As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
EVOGENE LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
Israel
|
|
Not Applicable
|
|
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
|
|
(IRS. Employer
Identification No.)
|
13 Gad Feinstein Street, Park Rehovot, Rehovot
7638517, Israel
Telephone: +972-8-931-1900
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Puglisi & Associates
50 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
(302)-738-6680
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
|
Mike Rimon, Adv.
Elad Ziv, Adv.
Meitar | Law Offices
16 Abba Hillel Silver Rd.
Ramat Gan 52506, Israel
Tel: (+972) (3) 610-3100
|
|
Oded Har-Even, Esq.
Howard E. Berkenblit, Esq.
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Tel: 212.660.3000
|
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective as determined by the registrant.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check
the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become
effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register
additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
†The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards
Codification after April 5, 2012.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its
effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration
Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information contained in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is
effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 1, 2024
PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000 of Ordinary Shares, Warrants, Rights
and/or Units Offered
EVOGENE LTD.
We may offer, issue and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to $200,000,000, in the aggregate, of our ordinary shares, warrants to purchase ordinary shares, rights
and units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities. We refer to the ordinary shares, warrants, rights and units individually and collectively as “securities” in this prospectus.
Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering, as
well as the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with each offering of the securities. Any prospectus supplement and related free writing
prospectuses may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and related free writing prospectuses, as well as the documents incorporated by reference, or
deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus before you invest in any of our securities.
We may, from time to time, offer and sell securities through public or private transactions, directly or through underwriters, agents or
dealers, on or off the Nasdaq Stock Market, or Nasdaq, or Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd., or the TASE, as applicable, at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. If any underwriters, agents or dealers are involved in the sale of any
of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names of the underwriters, agents or dealers and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities will also be set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Our ordinary shares are traded on the Nasdaq and TASE under the symbol “EVGN.” On February 27, 2024, the closing price of our ordinary shares was $0.885 as reported on the Nasdaq.
On February 27, 2024, the aggregate market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates was approximately $48,629,419, based on 49,784,418 ordinary shares outstanding and a
per share price of $0.9768 based on the closing sale price of our ordinary shares on January 4, 2024. We have sold an aggregate of approximately $8,923,911 of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 on Form F-3 during the prior 12 calendar
month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus, and
those included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Israeli Securities Authority, nor any state or other securities
commission, has approved or disapproved of our securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| |
|
|
|
7 |
| |
|
|
|
11
|
| |
|
|
|
12
|
| |
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
| |
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a
“shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time, in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $200,000,000, as described in this prospectus. Each time that we sell securities,
we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be
provided to you in connection with each offering of the securities. Any prospectus supplement and related free writing prospectuses may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the
information in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectuses, you should rely on the prospectus supplement and/or the related free writing prospectuses. Before purchasing any securities, you should
carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”
We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information other than that contained in or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. We will not take any responsibility and can make no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer
to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its
respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may
have changed since those dates.
This prospectus incorporates by reference market data and certain industry data and forecasts that were obtained from market research
databases, consultant surveys commissioned by us, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and industry publications and surveys. Industry surveys, publications, consultant surveys commissioned by us and forecasts generally
state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. We have relied on certain data from third-party sources, including internal surveys, industry forecasts and market research, which we believe to be
reliable based on our management’s knowledge of the industry. Statements as to our market position are based on the most currently available data. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented in this prospectus,
our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the relevant prospectus supplement, and under similar headings in
the other documents that are incorporated herein or therein by reference.
Certain figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain
tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
As used herein, and unless the context suggests otherwise, the terms “Evogene,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company” and “the Company” refer to Evogene Ltd. and its consolidated
subsidiaries, consisting of Ag Plenus Ltd., or Ag Plenus, Biomica Ltd., or Biomica, Canonic Ltd., Casterra Ag Ltd., or Casterra, Evogene Inc., Lavie Bio Ltd. and their consolidated subsidiaries. References to “dollar” and “$” are to U.S. dollars, the
lawful currency of the United States, references to “€” are to the Euro and references to “NIS” are to New Israeli Shekels, the lawful currency of the State of Israel. References to our “ordinary shares” or “shares” refer to our ordinary shares, par
value NIS 0.02 per share. References to our “2022 annual report” refer to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, which we filed with the SEC on March 30, 2023.
Unless otherwise indicated, we have translated NIS amounts into U.S. dollars at an exchange rate of NIS 3.824 to $1.00, the representative exchange rate reported by the Bank of
Israel on September 30, 2023.
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before purchasing any of our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties discussed below and under the caption
“Item 3. Key Information— D. Risk Factors” in our 2022 annual report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as the risks, uncertainties and additional information described in any applicable prospectus supplement or free
writing prospectus and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any such prospectus supplement. For a description of those reports and documents, and information about where you can find them, please see “Where You
Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” Additional risks not presently known or that we presently consider to be immaterial could subsequently materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results
of operations, business and prospects. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, business prospects, financial condition or results of operations could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our ordinary shares to
decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The discussion of risks includes or refers to forward-looking statements. You should also read the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on such forward-looking statements in
the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” found elsewhere in this prospectus.
We received Israeli government grants for certain of our research and development activities as detailed below. The terms of those grants require
us to satisfy specified conditions in order to transfer outside of Israel the manufacture of products based on know-how funded by the Israeli Innovation Authority or to transfer outside of Israel the know-how itself. If we fail to comply with the
requirements of Israeli Law in this regard, we may be required to pay penalties, and it may impair our ability to sell our technology outside of Israel.
Some of our research and development efforts were financed through grants that we received from the Israeli Innovation Authority of the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, or
the IIA. When know-how is developed using IIA grants, the Encouragement of Research, Development and Technological Innovation in Industry Law 5744-1984, or the Innovation Law, and the regulations thereunder, restrict our ability to transfer outside
of Israel either the manufacture of products based on IIA funded know-how or the know-how itself. Such restrictions continue to apply to us even after financial obligations to the IIA are paid in full.
Conditions in Israel, including the recent attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip and elsewhere in the region, and Israel’s war
against them, may adversely affect our operations and limit our ability to market our products, which would lead to a decrease in revenues.
Because most of our operations are conducted in Israel and a majority of the members of our board of directors and management as well as a majority of our employees and
consultants, including employees of our service providers, are located in Israel, our business and operations are directly affected by economic, political, geopolitical and military conditions in Israel. Since the establishment of the State of
Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have occurred between Israel and its neighboring countries and terrorist organizations active in the region. These conflicts have involved missile strikes, hostile infiltrations and terrorism against
civilian targets in various parts of Israel, which have negatively affected business conditions in Israel.
