We derived the selected data under the captions “Selected Statement of Operations Data” for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and “Selected Balance Sheet Data” as
of December 31, 2019 and 2018 from the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. We derived the selected data under the captions “Selected Statement of Operations Data” for the years ended December 31, 2016
and 2015 and “Selected Balance Sheet Data” as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 from audited financial statements that are not included in this Annual Report.
For all fiscal periods for which consolidated financial data are set forth below, our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
There is a high degree of risk associated with our Company and business. If any of the following risks occur, our business, revenues, operating results and financial condition
could be materially adversely affected and the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline.
The Coronavirus outbreak which began in December 2019, has dramatically expanded into a worldwide pandemic creating macro-economic uncertainty and disruption in the business and
financial markets. Many countries around the world, including Israel, have been taking measures designated to limit the continued spread of the Coronavirus, including closing workplaces, restricting travel, prohibiting assembling, closing
international borders and quarantining populated areas. Such measures present concerns that may dramatically affect our ability to conduct our business effectively, including, but not limited to, adverse effect on employees’ health, a slowdown and
stoppage of manufacturing, commerce, delivery, work, travel and other activities which are essential and critical for maintaining on-going business activities.
Given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the future spread or mitigation of the Coronavirus outbreak and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures,
we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. infections may become more widespread and the limitation on our ability to work, travel and timely sell and distribute our products, as
well as any closures or supply disruptions, may be extended for longer periods of time and to other locations, all of which would have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, the unknown scale and
duration of these developments have macro and micro negative effects on the financial markets and global economy which could result in an economic downturn that could affect demand for our products and have a material adverse effects on our
operations and financial results, earnings, cash flow, financial condition and our share price. these effects could be material and long term in duration.
While the full impact of the Coronavirus outbreak is unknown at this time, we are closely monitoring the developments and continually assessing the potential impact on our
business. Below are some of the risks and challenges that we may face as a result of a prolonged disruption of work due to the Coronavirus pandemic:
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Economic downturn and slowdown of the macro-economic development and significant decline of business that can harm the strength of the worldwide electronics industry in general and the semiconductor fabrication and packaging industry
in particular. Such downturn or slowdown could affect demand for our customers’ end products and as a result may cause manufacturers in the semiconductor industry to suspend or reduce capital investments in our products for use in their
manufacturing processes, and decrease our sales of products and related services to such industry;
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1Authorized share capital of 100,000,000 ordinary shares, par value NIS 0.01.
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Material reduction in new orders and in procurement of our products, issuance of work stoppage orders or delay in the award of new orders on part of our customers;
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Disruptions or restrictions on our operations and those of our contractors and customers, including on our ability to travel or to install or provide services to our products, as well as temporary closures of our facility or the
facilities of our suppliers, manufacturers or customers, and prohibitions on the export, import or release from customs of products and components;
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Lower work efficiency, productivity and service quality; Coronavirus infection could harm the health of one or more of our employees, which could in turn require us to completely shut down all, or almost all, work in our facility in
order to prevent further infection and spread of the virus. Key employees may lose their ability to manage and run our operations, share their knowhow and further pursue the development of our products and business;
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Disruption, reduction or interruption in supply, disruption to our suppliers, manufacturers or customers and their other vendors, lack or delay in the supply of raw materials and goods, or in the performance of work or services by
our contractors and subcontractors;
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Slowdown in production and manufacturing, and a significant increase in the price of one or more components or materials;
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Imposition of fines, penalties, damages and contract terminations (including the exercise of certain force majeure clauses), and damage to our reputation and relationship with our customers, as a result of delays in production,
shipment, deliveries and services due to any of the above constraints;
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Financial difficulties and insolvencies of major customers, which could lead to slowing the payment of their obligations to us or even discharging those obligations; and
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Difficulties in collection of amounts due from customers and in satisfying revenue recognition procedures.
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Further realization of any of these or other risks could adversely affect various aspects of our results of operations, including our cash flow and financial condition. In
addition, the difficulty to project future revenues under those circumstances, could have an adverse effect on our ability to report future revenues, profitability and cash flow.
We are dependent upon the semiconductor industry; unfavorable economic conditions or low capital expenditures may negatively impact our operating results.
Our revenue is dependent upon the strength of the worldwide electronics industry. All of our revenues are derived from sales of products and related services to the semiconductor
fabrication and packaging industry. We depend upon the need by manufacturers in such industry to make continuing capital investments in our products for use in their manufacturing processes and their need to keep pace with more technologically
complex electronic devices and growing semiconductors industry capacity.
The semiconductor capital equipment procurement practices of these manufacturers have historically been cyclical in nature, and there have been both periodic and sustained
downturns. These spending levels are impacted by the actual and expected worldwide level of demand for consumer end products that utilize our solutions in their production processes. Demand for consumer end products can also be a function of
prevailing global or regional economic conditions and is negatively affected by a general economic slow-down and/or periods of economic uncertainty as consumers reduce discretionary spending on electronics. Although we have seen a more stable
overall pattern of capital investments in the industry we serve in recent years, the occurrences of cyclical downturns in this industry are very difficult to predict, especially in light of the recent Coronavirus global outbreak. For more details
regarding the coronavirus global outbreak see Item 3.D – Risks Relating to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic (“Coronavirus”). Due to the ongoing need to invest
in R&D and the costs of maintaining a global infrastructure of customer service and support operations, we are limited in our ability to reduce expenses in response to circumstances of decreased demand, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business and results of operations.
The markets we serve are highly competitive and have dominant market participants, some with greater resources than us. Such competition could adversely affect the terms on which
we sell our products and may negatively affect our financial results.
The markets that we serve are highly competitive. During market slowdowns, competition is intensified due to the reduced demand for the products that we manufacture. When
competitors respond to declining demand by offering discounts, free evaluation machines or more favorable credit terms, we may need to implement some or all of the same methods in order to maintain our market position. These could mean lower prices
for our products and a corresponding reduction in our gross margin, as well as more favorable payment terms to our customers and a corresponding decline in our cash flow. If we have to lower prices to remain competitive and are unable to reduce our
costs to offset price reductions or are unable to introduce new, higher performance products with higher prices, our operating results may be adversely affected.
Our main competitors are Onto Innovation Inc. (formerly known as Rudolph Technologies Inc. which, on October 25, 2019, merged with Nanometric Inc. into a company named Onto
Innovation Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Onto Innovation” or “Rudolph”), ATI Electronics Pty Ltd, ASTI Holding Limited, Toray Industries, Inc. and, for some limited
applications, KLA-Tencor Corporation.
Some of our competitors have greater financial, personnel and other resources and offer a broader range of products and services. These competitors may be able to respond more
quickly to new or emerging technologies or changes in customer requirements, develop additional or superior products, benefit from greater economies of scale, offer more aggressive pricing or devote greater resources to the promotion of their
products. Other competitors are local smaller competitors, which target the low-end market and may offer products at lower prices. If we are unsuccessful in effectively responding to our competition, our financial results will be adversely affected
by reduced revenues as well as lower margins, which may lead to financial losses.
Technology in the markets in which we operate is rapidly evolving, and we may not be able to adequately predict these changes or keep pace with emerging industry standards, which
could lead to a loss of revenues or adversely affect our profits.
The markets for our products are characterized by changing technology, evolving industry standards, changes in end-user requirements and new product introductions. Our future
success will depend on our ability to accurately predict new market needs and requirements and to enhance accordingly our existing products and develop and introduce new technologies for the markets in which we operate. These products must keep
pace with technological developments and address the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers. If we fail to anticipate correctly, or if we are unable to keep pace with, technological changes, products offered by our competitors or
emerging industry standards, our ability to generate revenues may be negatively affected. Adopting new technologies may also result in material inventory write-offs which would adversely affect our results of operations.
A substantial majority of our sales have been to manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region. The concentration of our sales and other resources within a particular
geographical region, subjects us to additional risks that could impede harm our revenues, results of operations and cash flow.
In 2019, our sales in the Asia Pacific region (mainly South Korea, China and Taiwan) accounted for approximately 86% of our total revenues. A number of Asian countries have
experienced or could experience political and economic instability. Changes in local legislation, changes in governmental controls and regulations, instability of Asian economies, changes in tariffs and taxes, trade restrictions, a downturn in
economic or financial conditions, political instability, an outbreak of hostilities or other political upheaval, as well as any further extraordinary events having an adverse effect on the economy or business environment in this region, would
likely harm the operations of our customers in these countries, may cause a significant decline in our future revenues and may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow. These general risks are heightened in China, which is
a major territory for Camtek, where the nature of the economy and the legal parameters are rapidly evolving and where foreign companies may face regulatory, business and cultural obstacles; specifically, recent revisions made in the U.S.
administrative policy, mainly with respect to China, have created and may further create changes to trade agreements, restrictions on free trade and significant increases in tariffs on goods imported into the United States, particularly those
manufactured in China. Additional circumstances which may affect the economic stability of countries in the Asia-Pacific region include the occurrence of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis and flooding as well as regional
disputes such as those which have occurred between Taiwan and China and North and South Korea.
Our operating results have varied, and will likely continue to vary significantly from quarter to quarter, and from our expectations for any specific period making it difficult
to predict future results.
Our quarterly operating results have varied in the past and could continue to vary from quarter to quarter or from our expectations for any specific period in the future. This
complicates our planning processes, reduces the predictability of our earnings and subjects our stock to price and volume fluctuations. Period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations may not always provide indications of our future
performance.
Some of the factors that may influence our operating results include:
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global economic conditions and worldwide demand for electronic equipment;
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changes in demand for our systems;
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changes made by customers to orders for our systems and/or installation schedules;
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product introductions and the market penetration period of new products;
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rapid shifts in industry capacity;
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the size, timing and shipment of substantial orders;
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timing of evaluation and qualification of our products by new customers;
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lack of visibility/low levels of backlog from the preceding quarter;
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pricing of our products;
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timing of new product, upgrades or enhancements;
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level of operating expenses such as R&D expenses, agent commissions;
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fluctuations in interest and exchange rates; and
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an outbreak of a contagious disease, such as Coronavirus, which may cause us or our suppliers and/or customers to temporarily suspend our operations in the affected city or country.
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In light of these factors and the cyclical nature of the markets we target, we expect to continue to experience significant fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.
We have expanded, and may further attempt to expand our activity within and/or beyond our current served markets, through M&A activity. Such activity may adversely affect our
results of operations.
We have in the past expanded our activity to adjacent markets through M&A, and we may further decide to expand our activity through M&A activities.
Such M&A activity could lead to post-merger integration difficulties; diversion of management’s attention from our core business and operations; failure to estimate the
acquired businesses’ future performance and failure to execute on such expectations; inaccurate evaluation of the fair value of certain assets acquired, liabilities assumed and contingent liabilities; and the loss of key employees of the acquired
operations. In addition, as a result of acquisition activity, our future results of operations may be influenced by the possibility of our incurring impairment charges as a result of decline in value of goodwill and other intangible assets, ongoing
amortization of intangible assets acquired and financing expenses due to re-evaluation of contingent liabilities and other liabilities assumed presented at fair value (see also in Item 5.A below - “Operating Results - Critical Accounting Policies). Future acquisitions could also result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, a decrease in our cash resources, incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or
impairment charges related to goodwill and other intangible assets, any of which could harm our business. Furthermore, we compete for acquisition and investment opportunities with other well-established and well-capitalized entities. There can be
no assurance that we will be able to locate acquisition or investment opportunities upon favorable terms.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers, and in some cases, a sole supplier and/or subcontractor. If one or more of our third‑party suppliers or subcontractors does not
provide us with key components or subsystems, we may not be able to deliver our products to our customers in a timely manner, and we may incur substantial costs to obtain these components from alternate sources.
While a portion of our manufacturing process is performed in our production facilities in Israel, we outsource some of our manufacturing processes to two contract manufacturers,
which are located in Israel (“Contract Manufacturers”). From time to time, we have experienced and may in the future experience delays in shipments from our Contract Manufacturers. In addition, we rely on
single source and limited source suppliers and subcontractors (“Key Suppliers”) for a number of essential components and subsystems of our products. We do not have agreements with all of these suppliers and
subcontractors for the continued supply of the components or subsystems they provide.
Although we believe that our Contract Manufacturers and Key Suppliers have sufficient economic incentive to perform our manufacturing and meet our supply needs, their performance
is not within our control and manufacturing problems may occur in the future, including inferior quality and insufficient quantities of components. Delays, disruptions, quality control problems and loss in capacity could result in delays in
deliveries of our products to our customers, which could subject us to penalties payable to our customers, increased warranty costs and possible cancellation of orders.
If our Contract Manufacturers and Key Suppliers experience financial, operational, manufacturing capacity or other difficulties, or shortages in components required for
manufacturing, our supply may be disrupted and we may be required to seek alternate manufacturers. We may be unable to secure alternate manufacturers that meet our needs in a timely and cost-effective manner.
We depend on a number of key personnel who would be difficult to replace.
Our continued growth and success significantly depend on the managerial and technical skills of the members of our senior management and key employees. If our operations rapidly
expand, we believe that we will need to promote and hire qualified engineering, administrative, operational, financial and marketing personnel. In particular, we may find it difficult to hire key personnel with the requisite knowledge of our
business, products and technologies. The process of locating, training and successfully integrating qualified personnel into our operations can be lengthy and expensive. During periods of economic growth, competition for qualified engineering and
technical personnel is intense.
Increased cyber-attacks, data breaches, risks and threats, along with changes in privacy
and data protection laws could have an adverse effect on our business.
Given the substantial increase of cyber-attacks in recent years, we have implemented network security technological, operational and
organizational measures and drafted an internal global information technology security policy. This policy, which follows industry best practices and focuses on Camtek’s network and information security, was reviewed by our audit committee and
board of directors.
The possible cyber-attacks via unauthorized access, exploitation, manipulation, deception, corruption, disruption, damage, leak, theft
or loss of our intellectual property or any other digital assets could result in liabilities to us and other material costs. Cyber-attacks aimed at our digital assets could accumulate increased costs to prevent, respond to or mitigate these
incidents. It is also possible that our digital assets and business processes could be jeopardized, compromised or halted via cyber-attacks, without being noticed for some time.
Although we have not yet experienced any cyber-attacks that affected our operations, we cannot fully guarantee that any such potential
cyber incidents will not have an adverse effect on our company in the future. Even though we have invested in implementing various cyber security solutions in our networks and systems, in order to mitigate and reduce our exposure to these cyber
risks, we can provide no assurance that our current digital assets are fully protected against all sorts of cyber-attacks by malicious third parties.
In addition, the potential liabilities associated with these events could exceed the insurance coverage we maintain as they could lead
to financial losses, damage to our reputation, business processes, financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, the regulatory framework for data and privacy protection issues is rapidly evolving worldwide. As such, the European Union
adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which imposes stricter obligations and provides for greater penalties
for noncompliance. We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with such data and privacy protection laws, as applicable to our company, or else face an adverse effect on our business prospects and/or financial position.
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may result in additional expenses being recorded or in the prices of our products becoming less competitive and thus may have negative
impact on our profitability.
We are a global company that operates in a multi-currency environment. As a major portion of the costs of our Israeli operations, such as personnel, subcontractors, materials and
facility‑related costs, are incurred in NIS, an increase in the NIS value relative to the U.S. Dollar will increase our costs expressed in U.S. Dollars. We may, from time to time, take various measures designed to reduce our exposure to these
effects, but any such steps may be inadequate to protect us from currency rate fluctuations. In addition, although our products’ prices in most countries are denominated in U.S. Dollars, in certain territories (currently, Europe and Japan) our
products’ prices are denominated in local currencies, and much of our service income in additional territories is denominated in local currencies. If there is a significant devaluation in the relevant local currencies in which we operate compared
to the U.S. Dollar, we may be required to increase those prices and as a result our products and services may become less competitive.
A longer sales process for new products may increase our costs and delay time to market of our products, both of which may negatively impact our revenues, results of operations,
cash flow and may result in inventory write-offs.
Our sales process to new and existing customers usually involves: demonstrations and testing against industry benchmarks in our sales centers; sales and technical presentations
and presentations regarding our products’ competitive advantages; and installation of the systems at the customer’s site for side-by-side competitive evaluations for a period of approximately six months. More evaluation time is devoted during the
initial market penetration period for new products such as new products under our Eagle product line, and for new customers in new markets, since these circumstances usually require qualification of the systems by the customers and engineering
efforts to fix errors, customize tasks and add new features. Considering the above factors, the length of time until we recognize revenue can vary and affect our revenues, cash flow and results of operations.
The long sales process may cause an increase in inventory levels and a risk for inventory write downs and write-offs; for more details regarding recent inventory write downs and
write-offs see Item 5.A – “Operating Results – Critical Accounting Policies – Valuation of Inventory”.
Third parties have asserted claims, and may assert additional claims, that our products infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which could expose us to costs and
risks.
Third parties, including one of our competitors in the field of semiconductor wafer inspection equipment, Rudolph (now Onto Innovation), previously asserted claims, and may
assert additional claims in the future, that we have infringed their patents or intellectual property rights. Following the settlement of $13 million and dismissal of all of Rudolph’s outstanding claims in 2017, we do not currently have any
outstanding intellectual property claims against us (and, in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement with Rudolph, no such claims may be asserted by Rudolph within the three years following the execution thereof, i.e., until July
2020). However, we may in the future face such intellectual property claims against us, which, even if without merit, could lead to protracted litigation, could be costly to defend and could divert management’s attention from our business.
Successful claims against us (such as the claim asserted by Rudolph regarding our Falcon product in which a final ruling was granted in Rudolph’s favor in 2016) could impose on us monetary awards for damages, as well as for plaintiff’s attorney’s
fees and other costs, and could limit our ability to sell products in certain jurisdictions. Additional costs and expenses may also be incurred in the event of out of court settlement of claims against us (such as the settlement of the Rudolph
claims in 2017), which could result in monetary consequences. See in Item 8.A – “Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information - Legal Proceedings” below.
We may encounter difficulties in purchasing key components and subsystems, or overestimate our needs, to meet customer demand.
In the current highly competitive business environment, our customers require us to fill orders within a very short period of time. Our products are complex and require
essential components and subsystems that are produced by a number of suppliers and subcontractors. In order to meet our customers’ needs in the timeframe they require, we usually need to pre-order components and subsystems based on our forecasts of
future orders, rather than on actual orders. While we believe that we have sufficient inventory to fill our customers’ orders, our predictions may not correspond to our actual future needs and our suppliers and subcontractors cannot always supply
such components and subsystems within a shorter than anticipated time frame. Our inability to anticipate rapid market changes may cause an increase of inventory which could result in material inventory write-offs, which we have incurred in the
past, or may alternately limit our ability to satisfy customer orders, which could result in the loss of sales and could cause customers to seek products from our competitors.
If we are unable to protect our proprietary technologies, we may not be able to compete effectively.
We differentiate our products and technologies from those of our competitors by using our intellectual property for the development of our products. We rely on a combination of
patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to protect our intellectual property. These measures may not be adequate to protect our proprietary technologies and it may be possible for a third party,
including a competitor, to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technologies without authorization or to develop similar technologies independently. The inability to protect our intellectual property may affect our competitive
advantage.
