|
•
|
2,497,833 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options with a weighted average exercise price of $3.85 per ordinary share, granted under our option and equity incentive plans;
|
|
•
|
533,540 restricted stock units issued to employees, consultants and directors, awarded under our equity incentive plan;
|
|
•
|
670,865 ordinary shares that are available for future option grants under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan and 2015 US Sub-Plan to the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”);
|
|
•
|
1,704,480 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the November 2017 Warrants; and
|
|
•
|
113,632 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the placement agent warrants issued to the placement agent as compensation in connection with the November 2017 offering.
|
Before deciding to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the discussion of risks and uncertainties affecting us and our securities contained in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “2016 Annual Report”) and the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and the value of our securities could decline. The risks and uncertainties we discuss in the documents incorporated by reference are those that we currently believe may materially affect our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Please also consider the following additional risks specifically pertaining to the offering.
Risks Relating to the Offering
Our ordinary shares could be delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market.
NASDAQ has established certain standards for the continued listing of a security on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The standards for continued listing include, inter alia, that the minimum bid price for the listed securities be at least $1.00 per share. Under these rules, a security is considered deficient if it fails to achieve at least a $1.00 closing bid price for a continuous period of 30 business days. We received a notification from the NASDAQ stating that the bid price for the Company’s ordinary shares has closed below the minimum $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days which is not in compliance with the NASDAQ rules for continued listing. The Company has been provided by NASDAQ with a compliance period of 180 calendar days (i.e) up to July 17, 2018 in which to regain compliance pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule. If we are not deemed in compliance before the expiration of the 180-day compliance period, NASDAQ may afford us an additional 180-day compliance period.
If the closing bid price of our ordinary shares continues to fail to meet NASDAQ's minimum closing bid price requirement, NASDAQ may make a determination to delist our ordinary shares. Any such delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our ordinary shares and the market price of our ordinary shares could decrease. A delisting could adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for our operations and/or result in a loss of confidence by investors, or employees
Since we have broad discretion in how we use any proceeds we may receive from the exercise of the November 2017 Warrants, we may use the proceeds in ways with which you disagree.
Our management will have significant flexibility in applying any proceeds we may receive from the exercise of the November 2017 Warrants. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to influence how the proceeds are being used. It is possible that these proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us. The failure of our management to use such funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects, financial condition, operating results and cash flow.
Future sales of our ordinary shares may cause the prevailing market price of our shares to decrease.
The issuance and sale of additional ordinary shares or securities convertible into or exercisable for ordinary shares could reduce the prevailing market price for our ordinary shares as well as make future sales of equity securities by us less attractive or not feasible. The sale of ordinary shares issued upon the exercise of our outstanding options and warrants could further dilute the holdings of our then existing shareholders.
There has been and may continue to be significant volatility in the volume and price of our ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market.
The market price of our ordinary shares has been and may continue to be highly volatile. Factors, including timing, progress and results of current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials and our research and development programs; regulatory matters, concerns about our financial position, operations results, litigation, government regulation, developments or disputes relating to agreements, patents or proprietary rights, may have a significant impact on the market volume and price of our stock. Unusual trading volume in our shares occurs from time to time.
We have not paid and do not intend to pay dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Any return on investment may be limited to the value of our securities.
We have not paid dividends on our ordinary shares since inception, and do not anticipate paying any dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Our board of directors has discretion to declare and pay dividends on our ordinary shares and will make any determination to do so based on a number of factors, such as our operating results, financial condition, current and anticipated cash needs and other business and economic factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, we are only permitted to pay dividends out of “profits,” as defined by the Israeli Companies Law, 1999 (the “Israeli Companies Law”), provided that there is no reasonable concern that the dividend distribution will prevent us from meeting our existing and foreseeable obligations, as they become due. We intend to reinvest earnings, if any, in the development and expansion of our business. Accordingly, you will need to rely on sales of your ordinary shares after price appreciation, which may never occur, in order to realize a return on your investment. You should not rely on an investment in us if you require dividend income from your investments.
The trading market for our ordinary shares is not always active, liquid and orderly, which may inhibit the ability of our shareholders to sell ordinary shares.
Prior to our initial public offering in February 2015, there was no public market for our ordinary shares. Since that time, the trading market for our ordinary shares has not always been active, liquid or orderly. The lack of an active market at times may impair your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider reasonable. The lack of an active market may also reduce the fair market value of your shares. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling shares.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains statements that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations and/or future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by their use of terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “target”, “future,” “intend,” “may,” “ought to,” “plan,” “possible,” “potentially,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” negatives of such terms or other similar terms. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus include, without limitation, statements relating to:
|
· |
our goals, targets and strategies;
|
|
· |
the timing and conduct of the clinical trials for our C-Scan system, including statements regarding the timing, progress and results of current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs;
|
|
· |
timing or likelihood of regulatory filings, approvals and required licenses for our C-Scan system;
|
|
· |
our future business development, results of operations and financial condition;
|
|
· |
our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property rights and enforce such rights and to avoid violation of the intellectual property rights of others;
|
|
· |
our plans to develop, launch and commercialize our C-Scan system and any future products;
|
|
· |
the timing, cost or other aspects of the commercial launch of our C-Scan system;
|
|
· |
our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and our need for additional financing and strategic partnerships;
|
|
· |
our estimates regarding the market opportunity, clinical utility, potential advantages, and market acceptance of our C-Scan system;
|
|
· |
the impact of government laws and regulations;
|
|
· |
our ability to recruit and retain qualified clinical, regulatory and research and development personnel;
|
|
· |
the availability of reimbursement or other forms of funding for our products from government and commercial payors;
|
|
· |
difficulties in maintaining commercial scale manufacturing capacity and capability and our ability to generate growth;
|
|
· |
our failure to comply with regulatory guidelines;
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|
· |
uncertainty in industry demand and patient wellness behavior;
|
|
· |
general economic conditions and market conditions in the medical device industry;
|
|
· |
future sales of large blocks of our securities, which may adversely impact our share price;
|
|
· |
depth of the trading market in our securities; and
|
|
· |
our expectations regarding the use of proceeds of our initial public offering and the concurrent private placement, our August 2016 registered direct offering, our June 2017 registered direct offering, and our November 2017 registered direct offering.
|
The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties.