In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Hamas also launched
extensive rocket attacks on Israeli population and industrial centers located along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and in other areas within the State of Israel. These attacks resulted in extensive deaths, injuries and kidnapping of civilians
and soldiers. Following the attack, Israel’s security cabinet declared war against Hamas and a military campaign against these terrorist organizations commenced in parallel to their continued rocket and terror attacks. In addition, since the
commencement of these events, there have been continued hostilities along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon (with the Hezbollah terror organization) and southern border (with the Houthi movement in Yemen, as described below). It is possible
that hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon will escalate and that other terrorist organizations, including Palestinian military organizations in the West Bank as well as other hostile countries, such as Iran, will join the hostilities. Such clashes
may escalate in the future into a greater regional conflict.
The intensity and duration of Israel’s current war against Hamas is difficult to predict, as are such war’s economic implications on our business and operations and on Israel’s
economy in general. These events may be intertwined with wider macroeconomic indications of a deterioration of Israel’s economic standing that may involve a downgrade in Israel’s credit rating by rating agencies (such as the recent downgrade by
Moody’s of its credit rating of Israel from A1 to A2, as well as the downgrade of its outlook rating from “stable” to “negative”), which may have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to effectively conduct our operations.
In connection with the Israeli security cabinet’s declaration of war against Hamas and possible hostilities with other organizations, several hundred thousand Israeli military
reservists were drafted to perform immediate military service. Although many of such military reservists have since been released, they may be called up for additional reserve duty, depending on developments in the war in Gaza and along Israel’s
other borders. As of February 27, 2024, two of our employees (out of 136 employees as of such date) have been called to service, both of which are part of the executive management of one of our subsidiaries. Additional employees may be called for
service in the current or future wars or other armed conflicts in which Israel is or may become engaged and such persons may be absent for an extended period of time. As a result, our operations may be disrupted by such absences, which disruption
may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. Additionally, the absence of employees of our Israeli suppliers and contract manufacturers due to their military service in the current or future wars or other armed
conflicts may disrupt their operations, which in turn may materially and adversely affect our ability to deliver or provide products and services to customers.
The hostilities with Hamas, Hezbollah and other organizations and countries have included and may include terror, missile and drone attacks. In the event that our facilities are
damaged as a result of hostile actions, or hostilities otherwise disrupt our ongoing operations, our ability to deliver or provide products and services in a timely manner to meet our contractual obligations towards customers and vendors could be
materially and adversely affected. Our commercial insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of events associated with war and terrorism. Although the Israeli government currently covers the reinstatement value of direct damages that
are caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war, we cannot assure you that such government coverage will be maintained or that it will sufficiently cover our potential damages. Any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect
on our business.
In addition, some countries around the world restrict doing business with Israel and Israeli companies, and additional countries may impose restrictions on doing business with
Israel and Israeli companies if hostilities in Israel or political instability in the region continue or increase. In addition, there have been increased efforts by countries, activists and organizations to cause companies and consumers to boycott
Israeli goods and services. In addition, in January 2024 the International Court of Justice, or ICJ, issued an interim ruling in a case filed by the Republic of South Africa against Israel in December 2023, making allegations of genocide amid and
in connection with the war in Gaza, and ordered Israel, among other things, to take measures to prevent genocidal acts, prevent and punish incitement to genocide and take steps to provide basic services and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
There are concerns that companies and businesses will terminate, and may have already terminated, certain commercial relationships with Israeli companies following the ICJ decision. The foregoing efforts by countries, activists and organizations,
particularly if they become more widespread, as well as the ICJ rulings and future rulings and orders of other tribunals against Israel (if handed), may materially and adversely impact our ability to sell and provide our products and services
outside of Israel.
Furthermore, following Hamas’ attack on Israel and Israel’s security cabinet declaration of war against Hamas, the Houthi movement, which controls parts of Yemen, launched a
number of attacks on marine vessels traversing the Red Sea, which marine vessels were thought to either be in route towards Israel or to be partly owned by Israeli businesses. The Red Sea is a vital maritime route for international trade traveling
to or from Israel. As a result of such disruptions, we may experience in the future delays in supplier deliveries, extended lead times, and increased cost of freight, increased insurance costs, purchased materials and manufacturing labor costs. The
risk of ongoing supply disruptions may further result in delayed deliveries of our products and may also have adverse impact on economic conditions in Israel.
Finally, political conditions within Israel may affect our operations. Israel has held five general elections between 2019 and 2022.Prior to October 2023, the Israeli government
pursued extensive changes to Israel’s judicial system which sparked extensive political debate and unrest. In response to such initiative, many individuals, organizations and institutions, both within and outside of Israel, voiced concerns that the
proposed changes may negatively impact the business environment in Israel including due to reluctance of foreign investors to invest or transact business in Israel, as well as to increased currency fluctuations, downgrades in credit rating, increased
interest rates, increased volatility in security markets and other changes in macroeconomic conditions. To date, these initiatives have been substantially put on hold. If such changes to Israel’s judicial system are again pursued by the government
and approved by the parliament, this may have an adverse effect on our business, our results of operations and our ability to raise additional funds, if deemed necessary by our management and board of directors.
Any inability to meet the Nasdaq listing requirements may have an adverse effect on our share price and lead to our delisting from Nasdaq.
We are required to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, including those regarding minimum share price. In particular, we are required to maintain a minimum bid
price for our listed ordinary shares of $1.00 per share. On October 31, 2022, we received a written notification from Nasdaq, which stated that because the closing bid price of our ordinary shares for 31 consecutive business days was below the
minimum $1.00 per share bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the applicable grace period to regain
compliance was 180 days, or until May 1, 2023.
On May 2, 2023, Nasdaq notified us that our transfer from the Nasdaq Global Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market was approved, and that we were eligible for an additional 180
calendar day period, or until October 30, 2023, to regain compliance with the bid price rules. Effective at the opening of business on May 4, 2023, our ordinary shares were transferred to the Nasdaq Capital Market. On July 17, 2023, we announced that
Nasdaq confirmed that it regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) concerning the minimum bid price of our ordinary shares.
On September 18, 2023, we received another written notification from Nasdaq, which stated that because the closing bid price of our ordinary shares for 30 consecutive business
days was below the minimum $1.00 per share bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), hawse have a grace
period of 180 days to regain compliance until March 18, 2024.
If we do not demonstrate compliance prior to the end of the 180-day period ending March 18, 2024, the Nasdaq staff may notify us that our ordinary shares will be subject to
delisting. However, we may then be eligible for additional time of up to a further 180 calendar days to regain compliance if we meet the continued listing requirement for the market value of our publicly held shares and all other initial listing
standards for the Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the bid price requirement. To be eligible, we will also need to provide further written notice of our intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period. In such an
event, we may implement a reverse split of our ordinary shares at such ratio as shall be determined by our board of directors. There are numerous factors and contingencies that could affect our price following a reverse split, including the status
of the market for our ordinary shares at the time, our reported results of operations in future periods and general economic, market and industry conditions. Accordingly, the market price of our ordinary shares may not be sustainable at the direct
arithmetic result of the reverse split. If the market price of our ordinary shares declines after the reverse split, our total market capitalization (the aggregate value of all of our outstanding ordinary shares at the then existing market price)
after the reverse split will be lower than before the reverse split. In addition, the reverse split may result in some shareholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 ordinary shares on a post-split basis. Odd lots may be more difficult to sell, or
require greater transaction costs per share to sell, than shares in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.