We have historically incurred significant losses and negative cash flows and may not sustain profitable operations or continue to have positive operating cash flows in the
future.
Our ability to generate profits is dependent mainly on our ability to generate sufficient sales. In the future, our sales may not be sufficient to cover an increase in our
expenses and we may not be able to maintain profitability, mainly during a protracted slowdown. We incurred significant losses and negative cash flows in the past (for example, in 2015 as well as in earlier periods prior to 2011), and may not
sustain profitable operations or continue to have positive operating cash flows in the future. We have from time to time in the past undertaken cost cutting initiatives in response to economic conditions, including reducing our worldwide workforce,
and may again in the future have to undertake cost reduction initiatives, which could lead to a deterioration of our competitive position, and any difficulty in reducing our cost structure could negatively impact our results of operations in the
future and may result in additional losses in the future as well. Our failure to maintain profitability or to continue to have positive operating cash flows may impact our ability to compete in the market for the short and long term and impair our
financial condition.
Compliance with environmental, health and other laws and potential liabilities could materially impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Due to our global operations, we must comply with certain international and domestic laws, regulations and restrictions which may expose our business to risks.
In addition, our business is subject to numerous domestic laws and regulations designed to protect the environment, including with respect to discharges and management of
hazardous substances, wastes and emissions and soil and ground water contamination. The failure to comply with current or future environmental requirements could expose us to criminal, civil and administrative charges and monetary liability. We
believe that we have complied with these requirements and that such compliance has not had a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Although we are not presently aware of any liability that could be
material to our business, financial condition or operating results, due to the nature of our business and environmental risks, we cannot provide assurance that any such material liability will not arise in the future.
We may fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes Oxley Act”) imposes certain duties on us and our executives and directors, including the
requirements of Section 404 (Assessment of Internal Control), which requires (i) management’s annual review and evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting and (ii) an attestation report issued by an independent registered public
accounting firm on our internal control over financial reporting, in connection with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for each fiscal year. We have documented and tested our internal control systems and procedures in order for us to
comply with the requirements of Section 404. Our efforts to comply with such requirements have resulted in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention, and we expect these efforts to require the
continued commitment of resources. In addition, while our assessment of our internal control over financial reporting resulted in our conclusion that as of December 31, 2019, our internal control over financial reporting was effective, we cannot
predict the outcome of our testing in future periods. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial
reporting. Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in investigation or sanctions by regulatory authorities, and could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, investor confidence in our
reported financial information, and the market price of our ordinary shares.
Risks Relating to Our Ordinary Shares
Our share price and trading volumes have demonstrated significant volatility in the past and may continue to fluctuate in the future. Such share price volatility could limit
investors’ ability to sell our shares at a profit, could limit our ability to raise funds successfully and may cause additional exposure for securities class action litigation.
The stock market in general and the market price of our ordinary shares, in particular, are subject to fluctuation. As a result, changes in our share price may be unrelated to
our operating performance. The price of our ordinary shares has experienced volatility in the past and may continue to do so in the future. During the period from January 1, 2019 through March 18, 2020, the closing price of our ordinary shares
ranged from $6.46 to $12.15 per share. The price volatility of our shares and periodic volatile trading volume may make it difficult for investors to predict the value of their investment, to sell shares at a profit at any given time or to plan
purchases and sales in advance. A variety of factors may affect the market price and the trading volume of our ordinary shares, including:
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global economic conditions, which generally influence stock market prices and volume fluctuations;
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investors’ views of the attractiveness of our new products;
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changes in expectations as to our future financial performance and/or announcements of actual results that vary significantly from such expectations;
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the announcement by us or our competitors of corporate transactions, merger and acquisition activities or other similar events impacting our financial performance;
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changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
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our earnings releases and the earnings releases of our competitors;
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market conditions relating to our customers’ industries;
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announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors;
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other announcements, whether by us or others, referring to our financial condition, results of operations and changes in strategy;
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large block transactions in our ordinary shares;
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additions or departures of our key personnel;
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future offerings or sales of our ordinary shares; and
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announcements of significant claims or proceedings against us.
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Further, as a result of the volatility of our stock price, we could be subject, and were subject in the past, to securities litigation, which could result in substantial costs
and could divert management’s attention and Company resources from business. Securities class action litigations are being brought from time to time against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities, and in
the past, one was brought against us. Although this claim was dismissed, we cannot guarantee that similar litigation would not be brought against us in the future.
Our principal shareholders, Priortech and Chroma, hold a controlling interest in us and will be able to exercise their control in ways that may be adverse to the interests of our
other shareholders. Our relationship with Priortech and Chroma may give rise to a conflict of interests.
Priortech Ltd. (“Priortech”) and Chroma ATE Inc. (“Chroma”), beneficially hold in the aggregate
44.13% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares. As a result of the Chroma Voting Agreement (as defined below), Priortech and Chroma are deemed to be joint controlling shareholders of the Company and have the ability to determine the outcome
of certain matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, including the election of members of our board of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may also have the effect of making it
more difficult to obtain approval for a change in control of the Company.
Mr. Rafi Amit, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Yotam Stern, a member of our Board, hold, as of March 1, 2020, an aggregate of approximately 31.24%
of the voting power at Priortech’s general meeting of shareholders, through a voting agreement with David Kishon, Itzhak Krell (deceased)¸ Haim Langmas (deceased), Zehava Wineberg and Hanoch Feldstien (including the estates of the foregoing
deceased founders, the “Founding Members”), governing inter-alia joint voting at Priortech’s general meetings of shareholders and the right of first refusal among
themselves (the “Priortech Voting Agreement”), and as such may be deemed to control Priortech.
Messrs. Amit and Stern also hold various positions in Priortech and its affiliated companies, which may give rise to conflicts of interest. Mr. Amit serves, who serves as our
Chief Executive Officer on a 90% position, acts as Priortech’s Chairman of the board of directors and provides consulting and management services to Priortech on a 10% basis, as well as serving as a director at Priortech’s associated company -
P.C.B Technologies Ltd., an Israeli public company (“PCB Technologies”). Mr. Stern holds several other positions in the Priortech group including the position of Chief Executive Officer at Priortech and
serves as a director at P.C.B Technologies.
In addition, in the framework of the Chroma Transaction (as defined below), Leo Huang, the chairman of the board of directors and a controlling shareholder of Chroma, and I-Shih
Tseng, a director and Business Unit President of Chroma, were appointed to serve as members of our Board, which may give rise to conflicts of interest.
Despite our efforts to conduct ourselves by Israeli law procedural requirements concerning interested party transactions, including with respect to audit committee, board of
directors and shareholder approvals (including the special majority requirement in appropriate cases), we cannot be certain that the possible conflicts of interest in any of these transactions and activities is fully eliminated.
For more details regarding our senior management arrangements, see Item 6.B below - “Compensation – Employment Agreements”.
If we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, our U.S. shareholders may suffer adverse tax consequences.
There is a risk that we may be classified as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”). Our treatment as a PFIC could result in a
reduction in the after-tax return of U.S. holders of our ordinary shares and may generally cause a reduction in the value of our shares. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we will generally be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which
either: (i) 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or (ii) at least 50% of the average value of our total assets (determined on a quarterly basis) for the taxable year produce or are held for the production of passive income. Based on
an analysis of our income, assets, activities and market capitalization, we do not believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019. However, there can be no assurance that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will not challenge our analysis or our conclusion regarding our PFIC status. There is also a risk that we were a PFIC for one or more prior taxable years or that we will be a PFIC in future years, including
2020. If we were a PFIC during any prior years, U.S. holders who acquired or held our ordinary shares during such years generally will be subject to the PFIC rules. The tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually and it is difficult to
make accurate predictions of our future income, assets, activities and market capitalization, which are relevant to this determination. If we were determined to be a PFIC for US federal income tax purposes, highly complex rules would apply to U.S.
holders owning our ordinary shares and such U.S. holders could suffer adverse U.S. tax consequences. For more information, please see Item 10.E below - “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations–
Tax Consequences if We Are a Passive Foreign Investment Company”.
Our ordinary shares are traded on more than one market and this may result in price variations.
In addition to being traded on the Nasdaq Global Market, our ordinary shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (“TASE”). Trading
in our ordinary shares on these markets take place in different currencies (U.S. Dollars on Nasdaq and NIS on TASE) and at different times (resulting from different time zones, trading days and public holidays in the United States and Israel). The
trading prices of our ordinary shares on these two markets may differ due to these and other factors. Any decrease in the price of our ordinary shares on one market could cause a decrease in the trading price of our ordinary shares on the other
market.
Risks Relating to Our Operations in Israel
Conditions in the Middle East and Israel may adversely affect our operations.
Our headquarters and sole facility (including manufacturing facilities) are located in the North of the State of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions
in Israel and the surrounding region may directly influence our operations. Specifically, we could be adversely affected by:
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hostilities involving Israel;
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the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners;
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a downturn in the economic or financial condition of Israel; and
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a full or partial mobilization of the reserve forces of the Israeli army.
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Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its Middle Eastern neighbors. While Israel has entered
into peace arrangements with both Egypt and Jordan, it has no peace arrangements with any other neighboring or Arab countries. Over the years, this state of hostility, varying from time to time in intensity and degree, has led to security and
economic problems for Israel.
Further, all efforts to improve Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians have failed to result in a permanent peaceful solution, and there have been numerous periods of
hostility as well as civil insurrection of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in recent years.
Also, relations between Israel and Iran continue to be hostile, due to the fact that Iran is perceived by Israel as sponsor of Hamas (a militia group and political party
controlling the Gaza Strip) and Hezbollah (a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon), while maintaining a military presence in Syria, and with regard to Iran’s nuclear program. The recent assassination of Iran’s senior
general Qassim Soleimani by the U.S. military, followed by Iranian retaliatory attack against U.S. military basis in Iraq, has contributed to the tension in the region and further intensified the hostility between Iran and Israel and between Israel
and Hezbollah, which operates adjacent to Israel’s northern border.
Lastly, Israel is engaged, from time to time, in armed conflicts with Hamas. These conflicts involve missile strikes against civilian targets in the southern parts of Israel, and
have also involved such missile strikes against central parts of Israel, most recently in November 2019.
All of the above raise a concern as to the stability in the region, which may affect the political and security situation in Israel and therefore could adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, the continued conflict with the Palestinians is already disrupting some of Israel’s trading activities. Certain countries, primarily in the Middle East, but also in
Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as certain companies and organizations around the world, continue to participate in a boycott of Israeli brands, and others doing business with Israel and Israeli companies. The boycott, restrictive laws, policies or
practices directed towards Israel or Israeli businesses could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, for example by way of sales opportunities that we could not pursue or from which we will be precluded
in the future. In addition, should the BDS Movement, the movement for boycotting, divesting and sanctioning Israel and Israeli institutions (including universities) and products become increasingly influential in the United States and Europe, this
may also adversely affect our business and financial condition. Further deterioration of our relations with the Palestinians or countries in the Middle East could expand the disruption of international trading activities in Israel, may materially
and negatively affect our business conditions, could harm our results of operations, and adversely affect the share price of our ordinary shares.
Our business may also be disturbed by the obligation of personnel to perform military service. Our employees who are Israeli citizens are generally subject to a periodical
obligation to perform reserve military service, until they reach the age of 45 (or older, for reservists with certain occupations), but during military conflicts, these employees may be called to active duty for longer periods of time. In response
to the increase in violence and terrorist activity in the past years, there have been periods of significant call-ups for military reservists and it is possible that there will be further military reserve duty call-ups in the future. In case of
further regional instability such employees, who may include one or more of our key employees, may be absent for extended periods of time, which may materially adversely affect our business.
Furthermore, our Company’s insurance does not cover any loss arising of events related to the security situation in the Middle East. While the Israeli government currently covers
the reinstatement value of direct damages caused by acts of war or terror attacks, we cannot be certain that such coverage will be maintained.
We can give no assurance that the political, economic and security situation in Israel will not have a material adverse impact on our business in the future.
Our ability to take advantage of Israeli government programs and tax benefits may change, which could increase our tax expenses.
We participate in certain Israeli government programs and enjoy certain tax benefits, particularly tax exemptions, resulting from our “Approved Enterprise” status, provided to us
due to our manufacturing facilities in Israel. In order to continue to be eligible for these programs, or similar programs, and tax benefits, we must continue to meet certain conditions, including making specified investments in fixed assets and
equipment. If we fail to meet such conditions in the future, these tax benefits could be cancelled, and we could be required to refund any tax benefits already received. Further, these programs and tax benefits may not continue in the future at
their current levels or at any level. The termination or reduction of these tax benefits would likely increase our tax liability. For information regarding the above-mentioned tax benefits, see Item 10.E below – “Taxation – Israeli Taxation - Tax Benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959.”
The government grants we received for know-how research and development expenditures impose certain restrictions on utilization of the funded grants and may expose us to payment
of royalties in connection with the commercialization thereof.
We have received government grants from the Israel Innovation Authority (the “IIA”) for the financing of a portion of our research and
development expenditures over the years. Even following full repayment of any IIA grants, and unless otherwise agreed by the applicable authority of the IIA, we must nevertheless continue to comply with the requirements of the Encouragement of
Industrial Research and Development Law, 1984 and the regulations promulgated there under (together: the “R&D Law”), with respect to technologies the development of which was financed by such grants (the
“Financed Know-How”), including an obligation for repayment of such grants from sales of products based on the Financed Know-How, if and when such sales occur.
As of December 31, 2019, the total amount of grants received by the IIA and not yet repaid (including interest accrued by Camtek) was $7.3 million This amount also includes
grants received by Printar Ltd. (“Printar”), which we assumed in the framework of the acquisition of Printar’s assets and certain liabilities and which we have written off as we believe that no such payments
will be made to the IIA (for more information please see the discussion relating to the cessation of the Functional Inkjet Technology (“FIT”) activity in Item 4.B below - “Business Overview – Our Business”).
In addition to the obligation to pay royalties to the IIA, the R&D Law requires that products which incorporate Financed Know-How be manufactured in Israel, and prohibits the
transfer of the Financed Know-How and any right derived therefrom to third parties, unless otherwise approved in advance by the IIA. Such prior consent may be given by the IIA subject to payment of increased royalties.
Although as of the date of this Annual Report, no Financed Know-How is used or incorporated in our current or currently anticipated products lines, the abovementioned
restrictions and requirements for payment could in the future – if and as applicable – impair our ability to sell such Financed Know-How, or to outsource or transfer manufacturing activities with respect to any product or technology based on
Financed Know-How, outside of Israel. Furthermore, the consideration available to our shareholders in a transaction involving the transfer outside of Israel of Financed Know-How (such as a merger or similar transaction) may be reduced by any
amounts that we are required to pay to the IIA.
For more information regarding the above-mentioned and other restrictions imposed by the R&D Law and regarding grants received by us from the IIA (and the repayment thereof),
see Item 4.B below - “Business Overview – The Israel Innovation Authority”.
It may be difficult to enforce a U.S. judgment against us or our officers and directors, or to assert U.S. securities law claims in Israel.
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel. Service of process upon our directors and officers, all of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to
obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because the majority of our assets and all of our directors and officers are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of them may not be
collectible within the United States.
Further, it may be difficult for an investor to assert U.S. securities law claims in original actions instituted in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on an
alleged violation of U.S. securities laws reasoning that Israel is not the most appropriate forum to bring such a claim. In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear such a claim, it is not certain whether Israeli law or U.S. law will be
applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact by an expert witness, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed
by Israeli law. There is little binding case law in Israel addressing these matters.
Being a foreign private issuer exempts us from certain SEC requirements and Nasdaq Rules, which may result in less protection than is afforded to investors under rules applicable to domestic issuers.
We are a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of rules promulgated by the SEC. As such, we are exempt from certain provisions under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”) applicable to U.S. public companies, including:
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the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K;
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the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of securities registered under the Exchange Act, including extensive disclosure of compensation paid or payable to certain
of our highly compensated executives as well as disclosure of the compensation determination process;
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the provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information; and
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the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profit realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction (a purchase
and sale, or sale and purchase, of the issuer’s equity securities within less than six months).
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In addition, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices and law instead of those rules and practices otherwise required by Nasdaq for domestic
issuers. For instance, we have relied on the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to shareholder approval requirements for equity-based compensation plans, with respect to the Nasdaq requirement to have a separate compensation committee
and a formal charter for such committee, and with respect to the quorum requirement for the convening of general meetings of shareholders; See in Item 16G. “Corporate Governance” below.
Following our home country corporate governance practices, as opposed to the requirements that would otherwise apply to a U.S. company listed on Nasdaq, may provide less
protection to investors than is afforded under the Nasdaq Rules applicable to domestic issuers.
Provisions of Israeli law may delay, prevent or make undesirable an acquisition of all or a significant portion of our shares or assets.
Israeli corporate law regulates mergers and acquisitions and requires that a tender offer be effected when certain thresholds of percentage ownership of voting power in a company
are exceeded (subject to certain conditions), which may have the effect of delaying, preventing or making more difficult a merger with, or acquisition of, us. See Item 10.B - “Memorandum and
Articles - Anti-Takeover Effects of Israeli Laws; Mergers and Acquisitions Under Israeli Law” below. Further, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions
undesirable to us, or to some of our shareholders whose country of residence does not have a tax treaty with Israel, granting tax relief to such shareholders from Israeli tax. With respect to mergers, Israeli tax law allows for tax deferral in
certain circumstances but makes the deferral contingent on the fulfillment of numerous conditions, including a holding period of two years from the date of the transaction during which certain sales and dispositions of shares of the participating
companies are restricted. Moreover, with respect to certain share swap transactions, the tax deferral is limited in time, and when such time expires, the tax becomes payable even if no actual disposition of the shares has occurred. See Item 10.E -
“Taxation - Israeli Taxation” below. In addition, in accordance with the Restrictive Trade Practices Law, 1988 and under the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and
Development of 1984 and regulations promulgated thereunder (together, the “R&D Law”), approvals regarding a change in control (such as a merger or similar transaction) may be required in certain
circumstances. For more information regarding such required approvals please see in Item 4.B - “Business Overview - The Israel Innovation Authority” below. In addition, as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel, we are subject to the Israeli Economic
Competition Law, 1988 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (formerly known as the Israeli Antitrust Law, 1988), under which we may be required in certain circumstances to obtain the approval of the Israel Competition Authority (formerly known
as the Israel Antitrust Authority) in order to consummate a merger or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
These provisions of Israeli law could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and may make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us, even if doing
so would be beneficial to our shareholders, and may limit the price that investors may be willing to pay in the future for our ordinary shares.
Shareholder rights and responsibilities are governed by Israeli law which differs in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders of U.S. companies.
Since we are incorporated under Israeli law, the rights and responsibilities of our shareholders are governed by our articles of association, as amended from time to time (our “Articles”) and Israeli law. These rights and responsibilities differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in United States-based corporations. In particular, a shareholder of an
Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith and in a customary manner in exercising its rights and performing its obligations towards the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing its power in the company, including, among
other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on certain matters, such as an amendment to a company’s articles of association, an increase of a company’s authorized share capital, a merger of a company and approval of related party
transactions that require shareholder approval. A shareholder also has a general duty to refrain from discriminating against other shareholders. In addition, a controlling shareholder or a shareholder who knows that it possesses the power to
determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or to appoint or prevent the appointment of an Office Holder in a company, or who otherwise has the power to direct a company’s operations, has a duty to act in fairness towards such company. Israeli law
does not define the substance of this duty of fairness and there is limited case law available to assist us in understanding the nature of this duty or the implications of these provisions. These provisions may be interpreted to impose additional
obligations and liabilities on our shareholders that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.