You should not unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus, to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
We are required under the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into with the Selling Shareholders to file a registration statement on Form F-1, of which this prospectus is a part, to cover the resale of the ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the November 2017 Warrants.
The ordinary shares being offered by this prospectus are solely for the account of the Selling Shareholders. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the ordinary by the Selling Shareholders. However, to the extent that the November 2017 Warrants are exercised for cash, we will receive proceeds from any exercise of the November 2017 Warrants, up to an aggregate of approximately $2,130,600. We intend to use any proceeds received from the exercise of the November 2017 Warrants to advance the ongoing clinical development of our C-Scan® system and for general corporate purposes.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never declared or paid dividends on our ordinary shares and currently do not intend to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business.
Our ability to distribute dividends also may be limited by future contractual obligations and by Israeli law. The Israeli Companies Law restricts our ability to declare dividends. Unless otherwise approved by a court, we can distribute dividends only from “profits” (as defined by the Israeli Companies Law), and only if there is no reasonable concern that the dividend distribution will prevent us from meeting our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due. Subject to the foregoing, payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on various factors, such as our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and other business and economic factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See “Description of Share Capital—Dividend and Liquidation Rights.” The payment of dividends may be subject to Israeli withholding taxes. See Item 10E of the 2016 Annual Report, “Additional Information—Taxation—Israeli Tax Considerations and Government Programs—Taxation of Our Shareholders—Taxation of Non-Israeli Shareholders on Receipt of Dividends” which is incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, if we pay a dividend out of income attributed to our Benefited Enterprise that was generated during the tax exemption period, we may be subject to tax on the grossed-up amount of such distributed income at the corporate tax rate which would have been applied to our Benefited Enterprise’s income had we not enjoyed the exemption. See Item 10E of the 2016 Annual Report, “Additional Information—Taxation – Israeli Tax Considerations and Government Programs — Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959 — Tax Benefits Subsequent to the 2005 Amendment” which is incorporated herein by reference.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
The following table sets forth our capitalization and indebtedness as of September 30, 2017:
|
· |
on an actual basis; and
|
|
· |
on as adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance and sale of 2,272,640 ordinary shares in the November 2017 registered direct at an offering price of $1.10 per share, after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses paid by us.
|
|
|
As of September 30, 2017
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As
adjusted
|
|
|
|
(in thousands of $)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Shareholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary share capital, 57,500,000 shares authorized, 16,986,051 shares issued, 16,986,051 actual and 19,258,691 shares issued, as adjusted
|
|
$
|
861
|
|
|
$
|
975
|
|
Additional Paid in Capital*
|
|
$
|
55,507
|
|
|
$
|
57,576
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
$
|
(50,810
|
) |
|
$
|
(50,810
|
) |
Total shareholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
5,558
|
|
|
$
|
7,740
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
5,558
|
|
|
$
|
7,740
|
|
*Does not include any potential proceeds from the exercise of November 2017 Warrants issued in the private placement that was consummated simultaneously with the registered direct offering, with an exercise price of $1.25.
The number of issued and outstanding shares as of September 30, 2017 in the table excludes:
|
•
|
9,107,464 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $5.73 per ordinary share;
|
|
•
|
2,522,987 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options with a weighted average exercise price of $3.85 per ordinary share, granted under our option and equity incentive plans;
|
|
•
|
587,763 restricted stock units issued to employees, consultants and directors, awarded under our equity incentive plan;
|
|
•
|
612,721 ordinary shares that are available for future option grants under the 2015 Plan;
|
|
•
|
1,704,480 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the November 2017 Warrants; and
|
|
•
|
113,632 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the placement agent warrants issued to the placement agent as compensation in connection with the November 2017 registered direct offering.
|
MARKET FOR OUR ORDINARY SHARES
Our units were listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market on February 19, 2015 under the symbol “CHEKU.” Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for our securities. Our initial public offering was priced at $6.00 per unit on February 20, 2015. Each unit consisted of one ordinary share and one-half of a Series A Warrant to purchase one ordinary share. Each unit was issued with one and one-half non-transferrable Long Term Incentive Warrants. On March 18, 2015, the units separated and ceased to exist. Since such date, our ordinary shares and Series A Warrants have been listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “CHEK” and “CHEKW,” respectively. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sales prices per ordinary share as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market:
Ordinary Shares
The high and low market prices of our ordinary shares for each financial year are as set forth below:
Year Ended
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
December 31, 2015 (from March 18, 2015)
|
|
$
|
6.30
|
|
|
$
|
1.80
|
|
December 31, 2016
|
|
$
|
3.72
|
|
|
$
|
0.97
|
|
December 31, 2017
|
|
$
|
2.64 |
|
|
$
|
0.80 |
|
The high and low market prices of our ordinary shares for each financial quarter over the most recent full financial year and subsequent period are as set forth below:
Quarter Ended
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
March 31, 2018 (through January 16, 2018) |
|
$
|
1.14 |
|
|
$
|
0.82 |
|
December 31, 2017
|
|
$
|
1.99
|
|
|
$
|
0.80
|
|
September 30, 2017
|
|
$
|
2.03
|
|
|
$
|
1.65
|
|
June 30, 2017
|
|
$
|
2.38
|
|
|
$
|
1.90
|
|
March 31, 2017
|
|
$
|
2.64
|
|
|
$
|
2.07
|
|
The high and low market prices of our ordinary shares for the most recent six months are as set forth below:
Month Ended
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
July 2017
|
|
$
|
1.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.84
|
|
August 2017
|
|
$
|
1.89
|
|
|
$
|
1.65
|
|
September 2017
|
|
$
|
2.00
|
|
|
$
|
1.70
|
|
October 2017
|
|
$
|
1.99
|
|
|
$
|
1.28
|
|
November 2017
|
|
$
|
1.52
|
|
|
$
|
0.95
|
|
December 2017
|
|
$ |
1.02
|
|
|
$ |
0.80
|
|
January 2018 (through January 8, 2018) |
|
$ |
0.97 |
|
|
$ |
0.86 |
|
On January 16, 2018, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $0.91.