If Nasdaq initiates delisting proceedings or delists our ordinary shares from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences including reduced
liquidity with respect to our ordinary shares, limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company, reputational damage, diminished investor, supplier and employee confidence and decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain
additional financing in the future.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, contains, and any prospectus supplement or
document incorporated by reference therein may contain, statements that are forward-looking statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, our product development efforts, business, financial condition,
results of operations, strategies, plans and prospects. Forward-looking statements can be identified based on our use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “could,” “might,” “seek,”
“target,” “will,” “project,” “forecast,” “continue” or their negatives or variations of these words or other comparable words, or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical matters. Forward-looking statements relate to
anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated
in forward-looking statements.
We believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, these statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors (including those identified above) that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. We describe
and/or refer to many of these risks in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in our 2022 annual report, and may further describe or refer to these risks in any prospectus supplement or document incorporated by
reference herein or therein.
All forward-looking statements contained in any of the foregoing documents speak only as of the date of such documents and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the
cautionary statements contained within the “Risk Factors” section of those documents (or documents incorporated by reference therein). We do not undertake to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise
after the date on which such statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider these risks and uncertainties and not place undue reliance
on our forward-looking statements.
Our Business
We are a leading computational biology company aiming to revolutionize life-science product development across several market segments, including human health, agriculture, and
other industries, by utilizing cutting-edge computational technologies.
The main challenge in product development in the life science industry is finding the winning candidates out of a vast number of possible prospects that address a complex myriad of
criteria to reach successful products. We believe that by utilizing an advanced computational biology platform to identify the most promising candidates addressing multiple development challenges toward successful life-science products, we can
increase the probability of success while reducing time and cost.
To achieve this mission, we established our unique Computational Predictive Biology, or CPB, platform, leveraging big data and artificial intelligence and incorporating deep
multidisciplinary understanding in life sciences. The CPB platform is the basis for three technology engines; each focused on the direction and acceleration of the discovery and development of products based on one of the following core components:
Microbes – MicroBoost AI, Small molecules – ChemPass AI, Genetic elements – GeneRator AI. In 2023, we emphasized our
research and development efforts on MicroBoost AI and ChemPass AI, and we plan to maintain this focus moving forward.
We use our technological engines to support the development of life science-based products through dedicated subsidiaries and with strategic partners. Currently, our main
activities are directed through our subsidiaries, that utilize the technological engines to develop human microbiome-based therapeutics by Biomica, ag-chemicals by Ag Plenus, ag-biologicals by Lavie Bio and castor seeds for bio-based industrial
applications by Casterra.
The foregoing information about us is a general summary and is not intended to be comprehensive. For additional information about our
business, you should refer to the information under the heading “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.” Before making an investment decision, you should read the entire prospectus, and our other filings with the SEC, including those filings
incorporated herein by reference, carefully, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Our capitalization will be set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus or in a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K
subsequently furnished to the SEC and specifically incorporated herein by reference.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of securities by our Company under this
prospectus will be used for research and development, working capital, investments in our subsidiaries, sales and marketing activities and for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net of proceeds to acquire or invest in
technologies, products and/or businesses that we believe are complementary to ours. Pending these uses, we may invest the net proceeds from the sale of securities in accordance with our investment policies, as amended from time to time. When
securities are offered, the prospectus supplement relating thereto will set forth our intended use of the net proceeds that we receive from the sale of such securities.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize the
material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the particular terms of any securities offered by such prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in the
applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms we have summarized below. We may also include in the prospectus supplement information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to
the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities will be listed.
We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, ordinary shares, warrants, rights and/or units comprising any combination of these securities. The aggregate offering price
for all securities that we may sell will not exceed $200,000,000.
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES
General
The following are summaries of material provisions of our articles of association, or articles, and the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999, or
the Companies Law, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares, and do not purport to be complete.
As of February 26, 2024, our authorized share capital consists of NIS 3,000,000 divided into 150,000,000 ordinary shares, par value NIS 0.02 per share. As of February 26, 2024,
50,623,278 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.
Registration Number and Purposes of the Company
Our registration number with the Israeli Registrar of Companies is 51-283872-3. Our purpose, as set forth in our articles, is to engage in any lawful business.
Voting Rights
Holders of our ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders at a shareholder meeting. Shareholders may vote at
shareholder meetings either in person, by proxy or by written ballot. Israeli law does not allow public companies to adopt shareholder resolutions by means of written consent in lieu of a shareholder meeting. Shareholder voting rights may be affected
by the grant of any special voting rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future. Except as otherwise disclosed herein, an amendment to our articles to change the rights of our shareholders
requires the prior approval of a simple majority of our shares represented and voting at a general meeting and, to the extent applicable, of the holders of a class of shares whose rights are being affected.
Share Ownership Restrictions
The ownership or voting of ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel is not restricted in any way by our articles or the laws of the State of Israel, except that citizens of
countries that are in a state of war with Israel may not be recognized as owners of ordinary shares.
Transfer of Shares
Fully paid ordinary shares are issued in registered form and may be freely transferred under our articles unless the transfer is restricted or prohibited by another instrument,
Israeli law or the rules of a stock exchange on which the shares are traded.
Election of Directors
Our ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors. Rather, under our articles, our directors, other than external directors (to the extent
required to be elected), are elected at each annual general meeting of the shareholders, upon expiration of the term of office, by the holders of a simple majority of our ordinary shares present in person or by proxy at such meeting (excluding
abstentions). As a result, the holders of our ordinary shares that represent more than 50% of the voting power represented at a shareholder meeting and voting thereon (excluding abstentions) have the power to elect any or all of our directors.
Vacancies on our board of directors, resulting from a resignation or other termination of service by a then serving director, or an additional authorized seat on our board of directors, may be filled by a vote of a simple majority of the directors
then in office.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Under Israeli law, we may declare and pay a dividend only if, upon the reasonable determination of our board of directors, the distribution will not prevent us from being able to
meet the terms of our existing and contingent obligations as they become due. Under the Companies Law, the distribution amount is further limited to the greater of retained earnings or earnings generated over the two most recent years according to
our then last reviewed or audited financial statements, 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 and earnings legally
available for distribution, as defined in the Companies Law, we may 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 ordinary shares on a pro-rata basis. Dividend and
liquidation rights 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.