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Item 4.
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Information on the Company.
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A. History and Development of the Company
Our legal and commercial name is Camtek Ltd. We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel in 1987 and operate under the Companies Law. Our headquarters are located
in Ramat Gavriel Industrial Zone, P.O. Box 544, Migdal Ha’Emek 23150, Israel, and our telephone number is +972-4-604-8100. Other than Israel, we currently have operations in the Asia Pacific region, North America and Europe. Our agent for service
of process in the United States is Camtek USA, Inc., located at Fremont Blvd., Ste. 112, Fremont, California 48389, Tel: 510-624-9905. We have been a public company since July 2000. Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and on
the TASE.
In our first years of operation, we provided manual optical inspection equipment to address the needs of the PCB industry. In September 2001, we acquired a developer and producer
of Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) Inspection systems for the semiconductor fabrication industry. This acquisition allowed us to enter the back-end semiconductor inspection market. After a period of intense internal research and development, in
the fourth quarter of 2003, we shipped our first new Falcon system for the back-end market of the semiconductor industry. The first revenue recognition of the Falcon system was in the second quarter of 2004. In the following years, applying our
core technologies, we introduced three additional Inspection and Metrology product lines for the semiconductor industry - the Condor, the Gannet and the Eagle; sales of all four semiconductor Inspection and Metrology product lines have since
accounted for a significant portion of our total sales. In 2017, we consolidated all of our products for the semiconductor industry (which, following the PCB Sale Transaction in 2017 (see in this Item 4.A below), constitute all of our product
lines) under the Eagle product lines. See in Item 4.B - “Business Overview” below.
In 2017, we concluded the sale of our Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”) inspection business unit (the “PCB Sale Transaction”), to Trophy Imaging Technology
Co. Ltd. Pursuant to the PCB Sale Transaction, we sold the entire assets and activity of our PCB business unit (including our subsidiaries in China and Taiwan which were engaged primarily in such activity), in consideration for a total cash payment
of $32 million at closing and an additional cash amount of $1.257 million, the payment of which was conditioned upon the financial performance of the PCB business unit and was made in full in 2019. Since the closing of the PCB Sale Transaction, we
have devoted, and will continue to devote, our resources and attention to further developing and expanding our semiconductor Inspection and Metrology field of activity.
Further, as a result of our acquisition of the assets and certain liabilities of Printar in 2009, we became involved in the field of FIT, which we have gradually reduced over the
past few years, until eventually reaching the decision to fully cease such activity in 2018. In 2009 we also completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of SELA – Semiconductor Engineering Laboratories ltd. (“Sela”) which was engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of automated SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) sample preparation equipment, primarily for the front-end
semiconductor industry. In 2015, the Company concluded a definitive agreement for the transfer of the Sela division activity (assets and liabilities) to a company fully owned by Sela’s long time business manager, thereby effectively terminating any
and all involvement of the Company in the Sela business.
In July 2000, we sold 5,835,000 ordinary shares in an initial public offering, in which we received net proceeds of approximately $35 million. In August 2002, we sold 5,926,730
ordinary shares in a rights offering of ordinary shares to our then existing shareholders (of which 5,922,228 shares were sold to Priortech), in which we received net proceeds of $6.1 million. On August 23, 2005, we raised $5 million as a
convertible loan from FIMI Opportunity Fund L.P and FIMI Israel Opportunity Fund, Limited Partnership (FIMI), which amount was repaid in full by August 2010. On April 30, 2006, we completed a private placement in which we issued 2,525,252 ordinary
shares to Israeli institutional investors at a price of $5.94 per share, raising $14.5 million. In May 2015, we completed a public offering of our shares on Nasdaq in which we issued 4,655,982 shares at a price of $2.85 per share, raising net
proceeds of $11.9 million.
In February 2019, the Company signed a series of definitive agreements, referred to as the “Chroma Transaction”, in
the framework of which Chroma acquired a total of 6,117,440 ordinary shares from Priortech at a price of $9.50 per share, and an additional 1,700,000 new shares were issued to Chroma by the Company, at the same price of $9.50 per share; as of
March 18, 2020, Chroma holds 20.21% of our ordinary shares, while Priortech holds 23.92% of our ordinary shares. The Chroma Transaction was closed in June, 19, 2019 (the “Chroma Closing Date”), following
the occurrence of closing conditions defined therein, including the approval of the Chroma Transaction by the Company’s shareholders in the 2019 AGM (as defined below) as well as the grant of approvals by certain regulatory bodies, including the
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Taiwan Overseas Foreign Investment Commission (MOEAIC).
In addition, the Company entered into a Technological Cooperation Agreement with Chroma under which the Company granted Chroma a license for an application under Company’s
triangulation technology platform. In addition, Priortech and Chroma entered into a voting agreement according to which they vote together in the Company’s shareholders meetings and have joint control over the Company (the “Chroma Voting Agreement”). Under the Chroma Voting Agreement, Chroma is entitled to nominate individuals for two seats on the Company’s seven member Board and Priortech is entitled to nominate three members. The
remaining seats are held by two external directors. The Company also entered into a Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement with Priortech and Chroma, according to which Chroma is entitled to the same rights Priortech has with
respect to registration of our shares (see Item 7.B. – “Related Party Transactions”).
For a discussion of capital expenditures, see Item 5.B - “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
The SEC maintains an Internet web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and other material that are filed through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval, or EDGAR, system. Our website is located at www.camtek.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
B. Business Overview.
Our Business
Camtek develops and manufactures state of the art equipment for Inspection and Metrology of wafers, our equipment is used by all the leading semiconductors manufacturers. Camtek
provides Automatic Inspection and Metrology systems to find defects on individual dice on wafer before they are packaged, sorting defected dice before packaging is crucial in the Semiconductors industry because a single defected device can cause a
failure of the entire product. Camtek is a leading provider of Inspection and Metrology systems in its market and enabling and supporting customers’ latest technologies. Camtek addresses this industry with dedicated solutions based on our advanced
core technologies including advanced Optics and electronics hardware, advanced algorithms and software, image processing, motion control and material handling.
Semiconductors wafers are scanned under the advanced optic heads (2D Inspection and metrology and 3D metrology) in our systems, advanced software and algorithms are implemented
on the scanned wafers data, as a result our systems automatically sort good dies and defected dies, the defected dies will be sort out of the production lots and will not be inserted into a package. Hence the total end product yield is enhanced by
ensuring that only known good dies will be shipped to end-users. The systems are easy to operate and offer high accuracy and productivity in high volume manufacturing environments. These systems incorporate proprietary advanced image processing
software and algorithms, as well as advanced electro‑optics and precision mechanics and are designed for easy operation and maintenance. Our global, direct customer support organization provides responsive, localized pre- and post- sales support
for our customers through our wholly owned subsidiaries.
Inspection and Metrology are implemented at various stages along the semiconductor manufacturing process. Camtek’s systems serve various manufacturing stages starting from the
front-end macro inspection and outgoing Quality Control (OQC), through Inspection and Metrology of bumps in the mid-end and the inspection of post-diced wafers in the back end (Assembly).
Our Markets
The semiconductor manufacturing industry produces integrated circuits mainly on silicon wafers but also on other materials. Each wafer contains numerous integrated dies
containing microelectronic devices. The growth of the semiconductor manufacturing industry in the past few years has been driven largely by demand from electronics such as smartphones and the proliferation of applications including the Internet of
Things and cloud computing. Continued growth is expected with the enhancements of existing products and the inclusion of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in products and 5G networks, as well as rapid growth in automotive
and industrial electronics. The effect of such market growth trends on the demand of Inspection and Metrology systems is driven by two main factors: (i) growing electronic devices manufacturing volume requires more equipment, for example, the 5G
network generation will speed the manufacturing of new mobile phones and (ii) applications such as automotive require a higher level of reliability and hence more Inspection and Metrology.
In the fast-growing advanced packaging market segment, which includes wide variety of devices and technologies, a new inspection and measurements steps become crucial to ensure a
known good package. The bumps are becoming the main interface connection instead of the conventional wire bonding. There is a wide variety of bump types and sizes which are used for different packaging requirements. Camtek’s systems equipped with
several 3-D measurement sensors and inspection technologies provide wide coverage to many of those inspection and metrology steps such as bump height, die stack planarity, RDL dimensions. These are examples for typical steps to ensure high quality
product.
Wafers with tens million bumps are becoming more common and require 100% inspection and metrology due to the packaging reliability requirements. The high cost of packages which in many cases combine
multiple dice requires Known Good Dice in order to ensure that each die in the package is fully functional. Camtek’s systems are designed to deliver 100% Inspection and Metrology in high volume manufacturing environment, without compromising on
throughput and performance.
A fast-growing segment is the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensors (“CIS”)
used for cameras. With the growing number of cameras in each mobile phone and the increase in the number of pixels per each sensor and reduction in the size of each pixel, a high-resolution inspection is mandatory. Camtek has developed unique
capabilities to address these requirements and its systems are being used by largest CIS manufacturers.
Another growing segment is the “micro-electro mechanical systems” (“MEMS”), which mainly serves the mobile, medical and automotive
markets, utilizing materials, manufacturing technologies and facilities from the semiconductor industry to produce miniature mechanisms, such as inkjet print heads, accelerometers, sensors, video projection devices and microphones. Camtek’s
Inspection and Metrology is implemented at various stages along the manufacturing process of MEMS devices to detect mechanical damage and other surface defects including cracks and foreign materials or, as well as to confirm dimensional conformity,
thus eliminating subsequent testing of defective products, increasing yield and reducing overall production costs.
Other significantly growing segments include power, mainly used for high-end computing and designed to manage the exponentially growing amounts of data. Radio Frequency (RF)
devices that need to address the next generation communication network, known as 5G.
Camtek’s systems are designed to meet the industry roadmap and market requirements.
Product Lines
Inspection and Metrology Systems
Our systems consist of:
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an electro-optical assembly unit, either movable or fixed, which consists of a video camera, precision optics and illumination sources. The electro-optical unit captures the image of the inspected product;
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a precise, either movable or fixed table, that holds the inspected product; and
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an electronic hardware unit, which operates the entire system and includes embedded components that process and analyze the captured image by using our proprietary algorithms.
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The inspected product is placed on a designated platform and is scanned under the optical assembly unit. The optical assembly unit then captures images of the product, while the
electronic hardware unit processes the image using the analysis algorithms. Detected discrepancies are logged and reported as defects per the user definitions. The image of the defect is immediately available for verification by the system
operator. Our systems can also compile and communicate statistical reports of inspection findings via the customer’s factory information system.
We offer a broad range of systems for automated optical Inspection and Metrology of semiconductor wafers. We invest significant resources in R&D to provide our customers with
advantageous performance, low cost of ownership, high reliability and ease of operation. We believe that a significant part of our competitive advantage derives from our R&D innovative capabilities which enable us to adapt our technologies to
evolving market needs.
Over the years, our Inspection and Metrology products for the semiconductor industry included the Falcon, Condor, Gannet and Eagle products lines. In 2017, we finalized the
implementation of our decision from 2015 to focus our semiconductor activity on the Eagle platform onlys and have phased out all other product lines for this industry.
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Product
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Function
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Eagle-i
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The Eagle-i system family is designed for high volume 2D inspection, delivering superior 2D inspection and metrology capabilities. The system utilizes the most advanced algorithms enabling
detection of down to sub-micron defects and measuring two micron line and space redistribution layer (“RDL”). The Eagle-i system family includes the EagleT-I and EagleT-I Plus models, which were designed for better accuracy and optical resolutions and higher throughput.
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Eagle-AP
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The Eagle-AP system family addresses the fast-growing advanced packaging market using state of the art technologies, both software and hardware, that deliver superior 2D and 3D inspection
and metrology capabilities on the same platform. The advanced packaging market uses a wide spectrum of bump types and sizes. The Eagle-AP meets the current and future requirements in inspection and metrology including measurement of bumps
down to 2µm (microns) and providing high throughput. The Eagle-AP system family includes the EagleT-AP and EagleT-AP Plus models, equipped with higher throughput and improved metrology capabilities.
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Golden Eagle
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Camtek’s panel inspection and metrology system designed to support the manufacturing of panel wafers used in the manufacturing of fan-out level packaging applications,
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In addition, we intend to offer certain software solutions we develop, such as the Automatic Defect Classification (“ADC”), which provides automatic defect
classification of color images, utilizing deep learning techniques, and will enable our customers to reduce and even eliminate manual verification.
Customers
We target wafer manufacturers and companies involved in the testing, assembly and packaging of semiconductor devices.
Our customers are semiconductor manufacturers, among them outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT), integrated device manufacturers and wafer level packaging
subcontractors. Our customers, many of whom have multiple facilities, are located throughout Asia, Europe and North America. In 2018 and 2017, no individual customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues; however in 2019, one customer
accounted for 11% of our total revenues. As of December 31, 2019, our installed base was approximately 1,049 systems.
The following table shows our revenues classified by geographical region for each of the last three years:
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Year Ended December 31,
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2019
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2018
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2017
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U.S. Dollars (In thousands)
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Asia Pacific
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115,925
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98,468
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79,105
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United States
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10,388
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13,227
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9,484
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Europe
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7,706
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11,479
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4,896
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|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marketing and Customer Support
We have established a global distribution and support network throughout the territories in which we sell, install and support our products, including the Asia Pacific region,
North America and Europe. We believe that this is an essential factor in our customers’ decision to purchase our products. We primarily utilize our own employees to provide these customer support services. We may expand our network into additional
territories as market conditions warrant.
We have a distribution rights agreement with a Japanese company, under which this company sells, installs and supports our products in Japan.
As of December 31, 2019, 130 of our employees were engaged in our worldwide marketing and support efforts, including support and marketing administration staff. Due to the
concentration of marketing in the Asia Pacific region, we have adjusted our marketing organization accordingly, and significantly expanded our marketing and support teams in this region.
Our marketing efforts include participation in various trade shows and conventions, publications and trade press, product demonstrations performed at our facilities and regular
contact with customers by marketing personnel. We generally provide a 12‑month warranty to our customers. In addition, for a fee, we offer service and maintenance contracts commencing after the expiration of the warranty period. Under our service
and maintenance contracts, we provide prompt on-site customer support.
We take various measures to secure customers’ payment on a case by case basis by means of letters of credit. Also, we receive advanced payments before shipment from most
customers.
Manufacturing
Our manufacturing activities consist primarily of the assembly and final integration of parts, components and subassemblies, which are acquired from third‑party vendors and
subcontractors. The manufacturing process for our products generally lasts six to twelve weeks. We utilize subcontractors for the production of subsystems, and our current main product, the Eagle system, is manufactured by two Israeli contractors
who perform most of the material planning, procurement, manufacturing, testing and assembly work with respect to such systems.
We rely on single source and limited source suppliers and subcontractors for a number of essential components and subsystems of our products. We generally maintain several
months’ of inventory of critical components used in the manufacture and assembly of our products. During times of rapid increase in demand in the semiconductor fabrication industry, the delivery time of suppliers in this industry is extended.
However, to date, we have been able to obtain sufficient units of these components to meet our needs in a timely fashion.
We have a manufacturing facility, located in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel.
Competition
The markets in which we operate are highly competitive. Our main competitors are Onto Innovations, ATI Electronics Pty Ltd., Cheng Mei Instrument Technology Co., ASTI Holding
Limited, Toray Industries Inc. and, for some limited applications, KLA-Tencor Corporation.
We believe that the principal elements of a sustainable competitive advantage are:
|
•
|
ongoing research, development and commercial implementation of new image acquisition, processing and analysis technologies;
|
|
•
|
product architecture based on proprietary core technologies and commercially available hardware. Such architecture supports shorter time-to-market, flexible cost structure, longer service life and higher margins;
|
|
•
|
fast response to evolving customer needs;
|
|
•
|
ability to maintain competitive pricing;
|
|
•
|
product compatibility with customer automation environment; and
|
|
•
|
strong pre- and post-sale support (applications, service and training) deployed in immediate proximity to customer sites.
|
We believe that we compete effectively on all of these factors.
The Israel Innovation Authority
The Government of Israel encourages research and development projects in Israel through the Israel Innovation Authority, IIA, formerly
and more commonly known as the Office of Chief Scientist (the “OCS”), pursuant to and subject to the provisions of the R&D Law.
Under the R&D Law, research and development projects which are approved by the Research Committee of the IIA are eligible for grants, in exchange for payment of royalties
from revenues generated by the products developed within the framework of such approved project and subject to compliance with certain requirements and restrictions under the R&D Law as detailed below, which must generally continue to be
complied with even following full repayment of all IIA grants.
As of the date of this Annual Report, no Financed Know-How is utilized in our current or currently anticipated activities (See in Item 3.D - “Risk Factors - Risks relating to our Operations in Israel” above).
The R&D Law generally requires that a product developed under a grant program be manufactured in Israel. However, subject to receipt of an approval from the IIA, some of the
manufacturing volume may be performed outside of Israel. Such approval is subject to the repayment of increased royalties, in an amount of up to 300% of the total grant amount, plus applicable interest, and an increase of 1% in the royalty rate,
depending on the extent of the manufacturing that is to be conducted outside of Israel.
The R&D Law also provides that Financed Know-How and any right derived therefrom may not be transferred to third parties, unless such transfer was approved in accordance with
the R&D Law. The research committee operating under the IIA may approve the transfer of Financed Know-How between Israeli entities, provided that the transferee undertakes all the obligations in connection with the R&D grant as prescribed
under the R&D Law. In certain cases, the research committee may also approve a transfer of Financed Know-How outside of Israel, in both cases subject to the receipt of certain payments, calculated according to a formula set forth in the R&D
Law. In the case of transfer outside of Israel, a payment of up to six times the total amount of the grants plus applicable interest, and in the case the R&D activity related to the know-how remains in Israel, a payment of three times of such
total amount. These approvals are not required for the sale or export of any products resulting from such R&D activity or based on such Financed Know-How.
For a discussion of the effects of Israeli governmental regulations and our operation in Israel on our business, see in Item 3.D - “Risk Factors - Risks relating to our Operations in Israel” above.
Capital Expenditures
The following table shows our capital expenditures in fixed assets for the last three years:
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
Machinery and equipment*
|
|
|
1,998
|
|
|
|
1,902
|
|
|
|
1,280
|
|
|
Building and leasehold improvements
|
|
|
154
|
|
|
|
1,327
|
|
|
|
2,200
|
|
|
Computer equipment and software
|
|
|
305
|
|
|
|
604
|
|
|
|
655
|
|
|
Office furniture and equipment
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
|
96
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
Right of use (ROU) assets **
|
|
|
904
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
3,458
|
|
|
$
|
3,929
|
|
|
$
|
4,188
|
|
* including transfer of inventory to fixed assets in the aggregate of $1,405, $1,425, and $1,050 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
** related to implementation of ASC 842 - Leases as of January 1, 2019.
Material Effects of Governmental Regulations
The following EU directives, which represent the European standard required in order to sell in Europe, apply to our business: Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and EMC 2004/108/EC.