We are registering for resale by the Selling Shareholders identified below 1,704,480 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the November 2017 Warrants (the “Shares”). We are registering the Shares to permit the Selling Shareholders and their pledgees, donees, transferees and other successors-in-interest that receive Shares from a Selling Shareholder as a gift, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer after the date of this prospectus to resell the Shares when and as they deem appropriate in the manner described in the “Plan of Distribution”.
The following table sets forth:
|
· |
the name and address of each Selling Shareholder;
|
|
· |
the number of ordinary shares that the Selling Shareholder beneficially owned prior to the offering for resale of the Shares under this prospectus,
|
|
· |
the maximum number of Shares that may be offered for resale for the account of the Selling Shareholders under this prospectus, and
|
|
· |
the number and percentage of ordinary shares to be beneficially owned by the Selling Shareholders after the offering of the Shares (assuming all of the offered Shares are sold by the Selling Shareholders).
|
On November 22, 2017, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of November 20, 2017, by and among the Company and the purchasers named therein, we issued a total of 1,704,480 November 2017 Warrants to the Selling Shareholders, each of whom is an accredited investor. Each November 2017 Warrant is exercisable for one ordinary share. The issuance of the November 2017 Warrants was made in reliance on the exemptions from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder.
None of the Selling Shareholders has been an officer or director of us or any of our predecessors or affiliates within the last three years, nor has any Selling Shareholder had a material relationship with us within the last three years.
None of the Selling Shareholders is a broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer, who should be identified as an underwriter.
Each Selling Shareholder may offer for sale all or part of the Shares from time to time. The table below assumes that the Selling Shareholders will sell all of the Shares offered for sale. A Selling Shareholder is under no obligation, however, to sell any Shares pursuant to this prospectus
|
|
Ordinary
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficially
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Beneficially
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
|
Owned
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Owned
|
|
|
Ownership
|
|
|
|
Prior to
|
|
|
Shares to
|
|
|
After
|
|
|
After
|
|
Name of Selling Shareholder
|
|
Offering(1)
|
|
|
be Sold
|
|
|
Offering
|
|
|
Offering(6)
|
|
Sabby Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. (2)
|
|
|
1,895,776
|
|
|
|
340,875
|
|
|
|
1,554,901
|
|
|
|
7.67
|
%
|
Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. (3)
|
|
|
1,142,968
|
|
|
|
340,875
|
|
|
|
802,093
|
|
|
|
3.95
|
%
|
Armistice Capital Master Fund, Ltd.(4)
|
|
|
1,920,273
|
|
|
|
852,273
|
|
|
|
1,068,000
|
|
|
|
5.55
|
%
|
Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (5)
|
|
|
381,233
|
|
|
|
170,457
|
|
|
|
210,776
|
|
|
|
1.09
|
%
|
(1) |
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, securities that are currently convertible or exercisable into our ordinary shares, or convertible or exercisable within 60 days following the date of this prospectus, are deemed beneficially owned by such person.
|
(2) |
Consists of (i) 880,151 ordinary shares (ii) 340,875 November 2017 Warrants and (iii) 674,750 warrant issued in our private placement concurrent with our june 2017 registered direct offering. The address of Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. is c/o Sabby Management, LLC, 10 Mountainview Road, Suite 205, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
|
(3) |
Consists of (i) 127,343 ordinary shares; (ii) 340,875 November 2017 Warrants and (iii) 674,750 warrant issued in our private placement concurrent with our june 2017 registered direct offering. The address of Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund Ltd. is c/o Sabby Management, LLC, 10 Mountainview Road, Suite 205, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.
|
(4) |
Consists of (i) 1,068,000 shares purchased in the registered direct offering completed on November 22, 2017; and (ii) 852,273 November 2017 Warrants issued in the concurrent private placement. The address of Armistice Capital Master Fund, Ltd.. is 510 Madison Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10022.
|
(5) |
Consists of (i) 210,776 shares purchased in the registered direct offering completed on November 22, 2017; and (ii) 170,457 November 2017 Warrants issued in the concurrent private placement. The address of Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC. is 440 N. Wells Street, Suite 410, Chicago, IL 60654.
|
(6) |
All warrants contain certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of the warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of ordinary shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
|
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
The following description of our share capital and provisions of our amended articles of association is a summary. This summary is subject to the Israeli Companies Law and is qualified by reference to our amended articles of association, as currently in effect.
Authorized Share Capital
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital is NIS 11,500,000, divided into 57,500,000 ordinary shares, nominal (par) value NIS 0.2 per share.
Ordinary Shares
As of January 8, 2018, 19,265,198 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding. All of our outstanding ordinary shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Our ordinary shares are not redeemable and do not have any preemptive rights.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
The NASDAQ Capital Market
Our ordinary shares are listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CHEK”.
