for federal income tax purposes. The
exercise of an incentive option will give rise to an item of tax preference
that
may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the optionee. An optionee
will not have any additional FICA (Social Security) taxes upon exercise of
an
incentive option. If shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of an
incentive option are disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and
one-year holding periods described above (a "disqualifying disposition"),
generally (i) the optionee will realize ordinary income in the year of
disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value
of the shares of Common Stock at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized
on a
sale of such shares of Common Stock) over the option price thereof, and (ii)
the
Company will be entitled to deduct such amount. Special rules will apply where
all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive option is paid by
tendering shares of Common Stock. If an incentive option is exercised at a
time
when it no longer qualifies for the tax treatment described above, the option
is
treated as a non-qualified option. Generally, an incentive option will not
be
eligible for the tax treatment described above if it is exercised more than
three months following termination of employment (or one year in the case of
termination of employment by reason of disability). In the case of termination
of employment by reason of death, the three-month rule does not apply.
Non-Qualified
Options.
With
respect to non-qualified options under the Plans, no income is realized by
the
optionee at the time the option is granted. Generally (i) at exercise, ordinary
income is realized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between
the option price and the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on
the
date of exercise, and the Company receives a tax deduction for the same amount,
and (ii) at disposition, appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise
is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending
on
how long the shares of Common Stock have been held. Special rules will apply
where all or a portion of the exercise price of the non-qualified option is
paid
by tendering shares of Common Stock. Upon exercise, the optionee will also
be
subject to FICA taxes on the excess of the fair market value over the exercise
price of the option.
Parachute
Payments. The
vesting of any portion of an option or other award that is accelerated due
to
the occurrence of a change in control may cause a portion of the payments with
respect to such accelerated awards to be treated as "parachute payments" as
defined in the Code. Any such parachute payments may be non-deductible to the
Company, in whole or in part, and may subject the recipient to a non-deductible
20% federal excise tax on all or a portion of such payment (in addition to
other
taxes ordinarily payable).
Limitation
on the Company’s Deductions. As
a
result of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Company's deduction for certain awards
under the Plans may be limited to the extent that the Chief Executive Officer
or
other executive officer whose compensation is required to be reported in the
summary compensation table receives compensation in excess of $1 million a
year
(other than performance-based compensation that otherwise meets the requirements
of Section 162(m) of the Code).
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to amend and
restate the Company’s Plans to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock available for issuance thereunder by 5,000,000 shares.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
On
April
28, 2008, the Company engaged Brightman Almagor & Co., a member of Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu, (“Deloitte”) as its independent registered public accounting
firm, commencing with the review of the Company’s financial statements to be
included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB for the fiscal
quarter ended March 31, 2008. This action, which was approved by the Company’s
Audit Committee, dismisses Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst
& Young Global, (“Kost”), as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for the remainder of the fiscal year ending December 31,
2008. The
Board
of Directors is asking the Company's stockholders to ratify the appointment
of
Deloitte as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm.
Although ratification is not required by the Company's Bylaws or otherwise,
the
Board is submitting the appointment of Deloitte to the stockholders for
ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders do
not
ratify the selection of Deloitte as the Company's independent registered public
accounting firm, the Board will reconsider its selection. Even if the
appointment is ratified, the Board, in its discretion, may direct the
appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at
any
time during the year if the Board determines that such a change would be in
the
Company's and its stockholders' best interests. A representative of Deloitte
is
not expected to be present at the Meeting and will not have the opportunity
to
make a statement or be available to respond to appropriate questions from
stockholders. Kost is not expected to have a representative at the
Meeting.
Except
as
noted in the paragraph immediately below, Kost’s audit reports on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007
and 2006 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were
they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles.
The
reports of Kost on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and
for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, contained an explanatory
paragraph which noted its substantial doubt about the Company's ability to
continue to operate as a going concern by (i) the fact that the Company has
incurred operating losses and has a negative cash flow from operating activities
and has a working capital deficiency and (ii) the uncertainty which may result
from one of the Company’s research and development license agreements. The
reports also noted that the Company’s financial statements do not include any
adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and
classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that
may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
During
the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and through the
current date, there were no disagreements between the Company and Kost on any
matter of accounting principle or practice, financial statement disclosure,
or
auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Kost’s satisfaction, would
have caused it to make reference to the matter in conjunction with its report
on
the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the relevant
year.
Except
as
noted in the paragraph immediately below, during the Company’s fiscal years
ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and through the current date there were no
reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation
S-K.
As
disclosed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007, a material weakness was identified, as the Company
did
not maintain effective controls over certain aspects of the financial reporting
process because it lacked a sufficient complement of personnel with a level
of
accounting expertise and an adequate supervisory review structure that is
commensurate with the Company’s financial reporting requirements. Specifically,
the Company’s Chief Financial Officer handles certain accounting issues of the
Company alone as there is no one in the Company’s accounting and finance
departments who is qualified to assist him.
During
the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and through the
current date, neither the Company, nor anyone on behalf of the Company,
consulted with Deloitte with respect to either (i) the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the
type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided by Deloitte
to the
Company that Deloitte concluded was an important factor considered by the
Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing, or financial
reporting issue or (ii) any matter that was the subject of either a disagreement
(as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event
(as
described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
The
Company provided Kost with a copy of the foregoing statements and requested
that
Kost furnish the Company a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange
Commission stating whether or not Kost agrees with the above statements.
The
Company will file such letter as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K
once
it is received.
The
Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment
of
Brightman Almagor & Co., a member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, as the
Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal
year.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
Independence
of Members of Board of Directors
The
Board
of Directors has determined that each of Dr. Arbel, Dr. Javitt, Mr. Lion
and Dr.
Shorr, constituting all of the directors of the Company, satisfies the criteria
for being an “independent director” under the standards of the Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) and has no material relationship with the Company other
than by virtue of service on the Board of Directors.
Board
Meetings
The
Board
of Directors held 4 meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of
meetings of the Board of Directors during the time each has served in 2007.
Committees
of the Board
On
February 7, 2008, the Board of Directors established a standing Audit Committee
in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,
which assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities to
stockholders concerning the Company’s financial reporting and internal controls,
and facilitates open communication among the Audit Committee, Board of
Directors, outside auditors and management. The Audit Committee discusses
with
management and the Company’s outside auditors the financial information
developed by the Company, the Company’s systems of internal controls and the
Company’s audit process. The Audit Committee is solely and directly responsible
for appointing, evaluating, retaining and, when necessary, terminating the
engagement of the independent auditor. The independent auditors meet with
the
Audit Committee (both with and without the presence of the Company’s management)
to review and discuss various matters pertaining to the audit, including
the
Company’s financial statements, the report of the independent auditors on the
results, scope and terms of their work, and their recommendations concerning
the
financial practices, controls, procedures and policies employed by the Company.
The Audit Committee preapproves all audit services to be provided to the
Company, whether provided by the principal auditor or other firms, and all
other
services (review, attest and non-audit) to be provided to the Company by
the
independent auditor. The Audit Committee coordinates the Board of Directors’
oversight of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, disclosure
controls and procedures and code of conduct. The Audit Committee is charged
with
establishing procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of
complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous
submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee reviews all related party
transactions on an ongoing basis, and all such transactions must be approved
by
the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is authorized, without further action
by the Board of Directors, to engage such independent legal, accounting and
other advisors as it deems necessary or appropriate to carry out its
responsibilities. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for
the
Audit Committee, which is available in the corporate governance section of
the
Company’s website at www.brainstorm-cell.com.
The
Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. Lion (Chairman) and Drs. Arbel
and
Shorr, each of whom is independent as defined under applicable Nasdaq listing
standards.
The
Board
of Directors does not have a standing nominating committee, instead each member
of the Board of Directors participates in the consideration of director
nominees. Due to the size of the Company, the Board of Directors does not
currently have a policy regarding stockholder recommendations of director
nominees. The Board of Directors does not have any specific, minimum
qualifications for director nominees, but considers a variety of factors in
selecting director nominees, including, but not limited to the following:
integrity, education, business acumen, knowledge of the Company's business
and
industry, age, experience, diligence, conflicts of interest and the ability
to
act in the interests of all stockholders.
Due
to
the size of the Company, the Board of Directors does not have a standing
compensation committee. Each member of the Board of Directors participates
in
the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation.
Executive officers suggest proposed executive compensation, but the Board is
the
sole decision-maker. Director compensation is reviewed by the Board on a yearly
basis.
Family
Relationships
There
are
no family relationships between the executive officers or directors of the
Company.
Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings
None.
Code
of Ethics
On
May
27, 2005, our Board of Directors adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
that applies to, among other persons, members of our Board of Directors, our
officers, including our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive
officer), our President, our Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial
and accounting officer), contractors, consultants and advisors. The Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics is available in the corporate governance section
of
the Company’s website at www.brainstorm-cell.com.
Communication
with the Board of Directors
Due
to
the size of the Company, the Company has no formal process for stockholders
to
send communications to the Board of Directors. Stockholders may send written
communications to the Board of Directors or any individual members to the
Company's offices, 110 East 59th Street, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10022. All
such communications will be relayed accordingly, except for mass mailings,
job
inquiries, surveys, business solicitations or advertisements, or patently
offensive or otherwise inappropriate material.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Current
Executive Officers
Set
forth
below is a summary description of the principal occupation and business
experience of each of the Company's executive officers:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Abraham
Efrati
|
|
58
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Chaim
Lebovits
|
|
37
|
|
President
|
David
Stolick
|
|
42
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Abraham
(Rami) Efrati joined the Company in October 2007 as our Chief Executive Officer.
In 2004, Mr. Efrati founded, and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of,
Pro-Int Ltd., a private company. In 2005, Mr. Efrati co-founded, and is
currently the Chief Executive Officer of, TeleFlight Technologies Ltd., a
technology company specializing in research and development of micro electronics
solutions mainly oriented for unmanned systems. From 1997 until
2004, Mr. Efrati served as the Vice President, Sales, Business Development
and Marketing for the government project division of NICE-Systems Ltd., a
leading provider of solutions that capture, manage and analyze unstructured
multimedia content and transactional data enabling companies and public
organizations to enhance business and operational performance, address security
threats and behave proactively.
Chaim
Lebovits joined the Company in July 2007 as our President. Mr. Lebovits controls
ACC Holdings, a holding company which controls three subsidiaries: (i) C&L
Natural Resources; (ii) ACC Resources; and (iii) ACCBT. C&L Natural
Resources focuses on oil production in West Africa and operates an oil and
gas
field with proven reserves of 20 million barrels of oil and an option to
discover up to an additional 100 million barrels of oil. ACC Resources
holds 10 permits for gold exploration in Burkina Faso. ACCBT focuses on new
and emerging biotechnologies. Mr. Lebovits has been at the forefront of mining
and natural resource management in the African region for close to a decade.
David
Stolick joined the Company in February 2005 as our Chief Financial Officer.
From
January 1995 to April 2005, Mr. Stolick was Corporate Controller of M-Systems
Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd., a NASDAQ listed company. In 1994, he served as Deputy
Controller of Electronics Line Ltd., an Israeli publicly traded company, and
from 1991 until 1994 he was Audit Manager at Goldstein, Sabbo, and Tebet
Accountants. Mr. Stolick holds a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from
Ben-Gurion University. He has been qualified as a certified accountant in Israel
since 1993.
Executive
Compensation
Summary
Compensation
The
following table sets forth certain summary information with respect to the
compensation paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and the
12-month period ended December 31, 2006 earned by each of the following
individuals: (i) the Chief Executive Officer, (ii) the President, (iii) the
Chief Financial Officer and (iv) the former Chief Operating Officer (together,
the “Named Executive Officers”). In the table below, columns required by the
regulations of the SEC have been omitted where no information was required
to be
disclosed under those columns.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE (*)
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
(1)
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Option
Awards
($) (2)
|
|
All
Other Compensation ($)(3)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Abraham
(Rami) Efrati
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
39,565
|
|
|
46,130
|
|
|
11,468
|
|
|
97,163
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chaim
Lebovits
President
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
Stolick
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
|
86,931
85,127
|
|
|
299,365
355,869
|
|
|
34,057
34,703
|
|
|
420,353
475,699
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yoram
Drucker
Former
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
|
73,460
78,688
|
|
|
276,385
321,504
|
|
|
30,833
32,201
|
|
|
380,678
432,393
|
|
(*)Each
of the Named Executive Officers is paid in New Israeli Shekel (NIS); the amounts
above are the U.S. dollar equivalent. The conversion rate used was the average
of the end of month’s rate between the U.S. dollar and the New Israeli Shekels
(NIS) as published by the Bank of Israel, the central bank of Israel.