The following SEMI Standards, which define uniform standards for manufacturers in the semiconductor fabrication industry and production equipment producers, apply to us: SEMI S-2 (safety requirements for sale of equipment in the semiconductor
fabrication) and SEMI S-8 (ergonomic requirements for sale of equipment in the semiconductor fabrication industry). We comply with the above-mentioned governmental regulations during the systems’ design process, which is conducted in accordance
with the Company’s quality assurance manual ISO9001:2015. In addition, all modules of systems are tested by independent laboratories that certify their compliance with these governmental regulations and have required accreditation.
C. Organizational Structure
Through its affiliated companies, one of our principal shareholders, Priortech, engages in various aspects of the electronic production, including, advance packaging designs for the semiconductor
industry and advanced organic coreless substrate technology. Priortech currently holds 23.92% of our outstanding ordinary shares, and is a party to the Chroma Voting Agreement. Under the Chroma Voting
Agreement, Priortech is entitled to nominate three Board members. We have no revenues from sales to affiliates and subsidiaries of Priortech.
The following table shows the Company’s subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned by us or by our subsidiaries (except for Camtek HK Ltd., in which Priortech holds no more than
one percent of the voting rights), together with each subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation, as of the date of this Annual Report:
|
Name of Subsidiary
|
Jurisdiction of Incorporation
|
|
Camtek H.K. Ltd.
|
Hong Kong
|
|
Camtek USA Inc.
|
New Jersey, USA
|
|
Camtek (Europe) NV
|
Belgium
|
|
Camtek Germany GmbH
|
Germany
|
|
Camtek Inspection Technology (Suzhou) Ltd.
|
China
|
|
Camtek Japan Ltd.
|
Japan
|
|
Camtek Inspection Technology Limited
|
Taiwan
|
|
Camtek South East Asia Pte ltd.
|
Singapore
|
|
Camtek Korea Ltd.
|
South Korea
|
|
D.
|
Property, Plants and Equipment
|
Our main office, manufacturing and research and development facilities are located in the Ramat Gavriel Industrial Zone of Migdal Ha’Emek in northern Israel. These facilities
occupy 84,500 square feet of which 16,000 square feet are devoted to the manufacturing of our products, and approximately 10,500 square feet are leased to a third party lessee. In accordance with agreements signed in 2010 and 2011 with Bank Leumi
L’Israel and in 2011 with Bank Mizrahi, a lien has been placed on these facilities.
Our sales offices and demonstration centers, which we lease in various locations around the world, occupy an aggregate of approximately 26,000 square feet.
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 5
. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
General
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes to those
statements included therein, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. The following discussion does not address certain items in respect of our fiscal year ended
December 31, 2017 in reliance on amendments to disclosure requirements adopted by the SEC in 2019. A discussion of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 may be found in “Item 5 – “Operating and
Financial Review and Prospects” of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 25, 2019.
Overview
We design, develop, manufacture and market automated solutions dedicated for enhancing production processes and yield for the semiconductor fabrication industry, principally
based on our Inspection and Metrology core technology; see in Item 4.B “Business Overview - Our Business” above.
We sell our systems internationally. The majority of sales of our systems in 2019 were to manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region, including South Korea, China, Taiwan and South
East Asia, due to, among other factors, the migration of the electronic manufacturers into this region following the development and growth of electronics industry centers.
In 2019, our sales in the Asia Pacific region accounted for approximately 86% of our total revenues, of which approximately 75% of our total revenues were from sales in South
Korea, China and Taiwan.
In addition to revenues derived from the sale of systems and related products, we generate revenues from providing maintenance and support services for our products. We generally
provide a one-year warranty with our systems. Accordingly, service revenues are not earned during the warranty period.
In regular market conditions, the demand for our systems is characterized by short notice. To meet customers’ needs for quick delivery and to realize the competitive advantage of
the ability to do so, we have to pre-order components and subsystems based on our forecast of future orders, rather than on actual orders. This need is compounded by the fact that, in times of increasing demand in our markets, our suppliers and
subcontractors tend to extend their delivery schedules or fail to meet their delivery deadlines. To compensate for these unscheduled delays, we build inventories further into the future, which increases the risk that our forecast may not correspond
to our actual future needs. The uncertainties involved in these longer-term estimates during regular times of business expansion tend to increase the level of component and subsystem inventories (See also in Item 3.D. - “Risk Factors - A longer sales process for new products may increase our costs and delay time to market of our
products, both of which may negatively impact our revenues, results of operations, cash flow and may result in inventory write-offs” above and under Item 5.A - “Operating Results - Critical Accounting Policies - Valuation of Inventory” below). Compared to our sales cycles for repeat orders from existing customers, we have longer sales cycles for new customers in our markets as well as for new customers in new markets. In
addition, the selling cycle in our markets typically takes several quarters from first contact to revenue recognition, including on-site evaluation. Naturally, repeat orders take less time.
Critical Accounting Policies
Critical accounting policies are those that, in management’s view, are most important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results of operations and most
demanding on their calls on judgment, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. We believe our most critical accounting policies relate to:
Revenue Recognition. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Topic 606 retrospectively with the cumulative effect
recognized as of the date of adoption.
The Company’s contracts with its customers include performance obligations to provide its products or to service the installed products. A product sale contract may include an
extended warranty (that is, for longer than the twelve-month standard warranty), which is considered a separate performance obligation.
The Company recognizes revenue from contracts for sales of products when the Company transfers control of the product to the customer, which is generally upon installation at the
customer’s premises. Revenues from the contract are recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to receive once the product is operating in accordance with its specifications and signed documentation
of the arrangement, such as a signed contract or purchase order, has been received. Payment terms with customers may vary, but are generally based on milestones within the delivery process such as shipping and installation. Payment terms do not
include significant financing components.
In the limited circumstances when the products are installed by a trained distributor acting as an end user, revenue is recognized upon delivery to the distributor assuming all
other criteria for revenue recognition are met.
The Company does not incur costs in obtaining a contract except for agents’ commissions, which are incurred upon the recognition of revenues. Revenues are recognized over a
period of less than a year and as such, there are no underlying sales commissions to be capitalized.
Service revenues consist mainly of contracts charged under time and material arrangements. Service revenues from maintenance contracts are recognized ratably over the contract
period.
Contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, the Company allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative
standalone selling price. The Company generally determines standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers.
The Company’s multiple performance obligations consist of product sales and non-standard warranties. A non-standard warranty is one that is for a period longer than 12 months.
Accordingly, income from a non-standard warranty is deferred as unearned revenue and is recognized ratably as revenue commencing with and over the applicable warranty term.
The Company records contract liabilities when the customer has been billed in advance of the Company completing its performance obligations. These amounts are recorded as
deferred revenue in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Valuation of Accounts Receivable. We review accounts receivable to determine which are doubtful of collection. In making this determination of
the appropriate allowance for doubtful accounts, we consider information at hand regarding specific customers, including aging of the receivable balance, evaluation of the security received from customers, our history of write-offs, relationships
with our customers and the overall credit worthiness of our customers. Changes in the credit worthiness of our customers, the general economic environment and other factors may impact the level of our future write-offs.
Valuation of Inventory. Inventories consist of completed systems, partially completed systems and components, and are recorded at the
lower of cost, determined by the moving – average basis, or net realizable value. We review inventory for obsolescence and excess quantities to determine that items deemed obsolete or excess inventory are appropriately reserved. In making the
determination, we consider forecasted future sales or service/maintenance of related products and the quantity of inventory at the balance sheet date, assessed against each inventory item’s past usage rates and future expected usage rates. Changes
in factors such as technology, customer demand, competing products and other matters could affect the level of our obsolete and excess inventory in the future.
In the years 2019 and 2018 we wrote-off inventory in the amount of approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The write-off amounts are included in the item line
called “Cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of operations. The write-offs create a new cost basis and are a permanent reduction of inventory cost. The write-offs in the amount of approximately $0.2 and $0.1 million in 2019 and 2018,
respectively, related to damaged, obsolete, excess and slow-moving inventory. Inventory that is not expected to be converted or consumed in 2020 is classified as non-current. As of December 31, 2019, a $2.8 million portion of our inventory was
classified as non-current. Management periodically evaluates our inventory composition, giving consideration to factors such as the probability and timing of anticipated usage and the physical condition of the items, and then estimates a charge
(reducing the inventory) to be provided for slow moving, technologically obsolete or damaged inventory. These estimates could vary significantly from actual requirements based upon future economic conditions, customer inventory levels or
competitive factors that were not foreseen or did not exist when the inventory write-offs were established.
Intangible assets. Patent registration costs are capitalized at cost and amortized, beginning with the first year of utilization, over
its expected life of ten years.
We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability
of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the long lived asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted
future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized as computed by subtracting the fair market value of the asset from its carrying value.
Provisions for contingent liabilities. A contingency (provision) in accordance with ASC Topic 450-10-05, Contingencies, is an existing
condition or situation involving uncertainty as to the range of possible loss to the entity. A provision for claims is recognized if it is probable (likely to occur) that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be estimated reasonably.
Provisions in general are highly judgmental, especially in cases of legal disputes. We assess the probability of an adverse event if the probability is evaluated to be probable, we are required to fully provide for the total amount of the estimated
contingent liability. We continually evaluate our pending provisions to determine if accruals are required. It is often difficult to accurately estimate the ultimate outcome of a contingent liability. Different variables can affect the timing and
amount we provide for certain contingent liabilities. Our assessments are therefore subject to estimates made by us and our legal counsel, adverse revision in our estimates of the potential liability could materially impact our financial condition,
results of operations or liquidity.
Valuation of Long Lived Assets. We apply ASC Subtopic 360-10, “Property, Plant and Equipment”. This Statement requires that long-lived
assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of
an asset to undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of the long lived asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized as computed by subtracting the
fair market value of the asset from its carrying value. We prepare future cash flows based on our best estimates including projections and financial statements, future plans and growth estimates.
Income Taxes. We account for income taxes under ASC Subtopic 740-10 Income Taxes – Overall. Deferred tax assets or liabilities are
recognized in respect of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts as well as in respect of tax losses and other deductions which may be deductible for tax purposes in future years,
based on tax rates applicable to the periods in which such deferred taxes will be realized. The rates applied are those enacted in law as of December 31, 2019. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more
likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary
differences become deductible and during which the carry-forwards are available. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount considered more likely than not to be realized.
Our financial statements include deferred tax assets, net, which are calculated according to the above methodology. If there is an unexpected critical deterioration in our
operating results and forecasts, we would have to increase the valuation allowance with respect to those assets. We believe that it is more likely than not that those net deferred tax assets included in our financial statements will be realized in
subsequent years.
Stock Option and Restricted Share Plans. We account for our employee stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. ASC Topic 718 requires that all employee stock‑based compensation is recognized as a cost in the financial statements and that for equity-classified awards such cost is
measured at the grant date fair value of the award. We estimate grant date fair value using the Black‑Scholes-Merton option‑pricing model. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur.
Leases. On January 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic
842) (ASU 2016-02) using the modified retrospective transition approach by applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. Results and disclosure requirements for reporting periods beginning after January 1,
2019 are presented under Topic 842, while prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historical accounting under Topic 840.
Upon adoption, we recognized total right-of-use (ROU) assets of $2.1 million, with corresponding lease liabilities of $2,052 on the consolidated balance sheets. The adoption did
not impact our beginning retained earnings, or prior year consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flows.
Under Topic 842, we determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of
remaining lease payments over the lease term. For this purpose, we consider only payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of commencement. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use its incremental borrowing rate
based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Our incremental borrowing rate is a hypothetical rate based on its understanding of what our credit rating would be (2.8% in 2019). Our
lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise such options. When determining the probability of exercising such options, we consider contract-based, asset-based, entity-based,
and market-based factors. Lease agreements may contain variable costs such as common area maintenance, insurance, real estate taxes or other costs. Variable lease costs are expensed as incurred on the consolidated statements of income. Our lease
agreements generally do not contain any residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants.
Operating lease ROU assets are presented as property, plant and equipment on the consolidated balance sheet. The current portion of operating lease liabilities is included in
other current liabilities and the long-term portion is presented within long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
For operating leases, the ROU asset is subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the lease liability, plus initial direct costs, plus (minus) any
prepaid (accrued) lease payments, less the unamortized balance of lease incentives received. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
ROU assets for operating leases are periodically reduced by impairment losses. We use the long-lived assets impairment guidance in ASC Subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant, and
Equipment – Overall, to determine whether an ROU asset is impaired, and if so, the amount of the impairment loss to recognize.
New standards not yet adopted
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13), which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with a
forward-looking expected credit loss model which will result in earlier recognition of credit losses. We will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our
consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2018-13, Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820) (ASU 2018-13), which improved
the effectiveness of disclosure requirements for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The standard removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements. We will adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2020 and do not
expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12), which simplifies
the accounting for income taxes. This guidance will be effective in the first quarter of 2021 on a prospective basis, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial
statements.
Comparison of Period-to-Period Results of Operations
The following table presents consolidated statement of operations data for the periods indicated as a percentage of total revenues:
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
Total Revenues
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
Total Cost of revenues
|
|
|
51.66
|
%
|
|
|
50.64
|
%
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
48.34
|
%
|
|
|
49.36
|
%
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development costs
|
|
|
12.19
|
%
|
|
|
11.84
|
%
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses..
|
|
|
19.76
|
%
|
|
|
21.26
|
%
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
31.94
|
%
|
|
|
33.09
|
%
|
|
Operating income (loss
|
|
|
16.39
|
%
|
|
|
16.26
|
%
|
|
Financial income (expenses), net
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
0.59
|
%
|
|
Income tax (expenses) benefit
|
|
|
(1.46
|
%)
|
|
|
(1.65
|
%)
|
|
Net income from continuing operations
|
|
|
15.54
|
%
|
|
|
15.21
|
%
|
|
Net income from discontinued operations
|
|
|
0.87
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
16.41
|
%
|
|
|
15.21
|
%
|
Year Ended December 31, 2019 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018
Revenues. Revenues increased by 9% to $134.0 million in 2019 from $123.2 million in 2018, due
primarily to an increase in the number of product units sold.
Gross Profit. Gross profit consists of revenues less cost of revenues, which includes the cost
of components, production materials, labor, depreciation, factory and service center overheads and provisions for warranties. These expenditures are only partially affected by sales volume. Our total gross profit increased to $64.8 million in 2019
from $60.8 million in 2018, an increase of $4.0 million, or 7%. Our gross margin decreased to 48.3% in 2019, compared to a gross margin of 49.4% in 2018, mainly as a function of the product and sales mix delivered.
Research and Development Costs. Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries, materials consumption and costs
associated with subcontracting certain development efforts. Total research and development expenses for 2019 increased to $16.3 million from $14.6 million in 2018 due to increased researched and development activity.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of expenses associated with
salaries, commissions, promotion and travel, professional services and rent costs. Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1% to $26.5 million in 2019 from $26.2 million in 2018, mainly due to increased salary expenses, offset
by decreased sales commissions.
Financial Income (Expenses), Net. We had net financial income of $0.8 million in 2019, compared to net financial income of $0.7 million
in 2018. These changes mainly relate to interest revenue on our cash deposits offset by foreign currency expenses, net. Foreign currency expenses, net, resulting from transactions not denominated in U.S. Dollars, amounted to $352 thousand in 2019
compared to income of $226 thousand in 2018.
Provision for Income Taxes. Income tax expense was $2.0 million in 2019, mostly based on the utilization of prior tax losses, and similar
to the $2.0 million expense in 2018.
Net Income from continuing operations. We realized net income of $20.8 million in 2019 compared
to net income of $18.7 million in 2018, due to increased revenues.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
At December 31, 2019, our cash and cash equivalent and short-term deposit balances totaled approximately $89.5 million. At December 31, 2018, our cash and cash equivalent
balances totaled approximately $54.9 million. The year-to-year increase in cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits mainly results from increased revenues, in addition to the investment received from Chroma, offset by a cash dividend. Our
cash is invested in bank deposits spread among several banks, primarily in Israel.
From our inception through December 31, 2019 we raised approximately $36.0 million from our initial public offering in 2000, approximately $6.1 million in a rights offering of
ordinary shares to our then existing shareholders in 2002, $14.5 million from a private placement to Israeli institutional investors in 2006, $11.9 million in a public offering of our shares in May 2016 and $16.2 million pursuant to the share
issuance under the Chroma Transaction in June 2019 (see Item 4.A. – “History and Development of the Company”).
Our working capital was approximately $116.1 million in 2019 and $80.6 million in 2018. The increase is mainly attributed to increased cash and cash equivalents and decreased
trade accounts payable and other current liabilities, partially offset by decreased inventory.
Our capital expenditures during 2019 were approximately $1.4 million, mainly due to operating activities.
We anticipate that our existing capital resources and cash flows from operations will be adequate to satisfy our liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months. If
available liquidity is not sufficient to meet our operating obligations as they come due, our plans include pursuing alternative financing arrangements or reducing expenditures as necessary to meet our cash requirements (see also Item 3.D “Risk Factors - We have historically incurred significant losses and negative cash flows and may not sustain profitable operations or
continue to have positive operating cash flows in the future” above).
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 totaled $24.6 million and $16.8 million, respectively.
During 2019, cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributed to net income and the decrease in inventories, offset by decreases in trade accounts payable and other
current liabilities.
During 2018, cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributed to net income, offset by increases in inventory, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and
other current liabilities.
Cash flow from investing activities
Cash flow used in investing activities in 2019 was $51.7 million, due to investment in short-term deposits and fixed and intangible assets. Cash flow used in investing activities
in 2018 was $2.3 million, due to investment in fixed and intangible assets.
Our capital expenditures in 2019 were used primarily for operating activities. Our capital expenditures in 2018 were used primarily for the building of new clean room facilities
in Migdal Ha’Emek and operating activities.
Cash flow from financing activities
Cash flow provided by financing activities in 2019 was $10.0 million, mainly due to the Chroma investment and the proceeds from exercise of share options, offset by a dividend
payment.
Cash flow used in financing activities in 2018 was $3.3 million, mainly due to a dividend payment offset by the proceeds from exercise of share options.
Effective Corporate Tax Rate
Camtek’s production facility in Israel has been granted “Approved Enterprise” status under the Investment Law (as defined in Item 10.E – “Taxation – Israeli Taxation - Tax Benefits Under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959” below). We participate in the Alternative Benefits Program and, accordingly, income from our Approved
Enterprise will be tax exempt for a period of 10 years, commencing on the first year in which the Approved Enterprise first generates taxable income, due to the fact that we operate in Zone ”A” in Israel.
On April 1, 2005, an amendment to the Investment Law came into effect (the “Amendment”) and significantly changed the provisions of the
Investment Law. The Amendment limits the scope of an enterprise which may be approved by the Investment Center by setting criteria for the approval of a facility as a “Beneficiary Enterprise”; such criteria generally require that at least 25% of
the Beneficiary Enterprise’s income will be derived from export. Additionally, the Amendment enacted major changes in the manner in which tax benefits are awarded under the Investment Law so that companies no longer require Investment Center
approval in order to qualify for tax benefits.