Warrants
As of January 8, 2018, the following warrants were outstanding:
|
· |
92,221 warrants to purchase ordinary shares (formerly (i) warrants to purchase 41,822 Series C-1 preferred shares; and (ii) warrants to purchase 50,399 Series C-2 preferred shares), with a weighted average exercise price of $5.20 per ordinary share;
|
|
· |
221,539 warrants to purchase ordinary shares, of which (i) warrants to purchase 110,770 ordinary shares have an exercise price of NIS 0.20 per ordinary share; and (ii) warrants to purchase 110,769 ordinary shares have an exercise price of $5.06 per ordinary share;
|
|
· |
179,539 warrants to purchase ordinary shares automatically exercisable, for no consideration, upon the exercise of certain outstanding warrants (the “Anti-Dilution Warrants”);
|
|
· |
420,923 warrants to purchase ordinary shares issued in connection with the certain Credit Line Agreement dated as of August 20, 2014, as amended (the “CLA Warrants” and the “Credit Line Agreement”), with an exercise price of NIS 0.20 per share;
|
|
· |
1,125,000 Series A Warrants issued in our initial public offering and 1,000,000 Series A Warrants issued in the simultaneous private placement, each with an exercise price of $7.50 per share;
|
|
· |
1,711,266.5 Long Term Incentive Warrants issued in our initial public offering and 2,825,000.5 Long Term Incentive Warrants issued in the simultaneous private placement, each with an exercise price of $6.90 per share;
|
|
· |
100,000 warrants to purchase ordinary shares issued to the underwriter in connection with our initial public offering, with an exercise price of $7.50 per share;
|
|
· |
15,000 warrants to purchase ordinary shares issued to our U.S. legal counsel in connection with our initial public offering, with an exercise price of $5.06 per share;
|
|
· |
1,349,500 warrants issued in connection with the private placement concurrent with our June 2017 registered direct offering, with an exercise price of $2.125 per share;
|
|
· |
1,704,480 November 2017 Warrants, with an exercise price of $1.25 per share;
|
|
· |
67,475 warrants to purchase ordinary shares issued to the placement agent in connection with our June 2017 registered direct offering, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share; and
|
|
· |
113,632 warrants to purchase ordinary shares issued to the placement agent in connection with our November 2017 registered direct offering, with an exercise price of $1.375 per share.
|
Options
As of January 8, 2018, the following options were outstanding:
|
· |
options to purchase 1,110,834 of our ordinary shares, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.95 per share, were outstanding under our 2006 Unit Option Plan. Of such outstanding options, options to purchase 1,030,530 of our ordinary shares, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.95 per share, were vested as of such date; and
|
|
· |
options to purchase 1,387,049 of our ordinary shares, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.78 per share, were outstanding under the 2015 Plan. Of such outstanding options, options to purchase 583,594 of our ordinary shares, with a weighted average exercise price of $4.08 per share, were vested as of such date.
|
Restricted Stock Units
As of January 8, 2018, 584,363 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) were outstanding under the 2015 Plan.
Share Capital History
The following is a summary of our issuances of securities that affected our share capital since January 1, 2015:
Share Option and Incentive Plans
|
· |
Since January 1, 2015, we granted options to purchase an aggregate of 1,112,221 ordinary shares, in each case having an exercise price per share ranging from $0.05 to $5.08, to certain of our employees, officers, directors and consultants under our 2006 Unit Option Plan. Of such options, options to purchase an aggregate of 179,435 ordinary shares have been forfeited and cancelled without being exercised as of the date of this prospectus. Since August 13, 2015, we granted options to purchase an aggregate of 1,062,686 ordinary shares, in each case having an exercise price per share ranging from $1.28 to $4.57 to certain of our employees, officers and consultants under the 2015 Plan. Of such options, options to purchase an aggregate of 138,774 ordinary shares have been forfeited and cancelled without being exercised as of the date of this prospectus.
|
|
· |
Since February 27, 2017, we issued 597,994 RSUs to certain of our employees, consultants and directors under the 2015 Plan. Of such RSUs, 52,110 RSUs have been forfeited, and 12,344 RSUs were vested as of the date of this prospectus.
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Other
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On February 24, 2015, we issued and sold (i) 2,250,000 ordinary shares, 1,125,000 Series A Warrants and 3,375,000 Long Term Incentive Warrants in our initial public offering for an aggregate purchase price of $13,500,000 and (ii) 2,000,000 ordinary shares, 1,000,000 Series A Warrants and 3,000,000 Long Term Incentive Warrants in a simultaneous private placement, pursuant to the Credit Line Agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of $12,000,000.
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On February 24, 2015, in connection with our initial public offering, we issued warrants to purchase 100,000 ordinary shares to the underwriter and warrants to purchase 15,000 ordinary shares to our U.S. legal counsel.
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On February 24, 2015, upon the closing of the private placement consummated simultaneously with our initial public offering, we issued Finders’ Warrants to purchase 87,127 ordinary shares to certain finders in consideration for their brokerage services in connection with the Credit Line Agreement.
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Between February 24, 2015 and December 31, 2017, we issued and sold 2,201,258 ordinary shares upon the exercise of 2,237,540 CLA Warrants.
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Between February 24, 2015 and December 31, 2017, we issued and sold 206,252 ordinary shares upon the exercise of 206,252 Anti-Dilution Warrants.
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Between March 6, 2017 and December 31, 2017, we issued and sold 16,706 ordinary shares upon the exercise of 17,118 Finders’ Warrants.
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Between February 24, 2015 and February 24, 2017, 1,838,734 Long Term Incentive Warrants expired.
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On March 17, 2015, warrants for 25,196 ordinary shares (formerly Series D-1 warrants) and warrants for 830,583 ordinary shares (formerly Series D-2 warrants) expired.
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Between March 6, 2017 and December 31, 2017, 70,421 Finders’ Warrants expired.
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Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 8, 2016 between us and the purchasers identified therein, we issued and sold a total of 643,614 ordinary shares at a price of $1.90 per share and a total of 2,514,281 pre-funded warrants (“Pre-Funded Warrants”), at a price of $1.85 per Pre-Funded Warrant, in a registered direct offering. The exercise price for each Pre-Funded Warrant was $0.05 per share.
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Between August 11, 2016 and January 23, 2017, we issued a total of 2,514,281 ordinary shares upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants.
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On June 2, 2017, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 30, 2017, between us and the purchasers identified therein, we issued and sold a total of 1,349,500 ordinary shares in a registered direct offering and 1,349,500 warrants in a concurrent private placement, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,699,000.
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On June 2, 2017, we issued warrants to purchase 67,475 ordinary shares issued to the placement agent in connection with our June 2017 registered direct offering, with an exercise price of $2.50 per share.