(1)
On
September 17, 2006, the Company changed its fiscal year end from March 31 to
December 31. The table above shows compensation for the 12-month period ended
December 31, 2006. Accordingly, the amounts shown for December 31, 2006 include
amounts paid for the period from January 1, 2006 through March 31,
2006.
(2)
The
value of the option awards are determined in accordance with SFAS 123(R) as
disclosed in Footnote 2(j) to the Consolidated Financial Statements
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2007. There can be no assurance that the amounts calculated under SFAS
123(R) will be realized and amounts realized could ultimately exceed the amounts
calculated under SFAS 123(R).
(3)
Includes management insurance (which includes pension, disability insurance
and
severance pay), payments towards such employee’s education fund, amounts paid
for use of a Company car and Israeli social security.
Executive
Employment Agreement and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control
Arrangements
Abraham
Efrati. Pursuant
to his employment agreement dated October 7, 2007, Mr. Efrati is entitled to
an
initial base salary of 50,000 NIS per month (approximately
$14,285).
Mr.
Efrati is entitled to coverage under our Manager’s Insurance Policy. Mr. Efrati
is also entitled to an education fund and the use of a Company car.
Mr.
Efrati’s employment under his employment agreement is “at will”. It may be
terminated by him upon giving notice of ninety (90) days prior to his departure
until the first anniversary of his employment and upon notice of one hundred
and
eighty (180) days notice after the first anniversary. The Company may terminate
Mr. Efrati’s employment with the same amount of notice, however the Company may
also terminate Mr. Efrati by giving payment for the notice period in lieu of
prior notice and may terminate Mr. Efrati without any notice or any compensation
whatsoever if such termination is for cause (as “cause” is defined in Mr.
Efrati’s employment agreement).
Mr.
Efrati has also agreed not to compete with the Company or solicit the Company’s
customers or employees during the term of his employment and for a period of
twelve (12) months following the termination of his employment for any reason.
Chaim
Lebovits. On February 11, 2008, the
Company agreed that it would provide Mr. Lebovits with a salary of 37,450 NIS
per month (approximately $10,400) starting February 15, 2008. The Company and
Mr. Lebovits have not yet entered into a written agreement.
David
Stolick.
Pursuant
to his employment agreement effective as of February 13, 2005 (the “Stolick
Effective Date”), Mr. Stolick was entitled to an initial base salary of 20,000
NIS per month (approximately $4,470), which was increased six (6) months
subsequent to the Stolick Effective Date, to 28,000 NIS per month. Mr. Stolick
was granted, pursuant to the Company’s Global Plan, options to purchase 400,000
shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price per share of $0.75 each, which
options will vest and become exercisable in thirty-six equal monthly
installments from the Stolick Effective Date. These options shall be exercisable
by Mr. Stolick for a ten (10) year period following the Stolick Effective Date,
but in any case not later than two (2) years after termination of the agreement.
Mr. Stolick is entitled to coverage under the Company’s Directors’ and Officers’
liability insurance policy and to a written undertaking from the Company and
its
subsidiary to indemnify and release him to the full extent possible in
accordance with the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999 and the applicable laws
of
the State of Delaware.
Mr.
Stolick’s employment agreement has no stated term and is terminable by either
party upon 90 days prior notice or by the Company without prior notice in the
event of a termination for cause. In the event that Mr. Stolick resigns as
a
result of constructive discharge, or in the event of termination of employment
by reason of Mr. Stolick’s disability or death, 67% of the remaining unvested
options granted to Mr. Stolick shall vest immediately as of the date of the
notice of termination, and Mr. Stolick or his successor shall be entitled to
exercise the vested options from the date of such termination until the earlier
of two (2) years thereafter or their expiration date. Mr. Stolick is prohibited,
during the term of his employment and for a period of 12 months thereafter,
from
competing with the Company or its subsidiary or soliciting any of the Company’s
or its subsidiary’s customers or employees.
Termination
Agreement with Yoram Drucker
On
December 17, 2007, the Company entered into a Termination Agreement (the
"Termination Agreement") with Yoram Drucker, the Company's former Chief
Operating Officer and former principal executive officer.
Under
the
Termination Agreement, the Company and Mr. Drucker agreed to terminate their
employment relationship effective November 15, 2007. Pursuant to the Termination
Agreement, the Company will pay in 7 monthly installments beginning on January
1, 2008 a total of $60,000 to Mr. Drucker, which represents compensation accrued
but unpaid prior to November 15, 2007. Under the Termination Agreement, options
granted on November 16, 2004 to Mr. Drucker to acquire 685,760 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share are fully vested
and are exercisable until November 15, 2011. The options granted to Mr. Drucker
on May 2, 2006 to acquire 100,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an
exercise price of $0.15 per share are fully vested and are exercisable until
November 15, 2009. The options granted to Mr. Drucker on March 21, 2007 to
acquire 250,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of
$0.47 per share will continue to vest and be exercisable in accordance with
the
Option Agreement between Mr. Drucker and the Company dated March 31, 2007 as
if
his employment continued throughout the entire vesting period and will expire
on
March 21, 2010. All other options previously granted to Mr. Drucker were
forfeited to the Company as of the date of the Termination
Agreement.
Under
the
Termination Agreement, Mr. Drucker released the Company from any and all claims
arising out of or related to his employment or termination from employment
with
the Company, except for (i) claims based on the enforcement of the Termination
Agreement and (ii) claims based on events occurring after the date of the
Termination Agreement.
Outstanding
Equity Awards
The
following table sets forth information regarding equity awards granted to any
Named Executive Officer that are outstanding as of December 31, 2007. In the
table below, columns required by the regulations of the SEC have been omitted
where no information was required to be disclosed under those
columns.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2007
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
Exercisable
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#)
Unexercisable
|
|
Option
Exercise Price
($)
|
|
Option
Expiration Date
|
|
Abraham
(Rami) Efrati
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
(1) |
|
0.87
|
|
|
October
23, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chaim
Lebovits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
Stolick
|
|
|
377,778
|
|
|
22,222
|
(2) |
|
0.15
|
|
|
February
13, 2015
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
May
1, 2016
|
|
|
|
|
87,500
|
|
|
262,500
|
(3) |
|
0.47
|
|
|
March
20, 2017
|
|
Yoram
Drucker
|
|
|
685,760
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
November
15, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.15
|
|
|
November
15, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
187,500
|
(4) |
|
0.47
|
|
|
March
20, 2010
|
|
(1)
Mr.
Efrati has the right to exercise 1/6 of the option each six-month anniversary
of
the grant date, October 15, 2007, at $0.87 per share until October 15,
2010.
(2)
Mr.
Stolick has the right to exercise 11,111 shares each month starting January
13,
2008 at $0.15 per share until Febraury 13, 2008.
(3)
Mr.
Stolick has the right to exercise 9,722 shares each month starting January
20,
2008 at $0.47 per share until March 20, 2010.
(4)
Mr.
Drucker has the right to exercise 6,944 shares each month starting January
20,
2008 at $0.47 per share until March 20, 2010.
Stock
Incentive Plans
In
November 2004 and February 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted and
ratified the Global Plan and the U.S. Plan, respectively, and further approved
the reservation of 9,143,462 shares of the Company’s Common Stock for issuance
thereunder. The Company’s stockholders approved the Plans and the shares
reserved for issuance thereunder at a special meeting of stockholders that
was
held on March 28, 2005.
Under
the
Global Plan, the Company granted a total of 8,161,778 options with various
exercise prices (a weighted average exercise price of $0.376 and expiration
dates, to service providers, subcontractors, directors, officers, and employees.
Under the U.S. Plan, the Company issued an additional 830,000 shares of
restricted stock and options to Scientific Advisory Board members, consultants,
and directors. As of March 31, 2008, there were 151,684 shares available for
issuance under the Plans.
Director
Compensation
The
following table sets forth certain summary information with respect to the
compensation paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 earned by
each
of the directors of the Company. In the table below, columns required by the
regulations of the SEC have been omitted where no information was required
to be
disclosed under those columns.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or
Paid
in
Cash
($)
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(1)
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
(1)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Dr.
Irit Arbel (*)
|
|
|
11,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
116,750
|
(2)
|
|
127,750
|
|
Michael
Greenfield (Ben Ari) (*)(3)
|
|
|
5,500
|
|
|
115,285
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
120,785
|
|
Dr.
Robert Shorr
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
|
80,383
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
90,833
|
|
Dr.
Moshe Lion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,300
|
(6) |
|
75,300
|
|
Dr.
Jonathan Javitt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
83,600
|
(7) |
|
83,600
|
|
(*)
Dr.
Irit Arbel and Michael Greenfield (Ben Ari) are paid in New Israeli Shekel
(NIS); the amounts above are the U.S. dollar equivalent. The conversion rate
used was the average of the end of month’s rate between the U.S. dollar and the
New Israeli Shekels (NIS) as published by the Bank of Israel, the central bank
of Israel.
(1)
The
value of the stock awards and the option awards are determined in accordance
with SFAS 123(R) as disclosed in Footnote 2(j) to the Consolidated
Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2007. There can be no assurance that the amounts
calculated under SFAS 123(R) will be realized and amounts realized could
ultimately exceed the amounts calculated under SFAS 123(R).
(2)
At
December 31, 2007, options to purchase 300,000 shares of Common Stock granted
to
Dr. Arbel were outstanding.
(3)
Mr.
Greenfield resigned as a director on August 27, 2007.
(4)
At
December 31, 2007, Mr. Greenfield held an aggregate of 300,000 restricted
shares.
(5)
At
December 31, 2007, Dr. Shorr held an aggregate of 300,000 restricted
shares.
(6)
At
December 31, 2007, options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock granted
to
Mr. Lion were outstanding.
(7)
At
December 31, 2007, options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock granted
to
Dr. Javitt were outstanding.
We
reimburse our directors for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with attending board meetings. On May 27, 2005, we
approved the following compensation for non-employee directors beginning with
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006: (i) annual retainer of $10,000; (ii)
meeting participation fees of $1,000 for each board meeting or duly constituted
committee thereof attended in person; and (iii) $500 for each meeting attended
by telephone.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
The
Audit
Committee approves all related party transactions to which the Company is a
party.
Research
and License Agreement with Ramot
On
July
8, 2004, we entered into our Research and License Agreement (the “Original Ramot
Agreement”) with Ramot, the technology licensing company of Tel Aviv University,
which Agreement was amended on March 30, 2006 by the Amended Research and
License Agreement (described below). Under the terms of the Original Ramot
Agreement, Ramot granted to us an exclusive license to (i) the know-how and
patent applications on the above-mentioned stem cell technology developed by
the
team led by Prof. Melamed and Dr. Offen, and (ii) the results of further
research to be performed by the same team on the development of the stem cell
technology. Simultaneously with the execution of the Original Ramot Agreement,
we entered into individual consulting agreements with Prof. Melamed and Dr.
Offen pursuant to which all intellectual property developed by Prof. Melamed
or
Dr. Offen in the performance of services thereunder will be owned by Ramot
and
licensed to us under the Original Ramot Agreement.
As
of
November 4, 2004, we entered into three-year consulting agreements with Prof.
Melamed and Dr. Offen, under which we paid each of them an annual consulting
fee
of $72,000 and we issued each of them warrants to purchase 1,097,215 shares
of
our Common Stock (each grant equaling 3% of our issued and outstanding shares
at
such time). Each of the warrants is exercisable for a five-year period beginning
on November 4, 2005. The consulting agreements expired in November 2007 and
we
are currently in the final stage of negotiations with Prof. Melamed and Dr.
Offen to renew the agreements.
Under
the
Original Ramot Agreement, we agreed to fund further research relating to the
licensed technology in an amount of $570,000 per year for an initial period
of
two years, and for an additional two-year period if certain research milestones
are met.
In
consideration for the license, we originally agreed to pay Ramot:
·
|
|
An
up-front license fee payment of
$100,000;
|
·
|
|
An
amount equal to 5% of all Net Sales of Products (as those terms are
defined in the Original Ramot Agreement);
and
|
·
|
|
An
amount equal to 30% of all Sublicense Receipts (as such term is defined
in
the Original Ramot Agreement).
|
In
addition, under the Original Ramot Agreement, we issued to Ramot and its
designees, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 10,606,415 shares of our Common
Stock (29% of our issued and outstanding shares as of November 4, 2004). Each
of
the warrants is exercisable for a five-year period beginning on November 4,
2005.