Shareholder Meetings
Under the Companies Law, we are required to convene an annual general meeting of our shareholders once every calendar year, not more than 15 months following the preceding annual
general meeting. Our board of directors may convene a special general meeting of our shareholders and is required to do so at the request of two directors or one quarter of the members of our board of directors, or at the request of one or more
holders of 5% or more of our share capital and 1% of our voting power, or the holder or holders of 5% or more of our voting power. All shareholder meetings require prior notice of at least 21 days and, in certain cases, 35 days. The chairperson of
our board of directors or another one of our directors authorized by our board of directors presides over our general meetings. If either of such persons is not present within 15 minutes from the appointed time for the commencement of the meeting,
the directors present at such meeting shall appoint one of our directors as the chairperson for such meeting, and if they fail to do so, then the shareholders present shall appoint one of our directors to act as chairperson, and if no director is
present, then one of the shareholders present at such meeting shall act as chairperson. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, only shareholders of record on a date decided upon by the board of
directors, which may be between four and 40 days prior to the date of the meeting (depending on the type of meeting and whether written proxies are being used) are entitled to participate and vote at a general meeting of shareholders.
Quorum
Under our articles, the quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present in person, by proxy or by written ballot, who hold or represent
between them at least 25% of our voting power. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum generally is adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place (without requirement of additional notification to the shareholders), or
to a later time, if indicated in the notice to the meeting or to such other time and place as determined by the board of directors in a notice to our shareholders. At the reconvened meeting, if a quorum is not present within half an hour from the
appointed time for the commencement of the meeting, the meeting will take place so long as at least one shareholder is present (regardless of the voting power held or represented by any such shareholder(s)), unless the meeting was called pursuant to
a request by our shareholders, in which case the quorum required is the number of shareholders required to call the meeting as described under “—Shareholder Meetings” above.
Resolutions
Under the Companies Law, unless otherwise provided in the articles or applicable law, all resolutions of the shareholders require a simple majority of the voting rights represented
at the meeting, in person, by proxy or by written ballot, and voting on the resolution (excluding abstentions).
Access to Corporate Records
Under the Companies Law, all shareholders generally have the right to review minutes of our general meetings, our shareholder register, including with respect to material
shareholders, our articles, our financial statements and any document we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israeli Securities Authority. Any shareholder who specifies the purpose of its request may
request to review any document in our possession that relates to any action or transaction with a related party which requires shareholder approval under the Companies Law. We may deny a request to review a document if we determine that the request
was not made in good faith, that the document contains a trade secret or patent or that the document’s disclosure may otherwise impair our interests.
Modification of Class Rights
The rights attached to any class of share (to the extent that we may have separate classes of shares in the future), such as voting, liquidation and dividend rights, may be amended
by adoption of a resolution by the holders of a majority of our shares represented at the meeting and the holders of a majority of the shares of that class present at a separate class meeting, or otherwise in accordance with the rights attached to
such class of shares, as set forth in our articles.
Acquisitions under Israeli Law
Full Tender Offer
A person wishing to acquire shares or a class of shares of an Israeli public company such as ours and who would, as a result, own more than
90% of the target company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of a certain class of its shares, is required by the Companies Law to make a full tender offer (as defined in the Companies Law) to all of the company’s shareholders for the purchase
of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company or class of shares. If either (i) the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold, in the aggregate, 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 offer accept the offer, or (ii) 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, then all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. However, a shareholder that had its shares so transferred, whether or not it accepted the tender
offer (unless otherwise provided in the offering memorandum for the tender offer), may, within six months from the date of acceptance of the tender offer, petition the court based on a claim that the tender offer was for less than fair value and that
the fair value should be paid as determined by the court. If both of the foregoing conditions (i) and (ii) are not satisfied, 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 full tender offer. Shares purchased not in accordance with those provisions shall become “dormant shares” and shall not grant the purchaser any rights so long
as they are held by the purchaser.
Special Tender Offer
Under the Companies Law, an acquisition pursuant to which a purchaser shall hold (i) a “controlling stake”, which is defined as 25% or more
of the voting rights (assuming that no other shareholder holds a controlling stake), or (ii) more than 45% of the voting rights (assuming that no other shareholder owns more than 45% of the voting rights), of a public company such as ours may not be
performed by way of market accumulation, but only by way of a special tender offer (as defined in the Companies Law) made to all of the company’s shareholders on a pro rata basis. A special tender offer may not be consummated unless a majority of the
shareholders who have submitted their response to the offer have approved it. In counting the total votes of responding shareholders, shares held by the controlling shareholders, shareholders who have a conflict of interest with respect to the offer
(referred to under the Companies Law as a “personal interest”), shareholders who own 25% or more of the voting rights in the company, relatives or representatives of any of the above, and the bidder, and corporations under their respective control,
shall not be taken into account. A shareholder may object to such a tender offer without such objection being deemed as a waiver of his, her or its right to sell shares to the bidder if the offer is approved by a majority of the company’s
shareholders despite the subject shareholder’s objection. Shares purchased by the bidder in violation of the foregoing rules shall become “dormant shares” and shall not grant the bidder any rights so long as they are held by the bidder. If a special
tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it or 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 initial tender offer, unless the purchaser or such person or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special
tender offer.
Under regulations enacted pursuant to the Companies Law, the above special tender offer requirements do not apply to companies whose shares
are listed for trading on a foreign stock exchange if, among other things, the relevant foreign laws or the rules of the stock exchange include provisions limiting the percentage of control which may be acquired or requiring that the acquisition of
such percentage of control requires making a tender offer to the public. However, we believe that the Israeli Securities Authority’s current opinion is that such leniency does not apply with respect to companies such as ours whose shares are listed
for trading on stock exchanges in the United States, including the Nasdaq.
Merger
The Companies Law requires that a merger transaction must be approved by (i) each party’s board of directors, and, unless certain
requirements described under the Companies Law are met, (ii) a majority of each party’s shares (including, if relevant, a majority of each class of shares of each party) voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders meeting called with at least 35
days’ prior notice.
For purposes of the shareholder vote, unless a court rules otherwise, the merger requires approval by a majority of the shares represented
at the shareholders meeting that are held by parties other than the other party to the merger, or by any person who holds 25% or more of the outstanding shares or the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors of the other party. If the merger
would have been approved if not for (a) the required separate approval of each class of shares of the merging party (if relevant), or (b) 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 the merging party, if the court holds that the merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the value of the parties to the merger 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 any of the parties to the merger, and may further give instructions to secure the rights of creditors.
In addition, a merger may not be completed unless at least 50 days have passed from the date that a proposal for approval of the merger was
filed by each party with the Israeli Registrar of Companies and 30 days have passed from the date the merger was approved by the shareholders of each party.