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On November 22, 2017, pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of November 20, 2017, between us and the purchasers identified therein, we issued and sold a total of 2,272,640 ordinary shares in a registered direct offering and 1,704,480 November 2017 Warrants in a concurrent private placement, for an aggregate purchase price of $2,499,904.
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On November 22, 2017, we issued warrants to purchase 113,632 ordinary shares issued to the placement agent in connection with our November 2017 registered direct offering, with an exercise price of $1.375 per share.
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Registration Number and Purposes of the Company
Our registration number with the Israeli Registrar of Companies is 51-425981-1. Our purpose as set forth in our amended articles of association is to engage in any lawful activity.
Voting Rights and Conversion
All ordinary shares have identical voting and other rights in all respects.
Transfer of Shares
Our fully paid ordinary shares are issued in registered form and may be freely transferred under our amended articles of association, unless the transfer is restricted or prohibited by another instrument, applicable law or the rules of a stock exchange on which the shares are listed for trade. The ownership or voting of our ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel is not restricted in any way by our amended articles of association or the laws of the State of Israel, except for ownership by nationals of some countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel, according to applicable Israeli law’s requirements.
Election of Directors
Our ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors. As a result, the holders of a majority of the voting power represented at a shareholders meeting have the power to elect all of our directors, subject to the special approval requirements for external directors described under “Management — External Directors.”
Under our amended articles of association, our board of directors must consist of not less than four but no more than eleven directors, including the external directors (within the meaning of the Israeli Companies Law (if any). Pursuant to our amended articles of association, other than the external directors (if any), for whom special election requirements apply under the Israeli Companies Law, each of our directors will be appointed by a simple majority vote of holders of our voting shares, participating and voting at an annual general meeting of our shareholders. Each director (other than external directors, if any) hold office until the next annual general meeting following the annual general meeting at which they were elected and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until the occurrence of certain events, in accordance with the Israeli Companies Law and our amended articles of association, including his or her earlier resignation, death or removal by a vote of the majority of the voting power of our shareholders at a general meeting of until his or her office expires by operation of law. In addition, our amended articles of association allow our board of directors to appoint directors (other than external directors) to fill vacancies on the board of directors to serve for a term of office equal to the remaining period of the term of office of the directors(s) whose office(s) have been vacated. External directors are elected for an initial term of three years, may be elected for additional terms of three years each under certain circumstances, and may be removed from office pursuant to the terms of the Israeli Companies Law. For additional information regarding the requirements relating to the appointment and qualifications of external directors and exemption from such requirements, see Item 6C of the 2016 Annual Report, “Management — Board Practices — External Directors” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
We may declare a dividend to be paid to the holders of our ordinary shares in proportion to their respective shareholdings. Under the Israeli Companies Law, dividend distributions are determined by the board of directors and do not require the approval of the shareholders of a company unless the company’s articles of association provide otherwise. Our amended articles of association do not require shareholder approval of a dividend distribution and provide that dividend distributions may be determined by our board of directors.
Pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law, we may declare and pay dividends only if, upon the determination of our board of directors, there is no reasonable concern that the distribution will prevent us from being able to meet the terms of our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due. Under the Israeli Companies Law, the distribution amount is further limited to the greater of retained earnings or earnings generated over the two most recent years legally available for distribution according to our then last reviewed or audited financial statements (less the amount of previously distributed dividends, if not reduced from the earnings), provided that the date of the financial statements is not more than six months prior to the date of distribution. In the event that we do not have retained earnings or earnings generated over the two most recent years legally available for distribution, we must seek the approval of the court in order to distribute a dividend. The court may approve our request if it is convinced that there is no reasonable concern that the payment of a dividend will prevent us from satisfying our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due.
In the event of our liquidation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of our ordinary shares in proportion to the nominal value of their shareholdings. This right, as well as the right to receive dividends, may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.
Exchange Controls
There are currently no Israeli currency control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our ordinary shares, proceeds from the sale of the shares or interest or other payments to non-residents of Israel, except for shareholders who are subjects of countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.
Shareholder Meetings
Under Israeli law, we are required to hold an annual general meeting of our shareholders once every calendar year that must be held no later than 15 months after the date of the previous annual general meeting. All meetings other than the annual general meeting of shareholders are referred to in our amended articles of association as special general meetings. Our board of directors may call special general meetings whenever it sees fit, at such time and place, within or outside of Israel, as it may determine. In addition, the Israeli Companies Law provides that our board of directors is required to convene a special general meeting upon the written request of (i) any two of our directors or one-quarter of the serving members of our board of directors; or (ii) one or more shareholders holding, in the aggregate, either (a) 5% or more of our outstanding shares and 1% of our outstanding voting power or (b) 5% or more of our outstanding voting power.
Furthermore, the Israeli Companies Law requires that resolutions regarding the following matters be approved by our shareholders at a general meeting:
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amendments to our articles of association;
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appointment, terms of service and termination of service of our auditors;
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appointment of external directors;
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approval of certain related party transactions;
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increases or reductions of our authorized share capital;
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the exercise of our board of director’s powers by a general meeting, if our board of directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is essential for our proper management.
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Subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law and regulations promulgated thereunder, shareholders entitled to participate and vote at general meetings are the shareholders of record on a date to be decided by the board of directors, which, as a company listed on an exchange outside Israel, may be between four and 40 days prior to the date of the meeting.
The Israeli Companies Law requires that a notice of any annual general meeting or special general meeting be provided to shareholders at least 21 days prior to the meeting and if the agenda of the meeting includes, among other things, the appointment or removal of directors, the approval of transactions with office holders or interested or related parties, an approval of a merger or the approval of the compensation policy, notice must be provided at least 35 days prior to the meeting.