On
March
30, 2006, we entered into an Amended Research and License Agreement (the
“Amended Research and License Agreement”) with Ramot. Under the Amended Research
and License Agreement, the funding of further research relating to the licensed
technology in an amount of $570,000 per year has been reduced to $380,000 per
year. Moreover, under the Amended Research and License Agreement, the initial
period of time that we have agreed to fund the research has been extended from
an initial period of two (2) years to an initial period of three (3) years.
The
Amended Research and License Agreement also extends the additional two-year
period in the Original Ramot Agreement to an additional three-year period,
if
certain research milestones are met. In addition, the Amended Research and
License Agreement reduces certain royalties payments that we may have to pay
from five percent (5%) to three percent (3%) of all Net Sales (as defined
therein) in cases of third party royalties. The Amended Research and License
Agreement also reduces potential payments concerning sublicenses from 30% to
20-25% of Sublicense Receipts (as defined in the agreement).
We
entered into a Second Amended and Restated Research and License Agreement with
Ramot on July 26, 2007. Like the Original Ramot Agreement, the amended license
agreement imposes on us development and commercialization obligations, milestone
and royalty payment obligations and other obligations. As of June 30, 2007,
we
owed Ramot an aggregate of $513,249 in overdue payments and patent fees
under the
original license agreement with Ramot. On August 1, 2007, we obtained a waiver
and release from Ramot pursuant to which Ramot agreed to an amended payment
schedule regarding our payment obligations under the amended license agreement
and waived all claims against us resulting from our previous breaches, defaults
and non-payment under the original license agreement. The payments described
in
the waiver and release cover all of our payment obligations (including interest)
that were past due and not yet due pursuant to the Original Ramot Agreement.
The
waiver and release amends and restates the original payment schedule under
the
Original Ramot Agreement as follows:
Payment
Date
|
|
Amount
|
|
September
5, 2007
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
November
20, 2007
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
February
20, 2008
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
May
20, 2008
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
August
4, 2008
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
In
addition, in the event that the “research period”, as defined in the license
agreement, is extended for an additional three year period in accordance with
the terms of the license agreement, then we must make the following payments
to
Ramot during the first year of the extended research period:
Payment
Date
|
|
Amount
|
|
August
4, 2008
|
|
$
|
60,000
|
|
November
20, 2008
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
February
20, 2009
|
|
$
|
170,000
|
|
If
we
fail to make a payment to Ramot on any required payment date, and we do not
cure
the default within seven business days of notice of the default, all claims
of
Ramot against us which were waived and released by the waiver and release will
be reinstated. On April 8, 2008, we entered into an agreement with Ramot to
postpone the February 20th
payment
of $150,000 until April 25, 2008, which has now been paid.
In
addition, on August 1, 2007, we entered into the Second Amended and Restated
Registration Rights Agreement with Ramot. The amended Registration Rights
Agreement provides Ramot with demand and piggyback registration rights whereby
if we propose to register any of our Common Stock under the Securities Act
of
1933, as amended, for sale for our own account including for the account of
any
of our shareholders or for ACCBT’s account in connection with the public
offering of such Common Stock, then Ramot may request that we file, or include
within a registration statement to be filed, the shares of Common Stock
underlying the warrants held by Ramot.
Investment
Agreement with ACCBT Corp.
On
July
2, 2007, we entered into a Subscription Agreement with ACCBT, a company under
the control of Mr. Chaim Lebovits, our newly appointed President, pursuant
to
which we agreed to sell (i) up to 27,500,000 shares of our Common Stock for
an
aggregate subscription price of up to $5.0 million, and (ii) for no additional
consideration, warrants to purchase up to 30,250,000 shares of our Common Stock.
Subject to certain closing conditions, separate closings of the purchase and
sale of the shares and the warrants are scheduled to take place from August
30,
2007 through November 15, 2008. The warrants will have the following exercise
prices: (i) warrants for the first 10,083,333 shares of our Common Stock will
have an exercise price of $0.20; (ii) warrants for the next 10,083,333 shares
of
our Common Stock will have an exercise price of $0.29; and (iii) warrants for
the final 10,083,334 shares of our Common Stock will have an exercise price
of
$0.36. Because of our recent resolution and restructuring of the amounts owed
by
us to Ramot under the Ramot license agreement, ACCBT elected to accelerate
the
date of the first closing under the Subscription Agreement from August 30,
2007
to August 10, 2007. Therefore, on August 20, 2007, we received an aggregate
of
$1,000,000 from ACCBT, and, in connection therewith, ACCBT agreed to apply
the
principal amounts outstanding under the $250,000 convertible promissory note,
dated as of May 6, 2007, issued to ACCBT by the Company towards the $5 million
aggregate subscription price under the subscription agreement in exchange for
shares of Common Stock (at which point the promissory note was cancelled).
Accordingly, we issued to ACCBT an aggregate of 6,875,000 shares of Common
Stock
and a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 7,562,500 shares of Common Stock.
In
November 2007, we received an aggregate of $750,000 from ACCBT, and we issued
to
ACCBT an aggregate of 4,125,000 shares of Common Stock and a warrant to purchase
an aggregate of 4,537,500 shares of Common Stock. On April 3, 2008, we closed
a
transaction where we received an aggregate of $750,000 from ACCBT and a
permitted assignee, and we issued 2,125,000 shares of Common Stock to the
permitted assignee, 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to ACCBT and a warrant
to
purchase an aggregate of 4,537,500 shares of Common Stock to ACCBT.
As
a
condition to each closing under the Subscription Agreement, the market price
per
share of our Common Stock may not be 10% less than the bid price per share
under
the subscription agreement on any trading day between 30 and 10 days prior
to
any given closing date. If at any time prior to the first closing date we issue
shares of Common Stock or others securities convertible into, exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock, then the number of shares to be issued to ACCBT
under the Subscription Agreement and the price per share will be adjusted so
that ACCBT will have the right to purchase up to 52.35% of our equity on a
fully
diluted as converted basis (assuming ACCBT purchases all of the shares and
exercises in full all of the warrants subject to the Subscription Agreement)
and
50.02% of the issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock (assuming ACCBT
invests the full $5.0 million).
Pursuant
to the Subscription Agreement, ACCBT and certain other security holders of
the Company holding at least 31% of the issued and outstanding shares of our
Common Stock entered into a Security Holders Agreement. The security holders
party to the Security Holders Agreement agreed, upon the payment by ACCBT of
its
first $1.0 million under the Subscription Agreement, to vote all of their shares
such that ACCBT’s nominees to our Board of Directors will constitute a minimum
of 40% of the Board of Directors, and, upon the payment by ACCBT of its second
$1.0 million, to vote all of their shares such that ACCBT’s nominees will
constitute a minimum of 50.1% of the Board of Directors. However, if ACCBT
stops
making payments after the first closing date such that ACCBT pays us less than
$4.0 million, ACCBT will be entitled to appoint only 40% of the members of
our
Board of Directors. To date, ACCBT has paid $2.75 million pursuant to the
Subscription Agreement and therefore has the right to nominate 50.1% of the
Board of Directors under the Security Holders Agreement. ACCBT has previously
designated Dr. Jonathan C. Javitt and Moshe Lion as its nominees for election
to
the Company’s Board of Directors.
The
security holders who are parties to the Security Holders Agreement also agreed,
for so long as ACCBT holds at least 5% of the issued and outstanding shares
of
our Common Stock, not to vote any of their shares to approve the following
matters, without the written consent of ACCBT: (i) any change in our certificate
of incorporation or bylaws, or alteration of our capital structure; (ii) the
declaration or payment of a dividend or the making of any distributions; (iii)
the taking of any steps to liquidate, dissolve, wind-up or otherwise terminate
our corporate existence; or (iv) the entering into any transaction the effect
of
which would place control of our business in the hands of an arm’s length third
party.
In
connection with the Subscription Agreement, we agreed to issue, as a finder’s
fee, an aggregate of 1,250,000 shares of our Common Stock to Tayside Trading
Ltd. or its assigns. The shares will be issued pro rata to the funds received
from ACCBT on each closing date under the subscription agreement. As of April
3,
2008, 687,500 shares have been issued to the assignee of Tayside Trading
Ltd.
Transfer
of Warrant from Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd. to ACCBT
Corp.
Pursuant
to the terms of a Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated August 2, 2007, between
Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd. and ACCBT, Ramot agreed to transfer and sell
to ACCBT (or to certain parties that may be designated by ACCBT), a warrant
to
purchase an aggregate of 3,181,925 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate
purchase price of $636,385. The warrant is exercisable at any time for an
exercise price per share equal to $0.01. The warrant will expire on November
4,
2012. On September 6, 2007, ACCBT acquired a warrant from Ramot to purchase
an
aggregate of 1,181,925 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate purchase
price of $236,385. ACCBT designated other purchasers to acquire the remaining
warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock. On September 10,
2007, ACCBT exercised the warrant for the entire 1,181,925 shares of our Common
Stock for an aggregate exercise price of $11,819.
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees
The
following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Kost
for the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007 and for the 9-month transition period ended December 31,
2006
and fees billed for other services rendered by Kost during those
periods.
|
|
December
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
Audit
Fees (1)
|
|
$
|
72,000
|
|
$
|
52,083
|
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
|
All
Other Fees (2)
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
Total
Fees
|
|
$
|
78,500
|
|
$
|
77,083
|
|
|
(1)
|
Audit
fees are comprised of fees for professional services performed by
Kost for
the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements and the review of
the Company’s quarterly financial statements, as well as other services
provided by Kost in connection with statutory and regulatory filings
or
engagements.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
All
other fees for 2006 are comprised of fees for professional services
performed by Kost in connection with the Company’s initial public offering
in Israel. In 2007, all other fees consisted of an audit of the annual
report for the Israeli Office of Chief
Scientist.
|
We
did
not use Kost for financial information system design and implementation. These
services, which include designing or implementing a system that aggregates
source data underlying the financial statements and generates information that
is significant to our financial statements, are provided internally or by other
service providers. We did not engage Kost to provide compliance outsourcing
services.
Pre-approval
Policies
Prior
to
the establishment of our Audit Committee, the Board of Directors pre-approved
all services provided by our independent auditors. All of the above services
and
fees were reviewed and approved by the Board before the services were rendered.
Our Audit Committee is now responsible for pre-approving all services provided
by our independent auditors.
The
Board
of Directors has considered the nature and amount of fees billed by Kost and
believes that the provision of services for activities unrelated to the audit
is
compatible with maintaining Kost's independence.
Audit
Committee Financial Expert
The
Board
of Directors has determined that Moshe Lion is an “audit committee financial
expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-B. Mr. Lion is
independent as defined under applicable Nasdaq listing standards.
Audit
Committee Report
The
Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed the Company's
audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 with
the Company's management. The Audit Committee has discussed with Kost, the
Company's independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required
to
be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61. The Audit Committee
has received the written disclosures and the letter from Kost required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and has discussed with Kost its
independence. The Audit Committee has also considered whether Kost's provision
of non-audit services to the Company is compatible with maintaining Kost's
independence. Based on such reviews and discussions, among other things, the
Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial
statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
|
AUDIT
COMMITTEE
|
|
|
|
Moshe
Lion (Chairman)
|
|
Dr.
Irit Arbel
|
|
Dr.
Robert Shorr
|
The
information contained in the foregoing Audit Committee Report shall not be
deemed to be "soliciting material" or "filed" or incorporated by reference
into
any of the Company's previous or future filings with the SEC, or subject to
the
liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent specifically
incorporated by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended or the Exchange Act.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act requires our executive officers and
directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our Common Stock (collectively,
the "Reporting Persons"), to file reports regarding ownership of, and
transactions in, our securities with the Securities and Exchange
Commission
and
to
provide us with copies of those filings. Based solely on our review of the
copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from the
Reporting Persons, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007, all Reporting Persons complied with the applicable requirements of Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act, except for the following:
|
·
|
ACCBT
Corp. filed its Form 3 late, reporting two transactions
late.
|
|
·
|
ACCBT
Corp. filed three late Form 4s, reporting a total of seventeen
transactions late.
|
|
·
|
Each
of Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., Tel Aviv University Economic
Corp.
Ltd. and Tel Aviv University filed one late Form 4, reporting one
transaction late.
|
|
·
|
Drs.
Arbel, Javitt and Shorr and Mr. Greenfield each filed one late Form
4,
reporting one transaction late.
|
There
are
no known failures to file a required Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5.
Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB
Together
with this Proxy Statement, the Company is sending a copy of its 2007 Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB (without exhibits) to all of its stockholders of record
as
of April 10, 2008. The 2007 Annual Report contains the Company's audited
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007
and the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2006.
Other
Matters
The
Board
of Directors does not know of any other matters which may come before the
Meeting. However, if any other matters are properly presented at the Meeting,
it
is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote, or
otherwise act, in accordance with their judgment on such matters. Discretionary
authority for them to do so is contained in the enclosed proxy
card.
An
adjournment of the Meeting may be made from time to time by the chairman of
the
Meeting or by approval of the holders of shares representing a majority of
the
votes present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, whether or not a quorum
exists. In their discretion, the proxies named in the proxy card are authorized
to vote upon any adjournment of the Meeting.
Stockholder
Proposals
Proposals
of stockholders intended for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement for
the
annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2009 or special meeting of
stockholders held in lieu thereof in accordance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated
under the Exchange Act, must be received by the Company at its principal
executive offices at the following address: Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.,
110 East 59th Street, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10022 not later than
December 30, 2008 in order to be included in the Company's proxy statement
relating to the 2009 Meeting. Any such proposal must also comply with the
requirements as to form and substance established by the SEC in order to be
included in the proxy statement relating to the 2009 meeting of
stockholders.
Pursuant
to Rule 14a-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act ("Rule 14a-4"), stockholders
who wish to make a proposal at the 2009 meeting of stockholders, other than
a
proposal intended for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement for the 2009
meeting of stockholders, must notify the Company not later than March 18, 2009.
If a shareholder who wishes to present such a proposal fails to notify the
Company by March 18, 2009, and such proposal is brought before the 2009 meeting
of stockholders, then under the SEC's proxy rules, the proxies solicited by
management with respect to such meeting will confer discretionary voting
authority with respect to such stockholder proposal on those persons selected
by
management to vote the proxies. Even if a stockholder makes a timely
notification, those persons selected by management to vote the proxies may
still
exercise discretionary voting authority under circumstances consistent with
Rule
14a-4.
In
order
to curtail controversy as to the date on which a proposal was received by the
Company, it is suggested that stockholders submit any proposals they might
have
by certified mail, return receipt requested to the Company.
Incorporation
by Reference
The
SEC
allows the Company to incorporate information "by reference" into this Proxy
Statement, which means that we may disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference herein is deemed to be a part of this Proxy Statement
and is being delivered to you with this Proxy Statement.
This
Proxy Statement incorporates by reference our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, a copy of which (without exhibits) is
being delivered to you with this Proxy Statement and which contains important
information about the Company that is not set forth in this Proxy Statement.
A
copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (with exhibits) has also been filed
with the SEC and may be accessed from the SEC's homepage at www.sec.gov and
from
the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.brainstorm-cell.com
and may
be obtained without charge upon written request to Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics
Inc., 110 East 59th Street, 25th Floor, Attention: Chief Financial
Officer.
|
|
|
|
By
Order of the
Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas
B. Rosedale, Secretary |
|
Boston,
Massachusetts
April 29, 2008
|
Exhibit
A
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
AMENDED
AND RESTATED 2004 GLOBAL SHARE OPTION PLAN
This
plan, as amended from time to time, shall be known as the BrainStorm Cell
Therapeutics Inc. 2004 Global Share Option Plan (the "GLOBAL
PLAN").
1.
PURPOSE OF THE GLOBAL PLAN
The
Global Plan is intended to provide an incentive to retain, in the employ of
the
Company (as defined below) and its affiliates, persons of training, experience
and ability; to attract new employees, directors, consultants and service
providers; to encourage the sense of proprietorship of such persons; and to
stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and financial
success of the Company by providing them with opportunities to purchase shares
in the Company.
2.
DEFINITIONS
For
purposes of interpreting the Global Plan and related documents (including the
Option Agreement and its appendixes), the following definitions shall
apply:
2.1
"BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.2
"CAUSE" means (i) conviction of any felony involving moral turpitude or
affecting the Company or its affiliates; (ii) any refusal to carry out a
reasonable directive of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Board or the
Optionee's direct supervisor, which involves the business of the Company or
its
affiliates and was capable of being lawfully performed; (iii) embezzlement
of
funds of the Company or its affiliates; (iv) any breach of the Optionee's
fiduciary duties or duties of care of the Company or its affiliates; including
without limitation disclosure of confidential information of the Company or
its
affiliates; and (v) any conduct (other than conduct in good faith) reasonably
determined by the Board to be materially detrimental to the Company or its
affiliates.
2.3
"CHAIRMAN" means the Chairman of the Committee.
2.4
"COMMITTEE" means a share option compensation committee of the Board, designated
from time to time by the resolution of the Board, which shall consist of no
fewer than two members of the Board.
2.5
"COMPANY” means Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., a Washington State
company.
2.6
"DATE
OF GRANT" means the date determined by the Board or authorized Committee as
set
forth in the Option Agreement.
2.7
"EMPLOYEE” means a person who is employed by the Company or any
affiliate.
2.8
"EXPIRATION DATE" means the date upon which an Option shall expire, as set
forth
in Section 8.2 of the Global Plan.
2.9
"FAIR
MARKET VALUE" means as of any date, the value of a Share determined as
follows:
(i) If
the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market
system, including without limitation the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ
National Market System or the NASDAQ SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value
shall be the last reported sale price for such Shares (or the highest closing
bid, if no sales were reported), as quoted on such exchange or system for the
last market trading day prior to time of determination, as reported in The
Wall
Street Journal, or such other source as the Board deems reliable; (ii) If the
Shares are regularly quoted by one or more recognized securities dealers, but
selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between
the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Shares on the last market
trading day prior to the day of determination; or (iii) In the absence of an
established market for the Shares, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be
determined in good faith by the Board.
2.10
"IPO" means the initial public offering of the Company's shares.
2.11
"OPTION" means an option to purchase one or more Shares pursuant to the Global
Plan.
2.12
"OPTIONEE" means a person who receives or holds an Option under the Global
Plan.
2.13
"OPTION AGREEMENT" means the share option agreement between the Company and
an
Optionee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an
Option.
2.14
"GLOBAL PLAN" means the Company's 2004 Global Share Option Plan.
2.15
"PURCHASE PRICE" means the price for each Share subject to an
Option.
2.16
"SERVICE PROVIDER" means a director, consultant or adviser of the Company or
any
affiliate, or any other person who is not an Employee.
2.17
"SHARE" means the common stock, 0.00005 par value, of the Company.
2.18
"SUCCESSOR COMPANY" means any entity into which the Company is merged to or
by
which the Company is acquired.
2.19
"TRANSACTION" means (i) merger, acquisition or reorganization of the Company
with one or more other entities in which the Company is not the surviving
entity, (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or shares of
the
Company to another entity.
2.20
"U.S. PLAN" means the BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. 2005 U.S. Stock Option
and Incentive Plan.
2.21
"VESTED OPTION" means any Option, which has already been vested according to
the
Vesting Dates.
2.22
"VESTING DATES" means, as determined by the Board or authorized Committee,
the
date as of which the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise Options or part
of
the Options as set forth in Section 9 of the Global Plan.
3.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GLOBAL PLAN
3.1
The
Board shall have the power to administer the Global Plan. To the extent
permitted under applicable law, the Board may delegate its powers under the
Global Plan, or any part thereof, to the Committee, in which case, any reference
to the Board in the Global Plan with respect to the rights so delegated shall
be
construed as reference to the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board shall automatically have residual authority (i) if no Committee shall
be
constituted, (ii) with respect to rights not delegated by the Board to the
Committee, or (iii) if such Committee shall cease to operate for any reason
whatsoever.
3.2
The
Committee, if appointed, shall select one of its members as its Chairman and
shall hold its meetings at such times and places as the Chairman shall
determine. The Committee shall keep records of its meetings and shall make
such
rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem
advisable.
3.3
The
Committee shall have full power and authority subject to the approval of the
Board to the extent required under applicable law (and subject further to
applicable laws): (i) to designate Optionees; (ii) to determine the terms and
provisions of respective Option Agreements (which need not be identical)
including, but not limited to, the number of Shares to be covered by each
Option, provisions concerning the time or times when and the extent to which
the
Options may be exercised and the nature and duration of restrictions as to
transferability or restrictions constituting substantial risk of forfeiture;
(iii) to accelerate the right of an Optionee to exercise, in whole or in part,
any previously granted Option; (iv) to interpret the provisions and supervise
the administration of the Global Plan; (v) to determine the Fair Market Value
of
the Shares; (vi) determine the Purchase Price of the Option (vii) to designate
the type of Options to be granted to an Optionee; (viii) to determine any other
matter which is necessary or desirable for, or incidental to, the administration
of the Global Plan.
3.4
The
Board and/or the Committee shall have the authority to grant, in its discretion,
to the holder of an outstanding Option, in exchange for the surrender and
cancellation of such Option, a new Option having a purchase price equal to,
lower than or higher than the Purchase Price of the original Option so
surrendered and canceled, and containing such other terms and conditions as
the
Committee may prescribe in accordance with the provisions of the Global
Plan.
3.5
Subject to the Company's incorporation documents, all decisions and selections
made by the Board or the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Global
Plan
shall be made by a majority of its members except that no member of the Board
or
the Committee shall vote on, or be counted for quorum purposes, with respect
to
any proposed action of the Board or the Committee relating to any Option to
be
granted to that member. Any decision reduced to writing shall be executed in
accordance with the provisions of the Company's incorporation documents, as
the
same may be in effect from time to time.
3.6
The
interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of the Global
Plan or of any Option Agreement thereunder shall be final and conclusive unless
otherwise determined by the Board.
3.7
Subject to the Company's incorporation documents and the Company's decision,
and
to all approvals legally required, each member of the Board or the Committee
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against any cost or
expense (including counsel fees) reasonably incurred by him, or any liability
(including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the
Company) arising out of any act or omission to act in connection with the Global
Plan unless arising out of such member's own fraud or bad faith, to the extent
permitted by applicable law. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any
rights of indemnification the member may have as a director or otherwise under
the Company's incorporation documents, any agreement, any vote of shareholders
or disinterested directors, insurance policy or otherwise.
4.
DESIGNATION OF PARTICIPANTS
The
persons eligible for participation in the Global Plan shall include Employees
and/or Service Providers. The grant of an Option hereunder shall neither entitle
the Optionee to participate nor disqualify him or her from participating in,
any
other grant of Options pursuant to the Global Plan or any other option or share
plan of the Company or any of its affiliates.
5.
SHARES
RESERVED FOR THE GLOBAL PLAN
5.1
The
Company has reserved a total of 14,143,462 authorized but unissued Shares for
the purposes of the Global Plan and for the purpose of the U.S. Plan and the
Company's other share option plans, when applicable, subject to adjustment
as
set forth in Section 7 below. Any Shares issued pursuant to an Option or other
award under the Global Plan, the U.S. Plan or any other Company share option
plan shall reduce the total number of shares reserved and available for the
grant of future Options and other awards under the Global Plan, the U.S. Plan
and any other Company share option plans. Any Shares which remain unissued
and
which are not subject to outstanding Options at the termination of the Global
Plan shall cease to be reserved for the purpose of the Global Plan, but until
termination of the Global Plan the Company shall at all times reserve a
sufficient number of Shares to meet the requirements of the Global Plan. Should
any Option for any reason expire or be canceled prior to its exercise or
relinquishment in full, the Share or Shares subject to such Option may again
be
subjected to an Option under the Global Plan, the U.S. Plan or under future
plans.
5.2
Each
Option granted pursuant to the Global Plan, shall be evidenced by a written
Option Agreement between the Company and the Optionee, in such form as the
Board
shall from time to time approve. Each Option Agreement shall state, inter alia,
the number of Shares to which the Option relates, the type of Option granted
thereunder, the Vesting Dates, the Purchase Price per Share and the Expiration
Date.
6.
PURCHASE PRICE
6.1
The
Purchase Price of each Share subject to an Option shall be determined by the
Committee in its sole and absolute discretion in accordance with applicable
law,
subject to any guidelines as may be determined by the Board from time to time.
Each Option Agreement will contain the Purchase Price determined for each
Optionee.
6.2
The
Purchase Price shall be payable upon the exercise of an Option in cash, check
or
wire transfer. The Purchase Price shall be denominated in the currency of the
primary economic environment of, at the Company's discretion, either the Company
or the Employee (that is the functional currency of the Company or the currency
in which the Employee is paid).
7.