In addition, the Amendment provides that terms and benefits included in any certificate of approval issued prior to December 31, 2004 will remain subject to the provisions of
the Investment Law as they were on the date of such prior approval. Therefore, our existing Approved Enterprise will generally not be subject to the provisions of the Amendment. As a result of the Amendment, tax-exempt income generated under the
provisions of the new law, as part of a new Beneficiary Enterprise, will subject us to taxes upon distribution or liquidation.
Camtek has been granted the status of Approved Enterprise, under the Investment Law, for investment programs for the periods which ended in 2007 and 2010, and the status of
Beneficiary Enterprise according to the Amendment, for a period which ended in 2014. In addition, Camtek has elected 2010 as the year of election for a period ending 2021 (collectively, “Programs”).
On December 29, 2010, the Investment Law was amended to significantly revise the tax incentive regime in Israel commencing on January 1, 2011. For more information, see Item
10.E – “Taxation – Israeli Taxation - Tax Benefits Under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959” below.
As of December 31, 2019, approximately $20.7 million of Camtek’s prior year earnings were tax-exempt earnings attributable to its Approved Enterprise and approximately $3.2
million were tax-exempt earnings attributable to its Beneficiary Enterprise. The tax-exempt income attributable to the Approved and Beneficiary Enterprises cannot be distributed to shareholders without subjecting the Company to taxes. If these
retained tax-exempt profits are distributed, the Company would be taxed at the reduced corporate tax rate applicable to such profits in the year in which they were generated. According to the Amendment, tax-exempt income generated under the
Beneficiary Enterprise will be taxed upon dividend distribution or complete liquidation, whereas tax exempt income generated under the Approved Enterprise will be taxed only upon dividend distribution (but not upon complete liquidation, as the tax
liability will be incurred by the shareholders).
As of December 31, 2019, if the income attributed to the Approved Enterprise was distributed as dividend, we would incur a tax liability of approximately $5.2 million. If
income attributed to the Beneficiary Enterprise was distributed as dividend, or upon liquidation, we would incur a tax liability in the amount of approximately $0.8 million. These amounts would be recorded as an income tax expense in the period in
which we would declare the dividend.
We intend to indefinitely reinvest the amount of our tax-exempt income and not distribute any amounts of our undistributed tax-exempt income as dividend. Accordingly, no
deferred tax liabilities have been provided on income attributable to our Approved and Beneficiary Enterprise Programs as the undistributed tax exempt income is essentially permanent in duration.
The entitlement to the above benefits is conditional upon our fulfilling the conditions stipulated by the law and the regulations published there under as well as the criteria
set forth in the approval for the specific investments in Approved Enterprises. In the event of failure to meet such requirements in the future, income attributable to our Programs could be subject to the statutory Israeli corporate tax rates and
we could be required to refund a portion of the tax benefits already received, with respect to such Programs. Our management believes that we have met the aforementioned conditions.
Foreign Currency Fluctuation
See Item 3.D – “Risk Factors – Risk Factors Related to Our
Business and Our Markets – Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may result in additional expenses being recorded or in the prices of our products becoming less competitive and thus may have negative impact on our profitability” above.
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses.
We believe that intensive R&D is essential to our business. We devote substantial R&D resources to developing new products and to improving our existing products to meet
our customers’ evolving needs. We have dedicated teams with expertise in image processing software and algorithms, electronic hardware, electro‑optics, physics, mechanics and systems design.
Our R&D efforts are primarily focused on:
|
•
|
improving our defect detection capabilities while reducing the number of false alarms, simplifying operation and reducing the level of user expertise required to realize the benefits of our systems;
|
|
•
|
increasing the throughput of our Inspection and Metrology systems;
|
|
•
|
providing unique technological solutions to our customers; and
|
|
•
|
adding capabilities to expand our market segments.
|
In addition, we are focusing our efforts on leveraging our core technologies, expertise and experience into continually enhancing the value to the user and the return on
investment from our products. We believe that our internal multi‑disciplinary expertise will enable us to maintain and enhance our technological edge.
As of December 31, 2019, we had 77 employees engaged in R&D, all of whom are based in our headquarters in Israel. We also use subcontractors for the development of some of
the hardware components of our systems. Our R&D expenses were $16.3 million and $14.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, representing 12.2% and 11.8% of the total revenues for the years then ended.
We will continue to devote our R&D resources to maintaining and extending our technology leadership position.
Our R&D costs are expensed as incurred.
In general, we rely on a combination of our copyrights, trade secrets, patents, trademarks and non-disclosure agreements to protect our proprietary know-how and intellectual
property. We also enter into confidentiality agreements with key employees and with all of the subcontractors who develop and manufacture components for use in our products. We also employ specialists whose main role is to maintain and protect our
intellectual property from both professional and legal perspectives. We cannot be certain that actions we take to protect our proprietary rights will be adequate nor can we be certain that we will be able to deter reverse engineering or that there
will not be independent third-party development of our technology.
We have [55] pending patents worldwide and [1] U.S. provisional applications. In addition, we have [98] registered patents worldwide. These patents relate to our proprietary
technology and know-how developed for Inspection and Metrology and Functional Inkjet Technology tools. We also have one registered trademark in Israel.
D. Trend Information
Currently, there is uncertainty regarding the outlook for 2020 and beyond, as the available forecasts were provided prior to the global outbreak of the Coronavirus. See "Item 3D. Risk Factors" above. The semiconductor industry has historically been cyclical and highly influenced by weakness or uncertainties in global economic conditions. Gartner Inc. (“Gartner”), had forecasted the world GDP to grow by 2.4% in 2020 compared to an estimated increase of 2.5% in 2019. 2019 and 2018 were characterized by growth of the semiconductor industry and increased capital
expenditure spending by the major manufacturers and OSAT companies. Gartner had forecasted semiconductor revenues to increase by 12.5% in 2020, compared to a decrease of 11.9% in 2019. According to several research reports, key drivers for future
demand in the semiconductor industry include mobile devices, data centers infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, smart sensors, internet-of-things and other electronic equipment. See "Item 3D. Risk Factors" in this
annual report on Form 20-F. For specific trend information regarding the markets in which we operate see Item 4.B - “Business Overview - Our Markets” above.
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.
We do not have any arrangements or relationships with entities that are not consolidated into our financial statements and are reasonably likely to materially affect our
liquidity or the availability of our capital resources. However, we have entered into various non-cancelable operating lease agreements, principally for office space and vehicles, as disclosed in our consolidated financial statements.
As of December 31, 2019, minimum future rental payments under such non-cancelable operating lease agreements were approximately $1.8 million.
F. Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments.
As of December 31, 2019, we had contractual obligations and commercial commitments of:
|
|
|
Payment Due by Period
|
|
|
Contractual Obligations
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less than 1
Year
|
|
|
1‑3 years
|
|
|
3‑5 years
|
|
|
More than 5
years
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Purchase obligations (1)
|
|
|
11,812
|
|
|
|
11,812
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Severance obligation
|
|
|
1,015
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,015
|
|
|
Other long‑term obligations (2)
|
|
|
1,752
|
|
|
|
971
|
|
|
|
781
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
14,579
|
|
|
|
12,783
|
|
|
|
781
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,015
|
|
|
(1)
|
Purchase obligations mainly represent outstanding purchase commitments for inventory components ordered in the normal course of business.
|
|
(2)
|
In 2015, we entered into a new framework agreement for non-cancelable operating leases for vehicles for a period of 36 months. As of December 31, 2019, the minimum future rental payments (including future vehicle rental by our
subsidiaries) were approximately $1.2 million.
|
Our subsidiaries have entered into various operating lease agreements, principally for office space. As of December 31, 2019, minimum future
rental payments under these leases amounted to $0.6 million.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Key Employees
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table lists the name, age and position of each of our current directors and senior management:
|
Name
|
Age
|
Title
|
|
Rafi Amit
|
71
|
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors*
|
|
Yotam Stern
|
67
|
Director
|
|
Leo Huang
|
68
|
Director
|
|
I-Shih Tseng
|
58
|
Director
|
|
Yael Andorn
|
49
|
Director**
|
|
Yosi Shacham-Diamand
|
66
|
Director**
|
|
Moty Ben-Arie
|
65
|
Director
|
|
Moshe Eisenberg
|
53
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Ramy Langer
|
66
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
Orit Geva Dvash
|
48
|
Vice President - Human Resources
|
* Rafi Amit serves as our Chairman of our Board of Directors as of June 3, 2019. The approval of Mr. Amit’s appointment, while continuing to assume CEO’s responsibilities, was obtained in the 2019
annual general meeting of shareholders, dated June 3, 2019 (the “2019 AGM”).
** Ms. Yael Andorn and Prof. Yosi Shacham-Diamand have served as our external directors as such term is defined under the Companies Law, since October 2018.
Set forth below is a biographical summary of each of the above-named directors and senior management.
Rafi Amit has served as our Chief Executive Officer since January 2014, and as our Chairman of the Board of Directors since the 2019 AGM.
Between 2010 and March 2017, Mr. Amit also served as our Active Chairman of the Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. Amit served as our Chief Executive Officer from January 1998 until August 2010 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1987
until April 2009. Since 1981, Mr. Amit has also served as the President and director of Priortech and has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Priortech since 1988. From 1981 until 2004, Mr. Amit served as Priortech’s Chief Executive
Officer. Mr. Amit also serves as a Director of PCB Technologies, our affiliate and Priortech’s associated company. Mr. Amit holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management from Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
Yotam Stern has served on our Board of Directors since 1987. From May 2009 until August 2010, Mr. Stern served as the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and from 2001 until 2012, Mr. Stern served as our Executive Vice President, Business & Strategy. From 1998 until 2001, Mr. Stern served as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Stern served in the past as the Chief Financial
Officer of Priortech and has been serving as a director of Priortech since 1985 and as its Chief Executive Officer since 2004. Mr. Stern also serves as a Director of PCB Technologies. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Hebrew University of
Jerusalem.
Leo Huang has served on our Board of Directors as a representative of Chroma since June 3, 2019. Mr. Huang co-founded
Chroma in 1984 and has been serving as chairman of the board of directors of Chroma since October 23, 1984. Mr. Huang was the QA Engineer of TIMEX Corp. from 1975 to 1977 and served as the Sales Manager of Philips Electronics Industries (Taiwan)
Ltd. from 1978 to 1984. Mr. Huang holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from National Chiao Tung University.
I-Shih Tseng has served on our Board of Directors as a representative of Chroma since June 3, 2019. Mr. Tseng joined
Chroma in 1998, serving as a director since June 6, 2012 and as Business Unit President of Chroma since July 1, 2007. Mr. Tseng was a Research Assistant at Pennsylvania State University from 1986 to 1992 and served as the Project Manager of
Institute for Information Industry from 1992 to 1998. Mr. Tseng holds a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
Yael Andorn has served on our Board of Directors since October 3, 2018 and she is currently the Chairperson of our Audit Committee. Ms.
Andorn is the founder and CEO of CapitalA, and serves on the Boards of Directors of Israeli public companies such as El-Al Airlines and Castro. Ms. Andorn previously served on private and public boards, including Midroog-Moody’s Rating, Oil
Refineries (Bazan), Retalix, The National Lottery, Clal Health Insurance and Clal Credit Insurance, and as head of the Investment Committee of the Teacher’s Saving Fund. Ms. Andorn served as director general of Israel’s Ministry of Finance
between 2013 and 2015 and as Partner at Viola Credit between 2012 and 2013. Between 2005 and 2011, Ms. Andorn served as CEO at Amitim and also served on the investment committee. Ms. Andorn held several positions at Israel’s Ministry of Finance
Budget Department, Bank of Israel and IDF 8200 Intelligence Unit. Ms. Andorn holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Master in Business Administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Yosi Shacham-Diamand has served on our Board of Directors since October 3, 2018. Since 2001, Prof. Shacham-Diamand serves as The Bernard L. Schwartz Academic
Chair for nanoscale information technologies in the Department of Electrical Engineering - Physical Electronics, and in the Department of Material Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University (TAU). Prof. Shacham-Diamand
currently serves on the advisory board of CartaSense Ltd. and SolChip Ltd., and previously served as a consultant to numerous manufacturing companies such as Zoran Inc., Intel Inc., Applied Materials Inc., Nova Instruments Inc., as well as to
numerous investment and holding companies in Israel and abroad. Prof. Shacham-Diamand previously served on the board of directors of PCB Ltd. (today, Priortech Ltd.) and “RAMOT” by Tel Aviv University. Since 2019 he is an endowed chair processor
at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TiET), Patiala, Punjab, India and the international director of the Tel-Aviv University/TiET Food Security Center of Excellence. Since 2018, Prof. Shacham-Diamand serves as a visiting professor
at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, The Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy. Since 2012, serves as a distinguished international Chair Professor in Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Since 2014 he is serving as a
visiting professor at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. During 2014 - 2018, Prof Shacham-Diamand served as a member of the MAGNET committee, Ministry of Trade and Industry. Prof. Shacham-Diamand holds a D.Sc. EE, M.Sc. EE, and B.Sc. EE (Summa-cum
Laude), all from the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, and also completed postdoctoral research at U.C. Berkeley, CA, USA.
Moty Ben-Arie has served on our Board of Directors since March 28, 2017. From March 2017 until the 2019 AGM, Mr. Ben-Arie served as the
Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Ben-Arie is the co-founder and serves as the Chairman of the board of directors of Invisicare Ltd. Mr. Ben-Arie has served as a consultant to entrepreneurs and investors since 2014. Previously, Mr. Ben-Arie
served as the CEO of Sital Technology from 2012 until 2014. From 2006 until 2011, Mr. Ben-Arie also served as a managing partner of Vertex Ventures, where he focused on investments in Israeli-related hi-tech companies and evaluation of companies in
the field of telecommunication, IT, test equipment, medical equipment and multidisciplinary systems. During these years, Mr. Ben-Arie served as a member of the fund investment committee, managed investments in several companies and served as a
board member in companies in their early stages, including Color Chip Inc., Multiphi, Expand Networks, Comability and Ethos Networks. From 2000 until 2006, Mr. Ben-Arie also served as a partner of Walden Israel Ventures, where he focused on
investments in Israeli-related hi-tech companies. During these years, Mr. Ben-Arie managed investments in several companies and served as a board member in companies from early stage, including Color Chip Inc. and Passave. From 1998 until 2000, Mr.
Ben-Arie served as a director in Radcom Ltd., as a consultant in Walden Israel, and financed seed phases for new startups. From 1991 until 1998, Mr. Ben-Arie served as the co-founder and CEO of Radcom Ltd., Israel. From 1978 until 1982, Mr.
Ben-Arie served as an electronic engineer and a project manager in Elisra Ltd. Mr. Ben-Arie holds a MBA from Tel Aviv University, and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.
Moshe Eisenberg has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2011. From 2010 to 2011, Mr. Eisenberg served as the Chief
Financial Officer of Exlibris, a global provider of library automation solution for the academic market. Prior to that, from 2005 to 2009, Mr. Eisenberg served as the Chief Financial Officer of Scopus Video Networks Ltd., a leading provider of
digital compression, decoding & video processing equipment. Prior to that, Mr. Eisenberg held various professional and managerial positions at Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and its wholly owned US subsidiary, Spacenet Inc. Mr. Eisenberg holds
an MBA from Tel Aviv University and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Ramy Langer has served as our Chief Operating Officer since November 2017, following the consummation of the PCB Sale Transaction. Prior
to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer he served as Vice President - Semiconductors Division from February 2014. From 2007 until 2012, Mr. Langer served as the Chief Executive Officer (and co-founder) of Infinite Memory Ltd., a fab-less
developer of products based on Saifun Semiconductors Ltd.’s technology. From 2005 until 2007, Mr. Langer served as Vice President- Business Development of Saifun, where he marketed non-volatile memory IP. From 2002 until 2005, Mr. Langer served as
Managing Director of Infineon Flash, a fab-less developer of products based on Saifun’s technology using Infineon DRAM process. From 1999 until 2002, Mr. Langer served as Vice President- Marketing & Sales of Tower Semiconductors Ltd.,
manufacturer of integrated circuits. Prior to that, Mr. Langer held various executive positions at Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc., a leading global semiconductor assembly equipment manufacturer. Mr. Langer holds a B.Sc. in Electronic
Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and a M.Sc. in Electronic Engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia.
Orit Geva Dvash has served as our VP Human Resources (“HR”) since November 2017. Previously,
since 2014, Ms. Geva Dvash served as our HR Director. From 2008 to 2014, Ms. Geva Dvash served as our HR manager. From 2002 to 2008, Ms. Geva Dvash served at various HR positions at IBM research lab. Ms. Geva Dvash holds a Masters in political
science from Haifa University and B.A. in political science and English literature from Haifa University.
Arrangements Involving Directors and Senior Management
In accordance with the terms of the Chroma Voting Agreement, at the 2019 AGM Mr. Leo Huang and Mr. I-Shih Tseng were appointed for service as our directors (see Item 4.A. – “History and Development of the Company”).
Except for the Chroma Voting Agreement, there are no arrangements or understandings of which we are aware relating to the election of our directors or the appointment of
executive officers in our Company. In addition, there are no family relationships among any of the individuals listed in this Section A (Directors and Senior Management).
B. Compensation
Aggregate Executive Compensation
The aggregate remuneration paid by us for the year ended December 31, 2019 to all persons listed in Section A (Directors and Senior Management) above, and other directors who
served as such during the year 2019 and have terminated their service with us, was approximately $2,843,991. This sum includes $181,057 paid to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits, amounts expended by us for automobiles made available
to all our executive officers, and other fringe benefits commonly reimbursed or paid by companies in Israel.
We have a performance-based bonus plan which includes our executive officers. The plan is based on our overall performance, and individual performance. Up to 50% of the
performance objectives of our executive officers may be qualitative, provided that with respect to our Chief Executive Officer such portion shall not exceed three monthly base salaries. The measureable performance objectives can change year over
year, and are a combination of financial parameters, such as revenues, booking, operating or net income and collection. The plan for our executive officers is reviewed and approved annually by our Audit Committee (in its capacity as our
Compensation Committee) and Board of Directors, as is any bonus payment to an executive officer made under such plan (provided that with respect to the bonus plan for our CEO we also obtain shareholder approval – see in Item 6.B - “Compensation – Employment Agreements” below).
We compensate our independent directors for serving on our board of directors by payment of cash fees in accordance with regulations promulgated under the Companies Law
concerning the remuneration of external directors (the “Remuneration Regulations”), reimbursement for expenses and the award of share options or restricted stock units (“RSUs”).
Messrs. Rafi Amit and Yotam Stern, as well as Chroma’s representatives on our Board, do not receive compensation for their service as our directors. See Item 6.C “Board Practices - Remuneration
of Directors” below.