Under the Israeli Companies Law, our shareholders are not permitted to take action via written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Voting rights
Quorum Requirements
Pursuant to our amended articles of association, holders of our ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote before the shareholders at a general meeting. The quorum required for general meetings of our shareholders is at least two shareholders present in person, by proxy or written ballot, who hold or represent between them at least 25% of the total outstanding voting rights (or if a higher percentage is required by law, such higher percentage), within half an hour of the time fixed for the commencement of the meeting. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum is adjourned either to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or to such day, time and place as specified in the notice of the meeting or to such day, time and place as the chairman of the general meeting shall determine. At the reconvened meeting, at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy shall constitute a lawful quorum, unless the meeting of shareholders was convened at the demand of shareholders, in which case, the quorum shall be the presence of one or more shareholders holding at least 5% of our issued share capital and at least one percent of the voting power of our shares, or one or more shareholders with at least 5% of the voting power of our shares.
Vote Requirements
Our amended articles of association provide that all resolutions of our shareholders require a simple majority vote, unless otherwise required by the Israeli Companies Law or by our amended articles of association. Under the Israeli Companies Law, certain actions require a special majority, including: (i) appointment of external directors, requiring the approval described in Item 6C of the 2016 Annual Report under “Management—Board Practices—External Directors” which is incorporated herein by reference; (ii) approval of an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder or in which the controlling shareholder has a personal interest and the terms of employment or other engagement of the controlling shareholder or a relative of the controlling shareholder (even if not extraordinary), requiring the approval described in Item 6C of the 2016 Annual Report under “Management —Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law— Disclosure of Personal Interests of Controlling Shareholders and Approval of Certain Transactions” which is incorporated herein by reference; (iii) approval of a compensation policy, requiring the approval described in Item 6C of the 2016 Annual Report under Management—Board Practices——Compensation Committee and Compensation Policy” which is incorporated herein by reference; and (iv) approval of executive officer compensation inconsistent with our office holder compensation policy or the compensation of our chief executive officer (subject to limited exceptions), requiring the approval described in Item 6C of the 2016 Annual Report under “Management— Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law— Disclosure of Personal Interests of an Office Holder and Approval of Certain Transactions” which is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, under the Israeli Companies Law the authorization of the chairman of the board to assume the role or responsibilities of the chief executive officer, or the authorization of the chief executive officer or his or her relative thereof to assume the role or responsibilities of the chairman of the board, for periods of no longer than three years each, is subject to receipt of the approval of a majority of the shares voting on the matter, provided that either (i) included in such majority are at least two-thirds of the shares of shareholders who are non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the resolution that are voted at the meeting on the matter (excluding any abstentions); or (ii) the total number of shares of shareholders specified in clause (i) who voted against the resolution does not 2% of the voting rights in the company.
Another exception to the simple majority vote requirement is a resolution for the voluntary winding up, or an approval of a scheme of arrangement or reorganization, of the company pursuant to Section 350 of the Israeli Companies Law, which requires the approval of holders of 75% of the voting rights represented at the meeting and voting on the resolution.
Access to Corporate Records
Under the Israeli Companies Law, shareholders are provided access to: minutes of the general meetings of our shareholders; our shareholders register and principal shareholders register, articles of association and financial statements; and any document that we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israel Securities Authority. In addition, shareholders may request to be provided with any document in the company’s possession related to an action or transaction requiring shareholder approval under the related party transaction provisions of the Israeli Companies Law. We may deny this request if we believe it has not been made in good faith or if such denial is necessary to protect our interest or protect a trade secret or patent.
Modification of Class Rights
Under the Israeli Companies Law and our amended articles of association, the rights attached to any class of shares, such as voting, liquidation and dividend rights, may be modified or cancelled by adoption of a resolution by the holders of a majority of all shares as one class, without any required separate resolution of any class of shares, or otherwise in accordance with the rights attached to such class of shares, as set forth in our amended articles of association.
Registration Rights
We have granted certain registration rights to certain of our shareholders who owned our securities prior to the consummation of our initial public offering pursuant to the Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement dated as of October 14, 2014, as amended, by and among Check-Cap Ltd. and the shareholders parties thereto.
Acquisitions under Israeli Law
Full Tender Offer
A person wishing to acquire shares of an Israeli public company, and who would as a result hold over 90% of the target company’s issued and outstanding share capital, is required by the Israeli Companies Law to make a tender offer to all of the company’s shareholders for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company. A person wishing to acquire shares of a Israeli public company, and who would as a result hold over 90% of the issued and outstanding share capital of a certain class of shares of the company, is required to make a tender offer to all of the shareholders who hold shares of the relevant class for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of that class. If the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold less than 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class, and more than half of the shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the o0ffer accept the offer, all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. However, a tender offer will also be accepted if the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold less than 2% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class of shares.
Upon a successful completion of such a full tender offer, any shareholder that was an offeree in such tender offer, whether such shareholder accepted the tender offer or not, may, within six months from the date of acceptance of the tender offer, petition an Israeli court to determine whether the tender offer was for less than fair value and that the fair value should be paid as determined by the court. However, under certain conditions, the offeror may include in the terms of the tender offer that an offeree who accepted the offer will not be entitled to petition the Israeli court as described above.
If (a) the shareholders who did not respond or accept the tender offer hold at least 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company, or of the applicable class, or the shareholders who accept the offer constitute less than a majority of the offerees that do not have a personal interest in the acceptance of the tender offer, or (b) the shareholders who did not accept the tender offer hold 2% or more of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company (or of the applicable class), the acquirer may not acquire shares of the company that will increase its holdings to more than 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of the applicable class from shareholders who accepted the tender offer.
Special Tender Offer
The Israeli Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares of an Israeli public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, if there is no other shareholder that holds 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, subject to exceptions. Similarly, the Israeli Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares in an Israeli public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company, if there is no other shareholder of the company who holds more than 45% of the voting rights in the company, subject to certain exceptions. No tender offer is required if the acquisition of shares: (i) occurs in the context of a private placement, that was approved by the company’s shareholders and whose purpose is to give the acquirer at least 25% of the voting rights in the company if there is no person who holds 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, or as a private placement whose purpose is to give the acquirer 45% of the voting rights in the company, if there is no person who holds 45% of the voting rights in the company; (ii) was from a holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company following which the purchaser will hold 25% or more of the voting rights in the company; or (iii) was from a holder of more than 45% of the voting rig0hts in the company following which the purchaser will hold more than 45% of the voting rights in the company.