ADJUSTMENTS
Upon
the
occurrence of any of the following described events, Optionee's rights to
purchase Shares under the Global Plan shall be adjusted as hereafter
provided:
7.1
In
the event of Transaction, the unexercised Options then outstanding under the
Global Plan shall be assumed or substituted for an appropriate number of shares
of each class of shares or other securities of the Successor Company (or a
parent or subsidiary of the Successor Company) as were distributed to the
shareholders of the Company in connection and with respect to the Transaction.
In the case of such assumption and/or substitution of Options, appropriate
adjustments shall be made to the Purchase Price so as to reflect such action
and
all other terms and conditions of the Option Agreements shall remain unchanged,
including but not limited to the vesting schedule, all subject to the
determination of the Committee or the Board, which determination shall be in
their sole discretion and final. The Company shall notify the Optionee of the
Transaction in such form and method as it deems applicable at least ten (10)
days prior to the effective date of such Transaction.
7.2
Notwithstanding the above and subject to all applicable law, the Board or the
Committee shall have the power and authority to determine that in certain Option
Agreements there shall be a clause instructing that if in any Transaction the
Successor Company (or parent or subsidiary of the Successor Company) does not
agree to assume or substitute the Options, the Vesting Dates of outstanding
Options shall be accelerated so that any unvested Option or any portion thereof
shall be immediately vested as of the date which is ten (10) days prior to
the
effective date of the Transaction.
7.3
For
the purposes of Section 7.1 above, an Option shall be considered assumed or
substitute if, following the Transaction, the Option shall confer the right,
subject to such Option's original vesting schedule, to purchase or receive,
for
each Share underlying such Option immediately prior to the Transaction, the
consideration (whether shares, options, cash, or other securities or property)
received in the Transaction by the holders of shares for each Share held on
the
effective date of the Transaction (and if such holders were offered a choice
of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority
of
the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received
in the Transaction is not solely shares of common stock (or their equivalent)
of
the Successor Company or its parent or subsidiary, the Committee may, with
the
consent of the Successor Company, provide for the consideration to be received
upon the exercise of the Option to be solely shares of common stock (or their
equivalent) of the Successor Company or its parent or subsidiary equal in Fair
Market Value to the per Share consideration received by holders of a majority
of
the outstanding shares in the Transaction; and provided further that the
Committee may determine, in its discretion, that in lieu of such assumption
or
substitution of Options for options of the Successor Company or its parent
or
subsidiary, such Options will be substituted for any other type of asset or
property including cash which is fair under the circumstances.
7.4
If
the Company is voluntarily liquidated or dissolved while unexercised Options
remain outstanding under the Global Plan, the Company shall immediately notify
all unexercised Option holders of such liquidation, and the Option holders
shall
then have ten (10) days to exercise any unexercised vested Option held by them
at that time, in accordance with the exercise procedure set forth herein. Upon
the expiration of such ten-day period, all remaining outstanding Options will
terminate immediately.
7.5
If
the outstanding Shares shall at any time be changed or exchanged by declaration
of a share dividend (bonus shares), Share split or reverse Share split,
combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, or any other like event
by
or of the Company, and as often as the same shall occur, then the number, class
and kind of the Shares subject to the Global Plan or subject to any Options
theretofore granted, and the Purchase Prices, shall be appropriately and
equitably adjusted so as to maintain the proportionate number of Shares without
changing the aggregate Purchase Price; provided, however, that no adjustment
shall be made by reason of the distribution of subscription rights (rights
offering) on outstanding Shares. Upon happening of any of the foregoing, the
class and aggregate number of Shares issuable pursuant to the Global Plan (as
set forth in Section 5 hereof), in respect of which Options have not yet been
exercised, shall be appropriately adjusted (all as determined by the Board
whose
determination shall be final).
7.6
The
Optionee acknowledges that Optionee's rights to sell the Shares may be subject
to certain limitations (including a lock-up period), as will be requested by
the
Company or its underwriters, and the Optionee unconditionally agrees and accepts
any such limitations.
8.
TERM
AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
8.1
Options shall be exercised by the Optionee's by giving written notice of to
the
Company or to any third party designated by the Company (the "REPRESENTATIVE"),
in such form and method as may be determined by the Company, which exercise
shall be effective upon receipt of such notice by the Company and/or the
Representative and the payment of the exercise price for the number of Shares
with respect to which the option is being exercised, at the Company's or the
Representative's principal office. The notice shall specify the number of Shares
with respect to which the Option is being exercised.
8.2
Options, to the extent not previously exercised, shall terminate upon the
earlier of: (i) the date set forth in the Option Agreement; (ii) the expiration
of ten (10) years from the Date of Grant; or (iii) the expiration of any
extended period in any of the events set forth in Section 8.5
below.
8.3
The
Options may be exercised by the Optionee in whole at any time or in part from
time to time, to the extent that the Options have become vested and exercisable,
prior to the Expiration Date, and provided that, subject to the provisions
of
Section 8.5 below, the Optionee is an Employee or a Service Provider at all
times during the period beginning with the granting of the Option and ending
upon the date of exercise.
8.4
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5 below, in the event of a termination
of
Optionee's employment or service, all Options granted to such Optionee shall
immediately expire. Unless otherwise approved by the Committee, a notice of
termination of employment or services shall be deemed to constitute termination
of employment or services.
8.5
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereinabove and unless otherwise
determined in the Optionee's Option Agreement, an Option may be exercised after
the date of termination of Optionee's employment or service during an additional
period of time beyond the date of such termination, but only with respect to
the
number of Vested Options at the time of such termination according to the
Vesting Dates, if:
8.5.1
termination is without Cause, in which event the Vested Options still in force
and unexpired may be exercised within a period of three (3) months after the
date of such termination; or
8.5.2
termination is the result of death or disability of the Optionee, in which
event
the Vested Options still in force and unexpired may be exercised within a period
of twelve (12) months after such date of termination; or
8.5.3
prior to the date of such termination, the Committee shall authorize an
extension of the term of all or part of the Vested Options beyond the date
of
such termination for a period not to exceed the period during which the Options
by their terms would otherwise have been exercisable.
8.5.4
For
avoidance of any doubt, if termination of employment or service is for Cause,
any outstanding unexercised Option will immediately expire and terminate, and
the Optionee shall not have any right in respect of such outstanding
Options.
8.6
To
avoid doubt, Optionees shall not have any of the rights or privileges of
shareholders of the Company, in respect of any Shares purchasable upon the
exercise of an Option, nor shall they be deemed to be a class of shareholders
or
creditors of the Company for the purpose of all applicable law, until
registration of the Optionee as holder of such Shares in the Company's register
of shareholders upon exercise of the Option in accordance with the provisions
of
the Global Plan.
8.7
Any
form of Option Agreement authorized by the Global Plan may contain such other
provisions, not inconsistent with the Global Plan, as the Board may, from time
to time, deem advisable.
9.
VESTING OF OPTIONS
9.1
Subject to the provisions of the Global Plan, Options shall vest at the Vesting
Dates set forth in the Option Agreement. However no Option shall be exercised
after the Expiration Date.
9.2
An
Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with
the Global Plan, on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Committee
may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may
vary.
10.
PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT
The
Company's obligation to issue or allocate Shares upon exercise of an Option
granted under the Global Plan is expressly conditioned upon: (a) the Company's
completion of any registration or other qualifications of such Shares under
all
applicable laws, rules and regulations or (b) representations and undertakings
by the Optionee (or his legal representative, heir or legatee, in the event
of
the Optionee's death) to assure that the sale of the Shares complies with any
registration exemption requirements which the Company in its sole discretion
shall deem necessary or advisable. Such required representations and
undertakings may include representations and agreements that such Optionee
(or
his legal representative, heir, or legatee): (a) is purchasing such Shares
for
investment and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise disposing
thereof; and (b) agrees to have placed upon the face and reverse of any
certificates evidencing such Shares a legend setting forth (i) any
representations and undertakings which such Optionee has given to the Company
or
a reference thereto and (ii) that, prior to effecting any sale or other
disposition of any such Shares, the Optionee must furnish to the Company an
opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such sale or disposition
will not violate the applicable laws, rules and regulations of the United States
or any other state having jurisdiction over the Company and the
Optionee.
11.
DIVIDENDS
With
respect to all Shares (but excluding, for avoidance of any doubt, any
unexercised Options) allocated or issued upon the exercise of Options purchased
by the Optionee and held by the Optionee or by a trustee, as the case may be,
the Optionee shall be entitled to receive dividends in accordance with the
quantity of such Shares, subject to the provisions of the Company's
incorporation documents, as amended from time to time and subject to any
applicable taxation on distribution of dividends.
12.
RESTRICTIONS ON ASSIGNABILITY AND SALE OF OPTIONS
No
Option
or any right with respect thereto, purchasable hereunder, whether fully paid
or
not, shall be assignable, transferable, or given as collateral nor any right
with respect thereto may be given to any third party whatsoever, other than
by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution or as specifically otherwise
allowed under the Global Plan and during the lifetime of the Optionee, each
and
all of such Optionee's rights to purchase Shares hereunder shall be exercisable
only by the Optionee. Any action made in contradiction to the aforementioned,
shall be null and void.
13.
EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE GLOBAL PLAN
The
Global Plan shall be effective as of the day it was adopted by the Board and
shall terminate at the end of ten (10) years from such day of adoption. The
Company shall obtain the approval of the Company's shareholders for the adoption
of this Global Plan or for any amendment to this ISOP, if shareholders' approval
is necessary or desirable to comply with any applicable law including without
limitation the U.S. securities law or the securities laws of other jurisdiction
applicable to Options granted to Optionees under this Global Plan, or if
shareholders' approval is required by any authority or by any governmental
agencies or national securities exchanges including without limitation the
US
Securities and Exchange Commission.
14.
AMENDMENTS OR TERMINATION
14.1
The
Board may at any time, subject to the provisions of Section 14.2 below and
all
applicable law, amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Global Plan, provided,
however, that (i) the Board may not extend the term of the Global Plan specified
in Section 13 and (ii) no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination
of
the Global Plan shall impair the rights of any Optionee, unless mutually agreed
otherwise by the Optionee and the Company, which agreement must be in writing
and signed by the Optionee and the Company. Earlier termination of the Global
Plan prior to the Termination Date shall not affect the Board's ability to
exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Options granted
under the Global Plan prior to the date of such earlier
termination.
14.2
The
Company shall obtain the approval of the Company's shareholders for any
amendment to this Global Plan and/or the Appendixes thereto if shareholders'
approval is required under any applicable law including without limitation
the
U.S. securities law or the securities laws of other jurisdiction applicable
to
Options granted to Optionees under this Global Plan and/or the Appendixes
thereto, or if shareholders' approval is required by any authority or by any
governmental agencies or national securities exchanges including without
limitation the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
15.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
The
Global Plan, the granting and exercise of Options hereunder and the obligation
of the Company to sell and deliver Shares under such Options shall be subject
to
all applicable laws, rules, regulations, approvals and consents whether of
the
United States, the State of Israel, or any other state having jurisdiction
over
the Company or the Optionee, including the registration of the Shares under
the
United States Securities Act 1933 or under the securities act of any applicable
jurisdiction, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national
securities exchanges as may be required. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
require the Company to register the Shares under the securities law of any
jurisdiction.
16.
CONTINUANCE OF EMPLOYMENT
Neither
the Global Plan nor any Option Agreement shall impose any obligation on the
Company or an affiliate to continue any Optionee in its employ or service,
and
nothing in the Global Plan or in any Option granted pursuant hereto shall confer
upon any Optionee any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company
or an affiliate thereof or restrict the right of the Company or an affiliate
thereof to terminate such employment or service at any time.
17.
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
The
Global Plan shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of Israel as applicable to contracts made and to be
performed therein, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.
The competent courts of the State of Israel, Washington State or any other
state
of the United States in which the company is qualified to do business shall
have
sole jurisdiction in any matters pertaining to the Global Plan.
18.
TAX
CONSEQUENCES
Any
tax
consequences to any Optionee arising from the grant or exercise of any Option,
from the payment for Shares covered thereby or from any other event or act
(of
the Company and/or its affiliates, or the Optionee) hereunder shall be borne
solely by the Optionee. The Company and/or its affiliates shall withhold taxes
according to the requirements under the applicable laws, rules, and regulations,
including withholding taxes at source. Furthermore, the Optionee shall agree
to
indemnify the Company and/or its affiliates and hold them harmless against
and
from any and all liability for any such tax or interest or penalty thereon,
including without limitation, liabilities relating to the necessity to withhold,
or to have withheld, any such tax from any payment made to the
Optionee.