Antitakeover Measures under Israeli Law
The Companies Law allows us to create and issue shares having rights different from those accompanying our ordinary shares, including
shares providing certain preferred rights, distributions or other rights, including preemptive rights. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not have any authorized or issued shares other than our ordinary shares. In the future, if we do create
and issue a class of shares other than ordinary shares, the holders of such class of shares, depending on the specific rights to which they may be entitled, may delay or prevent a takeover or otherwise prevent our shareholders from realizing a
potential premium over the market value of their ordinary shares. The authorization of a new class of shares would require the amendment of our articles, which requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority of our shares present and voting
at a general meeting. However, the TASE rules and regulations prohibit a listed company from having more than one class of shares listed, and the TASE’s current position is that a listed company may not issue or list preferred shares. Therefore,
assuming that the TASE’s current position does not change, as long as our ordinary shares are listed on the TASE, we will be prohibited from issuing preferred shares.
We may issue warrants to purchase our ordinary shares in one or more series together with other securities or separately, as described in
the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or
relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being
delivered:
|
● |
the title of such warrants;
|
|
● |
the aggregate number of such warrants;
|
|
● |
the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
|
|
● |
the price at which, and the currency or currencies in which, the securities upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;
|
|
● |
the designation, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
|
|
● |
the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
|
|
● |
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
|
|
● |
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;
|
|
● |
if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
|
|
● |
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
|
|
● |
if applicable, any material Israeli and U.S. federal income tax considerations;
|
|
● |
the anti-dilution provisions of such warrants, if any; and
|
|
● |
any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
|
General
We may issue subscription rights to purchase our ordinary shares. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered
security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights in such offering, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with any offering of rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement
with one or more underwriters or purchasers pursuant to which such underwriters or other purchasers will purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering. We may also appoint a rights agent that may act solely as our
agent in connection with the rights that are sold in such offering, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any such agent will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any of the holders of the rights. The
following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the
general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement
differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional
information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
|
● |
the date of determining the shareholders entitled to the rights distribution;
|
|
● |
the exercise price for such rights;
|
|
● |
the number of such rights issued with respect to each ordinary share;
|
|
● |
the extent to which such rights are transferable;
|
|
● |
if applicable, a discussion of the material Israeli and U.S. income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such rights;
|
|
● |
the date on which the right to exercise such rights shall commence, and the date on which such rights shall expire (subject to any extension);
|
|
● |
the extent to which such rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;
|
|
● |
if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement, or any agency agreement, that we may enter into in connection with the rights offering; and
|
|
● |
any other terms of such rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such rights.
|
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of our ordinary shares, warrants, rights and/or any
combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
|
● |
the terms of the units and of the ordinary shares, warrants and/or rights comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;
|
|
● |
a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units or any arrangement with an agent that may act on our behalf in connection with the unit offering; and
|
|
● |
a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.
|
Our research and development efforts have been financed, in part, through grants from the Israel Innovation
Authority, or IIA, Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development, or BIRD, The Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation, or CIIRDF, and the European Union, or EU. From our inception through 2022, we received grants
totaling approximately $8.9 million (including accrued interest) from the IIA, and repaid approximately $3.5 million, in respect of refundable projects. We also received an additional approximately $4.9 million in respect of several non-refundable
projects. In addition, we have received grants totaling approximately $1 million (linked to the U.S. Consumer Price Index) from BIRD and have repaid approximately $0.5 million, whereas the remaining approximately $0.4 million of grants from BIRD have
been cancelled, as we decided to withdraw from the relevant project. We have received grants totaling approximately $1.1 million from the EU, which are not required to be repaid. As of December 31, 2022, we had two active research grants under which
we have received funding from the IIA. On May 9, 2023, we announced that we were granted an EU Horizon grant of approximately €1.2 million to support the creation of oil-seed crops that have high carbon-dioxide assimilation and enhanced drought
tolerance. The project, Crop4Clima, has an overall budget of approximately €2.5 million and is expected to be executed over 32 months. This grant follows the successful completion of the FutureAgriculture Consortium's proof-of-concept in 2021, which
demonstrated the potential for increased agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.
In January 2018, we announced participation in a three-year IIA-sponsored Phenomics Consortium to develop tools
and systems for precision agriculture and innovative development of agriculture products. Except for us, the Phenomics Consortium consists of several Israeli industrial companies and academic institutions. The goal of the consortium is to develop
plant phenotyping technologies, including the generation of comprehensive agricultural ‘Big-Data’ and the development of artificial intelligence algorithms for real time analysis of phenotypic data. The grant for the consortium was originally
approved for calendar year 2018 in an amount of approximately $5 million, of which approximately $1.4 million was granted to us. By the end of 2018, the grant was extended by an additional six months to a total period of 18 months until mid-2019, and
the grant amount was updated to approximately $7.6 million total, of which approximately $2.5 million was granted to us. In June 2019, the IIA approved the continuation of the consortium following such 18-month period, until the end of 2020, which
would complete a three-year workplan, and granted an additional amount of approximately $7.5 million, of which approximately $1.9 million was granted to us.
In June 2020, we announced participation in a three-year workplan, IIA-sponsored CRISPR-IL Consortium to develop an artificial intelligence
(AI) based, end-to-end system for genome-editing to be used in multi-species including human, plant, and certain animal DNA, applicable to market segments in pharma, agriculture and aquaculture. In addition to Evogene, the CRISPR-IL Consortium
consists of several Israeli industrial companies and academic institutions. The goal of the consortium is to develop an artificial intelligence-based system, “Go-Genome”, providing users improved genome-editing workflows. The system aims to provide
end-to-end solutions, from user interface to an accurate measurement tool. The total budget for the consortium was approved for the first 18 months in an amount of approximately $10.2 million, of which approximately $1.3 million was allocated to us,
and for the additional 18 months was approved an amount of approximately $15.4 million, of which approximately $1.9 million was allocated to us.
Participation in the IIA-sponsored consortium programs as described above, does not obligate us to pay royalties to the IIA, however, the
know-how developed in such consortium programs is subject to the provisions and restrictions under the Innovation Law, as further detailed below.
In March 2020 and March 2021, Lavie Bio obtained an IIA approval to receive a grant for its third and fourth year programs,
respectively, for bio fungicides for mildew in fruit and vegetables. The total approved budgets for each of the third and fourth year programs were NIS 3.9 million (approximately $1.1 million for the third year and approximately $1.2 million for
the fourth year). In addition, during October 2022, Lavie Bio obtained IIA approval to receive a grant for the development of bio fungicide against soil diseases, seed rot, root and stem rot. The total approved budget was approximately NIS 1.9
million (approximately $0.6 million).
In 2020, Ag Plenus obtained IIA approval to receive a grant for its first-year program for development of novel herbicides. The total
approved budget was NIS 3.1 million (approximately $1.0 million).
We entered into agreements with certain of our subsidiaries in the framework of which they were granted permission to use our technology and related know how, which was funded by
the IIA. Evogene remains responsible to the IIA for the obligations regarding such IIA funding.