A special tender offer must be extended to all shareholders of a company but the offeror is not required to purchase shares representing more than 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares, regardless of how many shares are tendered by shareholders. A special tender offer may be consummated only if (i) at least 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares will be acquired by the offeror; and (ii) the number of shares tendered in the offer exceeds the number of shares whose holders objected to the offer (excluding the purchaser, its controlling shareholders, holders of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company or any person having a personal interest in the acceptance of the tender offer, or anyone on their behalf, including any such person’s relatives and entities under their control). If a special tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it, at the time of the offer, and any person or entity under common control with the purchaser or such controlling person or entity may not make a subsequent tender offer for the purchase of shares of the target company and may not enter into a merger with the target company for a period of one year from the date of the offer, unless the purchaser or such person or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special tender offer.
Merger
The Israeli Companies Law permits merger transactions if approved by each party’s board of directors and, unless certain requirements described under the Israeli Companies Law are met, by a majority vote of each party’s shares, and, in the case of the target company, a majority vote of each class of its shares, voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders meeting. The board of directors of a merging company may not approve the merger if it determines that there exists a reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger, the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations of the merging entities.
For purposes of the shareholder vote of a merging company whose shares are held by the other merging company or a person or entity holding 25% or more of any of the means of control of the other merging entity, unless a court rules otherwise, the merger will not be deemed approved if a majority of the votes of shares voting on the matter at the shareholders meeting (excluding abstentions) that are held by parties other than the other party to the merger, or by any other person or entity who holds 25% or more of the voting rights or the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors of the other party, or any one on their behalf including their relatives or corporations controlled by any of them, vote against the merger. If, however, the merger involves a merger with a company’s own controlling shareholder or if the controlling shareholder has a personal interest in the merger, then the merger is instead subject to the same Special Majority approval that governs all extraordinary transactions with controlling shareholders (as described in Item 6C of the 2016 Annual Report under “Management — Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law — Disclosure of Personal Interests of Controlling Shareholders and Approval of Certain Transactions” which is incorporated herein by reference).
If the transaction would have been approved by the shareholders of a merging company but for the separate approval of each class or the exclusion of the votes of certain shareholders as provided above, a court may still approve the merger upon the request of holders of at least 25% of the voting rights of a company, if the court holds that the merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the valuation of the merging companies and the consideration offered to the shareholders.
Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, the court may delay or prevent the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger, the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations of the merging entities, and may further give instructions to secure the rights of creditors.
In addition, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 50 days have passed from the date on which a proposal for approval of the merger was filed by each party with the Israeli Registrar of Companies and at least 30 days have passed from the date on which the merger was approved by the shareholders of each party.
Anti-Takeover Measures under Israeli Law
The Israeli Companies Law allow us to create and issue shares having rights different from those attached to our ordinary shares, including shares providing certain preferred rights with respect to voting, distributions or other matters and shares having preemptive rights. No preferred shares are currently authorized under our amended articles of association. In the future, if we do authorize, create and issue a specific class of preferred shares, such class of shares, depending on the specific rights that may be attached to it, may have the ability to frustrate or prevent a takeover or otherwise prevent our shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their ordinary shares. The authorization and designation of a class of preferred shares will require an amendment to our amended articles of association, which requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority of the voting power attached to our issued and outstanding shares at a general meeting. The convening of the meeting, the shareholders entitled to participate and the majority vote required to be obtained at such a meeting will be subject to the requirements set forth in the Israeli Companies Law and our amended articles of association as described above in “— Voting Rights.”
Borrowing Powers
Pursuant to the Israeli Companies Law and our amended articles of association, our board of directors may exercise all powers and take all actions that are not required under law or under our amended articles of association to be exercised or taken by our shareholders, including the power to borrow money for company purposes.
Changes in Capital
Our amended articles of association enable us to increase or reduce our share capital. Any such changes are subject to the provisions of the Israeli Companies Law and must be approved by a resolution duly passed by our shareholders at a general meeting by voting on such change in the capital. In addition, transactions that have the effect of reducing capital, such as the declaration and payment of dividends in the absence of sufficient retained earnings or profits, require the approval of both our board of directors and an Israeli court.
The Selling Shareholders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their Shares being offered under this prospectus on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which our ordinary shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of the Shares:
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
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block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
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purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resales by the broker-dealer for its account;
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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
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privately negotiated transactions;
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to cover short sales made after the date that the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;
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broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
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a combination of any of these methods of sale; and
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any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
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The Shares may also be sold under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if available for a Selling Shareholder, rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Shareholders have the sole and absolute discretion not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of Shares if it deems the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.
The Selling Shareholders may pledge their Shares to their respective brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling Shareholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the pledged Shares.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, which commissions as to a particular broker or dealer may be in excess of customary commissions to the extent permitted by applicable law.
If sales of Shares offered under this prospectus are made to broker-dealers as principals, we would be required to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In the post-effective amendment, we would be required to disclose the names of any participating broker-dealers and the compensation arrangements relating to such sales.
The Selling Shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the Shares offered under this prospectus may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with these sales. Commissions received by these broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the Shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Any broker-dealers or agents that are deemed to be underwriters may not sell Shares offered under this prospectus unless and until we set forth the names of the underwriters and the material details of their underwriting arrangements in a supplement to this prospectus or, if required, in a replacement prospectus included in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The Selling Shareholders and any other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the shares offered under this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations under that act, including Regulation M. These provisions may restrict activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Shares by, the Selling Shareholders or any other person. Furthermore, under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and other activities with respect to those securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions, subject to specified exceptions or exemptions. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the Shares.