The
Company shall not be required to release any Share certificate to an Optionee
until all required payments have been fully made.
19.
NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE GLOBAL PLAN
The
adoption of the Global Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending,
modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangements or as
creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive
arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the
granting of Options otherwise then under the Global Plan, and such arrangements
may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases. For the avoidance
of doubt, prior grant of options to Optionees of the Company under their
employment agreements, and not in the framework of any previous option plan,
shall not be deemed an approved incentive arrangement for the purpose of this
section.
20.
MULTIPLE AGREEMENTS
The
terms
of each Option may differ from other Options granted under the Global Plan
at
the same time, or at any other time. The Board may also grant more than one
Option to a given Optionee during the term of the Global Plan, either in
addition to, or in substitution for, one or more Options previously granted
to
that Optionee.
21.
RULES
PARTICULAR TO SPECIFIC COUNTRIES
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the terms and conditions of the Global Plan
may
be adjusted with respect to a particular country by means of an addendum to
the
Global Plan in the form of an appendix (the "Appendix"), and to the extent
that
the terms and conditions set forth in the Appendix conflict with any provisions
of the Global Plan, the provisions of the Appendix shall govern. Terms and
conditions set forth in the Appendix shall apply only to Options issued to
Optionees under the jurisdiction of the specific country that is subject of
the
Appendix and shall not apply to Options issued to any other Optionee. The
adoption of any such Appendix shall be subject to the approval of the Board
and
if required the approval of the shareholders of the Company.
*
*
*
Appendix
A - Israel
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
TO
THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2004 GLOBL SHARE OPTION PLAN
1.
GENERAL
1.1.
This
appendix (the "APPENDIX") shall apply only to participants who are residents
of
the state of Israel or those who are deemed to be residents of the state of
Israel for the payment of tax. The provisions specified hereunder shall form
an
integral part of the Amended and Restated 2004 Global Share Option Plan of
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (hereinafter: the "PLAN"), which applies
to
the issuance of options to purchase Shares of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics
Inc
(hereinafter: the "COMPANY"). According to the Plan, options to purchase the
Company's Shares may be issued to employees, directors, consultants and service
provides of the Company or its affiliates
1.2
This
Appendix is effective with respect to Options granted as of January 1, 2003
and
shall comply with Amendment No. 132 of the Israeli Tax Ordinance.
1.3.
This
Appendix is to be read as a continuation of the Plan and only modifies options
granted to Israeli Optionees so that they comply with the requirements set
by
the Israeli law in general, and in particular with the provisions of Section
102
(as specified herein), as may be amended or replaced from time to time. For
the
avoidance of doubt, this Appendix does not add to or modify the Plan in respect
of any other category of Optionees.
1.4.
The
Plan and this Appendix are complimentary to each other and shall be deemed
as
one. In any case of contradiction, whether explicit or implied, between the
provisions of this Appendix and the Plan, the provisions set out in the Appendix
shall prevail.
1.5.
Any
capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Appendix shall be construed
according to the interpretation given to it in the Plan.
2.
DEFINITIONS
2.1
"AFFILIATE" means any “employing company” within the meaning of Section 102(a)
of the Ordinance.
2.2
"APPROVED 102 OPTION" means an Option granted pursuant to Section 102(b) of
the
Ordinance and held in trust by a Trustee for the benefit of the
Optionee.
2.3
"CAPITAL GAIN OPTION (CGO)" means an Approved 102 Option elected and designated
by the Company to qualify under the capital gain tax treatment in accordance
with the provisions of Section 102(b)(2) of the Ordinance.
2.4
"CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
32(9)
of the Ordinance.
2.5
"EMPLOYEE” means a person who is employed by the Company or its Affiliates,
including an individual who is serving as a director or an office holder, but
excluding any Controlling Shareholder, all as determined in Section 102 of
the
Ordinance.
2.6
"ITA"
means the Israeli Tax Authorities.
2.7
"NON-EMPLOYEE” means a consultant, adviser, service provider, Controlling
Shareholder or any other person who is not an Employee.
2.8 "ORDINARY INCOME OPTION (OIO)" means an Approved 102 Option elected and
designated by the Company to qualify under the ordinary income tax treatment
in
accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(1) of the
Ordinance.
2.9
"102
OPTION" means any Option granted to Employees pursuant to Section 102 of the
Ordinance.
2.10
"3(I) OPTION" means an Option granted pursuant to Section 3(i) of the Ordinance
to any person who is a Non- Employee.
2.11
"ORDINANCE" means the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance [New Version] 1961 as now
in
effect or as hereafter amended.
2.12
"SECTION 102" means section 102 of the Ordinance and any regulations, rules,
orders or procedures promulgated thereunder as now in effect or as hereafter
amended.
2.13
"TRUSTEE" means any individual appointed by the Company to serve as a trustee
and approved by the ITA, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(a)
of the Ordinance.
2.14
"UNAPPROVED 102 OPTION" means an Option granted pursuant to Section 102(c)
of
the Ordinance and not held in trust by a Trustee.
3.
ISSUANCE OF OPTIONS
3.1
The
persons eligible for participation in the Plan as Optionees shall include any
Employees and/or Non-Employees of the Company or of any Affiliate; provided,
however, that (i) Employees may only be granted 102 Options; and (ii)
Non-Employees and/or Controlling Shareholders may only be granted 3(i)
Options.
3.2
The
Company may designate Options granted to Employees pursuant to Section 102
as
Unapproved 102 Options or Approved 102 Options.
3.3
The
grant of Approved 102 Options shall be made under this Appendix adopted by
the
Board, and shall be conditioned upon the approval of this Appendix by the
ITA.
3.4
Approved 102 Options may either be classified as Capital Gain Options ("CGOs")
or Ordinary Income Options ("OIOs").
3.5
No
Approved 102 Options may be granted under this Appendix to any eligible
Employee, unless and until, the Company's election of the type of Approved
102
Options as CGO or OIO granted to Employees (the "ELECTION"), is appropriately
filed with the ITA. Such Election shall become effective beginning the first
date of grant of an Approved 102 Option under this Appendix and shall remain
in
effect at least until the end of the year following the year during which the
Company first granted Approved 102 Options. The Election shall obligate the
Company to grant only the type of Approved 102 Option it has elected, and shall
apply to all Optionees who were granted Approved 102 Options during the period
indicated herein, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(g) of
the
Ordinance. For the avoidance of doubt, such Election shall not prevent the
Company from granting Unapproved 102 Options simultaneously.
3.6
All
Approved 102 Options must be held in trust by a Trustee, as described in Section
4 below.
3.7
For
the avoidance of doubt, the designation of Unapproved 102 Options and Approved
102 Options shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section
102.
4.
TRUSTEE
4.1
Approved 102 Options which shall be granted under this Appendix and/or any
Shares allocated or issued upon exercise of such Approved 102 Options and/or
other shares received subsequently following any realization of rights,
including without limitation bonus shares, shall be allocated or issued to
the
Trustee and held for the benefit of the Optionees for such period of time as
required by Section 102 or any regulations, rules or orders or procedures
promulgated thereunder (the "HOLDING PERIOD"). In the case the requirements
for
Approved 102 Options are not met, then the Approved 102 Options may be regarded
as Unapproved 102 Options, all in accordance with the provisions of Section
102.
4.2
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Trustee shall not release any
Shares allocated or issued upon exercise of Approved 102 Options prior to the
full payment of the Optionee's tax liabilities arising from Approved 102 Options
which were granted to him and/or any Shares allocated or issued upon exercise
of
such Options.
4.3
With
respect to any Approved 102 Option, subject to the provisions of
Section 102 and any rules or regulation or orders or procedures promulgated
thereunder, an Optionee shall not sell or release from trust any Share received
upon the exercise of an Approved 102 Option and/or any share received
subsequently following any realization of rights, including without limitation,
bonus shares, until the lapse of the Holding Period required under Section
102
of the Ordinance. Notwithstanding the above, if any such sale or release occurs
during the Holding Period, the sanctions under Section 102 of the Ordinance
and
under any rules or regulation or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder
shall apply to and shall be borne by such Optionee.
4.4
Upon
receipt of Approved 102 Option, the Optionee will sign an undertaking to release
the Trustee from any liability in respect of any action or decision duly taken
and bona fide executed in relation with this Appendix, or any Approved 102
Option or Share granted to him thereunder.
5.
THE
OPTIONS
The
terms
and conditions, upon which the Options shall be issued and exercised, shall
be
as specified in the Option Agreement to be executed pursuant to the Plan and
to
this Appendix. Each Option Agreement shall state, inter alia, the number of
Shares to which the Option relates, the type of Option granted thereunder
(whether a CGO, OIO, Unapproved 102 Option or a 3(i) Option), the vesting
provisions and the exercise price.
6.
FAIR
MARKET VALUE
Without
derogating from Section 2.9 of the Plan and solely for the purpose of
determining the tax liability pursuant to Section 102(b)(3) of the Ordinance,
if
at the date of grant the Company's shares are listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system or if the Company's shares will be
registered for trading within ninety (90) days following the date of grant
of
the CGOs, the fair market value of the Shares at the date of grant shall be
determined in accordance with the average value of the Company's shares on
the
thirty (30) trading days preceding the date of grant or on the thirty (30)
trading days following the date of registration for trading, as the case may
be.
7.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
Options
shall be exercised by the Optionee by giving a written notice to the Company
and/or to any third party designated by the Company (the "REPRESENTATIVE"),
in
such form and method as may be determined by the Company and, when applicable,
by the Trustee, in accordance with the requirements of Section 102, which
exercise shall be effective upon receipt of such notice by the Company and/or
the Representative and the payment of the exercise price for the number of
Shares with respect to which the option is being exercised, at the Company's
or
the Representative's principal office. The notice shall specify the number
of
Shares with respect to which the option is being exercised.
8.
ASSIGNABILITY AND SALE OF OPTIONS
8.1.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Option or any right with
respect thereto, purchasable hereunder, whether fully paid or not, shall be
assignable, transferable or given as collateral or any right with respect to
them given to any third party whatsoever, and during the lifetime of the
Optionee each and all of such Optionee’s rights to purchase Shares hereunder
shall be exercisable only by the Optionee. Any such action made directly or
indirectly, for an immediate validation or for a future one, shall be
void.
8.2
As
long as Options or Shares purchased pursuant to thereto are held by the Trustee
on behalf of the Optionee, all rights of the Optionee over the shares are
personal, can not be transferred assigned, pledged or mortgaged, other than
by
will or laws of descent and distribution.
9.
INTEGRATION OF SECTION 102 AND TAX ASSESSING OFFICER'S PERMIT
9.1.
With
regards to Approved 102 Options, the provisions of the Plan and/or the Appendix
and/or the Option Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of Section 102
and the Tax Assessing Officer's permit, and the said provisions and permit
shall
be deemed an integral part of the Plan and of the Appendix and of the Option
Agreement.
9.2.
Any
provision of Section 102 and/or the said permit which is necessary in order
to
receive and/or to keep any tax benefit pursuant to Section 102, which is not
expressly specified in the Plan or the Appendix or the Option Agreement, shall
be considered binding upon the Company and the Optionees.
10.
DIVIDEND
Subject
to the Company’s incorporation documents, with respect to all Shares (but
excluding, for avoidance of any doubt, any unexercised options) allocated or
issued upon the exercise of Options and held by the Optionee or by the Trustee
as the case may be, the Optionee shall be entitled to receive dividends in
accordance with the quantity of such shares, and subject to any applicable
taxation on distribution of dividends, and when applicable subject to the
provisions of Section 102 and the rules, regulations or orders promulgated
thereunder.
11.
TAX
CONSEQUENCES
11.1
Any
tax consequences arising from the grant or exercise of any Option, from the
payment for Shares covered thereby or from any other event or act (of the
Company, and/or its Affiliates, and the Trustee or the Optionee), hereunder,
shall be borne solely by the Optionee. The Company and/or its Affiliates, and/or
the Trustee shall withhold taxes according to the requirements under the
applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including withholding taxes at source.
Furthermore, the Optionee shall agree to indemnify the Company and/or its
Affiliates and/or the Trustee and hold them harmless against and from any and
all liability for any such tax or interest or penalty thereon, including without
limitation, liabilities relating to the necessity to withhold, or to have
withheld, any such tax from any payment made to the Optionee.
11.2
The
Company and/or, when applicable, the Trustee shall not be required to release
any share certificate to an Optionee until all required payments have been
fully
made.