Below is a description of our obligations in connection with the grants received from IIA under the Innovation Law:
Under the Innovation Law and the regulations thereunder, a recipient of IIA grants is required to return the grants by the payment of
royalties of 3% to 6% on the revenues generated from the sale of products (and related services) developed (in whole or in part) under an IIA program up to the total amount of the grants received from the IIA and is linked to the U.S.
dollar. Pursuant to the latest IIA regulations, grants received from the IIA before June 30, 2017, bear an annual interest rate that applied at the time of the approval of the applicable file and such interest will apply to all the funding received
under that approval. Grants received from the IIA after June 30, 2017, bear an annual interest rate based on the 12-month London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, until December 31, 2023, and as of January 1, 2024, bear an annual interest rate based
on the 12-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or the SOFR, or in an alternative publication by the Bank of Israel, with the addition of 0.71513%. Grants approved after January 1, 2024, shall bear the higher of 12 months SOFR interest, plus 1% or
a fixed annual interest rate of 4%.
|
• |
Local Manufacturing Obligation
|
The terms of the grants under the Innovation Law require that we manufacture the products developed with these grants in Israel (but do not restrict the sale
of products that incorporate the know-how). Under the regulations promulgated under the Innovation Law, the products may be manufactured outside Israel by us or by another entity only if prior approval is received from the IIA (such approval is not
required for the transfer of up to 10% of the manufacturing capacity in the aggregate, in which case a notice must be provided to the IIA and not objected to by the IIA within 30 days of such notice).
|
• |
Know-How Transfer Limitation
|
|
o |
The Innovation Law restricts the ability to transfer know-how funded by the IIA outside of Israel. Transfer of IIA funded know-how outside of Israel requires prior approval of the IIA and may be subject to payments to the IIA, calculated
according to formulae provided under the Innovation Law. The redemption fee is subject to a cap of six times the total amount of the IIA grants, plus interest accrued thereon (i.e. the total liability to the IIA, including accrued interest,
multiplied by six). If we wish to transfer IIA funded know-how, the terms for approval will be determined according to the nature of the transaction and the consideration paid to us in connection with such transfer.
|
|
o |
Approval of transfer of IIA funded know-how to another Israeli company may be granted only if the recipient abides by the provisions of the Innovation law and related regulations, including the restrictions on the transfer of know-how and
manufacturing rights outside of Israel.
|
Any non-Israeli citizen, resident or entity that, among other things, (i) becomes a holder of 5% or more of our share capital or voting rights, (ii) is
entitled to appoint our directors or our chief executive officer or (iii) serves as one of our directors or as our chief executive officer (including holders of 25% or more of the voting power, equity or the right to nominate directors in such direct
holder, if applicable) is required to notify the IIA and undertake to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to the grant programs of the IIA, including the restrictions on transfer described above.
Approval to manufacture products outside of Israel or consent to the transfer of IIA funded know-how, if requested, is within the discretion of the IIA.
Furthermore, the IIA may impose certain conditions on any arrangement under which it permits us to transfer IIA funded know-how or manufacturing out of Israel.
The consideration available to our shareholders in a future transaction involving the transfer outside of Israel of know-how developed with
IIA funding (such as a merger or similar transaction) may be reduced by any amounts that we are required to pay to the IIA.
We may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more of the following ways:
|
• |
through agents to the public or investors;
|
|
• |
to or through one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or agency basis;
|
|
• |
to or through dealers, who may act as agents or principals, including a block trade (which may involve crosses) in which a broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as
principal to facilitate the transaction;
|
|
• |
purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;
|
|
• |
directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, through a specific bidding or auction process, on a negotiated basis or otherwise;
|
|
• |
exchange distributions and/or secondary distributions;
|
|
• |
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
|
|
• |
transactions not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales or privately negotiated transactions;
|
|
• |
in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise;
|
|
• |
directly to a purchaser pursuant to what is known as an “equity line of credit” as described below;
|
|
• |
through any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law; or
|
|
• |
through a combination of any such methods of sale.
|
At any time at which a particular offer of the securities covered by this prospectus is made, a revised prospectus or prospectus
supplement, if required, will be distributed, which will describe the type of securities and the aggregate number of securities covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including any public offering price, any
securities exchange or market on which the ordinary shares may be listed, the purchase price and/or any public offering price, and the proceeds we will receive from the sale, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any
discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from us, including any options pursuant to which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us, and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or
re-allowed or paid to dealers. Such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information
with respect to the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities sold under this prospectus may only be sold through registered or licensed
broker-dealers. In addition, in some states, the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state, or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied
with.
The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions
on the Nasdaq, TASE or any other organized market where the securities may be traded. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may
be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Any dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation
received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If any such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
If underwriters are used in a sale, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to
time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered
to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting
agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public
offering price, if applicable. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. We may change from time to time the public offering price, if any, and any discounts
or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. The prospectus and prospectus supplement and free writing prospectuses, if any, will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.
If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer
may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.
We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus
supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the
securities.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others.
These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of
any bidding or auction process, if used.
We may also sell securities pursuant to an “equity line of credit”. In such event, we will enter into a purchase agreement for the sale of
ordinary shares with the purchaser to be named therein, which will be described in a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K that we will file with the SEC. In that Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, we will describe securities that
we may require the purchaser to purchase under the purchase agreement and the other terms of purchase, and any rights that the purchaser is granted to purchase securities from us. In addition to our issuance of ordinary shares to the equity line
purchaser pursuant to the purchase agreement, this prospectus (and the applicable prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part) also covers the resale of those shares from time
to time by the equity line purchaser to the public. The equity line purchaser will be considered an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Its resales may be effected through a number of methods, including without
limitation, ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers and block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the
block as principal to facilitate the transaction. The equity line purchaser will be bound by various anti-manipulation rules of the SEC and may not, for example, engage in any stabilization activity in connection with its resales of our securities
and may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities other than as permitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against
specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms and
conditions of the indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our subsidiaries.
Any person participating in the distribution of securities registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will
be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our securities by that person. Furthermore,
Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our securities and the ability
of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.
Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions, penalty
bids and other transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. These activities may maintain the price of the offered securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market,
including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate-covering transactions or imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below:
|
• |
A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security.
|
|
• |
A syndicate-covering transaction means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.
|
|
• |
A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when offered securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased
in syndicate covering transactions.
|
These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on that exchange or admitted
for trading on that automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of these activities at any time.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain
types of institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement, pursuant to delayed-delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such
contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
Any underwriters to whom offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such offered securities, but such
underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to liquidity of the trading market for our ordinary shares. We do not know at the current time whether the
offered securities will be listed on the Nasdaq, the TASE and/or any other organized market.
In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to
which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with those arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their
positions in those outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.