If any of the Shares offered for sale pursuant to this prospectus are transferred other than pursuant to a sale under this prospectus, then subsequent holders could not use this prospectus until a post-effective amendment or prospectus supplement is filed, naming such holders. We offer no assurance as to whether any of the Selling Shareholders will sell all or any portion of the Shares offered under this prospectus.
We agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part effective at all times until neither of the Selling Shareholders owns any November 2017 Warrants or Shares. The Shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the Shares covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
The validity of the ordinary shares and legal matters as to Israeli law has been passed upon for us by Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co., Tel Aviv, Israel. Legal matters as to United States and New York law have been passed upon for us by Loeb & Loeb LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The financial statements, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, have been audited by Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co., a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, or Deloitte, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The address of Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co., a member firm of Deloitte, is 1 Azrieli Center, Tel Aviv, 67021, Israel.
EXPENSES
The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, all of which will be paid by us:
SEC registration fee
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$
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186.75
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Legal fees and expenses*
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15,000
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Accounting fees and expenses*
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0
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Printing expenses*
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1,000
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Miscellaneous fees and expenses*
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1,000
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Total
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$
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17,186.75
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. The documents we are incorporating by reference as of their respective dates of filing are:
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our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017;
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our Current Reports on Form 6-K and Form 6-K/A filed with the SEC on March 10, 2017, May 9, 2017, May 18, 2017 , May 24, 2017, May 30, 2017, June 2, 2017, June 15, 2017, August 10, 2017, September 27, 2017, October 10, 2017, October 24, 2017, October 25, 2017 (three reports), November 6, 2017, November 20, 2017, November 22, 2017 (two reports), December 5, 2017 and January 10, 2018; and
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the description of our ordinary shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-1, as amended, under the Securities Act, as originally filed with the SEC on December 23, 2014 (Registration No. 333- 201250) under the heading “Description of Securities” and as incorporated into our Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC February 11, 2015.
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Potential investors, including any beneficial owner, may obtain a copy of any of the documents summarized herein (subject to certain restrictions because of the confidential nature of the subject matter) or any of our SEC filings incorporated by reference herein without charge by written or oral request directed to Lior Torem, Chief Financial Officer; at Check-Cap Building, 29 Abba Hushi Avenue, P.O. Box 1271, Isfiya, 3009000, Israel; Our telephone number is +972-4-8303400.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this prospectus.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. This prospectus, filed as a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules thereto in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and no reference is hereby made to such omitted information. Statements made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are summaries of all of the material terms of such contract, agreement or document, but do not repeat all of their terms. Reference is made to each such exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved and such statements shall be deemed qualified in their entirety by such reference. We are subject to periodic reporting and other information requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers and accordingly we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis as press releases distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the stock exchange on which our ordinary shares are listed. We furnish press releases relating to financial results and material events to the SEC on Form 6-K. As we are a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from some of the Exchange Act reporting requirements, namely, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders and Section 16 short swing profit reporting for our officers and directors and for holders of more than 10% of our shares. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. All but one of our current executive officers, the Israeli experts and two of our serving directors reside in Israel, and substantially all of our assets and a substantial portion of the assets of these persons are located in Israel. Therefore, service of process upon us and upon our directors and officers, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because substantially all of our assets, and a substantial portion of those of our directors and officers who reside outside the United States and the Israeli experts named herein, are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of these persons may not be collectible within the United States.
We have appointed Puglisi & Associates as our agent to receive service of process in any action against us in any United States federal or state court arising out of this offering or any purchase or sale of securities in connection with this offering. The address of Puglisi & Associates is 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, Delaware 19711.
We have been informed by our legal counsel in Israel, Fischer Behar Chen Well Orion & Co., that there is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws pursuant to original actions instituted in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on an alleged violation of U.S. securities laws on the grounds that Israel is not the most appropriate forum to bring such a claim. In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that Israeli law and not U.S. law is applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact by expert witnesses, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure may also be governed by Israeli law.
Subject to certain time limitations and legal procedures, Israeli courts may enforce a U.S. judgment in a civil matter, including a judgment based upon the civil liability provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and including a monetary or compensatory judgment in a non-civil matter, provided that, among other things:
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the judgment was rendered by a court which was, according to the laws of the state of the court, competent to render the judgment;
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the judgment may no longer be appealed;
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the obligation imposed by the judgment is enforceable according to the rules relating to the enforceability of judgments in Israel and the substance of the judgment is not contrary to public policy; and
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the judgment is executory in the state in which it was given.
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Even if such conditions are met, an Israeli court may not declare a foreign civil judgment enforceable if:
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the judgment was given in a state whose laws do not provide for the enforcement of judgments of Israeli courts (subject to exceptional cases);
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the enforcement of the judgment is likely to prejudice the sovereignty or security of the State of Israel;
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the judgment was obtained by fraud;
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the opportunity given to the defendant to bring its arguments and evidence before the court was not reasonable in the opinion of the Israeli court;
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the judgment was rendered by a court not competent to render it according to the laws of private international law as they apply in Israel;
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the judgment is contradictory to another judgment that was given in the same matter between the same parties and that is still valid; or
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at the time the action was brought in the foreign court, a lawsuit in the same matter and between the same parties was pending before a court or tribunal in Israel.
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Foreign judgments enforced by Israeli courts generally will be payable in Israeli currency, which can then be converted into non-Israeli currency and transferred out of Israel. The usual practice in an action before an Israeli court to recover an amount in a non-Israeli currency is for the Israeli court to render judgment for the equivalent amount in Israeli currency at the rate of exchange in force on the date of the judgment, but the judgment debtor may make payment in foreign currency. Pending collection, the amount of the judgment of an Israeli court stated in Israeli currency ordinarily will be linked to the Israeli consumer price index plus interest at the annual statutory rate set by Israeli regulations prevailing at that time. Judgment creditors must bear the risk of unfavorable exchange rates.
INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Check-Cap Ltd.
1,704,480 Ordinary Shares Prospectus
January 16, 2018