11.3
With
respect to Unapproved 102 Option, if the Optionee ceases to be employed by
the
Company or any Affiliate, the Optionee shall extend to the Company and/or its
Affiliate a security or guarantee for the payment of tax due at the time of
sale
of Shares, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 and the rules,
regulation or orders promulgated thereunder.
12.
GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION
This
Appendix shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with
the
laws of the State of Israel applicable to contracts made and to be performed
therein, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws. The
competent courts of Tel-Aviv, Israel shall have sole jurisdiction in any matters
pertaining to this Appendix.
*****
Exhibit
B
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
AMENDED
AND RESTATED 2005 U.S. STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION
1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE U.S. PLAN; DEFINITIONS
The
name
of the plan is the BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. 2005 U.S.Stock Option
and
Incentive Plan (the "U.S. Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to provide an
incentive to retain, in the employ of the BrainStorm Therapeutics,Inc. (the
"Company") and its Subsidiaries, persons of training, experience and ability;
to
attract new employees, directors, consultants and service providers; to
encourage the sense of proprietorship of such persons; and to stimulate the
active interest of such persons in the development and financial success of
the
Company by providing them with opportunities to receive stock-based awards
in
the
Company.
The
following terms shall be defined as set forth below:
"Act"
means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
"Administrator"
is defined in Section 2(a).
"Award"
or "Awards," except where referring to a particular category of grant under
the
Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options and
Restricted Stock Awards.
"Board"
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Code"
means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor
Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations.
"Committee"
means the compensation committee of the Board or a similar committee performing
the functions of the compensation committee and which is comprised of not less
than two Non-Employee Directors who are independent.
"Effective
Date" means the date on which the U.S. Plan is approved by stockholders as
set
forth in Section 13.
"Exchange
Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder.
"Fair
Market Value" of the Stock on any given date means the fair market value of
the
Stock determined as follows:
(i) If
the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market
system, including without limitation the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ
National Market System or the NASDAQ SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value
shall be the last reported sale price of such Stock (or the highest closing
bid,
if no sales were reported), as quoted on such exchange or system for the last
market trading day prior to time of determination, as reported in The Wall
Street Journal, or such other source as the administration deems
reliable;
(ii)
If
the Stock is regularly quoted by one or more recognized securities dealers,
but
selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between
the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Stock on the last market trading
day prior to the day of determination; or
(iii)
In
the absence of an established market for the Stock, the Fair Market Value
thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administration.
"Global
Plan" means the BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. 2004 Global Share Option
Plan.
"Incentive
Stock Option" means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an "incentive
stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
"Non-Employee
Director" means a member of the Board who is not also an employee of the Company
or any Subsidiary.
"Non-Qualified
Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock
Option.
"Option"
or "Stock Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant
to Section 5.
"Restricted
Stock Award" means Awards granted pursuant to Section 6.
"Section
409A" means Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance
promulgated thereunder.
"Stock"
means the Common Stock, par value $0.00005 per share, of the Company, subject
to
adjustments pursuant to Section 3.
"Subsidiary"
means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in which the
Company has a controlling interest, either directly or indirectly.
"Ten
Percent Owner" means an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of
the
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent
or
subsidiary corporation.
SECTION
2. ADMINISTRATION OF U.S. PLAN; ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO SELECT
GRANTEES
AND DETERMINE AWARDS
(a)
Committee. The U.S. Plan shall be administered by either the Board or the
Committee (the "Administrator").
(b)
Powers of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power and authority
to
grant Awards consistent with the terms of the U.S. Plan, including the power
and
authority:
(i)
to
select the individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;
(ii)
to
determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive
Stock
Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards, or any
combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more grantees;
(iii)
to
determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award;
(iv)
to
determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including
restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the U.S. Plan, of any Award,
which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees,
and
to approve the form of written instruments evidencing the Awards;
(v)
to
accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion
of
any Award;
(vi)
subject to the provisions of Section 5(a)(ii), to extend at any time the period
in which Stock Options may be exercised; and
(vii)
at
any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for
administration of the U.S. Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it
shall
deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the U.S. Plan and
any
Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it
deems advisable for the administration of the U.S. Plan; to decide all disputes
arising in connection with the U.S. Plan; and to otherwise supervise the
administration of the U.S. Plan.
All
decisions and interpretations of the Administrator shall be binding on all
persons, including the Company and U.S. Plan grantees.
(c)
Indemnification. Neither the Board nor the Committee, nor any member of either
or any delegate thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation,
construction or determination made in good faith in connection with the U.S.
Plan, and the members of the Board and the Committee (and any delegate thereof)
shall be entitled in all cases to indemnification and reimbursement by the
Company in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the
fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors' and officers'
liability insurance coverage which may be in effect from time to time and/or
any
indemnification agreement between such individual and the Company.
SECTION
3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE U.S. PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION
(a)
Stock
Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock available forissuance under
the
U.S. Plan shall be 14,143,462 shares, subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 3(b). The pool of shares available for issuance under the U.S. Plan
is
the same pool of shares reserved and available for issuance under the Global
Plan. Accordingly, shares issued pursuant to awards under either the Global
Plan
or this U.S. Plan shall reduce the number of shares available for future
issuance under each plan. Not more than 9,143,462 shares shall be issued in
the
form of Incentive Stock Options. For purposes of the limitation on the number
of
shares available under the U.S. Plan, the shares of Stock underlying any Awards
(including any Options under the Global Plan) that are forfeited, canceled,
held
back upon exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award (including any Options
under the Global Plan) to cover the exercise price or tax withholding,
reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance
of
Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back
to
the shares of Stock available for issuance under the U.S. and Global Plans.
Subject to such overall limitations, shares of Stock may be issued up
to
such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award. The shares available
for issuance under the U.S. and Global Plans may be authorized but unissued
shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company.
(b)
Changes in Stock. Subject to Section 3(c) hereof, if, as a result of any
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split,
reverse stock split or other similar change in the Company's capital stock,
the
outstanding shares of Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for
a
different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company, or
additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company
or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Stock
or
other securities, or, if, as a result of any merger or consolidation, sale
of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the outstanding shares
of
Stock are converted into or exchanged for a different number or kind of
securities of the Company or any successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary
thereof), the Administrator shall make an appropriate or proportionate
adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under
the
U.S. and Global Plans, (ii) the maximum number of Incentive Stock Options that
may be issued under the U.S. Plan, (iii) the number and kind of shares or other
securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the U.S. Plan, (iv)
the
repurchase price, if any, per share subject to each outstanding Restricted
Stock
Award, and (v) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock
Options under the U.S. Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price
(i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of Stock Options) as to
which
such Stock Options remain exercisable. The adjustment by the Administrator
shall
be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued
under the U.S. Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Administrator
in
its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional
shares.
The
Administrator may also adjust the number of shares subject to outstanding Awards
and the exercise price and the terms of outstanding Awards to take into
consideration material changes in accounting practices or principles,
extraordinary dividends, acquisitions or dispositions of stock or property
or
any other event if it is determined by the Administrator that such adjustment
is
appropriate to avoid distortion in the operation of the U.S. Plan, provided
that
no such adjustment shall be made in the case of an Incentive Stock Option,
without the consent of the grantee, if it would constitute a modification,
extension or renewal of the Option within the meaning of Section 424(h) of
the
Code.
(c)
Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of and subject to the consummation
of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all
or
substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an
unrelated person or entity, (iii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation
in
which the outstanding shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for a
different kind of securities of the successor entity and the holders of the
Company's outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do
not
own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the successor entity
immediately upon completion of such transaction, or (iv) the sale of all of
the
Stock of the Company to an unrelated person or entity (in each case, a "Sale
Event"), all Options and other Awards shall be appropriately adjusted in
accordance with Section 3(b) and shall be assumed by the successor entity and
shall continue to have the same vesting schedule, except as the Administrator
may otherwise specify with respect to particular Awards in the relevant Award
documentation or otherwise in the Administrator's discretion. Upon the effective
time of the Sale Event, the Plan and all outstanding Awards granted hereunder
shall terminate, unless provision is made in connection with the Sale Event
in
the sole discretion of the parties thereto for the assumption or continuation
of
Awards theretofore granted by the successor entity, or the substitution of
such
Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with
appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate,
the per share exercise prices, as such parties shall agree. In the event of
such
termination, each grantee shall be permitted, within a specified period of
time
prior to the consummation of the Sale Event as determined by the Administrator,
to exercise all outstanding Options held by such grantee, including any such
Options that may become exercisable upon the consummation of the Sale Event;
provided, however, that the exercise of Options not exercisable prior to the
Sale Event shall be subject to the consummation of the Sale Event.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 3(c), in the event of a Sale Event
pursuant to which holders of the Stock of the Company will receive upon
consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Sale
Event, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make
or
provide for a cash payment to the grantees holding Options, in exchange for
the
cancellation thereof, in an amount equal to the difference between (A) the
value
as determined by the Administrator of the consideration payable per share of
Stock pursuant to the Sale Event (the "Sale Price") times the number of shares
of Stock subject to outstanding Options (to the extent then exercisable at
prices not in excess of the Sale Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise price
of
all such outstanding Options.
(d)
Substitute Awards. The Administrator may grant Awards under the U.S. Plan in
substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees, directors
or
other key persons of another corporation in connection with the merger or
consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary
or
the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the
employing corporation. The Administrator may direct that the substitute awards
be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator considers
appropriate in the circumstances. Any substitute Awards granted under the U.S.
Plan shall not count against the share limitation set forth in Section
3(a).
SECTION
4. ELIGIBILITY
Grantees
under the U.S. Plan will be such U.S.-based full or part-time officers and
other
employees, Non-Employee Directors and key persons (including consultants and
prospective employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as are selected
from
time to time by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
SECTION
5. STOCK OPTIONS
Any
Stock
Option granted under the U.S. Plan shall be in such form as the Administrator
may from time to time approve.
Stock
Options granted under the U.S. Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or
Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a "subsidiary corporation"
within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. To the extent that any Option
does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a
Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(a)
Stock
Options Granted to Employees and Key Persons. The Administrator in its
discretion may grant Stock Options to eligible employees and key persons of
the
Company or any Subsidiary. Stock Options granted pursuant to this Section 5(a)
shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such
additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the U.S.
Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable. If the Administrator so
determines, Stock Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation at the
optionee's election, subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator
may establish.
(i)
Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock
Option granted pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be determined by the
Administrator at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100 percent of
the
Fair Market Value on the date of grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
that is granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the option price of such Incentive
Stock
Option shall be not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value on the grant
date.
(ii)
Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Administrator,
but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date
the
Stock Option is granted. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is
granted to a Ten Percent Owner, the term of such Stock Option shall be no more
than five years from the date of grant.
(iii)
Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become exercisable
at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined
by
the Administrator at or after the grant date. The Administrator may at any
time
accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An
optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares acquired
upon
the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock
Options.
(iv)
Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by
giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of
shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or
more
of the following methods to the extent provided in the Option Award
agreement:
(A)
In
cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the
Administrator;
(B)
Through the delivery (or attestation to the ownership) of shares of Stock that
have been purchased by the optionee on the open market or that are beneficially
owned by the optionee and are not then subject to restrictions under any Company
plan. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the
exercise date; or
(C) By
the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice
together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the
Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company for the purchase
price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase
price
as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures
and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the
Administrator shall prescribe as a condition of such payment
procedure.
Payment
instruments will be received subject to collection. The transfer to the optionee
on the records of the Company or the transfer agent of the shares of Stock
to be
purchased pursuant to the exercise accordance with the provisions of the Stock
Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the
fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Option Award agreement
or
applicable provisions of laws (including the satisfaction of any withholding
taxes that the Company is obligated
to withhold with respect to the optionee). In the event an optionee chooses
to
pay the purchase price by previously-owned shares of Stock through the
attestation method, the number of shares of Stock transferred to the optionee
upon the exercise of the Stock Option shall be net of the number of shares
attested to.
(v)
Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for "incentive
stock option" treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market
Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the shares of Stock with respect
to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this U.S. Plan and any other
plan
of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable
for
the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed
$100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall
constitute a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
SECTION
6. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
(a)
Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award is an Award
entitling the recipient to acquire, at such purchase price (which may be zero)
as determined by the Administrator, shares of Stock subject to such restrictions
and conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant
("Restricted Stock"). Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or
other
service relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals
and objectives. The grant of a Restricted Stock Award is contingent on the
grantee executing the Restricted Stock Award agreement. The terms and conditions
of each such agreement shall be determined by the Administrator, and such terms
and conditions may differ among individual Awards and grantees.