Certain legal matters with respect to Israeli law and with respect to the validity of the offered securities under Israeli law will be
passed upon for us by Meitar | Law Offices, Ramat Gan, Israel. Certain legal matters with respect to New York law and U.S. federal securities law will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York, New York. Additional legal matters
may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in an applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2022,
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, have been audited by Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer (a member of Ernst & Young Global), an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their report, incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to a foreign private issuer. In accordance with the
Exchange Act, we file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, with the SEC. We also furnish to the SEC under cover of Form 6-K material information required to be made public in Israel, filed with and made public by any stock exchange or
distributed by us to our shareholders. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders
are exempt from the “short-swing profits” reporting and liability provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act and related Exchange Act rules.
The registration statement on Form F-3 of which this prospectus forms a part, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, and reports and other information are filed by us with,
or furnished to, the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, such as us, that file electronically with the SEC (http://www.sec.gov).
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We file or furnish annual and current reports and other information with the SEC (File Number 001-36187). These filings and other
submissions contain important information that does not appear in this prospectus. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information in this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other
documents that we have filed or furnished, or will file or furnish, with or to the SEC and such information incorporated by reference is then considered to be part of this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and all amendments or supplements to such documents that we may
file or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act:
|
• |
The description of our ordinary shares contained in Form 8-A, File No. 001-36187, filed with the SEC on December 29, 2016, as amended by
Exhibit 2.1 to our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2021; and |
|
• |
Our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on March 30, 2023; April 27, 2023 (relating solely to the press release dated April 27, 2023 and attached as Exhibit 99.1 thereto); May 3, 2023, May 4,
2023, May 9, 2023 (excluding the quotes in fifth, sixth and seventh paragraphs contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein), May 11, 2023, May 18,
2023 (relating solely to the GAAP financial statements tables contained in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 thereto); , June 21, 2023 (excluding the statement of Casterra’s Chief Executive Officer contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein); July 3, 2023 (excluding the statement of Casterra’s Chief Executive Officer contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein); July 17, 2023 (excluding the statements of Lavie Bio’s Chief Executive Officer and Corteva’s Chief Technology and Digital Officer
contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein); July 17, 2023, July 17, 2023 (excluding Exhibit 99.1 thereto); August 17, 2023 (excluding the statements of Evogene’s President and CEO and Evogene’s CFO contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein), September 13, 2023; September
21, 2023; November 15, 2023 (excluding the statements of Evogene’s President and CEO contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein); December 19, 2023 (excluding Exhibit 99.1 thereto); January 17, 2024 (excluding the statement of Biomica’s CEO contained in Exhibit 99.1 therein); February 21, 2024 (excluding Exhibit 99.1 thereto); and February 22, 2024 (excluding the statement of the incoming CEO of Ag Plenus and of the CEO of Evogene in Exhibit 99.1 thereto). |
We furthermore incorporate by reference in this prospectus each of the following documents, which will be considered a part of this
prospectus from the date of filing or furnishing of such documents:
|
• |
any Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC by us after the date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and prior to its effectiveness, that we specifically identify in such reports
as being incorporated by reference in that registration statement;
|
|
• |
all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F filed after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to the termination of this offering; and
|
|
• |
any Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K subsequently furnished to the SEC after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or portions thereof, that we specifically identify in such
reports as being incorporated by reference in that registration statement.
|
Certain statements in and portions of this prospectus update and replace information in the above-listed, already-filed or furnished
documents incorporated by reference. Likewise, statements in or portions of a future document listed above that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus may update and replace statements in and portions of this prospectus or the above-listed
documents.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge, upon written or oral
request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Please direct your written or
telephone requests to our headquarters, which are currently located at 13 Gad Feinstein Street, Park Rehovot, Rehovot, 7638517, Attn: VP Legal Affairs & Company Secretary, telephone number: +972-8-9311-971. Copies of these filings and submissions
may also be accessed at our website, https://www.evogene.com/. Information contained in our website is not part of this prospectus.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. Service of process upon us and upon certain of our directors and officers and
the Israeli experts named in this prospectus whom reside outside of the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because a significant portion of our assets and substantially all of our directors and officers
are located outside of the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors and officers may be difficult to collect within the United States.
It may be difficult to assert U.S. securities law claims in original actions instituted in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a
claim based on a violation of U.S. securities laws based on the reasoning 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, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by Israeli
law.
Subject to specified time limitations and legal procedures, Israeli courts may enforce a United States judgment in a civil matter which,
subject to certain exceptions, is non-appealable, including judgments 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:
|
• |
the judgments are obtained after due process before a court of competent jurisdiction, according to the laws of the state in which the judgment is given and the rules of private international law currently prevailing in Israel;
|
|
• |
the prevailing law of the foreign state in which the judgments were rendered allows the enforcement of judgments of Israeli courts (however, the Israeli courts may waive this requirement following a request by the attorney general);
|
|
• |
adequate service of process has been effected and the defendant has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present his or her evidence;
|
|
• |
the judgments are not contrary to public policy, and the enforcement of the civil liabilities set forth in the judgments does not impair the security or sovereignty of the State of Israel;
|
|
• |
the judgments were not obtained by fraud and do not conflict with any other valid judgment in the same matter between the same parties;
|
|
• |
an action between the same parties in the same matter is not pending in any Israeli court at the time the lawsuit is instituted in the foreign court; and
|
|
• |
the obligations under the judgment are enforceable according to the laws of the State of Israel and according to the law of the foreign state in which the relief was granted.
|
We have irrevocably 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 any offering, or any purchase or sale of securities in connection with any offering, under this prospectus.
If a foreign judgment is enforced by an Israeli court, it generally will be payable in Israeli currency, which can then be converted into
non-Israeli currency and transferred out of Israel. Under existing Israeli law, a foreign judgment payable in foreign currency may be paid in Israeli currency at the rate of exchange in force on the date of the payment. Current Israeli exchange
control regulations also permit a judgment debt or to 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 the time. Judgment creditors must bear the risk of unfavorable exchange rates.
The following is a statement of expenses in connection with the distribution of the securities registered. All amounts shown are estimates,
except the SEC registration fee. Each prospectus supplement describing an offering of securities will reflect the estimated expenses related to the offering of securities under that prospectus supplement.
|
SEC registration fee
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
Trustees’ and transfer agents’ fees
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Printing and engraving costs
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Accountants fees and expenses
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
*
|
|
* These fees and expenses depend on the number of securities offered and the number of offerings by us under this prospectus, and, accordingly, cannot be
estimated at this time.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Under the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999, or the Companies Law, a company may not exculpate an office holder from liability for a breach
of the duty of loyalty. An Israeli company may exculpate an office holder in advance from liability to the company, in whole or in part, for damages caused to the company as a result of a breach of duty of care but only if a provision authorizing
such exculpation is included in its articles of association. Our articles of association include such a provision.