Individual Compensation of Covered Office Holders
The table below presents the compensation granted to our five most highly compensated Office Holders (as such term is defined in the Companies Law; see Item 6.C - “Board Practices – External Directors – Qualification” below) during
or with respect to the year ended December 31, 2019. We refer to the five individuals for whom disclosure is provided herein as our “Covered Office Holders”. All amounts specified below are in terms of cost to the Company, as recorded in our
financial statements.
|
Name and Principal Position(1)
|
Salary Cost (USD) (2)
|
Bonus (USD) (3)
|
Equity-Based Compensation (USD) (4)(5)
|
Other (USD) (6)
|
Total (USD)
|
|
Rafi Amit – Chief Executive Officer
|
313,134
|
352,125
|
360,146 (-)
|
106,733
|
1,132,138
|
|
Ramy Langer - Chief Operating Officer
|
267,213
|
94,118
|
268,735 (191,334)
|
-
|
630,066
|
|
Moshe Eisenberg - Chief Financial Officer
|
275,440
|
94,118
|
273,806 (191,334)
|
-
|
643,364
|
|
Orit Geva-Dvash - Vice President, Human Resources
|
160,806
|
41,727
|
129,601 (124,410)
|
-
|
332,134
|
|
Yael Andorn – Director, Chairwoman of the Audit Committee
|
-
|
-
|
|
32,613
|
39,676
|
|
Total
|
1,016,593
|
582,088
|
1,031,564
|
139,346
|
2,769,591
|
|
(1)
|
All Covered Office Holders are employed on a full-time (100%) basis, except for Mr. Amit who dedicates 90% of his time to his role as our Chief Executive Officer and except for Ms. Yael Andorn who serves as an external director in
the Company’s Board of Directors.
|
|
(2)
|
Salary cost includes the Covered Office Holder’s gross salary plus payment of social benefits made by the Company on behalf of such Covered Office Holder. Such benefits may include, to the extent applicable to the Covered Office
Holder, payment, contributions and/or allocations for saving funds (e.g. Managers’ Life Insurance Policy), education funds (referred to in Hebrew as “Keren Hishtalmut”), pension, severance, risk
insurances (e.g. life, or work disability insurance), payments for social security and tax gross-up payments, vacation, car, medical insurance and benefits, phone, convalescence or recreation pay, and other benefits and perquisites
consistent with the Company’s policies.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents annual bonuses paid in accordance with the Covered Office Holder’s performance of targets as set forth in his or her bonus plan and approved by the Company’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors and/ or any special
one-time bonuses as approved by the Company’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors in accordance with the Company’s Compensation Policy.
|
|
(4)
|
Bracketed numbers represent the fair value on the grant date of equity based compensation granted to the Covered Office Holder during the year ended December 31, 2019.
|
|
(5)
|
Represents the equity based compensation expenses recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 for each Covered Office Holder, based on the options’ fair value on the grant date,
calculated in accordance with accounting guidance for equity-based compensation.
|
|
(6)
|
Includes relocation expenses which may consist of, to the extent applicable to the Covered Office Holder: housing, schooling, car, medical insurance and travel expenses for the Covered Office Holder and family members residing with
him abroad.
|
Employment Agreements
We maintain written employment agreements with our employees, including all of our executive officers, that contain customary provisions, including non-compete and
confidentiality agreements.
Effective May 26, 2015, we entered into an amended employment agreement with Mr. Amit, Chief Executive Officer and our Chairman of the Board of Directors. Under his amended
employment agreement, Mr. Amit spends 90% of his time in service as our CEO, and his compensation includes: (i) an annual base salary in the amount of $313,134; and (ii) an annual performance-based bonus. In the annual general meeting of
shareholders held in June 2018 (the “2018 AGM”), our shareholders approved a three-year Cash Bonus Plan for Mr. Amit, for the years 2018-2020. According to such bonus plan, Mr. Amit’s annual on target cash
bonus for each of these years shall be equal to nine monthly base salaries, conditioned upon his performance in each of these years measured against criteria pre-determined by our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors, with respect to the
applicable year. Also, in 2019, Mr. Amit received a cash bonus for the year 2018, in the sum of $352,125.
Further, Mr. Amit’s amended agreement contains confidentiality provisions for the term of Mr. Amit’s services and thereafter, and non-compete provisions for the term of
Mr. Amit’s service and for a six month period after the termination of his service. It provides that all intellectual property developed by Mr. Amit, or in which he took part, during or in connection with his services, is our sole property. It may
be terminated by the Company at any time, by written notice of termination delivered to Mr. Amit six months in advance. We may, however, immediately terminate the engagement of Mr. Amit in various circumstances, including a breach of fiduciary
duty.
As Mr. Amit may be deemed, together with the Priortech Founding Members and Chroma, to control the Company (see Item 3.D - “Risk
Factors- Our principal shareholders, Priortech and Chroma, hold a controlling interest in us and will be able to exercise their control in ways that may be adverse to your interests. Our relationship with Priortech and Chroma may give rise to a conflict of
interests” above), in accordance with the Companies Law, his term of employment must be approved by the Company’s shareholders at least once every three years, and, accordingly, was last re-approved at the 2018 AGM. Mr. Amit does not
receive any compensation in respect of his service as a member of our Board of Directors.
C. Board Practices
Corporate Governance Practices
We are incorporated in Israel and therefore are subject to various corporate governance practices under the Companies Law, relating to matters
such as external directors, audit and compensation committees, internal auditor and approvals of interested parties transactions. These matters are in addition to the Nasdaq Rules and other relevant
provisions of U.S. securities laws. Under applicable Nasdaq Rules, a foreign private issuer such as us may generally follow its home country rules of corporate governance in lieu of comparable Nasdaq Rules, except for certain matters such as
composition and responsibilities of the audit committee and the independence of its members. See Item 3.D – “Risk Factors - Being a foreign private issuer exempts us from certain SEC Requirements and Nasdaq Rules, which may result in less protection that is afforded to investors under rules applicable to domestic issuers” above. For information regarding home country rules followed by us see Item 16G –”Corporate Governance” below.
General Board Practices
Our Articles provide that our Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five and not more than ten directors, including the external directors. Currently, our board
consists of seven members. At our 2019 AGM, each of Messrs. Rafi Amit, Yotam Stern and Moty Ben-Arie were re-appointed for service as our directors, and, following the completion of the Chroma Transaction, Messrs. Leo Huang and I-Shih Tseng were
first appointed to serve as our directors. All directors were appointed following the recommendation by the Company’s Nomination Committee, and each of them is serving an approximately one-year term, which is due to expire at our 2020 annual
general meeting of shareholders. In addition, following the recommendation of our Nomination Committee and Board of Directors, our shareholders approved, at our 2018 AGM, the appointment of Ms. Yael Andorn and Prof. Yosi Shacham-Diamand as external
directors in accordance with the Companies Law, for a term of three years each.
According to the Chroma Voting Agreement (see Item 4.A. – “History and Development of the Company”), Chroma is entitled to nominate individuals for two seats on the Company’s seven member Board and Priortech is entitled to nominate three members. The remaining seats are held by two external directors.
In accordance with the Companies Law, our Board of Directors retains all the powers in managing our Company that are not specifically granted to the shareholders. For example,
the Board may make decisions to borrow money for the Company, and may set aside reserves out of our profits, for whatever purposes it sees fit.
The Board of Directors may pass a resolution when a quorum is present (in person or via telecommunication), and by a vote of at least a majority of the directors present when the
resolution is put to vote. A quorum is defined as at least a majority of the directors then in office who are lawfully entitled to participate in the meeting but not less than two directors. The Chairman of the Board is elected and removed by the
Board members. Minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors are recorded and kept at our offices. In addition, the Board of Directors may pass a resolution by way of a written resolution signed by all members of our Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, appoint a committee of the Board and delegate to such committee all or any of the powers of the Board,
as it deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Board may, at any time, amend, restate or cancel the delegation of any of its powers to any of its committees. Our Board of Directors has
appointed an Audit Committee, also serving as a Compensation Committee, and a Nomination Committee. For information regarding the duties, responsibilities and composition of each of our committees, see Item 6.C – “Board Practices - Committees of the Board of Directors” below.
Our Articles provide that any director may appoint as an alternate director, by written notice to us or to the Chairman of the Board, any individual who is qualified to serve as
director and who is not then serving as a director or alternate director for any other director. An alternate director has all of the rights and obligations of a director, excluding the right to appoint an alternate for himself. Currently no
alternate directors serve on our board.
Election, Terms and Skills of Directors
Directors, other than external directors, are elected by a resolution of the shareholders at the annual general meeting and serve until the conclusion of the next annual general
meeting of the shareholders, unless earlier terminated in the event of such director’s death, resignation, bankruptcy, incapacity or removal by a resolution of the shareholders.
According to the Companies Law, a person who does not possess the skills required and the ability to devote the appropriate time to the performance of the office of director in a
company, taking into consideration, among other things, the special requirements and size of that company, shall neither be appointed as a director nor serve as a director in a public company. A public company shall not summon a general meeting the
agenda of which includes the appointment of a director, and a director shall not be appointed, unless the candidate has submitted a declaration that he or she possesses the skills required and the ability to devote the appropriate time to the
performance of the office of director in the company, that sets forth the aforementioned skills and further states that the limitations set forth in the Companies Law regarding the appointment of a director do not apply in respect of such
candidate.
A director who ceases to possess any qualification required under the Companies Law for holding the office of director or who becomes subject to any ground for termination of
his/her office must inform the company immediately and his/her office shall terminate upon such notice.
Independent Directors
Under the Nasdaq Rules, a majority of our directors is required to be independent. The independence standard under the Nasdaq Rules excludes, among others, any person who is: (i)
a current or former (at any time during the past three years) employee of a company or its affiliates; or (ii) an immediate family member of an executive officer (at any time during the past three years) of a company or its affiliates. Three of our
seven members of the Board - Ms. Yael Andorn and Messrs. Yosi Shacham-Diamand and Moty Ben Arie - qualify as independent directors under the Nasdaq Rules.
External Directors
Under the Companies Law, we are required to appoint at least two external directors. Each committee of a company’s board of directors which is authorized to exercise the board of
directors’ authorities is required to include at least one external director, except for the audit committee and the compensation committee, which are required to include all of the external directors.
Qualification. To qualify as an external director, an individual or his or her relative,
partner, employer, any person to whom such person is directly or indirectly subject to, or any entity under his or her control may not have, as of the date of appointment, or may not have had during the previous two years, any affiliation with the
company, any entity controlling the company on the date of the appointment or with any entity controlled, at the date of the appointment or during the previous two years, by the company or by its controlling shareholder (and in a company that does
not have a shareholder or an affiliated group of shareholders holding 25% or more of the company’s voting rights, such person may not have any affiliation with any person who, at the time of appointment, is the chairman, the chief executive
officer, the chief financial officer or a 5% shareholder of the company). In general, the term “affiliation” includes: an employment relationship, a business or professional relationship maintained on a regular basis, control and service as an
Office Holder; “Control” is defined in the Israeli Securities Law as the ability to direct the actions of a company but excluding a power that is solely derived from a position as a director of the company or
any other position with the company; a person who is holding 50% or more of the “controlling power” in the company – voting rights or the right to appoint a director or a general manager – is automatically considered to possess control. The
Companies Law defines the term “Office Holder” of a company to include a director, the chief executive officer, an executive vice president, a vice president, any other person fulfilling or assuming any of
the foregoing positions without regard to such person’s title, and any manager who is directly subordinated to the chief executive officer.
In addition, no person can serve as an external director if the person’s position or other business creates, or may create conflicts of interest with the person’s
responsibilities as an external director or may otherwise interfere with the person’s ability to serve as an external director. Until the lapse of two years from termination of office, a company or its controlling shareholder may not give any
direct or indirect benefit to a former external director.
Election and Term of External Directors. External directors are elected by a majority
vote at a shareholders’ general meeting, provided that either:
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a majority of the shares voted at the meeting, which are not held by controlling shareholders or shareholders with personal interest in approving the appointment (excluding personal interest not resulting from contacts with the
controlling shareholder), not taking into account any abstentions, vote in favor of the election; or
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a vote in which the total number of shares voting against the election of the external director, does not exceed two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company.
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In a company in which, at the date of appointment of an external director, all the directors are of the same gender, the external director to be appointed shall be of the other
gender.
An external director can be removed from office only by: (i) the same majority of shareholders that is required to elect an external director; or (b) a court, and provided that
either (a) the external director ceases to meet the statutory qualifications with respect to his or her appointment, or (b) the external director violates his or her duty of loyalty to the company. The court may also remove an external director
from office if he or she is unable to perform his or her duties on a regular basis.
An external director who ceases to possess any qualification required under the Companies Law for holding the office of an external director must inform the company immediately
and his/her office shall terminate upon such notice.
In general, external directors serve a three-year term, which may then be extended for two additional three-year periods. Thereafter, in accordance with regulations promulgated
under the Companies Law, an external director may be appointed for additional terms of service of not more than three years each provided that: (a) a company’s audit committee, followed by the board of directors, have approved that considering the
expertise and special contribution of the external director to the work of the board of directors and its committees, the appointment for an additional term of service is beneficial to the company; (b) the appointment for an additional term of
service is approved in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Law; and (c) the prior periods of service of such external director, as well as the reasoning of the audit committee and board of directors for the approval of the extension
of the term of service, were presented to the shareholders prior to their approval.
Re-election of an external director may be effected through one of the following mechanisms:
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1.
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a shareholder holding one percent or more of a company’s voting rights proposed the re-election of the nominee;
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2.
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the board of directors proposed the re-election of the nominee and the election was approved by the shareholders by the majority required to appoint external directors for their initial term; or
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3.
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the external director who is up for renewal has proposed himself or herself for re-election.
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With respect to mechanisms 1 and 3 above, the re-election is required to fulfill all of the following terms: (i) to be approved by a majority of the votes cast by the
shareholders of the Company, excluding the votes of controlling shareholders and shareholders who have a personal interest in approving such nomination resulting from their relations with the controlling shareholders; (ii) to include votes cast in
favor of the re-election by such non-excluded shareholders constituting more than two percent of the voting rights in the Company; and (iii) the external director is not a related or competing shareholder or a relative of such a related or
competing shareholder, at the time of the appointment, and does not and did not have any affiliation with a related or competing shareholder, at the time of the appointment or within the two years preceding the appointment. A “related or competing
shareholder” is a shareholder proposing the re-appointment or a shareholder holding 5% or more of the outstanding shares or voting rights of the company, provided that at the time of the re-appointment, such shareholder, a controlling shareholder
thereof or a company controlled by such shareholder or by a controlling shareholder thereof, have business relationships with the Company or are competitors of the Company.
Financial and Accounting Expertise. Pursuant to the Companies Law and regulations
promulgated there under, (1) each external director must have either “accounting and financial expertise” or “professional qualifications” and (2) at least one of the external directors must have “accounting and financial expertise”. A director
with “accounting and financial expertise” is a director whose education, experience and skills qualifies him or her to be highly proficient in understanding business and accounting matters and to thoroughly understand the company’s financial
statements and to stimulate discussion regarding the manner in which financial data is presented. A director with “professional qualifications” is a person who meets any of the following criteria: (i) has an academic degree in economics, business
management, accounting, law, public administration; (ii) has a different academic degree or has completed higher education in an area relevant to the company’s business or which is relevant to his or her position; or (iii) has at least five years’
experience in any of the following, or has a total of five years’ experience in at least two of the following: (A) a senior position in the business management of a corporation with substantial business activities, (B) a senior public position or a
senior position in the public service, or (C) a senior position in the company’s main fields of business.
Compensation. An external director is entitled to compensation as provided in the Remuneration Regulations and is otherwise
prohibited from receiving any other compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Company. For more information, please see “Remuneration of Directors”
below.
Our External Directors. Ms. Yael Andorn and Prof. Yosi Shacham-Diamand were appointed as our external directors in the 2018 AGM,
for a three-year-term which will expire on October 2, 2021. Our Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Andorn has the “accounting and financial expertise” and that Mr. Shacham-Diamand has the “professional qualifications” required by the
Companies Law.
Remuneration of Directors
Generally, directors’ remuneration should be consistent with a company’s compensation policy for Office Holders (see “Compensation
Policy” below) and requires the approval of the compensation committee, the board of directors and the shareholders (in that order). Notwithstanding the above, in certain circumstances shareholder approval may be waived (see below) and,
under different circumstances, the compensation committee and the board of directors may approve an arrangement that deviates from the compensation policy, provided that such arrangement is approved by a special majority of the company’s
shareholders, including (i) at least a majority of the shareholders, present and voting (abstentions are disregarded), who are not controlling shareholders and who do not have a personal interest in the matter, or (ii) the non-controlling
shareholders and shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the matter who were present and voted against the matter hold two percent or less of the voting power of the Company.
According to the Remuneration Regulations, external directors are generally entitled to an annual fee, a participation fee for each meeting of the board of directors or any
committee of the board on which he or she serves as a member, and reimbursement of travel expenses for participation in a meeting which is held outside of the external director’s place of residence. The minimum, fixed and maximum amounts of the
annual and participation fees are set forth in the Remuneration Regulations, based on the classification of the company according to the amount of its capital. The remuneration of external directors must be made known to the candidate for such
office prior to his/her appointment and, subject to certain exceptions, will not be amended throughout the three-year period during which he or she is in office. A company may also compensate an external director in shares or rights to purchase
shares, other than convertible debentures which may be converted into shares, in addition to the annual and participation remuneration and the reimbursement of expenses, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Remuneration Regulations.
According to regulations promulgated under the Companies Law with respect to relief in approval of certain related party transactions (the “Relief
Regulations”), shareholders’ approval for directors’ compensation and employment arrangements is not required if both the Compensation Committee and the board of directors resolve that either (i) the directors’ compensation and employment
arrangements are solely for the benefit of the company or (ii) the remuneration to be paid to any such director does not exceed the maximum amounts set forth in the Remuneration Regulations. Further, according to the Relief Regulations,
shareholders’ approval for directors’ compensation and employment arrangements is not required if (i) both the Compensation Committee and the board of directors resolve that such terms (a) are not more beneficial than the former terms, or are
essentially the same in their effect; and (b) are in line with the company’s compensation policy; and (ii) such terms are brought for shareholder approval at the next general meeting of shareholders. Also, according to the Remuneration Regulations,
shareholder approval may be waived if the remuneration to be paid to the external directors is between the fixed and maximum amounts set forth in such regulations.
As consideration for their service as directors and their participation in each meeting of the Board or Board’s committees, we pay each of our external and independent directors (all Board members
except for Messrs. Amit, Stern, Huang and Tseng) a fixed annual fee, a fixed participation fee and reimbursement of expenses in the following amounts: NIS 70,000 (approximately $19,640) as annual fee, NIS 2,600 (approximately $729) as in-person
participation fee, NIS 1,560 (approximately $437) for conference call participation and NIS 1,300 (approximately $364) for written resolutions. As these amounts are in the range between the fixed amounts of the annual and participation fees, as
set forth in the Remuneration Regulations, based on the amount of the Company’s capital, and the maximum amounts of such fees as set forth in the Companies Regulations (Alleviation for Public Companies whose shares are Traded on the Stock
Exchange Outside of Israel), 2000 (the “Alleviation Regulations”), they are exempt from shareholder approval, in accordance with the Relief Regulations. The above-mentioned cash remuneration is in line
with the Company’s Executives & Directors Compensation Policy (the “Compensation Policy”), according to which each of the Company’s non-executive (and non-controlling) directors is entitled to receive
cash fees which include annual and participation fees.
Messrs. Amit, Stern, Huang and Tseng do not receive any payment with respect to their service as our directors.