(b)
Rights as a Stockholder. Upon execution of a written instrument setting forth
the Restricted Stock Award and payment of any applicable purchase price, a
grantee shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of
the
Restricted Stock, subject to such conditions contained in the written instrument
evidencing the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Administrator shall otherwise
determine, (i) uncertificated Restricted Stock shall be accompanied by a
notation on the records of the Company or the transfer agent to the effect
that
they are subject to forfeiture until such Restricted Stock are vested as
provided in Section 6(d) below, and (ii) certificated Restricted Stock shall
remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Stock is vested
as
provided in Section 6(d) below, and the grantee shall be required, as a
condition of the grant, to deliver to the Company such instruments of transfer
as the Administrator may prescribe.
(c)
Restrictions. Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged
or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein
or
in the Restricted Stock Award agreement. Except as may otherwise be provided
by
the Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 10 below,
in writing after the Award agreement is issued, if any, if a grantee's
employment (or other service relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries
terminates for any reason, any Restricted Stock that has not vested at the
time
of termination shall automatically and without any requirement of notice to
such
grantee from or other action by or on behalf of, the Company be
deemed
to
have been reacquired by the Company at its original purchase price from such
grantee or such grantee's legal representative simultaneously with such
termination of employment (or other service relationship), and thereafter shall
cease to represent any ownership of the Company by the grantee or rights
of
the
grantee as a shareholder. Following such deemed reacquisition of unvested
Restricted Stock that are represented by physical certificates, a grantee shall
surrender such certificates to the Company upon request without
consideration.
(d)
Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Administrator at the time of grant shall
specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance
goals, objectives and other conditions on which the non-transferability of
the
Restricted Stock and the Company's right of repurchase or forfeiture shall
lapse. Subsequent to such date or dates and/or the attainment of such
pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions, the shares
on which all restrictions have lapsed shall no longer be Restricted Stock and
shall be deemed "vested." Except as may otherwise be provided by the
Administrator either in the Award agreement or, subject to Section 10 below,
in
writing after the Award agreement is issued, a grantee's rights in any shares
of
Restricted Stock that have not vested shall automatically terminate upon the
grantee's termination of employment (or other service relationship) with the
Company and its Subsidiaries and such shares shall be subject to the provisions
of Section 6(c) above.
SECTION
7. Transferability of Awards
(a)
Transferability. Except as provided in Section 7(b) below, during a grantee's
lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the grantee, or by
the
grantee's legal representative or guardian in the event of the grantee's
incapacity. No Awards shall be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise
encumbered or disposed of by a grantee other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. No Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part,
to
attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and any purported
transfer
in
violation hereof shall be null and void.
(b)
Committee Action. Notwithstanding Section 7(a), the Administrator, in its
discretion, may provide either in the Award agreement regarding a given Award
or
by subsequent written approval that the grantee (who is an employee or director)
may transfer his or her Awards (other than any Incentive Stock Options)
to his or her immediate family members, to trusts for the benefit of such family
members, or to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners,
provided that the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound
by
all of the terms and conditions of this U.S. Plan and the
applicable
Award.
(c)
Domestic Relations Orders. Without limiting the generality of Section 7(a),
and
notwithstanding Section 7(b), no domestic relations order purporting to
authorize a transfer of an Award shall be recognized as valid, except as the
Administration may otherwise determine.
(d)
Family Member. For purposes of Section 7(b), "family member" shall mean a
grantee's child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse,
former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, any person sharing the grantee's household (other than a tenant
of the grantee), a trust in which these persons (or the grantee) have more
than
fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these
persons (or the grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity
in which these persons (or the grantee) own more than fifty percent (50%) of
the
voting interests.
(e)
Designation of Beneficiary. Each grantee to whom an Award has been made under
the U.S. Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise any
Award
or receive any payment under any Award payable on or after the grantee's death.
Any such designation shall be on a form provided for that purpose by the
Administrator and shall not be effective until received by the Administrator.
If
no beneficiary has been designated by a deceased grantee, or if the designated
beneficiaries have predeceased the grantee, the beneficiary shall be the
grantee's estate.
SECTION
8. TAX WITHHOLDING
(a)
Payment by Grantee. Each grantee shall, no later than the date as of which
the
value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first
becomes includable in the gross income of the grantee for Federal income tax
purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the
Administrator regarding payment of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any
kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income. The Company
and
its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct
any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee. The
Company's obligation to deliver evidence of book entry (or stock certificates)
to any grantee is subject to and conditioned on tax obligations being satisfied
by the grantee.
(b)
Payment in Stock. Subject to approval by the Administrator, a grantee may elect
to have the minimum required tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole
or
in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to
be
issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market
Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the
withholding amount due, or (ii) transferring to the Company shares of Stock
owned by the grantee with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the
withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount
due.
SECTION
9. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC.
For
purposes of the U.S. Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a
termination of employment:
(a)
a
transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company
to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or
(b)
an
approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other
purpose approved by the Company, if the employee's right to re-employment is
guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant
to
which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so
provides in writing.
SECTION
10. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
The
Board
may, at any time, amend or discontinue the U.S. Plan and the Administrator
may,
at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award for the purpose of satisfying
changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall
adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder's
consent. Except as provided in Section 3(b) or 3(c), in no event may the
Administrator exercise its discretion to reduce the exercise price of
outstanding Stock Options or effect repricing through cancellation and
re-grants. Any material U.S. Plan amendments (other than amendments that curtail
the scope of the U.S. Plan), including any U.S. Plan amendments that (i)
increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the U.S. Plan, (ii)
expand the type of Awards available under, materially expand the eligibility
to
participate in, or materially extend the term of, the U.S. Plan, or (iii)
materially change the method of determining Fair Market Value, shall be subject
to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting of
stockholders. In addition, to the extent determined by the Administrator to
be
required by the Code to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under
the
U.S.
Plan
are qualified under Section 422 of the Code, U.S. Plan amendments shall be
subject to approval by the Company stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting
of
stockholders. Nothing in this Section 10 shall limit the Administrator's
authority to take any action permitted pursuant to Section 3(c).
SECTION
11. STATUS OF U.S. PLAN
With
respect to the portion of any Award that has not been exercised and any payments
in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a grantee, a grantee
shall
have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless
the Administrator shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any
Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Administrator may authorize the
creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations
to
deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that
the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the
foregoing sentence.
SECTION
12. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a)
No
Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Administrator may require
each person acquiring Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree
with
the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view
to distribution thereof.
No
shares
of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities
law and other legal and stock exchange or similar requirements have been
satisfied. The Administrator may require the placing of such stop-orders and
restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems
appropriate.
Each
grantee shall acknowledge that the grantee's rights to sell any shares of Stock
may be subject to certain limitations (including a lock-up period), as may
be
requested by the Company or its underwriters, and the grantee shall
unconditionally agree and accept any such limitations.
(b)
Delivery of Stock Certificates. Stock certificates to grantees under this U.S.
Plan shall be deemed delivered for all purposes when the Company or a stock
transfer agent of the Company shall have mailed such certificates in the United
States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee's last known address
on
file with the Company. Uncertificated Stock shall be deemed delivered for all
purposes when the Company or a Stock transfer agent of the Company shall have
given to the grantee by electronic mail (with proof of receipt) or by United
States mail, addressed to the grantee, at the grantee's last known address
on
file with the Company, notice of issuance and recorded the issuance in its
records (which may include electronic "book entry" records).
(c)
Other
Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this
U.S.
Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation
arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally
applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this U.S.
Plan
and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued
employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.
(d)
Trading Policy Restrictions. Option exercises and other Awards under the U.S.
Plan shall be subject to such Company's insider trading policy and procedures,
as in effect from time to time.
(e)
Forfeiture of Awards under Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If the Company is required to
prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the
Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement
under the securities laws, then any grantee, that is one of the individuals
subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of
2002, shall reimburse the Company for the amount of any Award received by such
individual under the U.S. Plan during the 12-month period following the first
public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, as the case may be, of the financial document embodying such
financial reporting requirement.
(f)
Compliance with Section 409A. To the extent an Award is subject to the
requirements of Section 409A, then the applicable agreement evidencing such
Award and the Plan shall be construed and administered in a manner such that
the
Award complies with Section 409A, and the Committee may revise the agreement
mevidencing such Award and/or the U.S. Plan so that such Award shall be in
compliance with Section 409A. Additionally, to the extent any Award is subject
to Section 409A, notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the
U.S.
Plan shall not permit the acceleration of, or changes in, the time or schedule
of any distribution related to such Award, except to the extent consistent
with
the requirements of Section 409A.
SECTION
13. EFFECTIVE DATE OF U.S. PLAN
This
U.S.
Plan shall become effective upon approval by the holders of a majority of the
votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present. Subject
to
such approval by the stockholders and to the requirement that no Stock may
be
issued hereunder prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may
be
granted hereunder on and after adoption of this Plan by the Board. no grants
of
Stock Options and other Awards may be made hereunder after the tenth (10th)
anniversary of the Effective Date and no grants of Incentive Stock Options
may
be made hereunder after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date
the
Plan is approved by the Board.
SECTION
14. GOVERNING LAW
This
U.S.
Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington, applied
without regard to conflict of law principles.
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
Dear
Stockholder:
Please
take note of the important information enclosed with this proxy card. There
are
important issues related to the operation of the Company that require your
immediate attention and approval. The issues are discussed in detail in the
enclosed proxy materials.
Your
vote
counts and you are strongly encouraged to exercise your right to vote your
shares.
Please
mark the boxes on this proxy card to indicate how your shares will be voted.
Then sign the card, detach it, and return your proxy card in the enclosed
postage paid envelope.
Your
vote
must be received prior to the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 5,
2008.
Thank
you
in advance for your prompt consideration of these matters.
FOLD
AND
DETACH HERE
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
PROXY
2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS PROXY
JUNE
5,
2008
The
undersigned hereby appoints Abraham Efrati, Chaim Lebovits and David Stolick,
and each of them singly, with full power of substitution, proxies to represent
the undersigned at the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Brainstorm Cell
Therapeutics Inc. to be held on June 5, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., Israel Time, at
the
offices of the Company’s subsidiary, 12 Bazel Street, POB 10019 Kiryat Aryeh,
Petach Tikva, Israel 49001, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof,
to
vote in the name and place of the undersigned, with all powers which the
undersigned would possess if personally present, upon such business as may
properly come before the meeting including the proposals set forth on the
reverse side of this proxy card.
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS
AN
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS. THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE
VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR
PROPOSAL, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR SUCH PROPOSAL.
PLEASE
VOTE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY IN THE SPACE PROVIDED AND RETURN IT IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN
PERSON.
Please
sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy card. When shares are
held
by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a
corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized
officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by the authorized
person.
HAS
YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?
|
|
DO
YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
|
________________________ |
|
________________________ |
|
|
|
________________________ |
|
________________________ |
|
|
|
________________________ |
|
________________________ |
FOLD
AND
DETACH HERE
BRAINSTORM
CELL THERAPEUTICS INC.
x
PLEASE
MARK VOTES AS IN
THIS EXAMPLE.
1.
Election of directors to serve until the 2009 annual meeting.
Nominees:
FOR
ALL NOMINEES o
|
|
WITHHELD
FROM ALL NOMINEES o
|
o
____________________________________________
FOR
ALL
NOMINEES EXCEPT AS NOTED ABOVE.
2. |
To
approve the amendment and restatement of the Company's 2004 Global
Share
Option Plan and 2005 U.S. Stock Option and Incentive Plan increasing
the
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance thereunder
by
5,000,000 shares.
|
3. |
To
ratify the appointment of Brightman Almagor & Co., a member of
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, as the Company's independent registered
public
accounting firm for the current fiscal
year.
|
4. |
To
transact such business as may properly come before the meeting and
any
adjournment or postponement
thereof.
|
MARK
HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. o
Mark
box at right if an address change or comment has been noted on the reverse
side
of this proxy card. o
The
undersigned hereby acknowledge(s) receipt of a copy of the accompanying Notice
of the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the proxy statement with respect
thereto and hereby revoke(s) any proxy or proxies heretofore given.
PLEASE
BE
SURE TO DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY.
Signature:
____________________________________
|
|
Date:
______________________
|
|
|
|
Signature:
____________________________________
|
|
Date:
______________________
|