Under the Companies Law, a company may indemnify an office holder in respect of the following liabilities and expenses incurred for acts
performed by him or her as an office holder, pursuant to an undertaking made either in advance of an event or following an event, provided its articles of association include a provision authorizing such indemnification (ours contain such a
provision):
|
• |
a financial liability imposed on him or her in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, including a settlement or arbitrator’s award approved by a court. However, if an undertaking to indemnify an office holder with respect to such
liability is provided in advance, then such an undertaking must be limited to events which, in the opinion of the board of directors, can be foreseen based on the company’s activities when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an
amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances, and such undertaking shall detail the above-mentioned foreseen events and amount or criteria;
|
|
• |
reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder: (i) as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him or her by an authority authorized to conduct such investigation or
proceeding, provided that (A) no indictment was filed against such office holder as a result of such investigation or proceeding; and (B) no financial liability, such as a criminal penalty, was imposed upon him or her as a substitute for the
criminal proceeding as a result of such investigation or proceeding, or, if such financial liability was imposed, it was imposed with respect to an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent; and (ii) in connection with a monetary
sanction; and
|
|
• |
reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the office holder or imposed by a court in proceedings instituted against him or her by the company, on its behalf, or by a third party, or in connection with criminal
proceedings in which the office holder was acquitted, or as a result of a conviction for an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent.
|
Under the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law 5728-1968, or the Israeli Securities Law, a company may insure an office holder
against the following liabilities incurred for acts performed by him or her as an office holder if and to the extent provided in the company’s articles of association:
|
• |
a breach of the duty of loyalty to the company, provided that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would not harm the company;
|
|
• |
a breach of duty of care to the company or to a third party, to the extent such a breach arises out of the negligent conduct of the office holder; and
|
|
• |
a financial liability imposed on the office holder in favor of a third party.
|
Under our articles of association, we may insure and indemnify an office holder against the aforementioned liabilities as well as the
following liabilities:
|
• |
any breach of duty of care to us or to a third party;
|
|
• |
any other action which is permitted by law to insure an office holder against;
|
|
• |
any expenses incurred and/or paid by the office holder in connection with an administrative enforcement procedure under any applicable law, including the Efficiency of Enforcement Procedures in the Securities Authority Law (legislation
amendments), 5771-2011, and the Israeli Securities Law, which we refer to as an Administrative Enforcement Procedure, and including reasonable litigation expenses and attorney fees; and
|
|
• |
any financial liability in favor of a victim of a felony pursuant to Section 52ND of the Israeli Securities Law.
|
Under the Companies Law, a company may not indemnify, exculpate or insure an office holder against any of the following:
|
• |
a breach of the duty of loyalty, except for indemnification and insurance for a breach of the duty of loyalty to the company to the extent that the office holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe that the act would
not harm the company;
|
|
• |
a breach of duty of care committed intentionally or recklessly, excluding a breach arising solely out of the negligent conduct of the office holder;
|
|
• |
an act or omission committed with intent to derive illegal personal benefit; or
|
|
• |
a civil or administrative fine or forfeit levied against the office holder.
|
Our articles of association permit us to exculpate, indemnify and insure our office holders to the fullest extent permitted or to be
permitted by the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law.
Under the Companies Law, exculpation, indemnification and insurance for office holders in a public company must be approved by the
compensation committee and the board of directors, and, with respect to certain office holders or under certain circumstances, also by the shareholders. We have obtained the foregoing approvals with respect to our office holders, and have entered
into agreements with each of our office holders exculpating them to the fullest extent permitted by law and by our articles of association, and undertaking to indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by law and our articles of association. This
indemnification is limited to events determined as foreseeable by the board of directors based on our activities, and to an amount or according to criteria determined by the board of directors as reasonable under the circumstances.
The maximum indemnification amount set forth in such agreements is limited to an amount equal to 25% of our shareholders’ equity as reflected in our most recent consolidated
financial statements prior to the date on which the indemnity payment is made. If the amount equal to 25% of our shareholders’ equity is insufficient to cover all indemnity amounts payable with respect to all indemnifiable directors and executive
officers, such amount will be allocated among our directors and executive officers pro rata, in accordance with their relative culpabilities, as finally determined by a court with respect to a particular claim. The maximum amount set forth in such
agreements is in addition to any amount paid (if paid) under insurance and/or by a third party pursuant to an indemnification arrangement. In the opinion of the SEC, indemnification of directors and office holders for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act, however, is against public policy and therefore unenforceable.
We have obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of our office holders and intend to continue to maintain such
coverage and pay all premiums thereunder to the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Law.
Item 9. Exhibits
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Document
|
|
1.1
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement*
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Form of Warrant Agreement*
|
|
4.3
|
|
Form of Warrant Certificate*
|
|
4.4
|
|
Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate*
|
|
4.5
|
|
Form of Rights Agreement*
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.2
|
|
Opinion of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, U.S. legal counsel to the Registrant*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.3
|
|
Consent of Sullivan & Worcester LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2) *
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* To be filed, if applicable, by amendment, or as an exhibit to a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 10. Undertakings
(1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
| (i) |
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
|
| (ii) |
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
|
| (iii) |
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
|
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are
incorporated by reference in this registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.
(d) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of
Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the
prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (1)(d) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those
financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in this Form F-3.
(e) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed
prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
| (ii) |
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of
providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness
or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed
to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made
in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date,
supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
|
(f) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial
distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in an offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the
purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such
purchaser:
| (i) |
any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
|
| (ii) |
any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
|
| (iii) |
the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
|
| (iv) |
any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
|
(2) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
(4) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as
of the time it was declared effective.
(5) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Rehovot, State of Israel on March 1, 2024.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Ofer Haviv
|
|
|
Name: Ofer Haviv
|
|
|
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
|
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, each director and officer whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ofer Haviv or Yaron
Eldad, or either of these, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, to sign in any and all capacities any and all amendments or post-effective amendments to this registration statement on
Form F-3, and to sign any and all additional registration statements relating to the same offering of securities of the Registration Statement that are filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, and to file the same with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do all such other acts and execute all such other documents as he may deem necessary
or desirable in connection with the foregoing, as fully as the undersigned may or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sarit Firon
|
|
Chairperson of the Board of Directors
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Sarit Firon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ofer Haviv
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Ofer Haviv
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Yaron Eldad
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Yaron Eldad
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dan Falk
|
|
Director
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Dan Falk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Nir Nimrodi
|
|
Director
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Nir Nimrodi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Dr. Adrian Percy
|
|
Director
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Dr. Adrian Percy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Leon Y. Recanati
|
|
Director
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Leon Y. Recanati
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Prof. Oded Shoseyov
|
|
Director
|
|
March 1, 2024
|
|
Prof. Oded Shoseyov
|
|
|
|
|
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, Puglisi & Associates, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Evogene Ltd., has signed
this registration statement on March 1, 2024.
| |
Puglisi & Associates
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Donald J. Puglisi
|
|
|
Name: Donald J. Puglisi
|
|
|
Title: Managing Director, Puglisi & Associates
|