At the 2018 AGM, as well as in previous years, we have granted RSUs and options (respectively) to our directors. See item 6.E – “Share Ownership – Share Incentive Plans” below. The following table sets forth the number of Ordinary Shares held by our directors, as of March 18, 2020, and the number
of options exercisable and RSUs vested as of March 18, 2020 and within 60 days from such date:
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Name of Director
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Number of Options Exercisable as of March 18, 2020 and within 60 days
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Number of RSU’s vested as of March 18, 2020 and within 60 days
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Number of Ordinary Shares held as of March 18, 2020
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Rafi Amit
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-
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-
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-
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Yotam Stern
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-
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-
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87,757
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Moty Ben- Arie
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-
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269
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1,345
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Yael Andorn
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-
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269
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1,345
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Yosi Shacham-Diamand
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-
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269
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1,345
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Leo Huang
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-
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-
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-
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I-Shih Tseng
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-
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-
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-
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The options were granted pursuant to our then in effect equity plan and in accordance with the grant terms included therein. The RSUs were granted pursuant to our Share
Incentive Plan (and Sub-Plan for Grantees Subject to Israeli Taxation) (the “2018 Plan”). For additional information regarding the main terms of the option and RSUs grants, please see item 6.E below – “Share Ownership – Share Incentive Plans”
Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee
SEC and Nasdaq Requirements. In accordance with the Exchange Act, rules of the SEC under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq Rules, we are
required to have an audit committee consisting of at least three directors, each of whom is (i) independent; (ii) does not receive any compensation from the Company (other than directors’ fees); (iii) is not an affiliated person of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries; (iv) has not participated in the preparation of the Company’s (or subsidiary’s) financial statements during the past three years; and (v) financially literate and one of whom has been determined by the board to be the audit
committee financial expert. The duties and responsibilities of the audit committee under the Nasdaq Rules include: (i) recommending the appointment of the Company’s independent auditor to the board of directors, determining its compensation and
overseeing the work performed by it; (ii) pre-approving all services of the independent auditor; (iii) overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements; and (iv) handling complaints relating to
accounting, internal controls and auditing matters.
We have adopted an audit committee charter as required by the Nasdaq Rules.
Companies Law Requirements. Under the Companies Law, the board of directors of any Israeli company whose shares are publicly traded
must appoint an audit committee, comprised of at least three directors including all of the external directors. In addition, the majority of the members must meet certain independence criteria and may not include: (i) the chairman of the board;
(ii) any controlling shareholder or a relative thereof; (iii) any director employed by or providing services or a regular basis to the Company, a controlling shareholder or a company owned by a controlling shareholder; or (iv) any director whose
main income is provided by a controlling shareholder (the “Non-Permitted Members”). The chairman of such audit committee must be an external director.
The duties and responsibilities of our audit committee under the Companies Law include (1) identification of irregularities and deficiencies in the management of our business, in
consultation with the internal auditor and our independent auditors, and suggesting appropriate courses of action to amend such irregularities; (2) reviewing and approval of certain transactions and actions of the Company, including the approval of
related party transactions, that require approval by the audit committee under the Companies Law; defining whether certain acts and transactions that involve conflicts of interest are material or not and whether transactions that involve conflict
of interests are material or not and whether transactions that involve interested parties are extraordinary or not, and to approve such transactions; (3) determining with respect to transactions with controlling shareholders, even if such are not
extraordinary transactions, a duty to conduct a competitive process, under the supervision of the committee or under the supervision of whomever designated by the committee and according to standards determined by the committee, or determining
other proceedings, prior to entering into such transactions, all in accordance with the type of transaction; (4) determining the method of approval of transactions which are not insignificant, including the types of transactions which shall require
approval of the committee; (5) recommending the appointment of the internal auditor and its compensation to the board of directors; (6) examining the performance of our internal auditor and whether he is provided with the required resources and
tools necessary for him to fulfill his role, considering, among others, the Company’s size and special needs; and (7) setting procedures for handling complaints made by Company’s employees in connection with management deficiencies and the
protection to be provided to such employees.
Non-Permitted Members shall not attend audit committee’s meetings or take part in its decisions, unless the chairman of the audit committee has determined that such person is
required for the presentation of a certain matter. Nevertheless, an employee who is not a controlling shareholder or a relative thereof may be present at the discussion part only, pursuant to the Committee’s request, and the Company’s legal counsel
and secretary, who are not controlling shareholders or relatives thereof, may be present during both discussion and decision making parts - pursuant to the Committee’s request.
The quorum for discussions and decisions shall be the majority of the members, provided that the majority of the members present meet the independence criteria set forth in the
Companies Law and at least one of them is an external director.
Our Audit Committee. The members of our Audit Committee are Ms. Yael Andorn and Messrs. Moty Ben Arie and Yosi Shacham-Diamand, all of
whom are independent directors in accordance with Nasdaq Rules and meet the independence criteria set forth in the Companies Law. Ms. Andorn is the Chairperson of our Audit Committee and qualifies as its audit committee financial expert.
Compensation Committee
Nasdaq Requirements. Under Nasdaq Rules, the compensation payable to our executive officers
must be determined or recommended to the board for determination either by a majority of the independent directors on the board, in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or by a compensation committee comprised solely of
independent directors, subject to certain exceptions.
Companies Law Requirements. According to the Companies Law, the board of directors of any Israeli company whose shares are publicly
traded, must appoint a compensation committee, comprised of at least three directors, including all of the external directors which shall be the majority of its members and one thereof must serve as the chairman of the committee. The remaining
members of the committee must satisfy the criteria for remuneration applicable to the external directors and qualified to serve as members of the audit committee pursuant to Companies Law requirements, as described above. However, an audit
committee that satisfies the requirements of the Companies Law regarding the composition of a compensation committee may be authorized to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the compensation committee.
Further, under the Companies Law, a compensation committee is responsible for: (i) making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to the approval of the
compensation policy (see below - “Compensation Policy”) and any extensions thereto; (ii) periodically reviewing the implementation of the compensation policy and providing the board of
directors with recommendations with respect to any amendments or updates thereto; (iii) reviewing and resolving whether or not to approve arrangements with respect to the terms of office and employment of Office Holders; and (iv) determining
whether or not to exempt a transaction with a candidate for chief executive officer, who is not affiliated with the Company or its controlling shareholder, from shareholder approval if subjection of such transaction to shareholder approval may
prevent its conclusion, and provided that the terms approved are consistent with the compensation policy.
The attendance and participation in meetings of the compensation committee are subject to the same limitations that apply to the Audit Committee. The quorum for discussions and
decisions shall be the majority of the members, provided that those members present are independent directors and at least one of them is an external director.
Our Compensation Committee. We follow the provisions of the Companies Law with respect to the composition and responsibilities of our
Compensation Committee. As all of the members of our Audit Committee meet the independence requirements for compensation committee members set forth in the Nasdaq Rule 5605(d)(2), as a foreign private issuer, we have elected, pursuant to Nasdaq
Rule 5615(a)(3), to follow Israeli practice, in lieu of compliance with the certain provisions of Nasdaq Rule 5605(d), which would require us to have a separate compensation committee. Pursuant to the Companies Law, allowing an audit committee that
satisfies the requirements of the Companies Law regarding the composition of a compensation committee, to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the compensation committee, our Board of Directors has authorized our Audit Committee to carry
out the duties and responsibilities of the compensation committee.
Nomination Committee
The Nasdaq Rules require that director nominees be selected or recommended for the board’s selection either by a nomination committee composed solely of independent directors or
by a majority of independent directors, in a vote in which only independent directors participate, subject to certain exceptions. In 2018 our Board of Directors appointed a Nomination Committee, comprised of our two external directors, Ms. Andorn
and Mr. Shacham-Diamand. Following such appointment, our Nomination Committee has assumed the responsibility for recommending to the Board nominees for election (including re-election) to the Company’s Board of Directors, in lieu of the
recommendation by our independent directors.
As approved by our Board of Directors and consistent with the requirements of the Nasdaq Rules, our Nomination Committee is responsible for: (i) identifying potential new
candidates for service on the Company’s Board of Directors, taking into account, inter alia, the candidate’s applicable experience, expertise and/or familiarity with the Company’s field of business, as well
as the candidate’s ethical character, independent judgment and industry reputation; (ii) conducting appropriate inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of potential candidates for service as directors; and (iii) reviewing and resolving
whether or not to approve arrangements with respect to such candidates .
Approval of Office Holders Terms of Employment
The terms of office and employment of Office Holders (other than directors and the chief executive officer) require the approval of the compensation committee and the board of
directors, provided such terms are in accordance with the company’s compensation policy. Shareholder approval is also required if the compensation of such officer is not in accordance with such policy. However, in special circumstances the
compensation committee and then the board of directors may nonetheless approve such compensation even if such compensation was not approved by the shareholders, following a further discussion and for detailed reasoning.
The terms of office and employment of directors, the chief executive officer or controlling shareholders (or a relative thereof), regardless of whether or not such terms conform
to the company’s compensation policy, should be approved by the compensation committee, the board of directors and the shareholders, by a special majority, except for: (a) approval of terms of office and employment of directors, which are
consistent with the company’s compensation policy, and require shareholder approval by a regular majority; or (b) approval of terms of office and employment of directors pursuant to certain reliefs provided for under the Remuneration Regulations
and/or the Relief Regulations, with respect to which shareholder approval is waived. Shareholder special majority should include (i) at least a majority of the shareholders who are not controlling shareholders and who do not have a personal
interest in the matter, present and voting (abstentions are disregarded), or (ii) the non-controlling shareholders and shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the matter who were present and voted against the matter hold two percent or
less of the voting power of the company (“Special Majority”). Notwithstanding the above, in special circumstances the compensation committee and then the board of directors may nonetheless approve
compensation for the chief executive officer, even if such compensation was not approved by the shareholders, following a further discussion and for detailed reasoning.
In addition, amendment of existing terms of office and employment of Office Holders who are not directors requires the approval of the compensation committee only, if the
compensation committee determines that the amendment is not material.
Compensation Policy
Under the Companies Law we are required to adopt a compensation policy, which sets forth company policy regarding the terms of office and employment of Office Holders, including
compensation, equity awards, severance and other benefits, exemption from liability and indemnification. Such compensation policy should take into account, among other things, providing proper incentives to directors and officers, management of
risks by the company, the officer’s contribution to achieving corporate objectives and increasing profits, and the function of the officer or director.
Our Compensation Policy is designed to balance between the importance of incentivizing Office Holders to reach personal targets and the need to assure that the overall
compensation meets our Company’s long-term strategic performance and financial objectives. The Compensation Policy provides our Compensation Committee and our Board of Directors with adequate measures and flexibility to tailor each of our Office
Holder’s compensation package based, among other matters, on geography, tasks, role, seniority and capability. Moreover, the Compensation Policy is intended to motivate our Office Holders to achieve ongoing targeted results in addition to a high
level business performance in the long term, without encouraging excessive risk taking.
The Compensation Policy and any amendments thereto must be approved by the board of directors, after considering the recommendations of the compensation committee, and by a
Special Majority of our shareholders. The Compensation Policy must be reviewed from time to time by the board, and must be re-approved or amended by the board of directors and the shareholders no less than every three years. If the Compensation
Policy is not approved by the shareholders, the compensation committee and the board of directors may nonetheless approve the policy, following further discussion of the matter and for detailed reasons.
Our Compensation Policy for Office Holders was originally approved by our shareholders at a special general meeting of shareholders held in October 2013, and was amended five
times since; in November 2014 our shareholders approved an increase of the maximum yearly equity value which may be granted to any of our Office Holders; in August 2015 our shareholders approved an amendment increasing the maximum annual salary
which may be granted to our Chief Executive Officer; in November 2016 our shareholders approved certain additional amendments to our Compensation Policy, mainly: (1) allowing the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to approve insignificant changes in
the terms of office and employment of executives (i.e., not exceeding 5% of the aggregate value of the total cash compensation for such calendar year) who are directly subordinated to him, without the need for Compensation Committee approval,
provided that such changes are in accordance with the Compensation Policy; (2) increasing the cap for the portion of the targets for annual bonuses of executives (other than our Chief Executive Officer) which may be based on non-measurable
criteria, up to 50%; and (3) with respect to our Chief Executive Officer – setting the cap for the portion of the targets for his annual bonuses which may be based on non-measurable criteria, at 50%, provided however, that such portion shall not
exceed three monthly salaries; in June 2018, our shareholders approved certain additional amendments to our Compensation Policy, as follows: (1) increasing the cap of the on target annual bonus of our Chief Executive Officer from six (6) monthly
base salaries to nine (9) monthly base salaries; (2) increasing the maximum amount of annual bonus payable to our Chief Executive Officer from nine (9) monthly base salaries to thirteen and a half (13.5) monthly base salaries; (3) increasing the
payment threshold for payment of annual bonuses to the Company’s Office Holders, from $2,000,000 to $4,500,000; (4) providing that the determination and caps on the remuneration of external directors shall be subject to and in accordance with all
applicable regulations under the Companies Law (rather than previous reference to Remuneration Regulations only); and (5) increasing the coverage and premiums caps with respect to our directors and officers liability insurance policy; and, in June
2019, (1) increasing the cap of the on target annual bonus of our executives (other than our Chief Executive Officer) from four (4) monthly base salaries to six (6) monthly base salaries; (2) increasing the maximum amount of annual bonus payable to
our executives (other than our Chief Executive Officer) from six (6) monthly base salaries to nine (9) monthly base salaries.
Approval of Certain Transactions with Related Parties
The Companies Law requires the approval of the audit committee or the compensation committee, thereafter the approval of the board of directors and in certain cases — the
approval of the shareholders, in order to effect specified actions and extraordinary transactions, such as the following:
|
•
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transactions with Office Holders and third parties - where an Office Holder has a personal interest in the transaction;
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|
•
|
employment terms of Office Holders; and
|
|
•
|
extraordinary transactions with controlling parties or with a third party where a controlling party has a personal interest in the transaction; or any transaction with the controlling shareholder or his relative regarding terms of
service (provided directly or indirectly, including through a company controlled by the controlling shareholder) and terms of employment (for a controlling shareholder who is not an Office Holder). A “relative” is defined in the
Companies Law as spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, descendant, spouse’s descendant, sibling or parent and the spouse of any of the foregoing.
|
Such extraordinary transactions with controlling shareholders require the approval of the audit committee, or the compensation committee, the board of directors and the majority
of the voting power of the shareholders present and voting at the general meeting of the company (not including abstentions), provided that either:
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•
|
the majority of the shares of shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction and who are present and voting, vote in favor; or
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|
•
|
shareholders who have no personal interest in the transaction who vote against the transaction do not represent more than two percent of the aggregate voting rights in the company.
|
Any shareholder participating in the vote on approval of an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder must inform the company prior to the voting whether or not he
or she has a personal interest in the approval of the transaction, and if he or she fails to do so, his or her vote will be disregarded.
Further, such extraordinary transactions, as well as any transactions with a controlling shareholder or his relative concerning terms of service or employment, need to be
re-approved no less than every three years provided however that with respect to certain such extraordinary transactions the audit committee may determine that a longer duration is reasonable given the circumstances related thereto and such
extended period has been approved by the shareholders.
In accordance with regulations promulgated under the Companies Law, certain defined types of extraordinary transactions between a public company and its controlling
shareholder(s) are exempt from the shareholder approval requirements.
In addition, the approval of the audit committee, followed by the approval of the board of directors and the shareholders, is required to effect a private placement of
securities, in which either: (i) 20% or more of the company’s outstanding share capital prior to the placement is offered, and the payment for which (in whole or in part) is not in cash, in tradable securities registered in a stock exchange or not
under market terms, and which will result in an increase of the holdings of a shareholder that holds 5% or more of the company’s outstanding share capital or voting rights or will cause any person to become, as a result of the issuance, a holder of
more than 5% of the company’s outstanding share capital or voting rights; or (ii) a person will become a controlling shareholder of the company.
A “controlling shareholder” is defined in the Israeli Securities Law and in the provisions governing related party transactions under the Companies Law as a person with the
ability to direct the actions of a company but excluding a person whose power derives solely from his or her position as a director of the company or any other position with the company, and with respect to approval of transactions with related
parties also as a person who holds 25% or more of the voting power in a public company, if no other shareholder owns more than 50% of the voting power in the company, and provided that two or more persons holding voting rights in the company, who
each have a personal interest in the approval of the same transaction, shall be deemed to be one holder for the evaluation of their holdings with respect to approval of transactions with related parties.
Compensation committee approval is required and thereafter, in most cases, the approval of the board of directors and in certain cases – the additional approval of the
shareholders, in order to approve the grant of an exemption from the responsibility for a breach of the duty of care towards the company, for the provision of insurance and for an undertaking to indemnify any Office Holder of the company; see below
under “Insurance, Indemnification and Exemption”.
Duties of Office Holders and Shareholders
Duties of Office Holders
Fiduciary Duties
The Companies Law imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on all Office Holders of a company, including directors and officers. The duty of care requires an Office Holder to
act with the level of care with which a reasonable Office Holder in the same position would have acted under the same circumstances. The duty of loyalty includes avoiding any conflict of interest between the Office Holder’s position in the company
and his personal affairs, any competition with the company, or exploiting any business opportunity of the company in order to receive personal advantage for himself or others. It also requires an Office Holder to reveal to the company any
information or documents relating to the company’s affairs which the Office Holder has received due to his position as an Office Holder.
The company may approve an action by an Office Holder from which the Office Holder would otherwise have to refrain due to its violation of the Office Holder’s duty of loyalty if:
(i) the Office Holder acts in good faith and the act or its approval does not cause harm to the company, and (ii) the Office Holder discloses the nature of his or her interest in the transaction to the company a reasonable time before the company’s
approval.
Each person listed in the table under “Directors and Senior Management” above is considered an Office Holder under the Companies Law (for definition of “Office Holder” under the
Companies Law see above under “External directors” – “Qualification”).
Disclosure of Personal Interests of an Office Holder
The Companies Law requires that an Office Holder of a company promptly disclose any personal interest that he or she may possess and all related material information and
documents known to him or her relating to any existing or proposed transaction by the company. If the transaction is an extraordinary transaction, the Office Holder must also disclose any personal interest held by the Office Holder’s spouse,
siblings, parents, grandparents, descendants, spouse’s siblings, parents and descendants and the spouses of any of these people, or any corporation in which the Office Holder: (i) holds at least 5% of the company’s outstanding share capital or
voting rights; (ii) is a director or general manager; or (iii) has the right to appoint at least one director or the general manager. An extraordinary transaction is defined as a transaction that is either (i) not in the ordinary course of
business; (ii) not on market terms; or (iii) likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability, assets or liabilities.
In the case of a transaction which is not an extraordinary transaction, after the Office Holder complies with the above disclosure requirements, only board approval is required
unless the articles of association of the company provide otherwise. The transaction must be for the benefit of the company. If a transaction is an extraordinary transaction, or with respect to terms of office and employment, then in addition to
any approval stipulated by the articles of association, it also must be approved by the company’s audit committee (or with respect to terms of office and employment, the compensation committee) and then by the board of directors, and, under certain
circumstances, by the shareholders of the company. A director who has a personal interest in a transaction, may be present if a majority of the members of the board of directors or the audit committee (or with respect to terms of office and
employment, the compensation committee), as the case may be, has a personal interest. If a majority of the board of directors has a personal interest, then shareholders’ approval is also required.
Duties of Shareholders
Under the Companies Law, a shareholder has a duty to act in good faith toward the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing his or her power in the company,
including, among other things, by voting in a general meeting of shareholders with respect to the following matters: (a) any amendment to the articles of association; (b) an increase of the company’s authorized share capital; (c) a merger; or (d)
approval of interested party transactions which require shareholders’ approval.
In addition, any controlling shareholder, any shareholder who knows that he or she possess power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote and any shareholder who, pursuant
to the provisions of a company’s articles of association, has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of an Office Holder in the company, is under a duty to act with fairness towards the company. The Companies Law does not describe the
substance of this duty but states that the remedies generally available upon a breach of contract will also apply in the event of a breach of the duty of fairness, taking into account such shareholder’s position.
Insurance, Indemnification and Exemption
Pursuant to the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law, the Israeli Securities Authority is authorized to impose administrative sanctions, including monetary fines, against
companies like ours and their officers and directors, for certain violations of the Israeli Securities Law (see in “Administrative Enforcement” below) or the Companies Law. The Companies
Law further provides that companies like ours may indemnify their officers and directors and purchase an insurance policy to cover certain liabilities, if provisions for that purpose are included in their articles of association.
Our Articles allow us to indemnify and insure our Office Holders to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Office Holders’ Exemption
Under the Companies Law, and provided that the company’s articles of association allow it to do so, an Israeli company may exempt in advance an Office Holder from his or her
liability to the company, in whole or in part, for a breach of his or her duty of care (except in connection with distributions). Exemption from liability for a breach of duty of loyalty is not allowed. Our Articles allow us to exempt our Office
Holders to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Office Holders’ Insurance
Our Articles provide that, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, we may enter into a contract for the insurance of all or part of the liability imposed on our Office
Holders in respect of an act performed by him or her in his or her capacity as an Office Holder, concerning the following:
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•
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a breach of his or her duty of care to us or to another person;
|
|
•
|
a breach of his or her duty of loyalty to us, provided that the Office Holder acted in good faith and had reasonable cause to assume that his or her act would not prejudice our interests; and
|
|
•
|
a financial liability imposed upon him or her in favor of another person.
|
Without derogating from the aforementioned, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law, we may also enter into a contract to insure an Office
Holder for expenses, including reasonable litigation expenses and legal fees, incurred by him or her in relation to an administrative proceeding instituted against such Office Holder or payment required to be made to an injured party pursuant to
certain provisions of the Israeli Securities Law.
Office Holder’s Indemnification
Our Articles provide that, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law, we may indemnify any of our Office Holders in respect of an obligation
or expense specified below, imposed on or incurred by the Office Holder in respect of an act performed in his capacity as an Office Holder, as follows:
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•
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a financial liability imposed on him or her in favor of another person by any judgment, including a settlement or an arbitration award approved by a court;
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|
•
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reasonable litigation expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the Office Holder as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against him by a competent authority which concluded without the filing of an
indictment against him and without the imposition of any financial liability in lieu of criminal proceedings, or which concluded without the filing of an indictment against him but with the imposition of a financial liability in lieu of
criminal proceedings concerning a criminal offense that does not require proof of criminal intent or in connection with a financial sanction (the phrases “proceeding concluded without the filing of an indictment” and “financial
liability in lieu of criminal proceeding” shall have the meaning ascribed to such phrases in section 260(a)(1a) of the Companies Law);
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•
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reasonable litigation expenses, including attorneys’ fees, expended by an Office Holder or charged to the Office Holder by a court, in a proceeding instituted against the Office Holder by the Company or on its behalf or by another
person, or in a criminal charge from which the Office Holder was acquitted, or in a criminal proceeding in which the Office Holder was convicted of an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent; and
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|
•
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expenses, including reasonable litigation expenses and legal fees, incurred by an Office Holder in relation to an administrative proceeding instituted against such Office Holder, or payment required to be made to an injured party,
pursuant to certain provisions of the Israeli Securities Law.
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The Company may undertake to indemnify an Office Holder as aforesaid, (a) prospectively, provided that, in respect of the first act (financial liability) the undertaking is
limited to events which in the opinion of the board of directors are foreseeable in light of the Company’s actual operations when the undertaking to indemnify is given, and to an amount or criteria set by the board of directors as reasonable under
the circumstances, and further provided that such events and amount or criteria are set forth in the undertaking to indemnify, and (b) retroactively; provided, however, that the total aggregate indemnification amount that the Company shall be
obligated to pay to all of its Office Holders, for all matters and circumstances described above, shall not exceed an amount equal to twenty five percent (25%) of the shareholders’ equity at the time of the indemnification.
Limitations on Insurance and Indemnification
The Companies Law provides that a company may not insure, exempt or indemnify an Office Holder for any breach of his or her liability arising from any of the following:
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•
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a breach by the Office Holder of his or her duty of loyalty, except that the company may enter into an insurance contract or indemnify an Office Holder if the Office Holder acted in good faith and had a reasonable basis to believe
that the act would not prejudice the company;
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|
•
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a breach by the Office Holder of his or her duty of care if such breach was intentional or reckless, but unless such breach was solely negligent;
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|
•
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any act or omission done with the intent to derive an illegal personal benefit; or
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|
•
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any fine, civil fine, financial sanction or monetary settlement in lieu of criminal proceedings imposed on such Office Holder.
|
Under the Companies Law, exemption and indemnification of, and procurement of insurance coverage for, our Office Holders, must be approved by our compensation committee and our
board of directors and, with respect to the CEO and to an Office Holder who is a director also by our shareholders. However, according to the Relief Regulations, shareholders’ approval for the procurement of directors’ insurance is not required if
the insurance policy is approved by our compensation committee and (i) the terms of such policy are within the framework for insurance coverage as approved by our shareholders and set forth in our compensation policy; (ii) the premium paid under
the insurance policy is at fair market value; and (iii) the insurance policy does not and may not have a substantial effect on the Company’s profitability, assets or obligations. Further, as our insurance coverage includes Office Holders who are
controlling shareholders, in accordance with the Relief Regulations, shareholders’ approval may be waived, if, in addition to the approval of the compensation committee as set forth above, our board of directors approves all such matters approved
by the compensation committee, and both organs approve that the terms of the insurance policy are identical with respect to all Office Holders, including the controlling shareholders.
Indemnification letters, covering exemption from, indemnification and insurance of those liabilities imposed under the Companies Law and the Israeli Securities Law discussed
above, were granted to each of our present Office Holders and were approved for future Office Holders. Hence, we indemnify our Office Holders to the fullest extent permitted under the Companies Law.
We currently hold directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy for the benefit of our Office Holders, including our directors. This policy was approved by our Compensation
Committee on January 1, 2020 and by our Board of Directors on January 2, 2020, and is effective until November 30, 2020.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling
persons, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Administrative Enforcement
The Israeli Securities Law includes an administrative enforcement procedure to be used by the Israeli Securities Authority, or ISA, to enhance the efficacy of enforcement in the
securities market in Israel. This administrative enforcement procedure may be applied to any company or person (including director, officer or shareholder of a company) performing any of the actions specifically designated as breaches of law under
the Securities Law. Furthermore, the Israeli Securities Law requires that the Chief Executive Officer of a company supervise and take all reasonable measures to prevent the company or any of its employees from breaching such law. The Chief
Executive Officer is presumed to have fulfilled such supervisory duty if the company adopts internal enforcement procedures designed to prevent such breaches, appoints a representative to supervise the implementation of such procedures and takes
measures to correct the breach and prevent its reoccurrence.
As detailed above, under the Israeli Securities Law, a company cannot obtain insurance against or indemnify a third party (including its officers and/or employees) for any
administrative procedure and/or monetary fine (other than for payment of damages to an injured party). The Israeli Securities Law permits insurance and/or indemnification for expenses related to an administrative procedure, such as reasonable legal
fees, provided that it is permitted under the company’s articles of association.
We have adopted and implemented an internal enforcement plan to reduce our exposure to potential breaches of the Companies Law and sections in the Israeli Securities Law, which
are applicable to us. Our Articles and letters of indemnification permit, among others, insurance and/or indemnification as contemplated under the Israeli Securities Law (see “Insurance,
Indemnification and Exemption” above).
Employees
The following table sets forth the number of our employees engaged in the specified activities at the end of each of the years 2019, 2018 and 2017:
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As of December 31,
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|
|
|
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2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Executive management
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
Sales support
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
72
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
Administration
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
Operations
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
322
|
|
|
|
295
|
|
|
|
274
|
|
The following table sets forth the number of our employees located in the following geographic regions at the end of each of the years 2019, 2018 and 2017:
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As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
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2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Israel
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
181
|
|
|
|
172
|
|
|
Abroad
|
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|
122
|
|
|
|
114
|
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
322
|
|
|
|
295
|
|
|
|
274
|
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With respect to our Israeli employees, no collective bargaining agreements apply to our employees. However, by virtue of extension
orders, certain provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Coordination Bureau of Economic Organizations, relating primarily to the length of the work day, minimum wages,
pension contributions, insurance for work-related accidents, procedures for dismissing employees, determination of severance pay and other conditions of employment - are applicable to our employees.
With respect to our (or any of our subsidiaries) Chinese employees, certain provisions of Chinese Labor Contract Law and Social Insurance
Law primarily govern the formation of employer-employee relations, termination of employment, severance pay, worker dispatch, part-time employment and social insurance.
We consider our relationship with our employees to be good, and we have never experienced a labor dispute, strike or work stoppage.
E. Share Ownership.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our outstanding ordinary shares by our directors and executive officers.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally means sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting or to dispose or direct the
disposition of any ordinary shares. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by them. The percentage of beneficial
ownership is based upon 38,671,825 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 18, 2020.
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Name
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|
Number of Ordinary Shares Owned(1)
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|
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Percentage of Total Outstanding Ordinary Shares
|
|
|
Priortech Ltd.
|
|
|
9,250,189
|
|
|
|
23.92
|
%
|
|
Chroma ATE Inc.
|
|
|
7,817,440
|
|
|
|
20.21
|
%
|
|
Yotam Stern(2)
|
|
|
87,757
|
|
|
|
0.23
|
%
|
|
Rafi Amit(3)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Leo Huang(4)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
I-Shih Tseng
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Moty Ben-Arie(5)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Yosi Shacham- Diamand(5)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Yael Andorn(5)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Moshe Eisenberg(5)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Ramy Langer(5)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
(1)
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Ordinary shares relating to options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days as of March 18, 2020, are deemed outstanding
for computing the percentage of the persons holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. As of the date of this Annual Report, the total number of options held by the persons
included in the above table that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days as of March 18, 2020, was 23,563.
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(2)
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Mr. Amit does not directly own any of our ordinary shares. In addition, as a result of a voting agreement relating to a majority of
Priortech’s voting equity, Mr. Amit may be deemed to control Priortech. As a result, Mr. Amit may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Company held by Priortech. Mr. Amit disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
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Mr. Stern directly owns 87,757 of our ordinary
shares. In addition, as a result of a voting agreement relating to a majority of Priortech’s voting equity, Mr. Stern may be deemed to control Priortech. As a result, Mr. Stern may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Company
held by Priortech. Mr. Stern disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
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|
|
|
|
|
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(4)
|
Mr. Huang does not directly own any of our ordinary shares. Based on information we received from Chroma Mr. Huang is considered a
controlling person with regard to Chroma, accordingly Mr. Huang may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Company held by Chroma. Mr. Huang disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
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|
|
|
|
|
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(5)
|
Holding less than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares (including options held by each such person which have vested or will vest
within 60 days as of March 18, 2020) and have therefore holding percentages have not been listed separately.
|
Share Incentive Plans
General
We currently maintain one active share incentive plan which is the 2018 Plan.
The 2018 Plan was adopted by the Company in April 2018 and replaced the Company’s previous equity plans - the 2014 Share Option Plan (the “2014
Plan”) and the 2007 Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “2007 Plan”).
The purpose and intent of the 2018 Plan is to advance, pursuant to the Compensation Plan, the interests of the Company by affording to selected employees, officers, directors, consultants
and other services providers of the Company and its affiliates an opportunity to acquire or increase its proprietary interest in the Company by the grant in their favor of options, restricted shares and RSUs (the “Awards”)
thus providing them with an additional incentive to become, and to remain, employed and/or engaged by the Company, encouraging their sense of proprietorship and stimulating their active interest in the success of the Company.
2018 Plan
General. As of December 31, 2019, 1,197,425 Awards were outstanding under the 2018 Plan.
Administration of the 2018 Plan. Our 2018 Plan is administered by our Board. Under the 2018 Plan, Awards may be granted to our officers,
directors, employees or consultants and those of our subsidiaries. The exercise price of options under the 2018 Plan is determined by our Board, and is generally set as the fair market value on the date of grant. The purchase price for each RSU and
restricted share is not more than the underlying share’s nominal value, unless otherwise determined by the Board. The vesting schedule of the Awards is also determined by the Board of Directors; generally the options vest over a four-year period,
with 25% of the options vest on each of the first and second anniversary of the vesting start date, and the remaining options vest on a monthly basis over the subsequent 24 months. The vesting of Awards may also be subject to performance
conditions, which shall be either in addition to or instead of the aforementioned time-based vesting. Each Award granted under the 2018 Plan is usually exercisable between its vesting time and up to seven years from the date of grant, subject to
certain early expiration provisions, such as in the event of termination of employment or engagement with the Company.
Future Awards to be granted by us to our employees, officers, directors and consultants, or those of our affiliates, will only be made pursuant to the 2018 Plan.
Previous Plans
As of December 31, 2019, (i) under our old 2003 Share Option Plan there were options exercisable and vested for 95,315 ordinary shares at a weighted average exercise price of
$3.41 per share; (ii) under the 2014 Plan there were options exercisable and vested for 129,795 ordinary shares at a weighted average exercise price of $2.83, and unvested options exercisable for 84,682 ordinary shares at a weighted average
exercise price of $3.77; and (iii) under the 2007 Plan there are unvested RSUs that cover 35,977 ordinary shares.
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.
A. Major Shareholders.
The following table provides information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of March 18, 2020, held by each person or entity who beneficially owns more
than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares. None of these shareholders has different voting rights than any of the Company’s other shareholders.
Beneficial Ownership
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally means sole or shared power to vote or direct the voting or to dispose or direct the
disposition of any ordinary shares. Except as indicated by footnote, the person named in the table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by it. The percentage of beneficial
ownership is based upon 38,671,825 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 18, 2020.
|
|
|
Number of Ordinary Shares*
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Priortech Ltd.(1)
|
|
|
9,250,189
|
|
|
|
23.92
|
%
|
|
Chroma ATE Inc. (2)
|
|
|
7,817,440
|
|
|
|
20.21
|
%
|
|
Federated Hermes, Inc. (3)
|
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
|
|
5.17
|
%
|
|
|
(1)
|
31.24% of the voting equity in Priortech Ltd. is subject to a voting agreement. As a result of this agreement, and
due to the fact that there are no other shareholders holding more than 50% of the voting equity in Priortech Ltd., Messrs. Rafi Amit, Yotam Stern, David Kishon, Zehava Wineberg and Hanoch Feldstien and the estates of Itzhak Krell (deceased)
and Haim Langmas (deceased), may be deemed to control Priortech Ltd. The voting agreement does not provide for different voting rights for Priortech than the voting rights of other holders of our ordinary shares. Priortech’s principal
executive offices are located at South Industrial Zone, Migdal Ha’Emek 23150, Israel.
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|
|
(2)
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Based on the Schedule 13G filed by Chroma ATE Inc. on August 5, 2019, which presented ownership as of June 19,
2019. The 7,817,440 Ordinary Shares reported under such Schedule 13G by Chroma are beneficially owned by Chroma. Chroma’s principal address is No. 66, Hwa
Ya 1 Rd., Guishan District, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan.
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(3)
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Based on the Schedule 13G filed by Federated Hermes, Inc. on February 13, 2020, which presented ownership as of
December 31, 2019. The 2,000,000 Ordinary Shares reported under such Schedule 13G by Federated Hermes are beneficially owned by registered investment
companies and separate accounts advised by subsidiaries of Federated Hermes, Inc. that have been delegated the power to direct investment and power to vote the securities by the registered investment companies’ board of trustees or
directors and by the separate accounts’ principals. Federated Hermes’ principal address is 1001 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3779, USA.
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B. Related Party Transactions.
Agreements with Priortech and Chroma
For a description of definitive agreements signed between the Company, Priortech and Chroma, see Item 4.A. – “History and
Development of the Company”.
Registration Rights Agreement with Priortech and Chroma
On March 1, 2004, we entered into a registration rights agreement providing for us to register with the SEC certain of our ordinary shares held by Priortech. This registration
rights agreement may be used in connection with future offerings of our ordinary shares, and includes, among others, the following terms: (a) Priortech is entitled to make up to three demands that we register our ordinary shares held by Priortech,
subject to delay due to market conditions; (b) Priortech will be entitled to participate and sell our ordinary shares in any future registration statements initiated by us, subject to delay due to market conditions; (c) we will indemnify Priortech
in connection with any liabilities incurred in connection with such registration statements due to any misstatements or omissions other than information provided by Priortech, and Priortech will indemnify us in connection with any liabilities
incurred in connection with such registration statements due to any misstatements or omissions in written statements by Priortech made for the purpose of their inclusion in such registration statements; and (d) we will pay all expenses related to
registrations which we have initiated, except for certain underwriting discounts or commissions or legal fees, and Priortech will pay all expenses related to a registration initiated at its demand in which we are not participating.
On December 30, 2004, the Registration Rights Agreement with Priortech was amended. The amendment concerns primarily the grant of unlimited shelf registration rights there under
to Priortech with respect to its holdings in us, and the assignability of those shelf registration rights to its transferees.
On May 13, 2015, following the approval of our Audit Committee and Board of Directors, the Registration Rights Agreement with Priortech was renewed for an additional 5-year
period effective as of December 31, 2014.
In the framework of the Chroma Transaction, the Company, Chroma and Priortech entered into a Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement with the Company which,
following the Chroma Closing Date, replaced the previous Registration Rights Agreement and grants Chroma registration rights with respect to our Ordinary Shares held by it, which are similar to those of Priortech. For a description of the
definitive agreements signed under the Chroma Transaction, see Item 4.A. – “History and Development of the Company”.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Rafi Amit
For a description of the employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rafi Amit, see Item 6.B - “Compensation –
Employment Agreements” above.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Financial Information.
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information.
Please see the consolidated financial statements listed in Item 18 for audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with this Item.
Legal Proceedings
We are not a party to any material legal proceedings.
Dividends
On May 2, 2018, following the approval of our Board of Directors, we declared a cash dividend in the amount of $0.14 per ordinary share, representing an aggregate distribution of
approximately $5 million, which was paid on May 29, 2018 to all shareholders of record on the Nasdaq Global Market at the close of trade on May 18, 2018. In addition, on August 6, 2019, following the approval of our Board of Directors, we declared
a cash dividend in the amount of $0.17 per ordinary share, representing an aggregate distribution of approximately $6.5 million, which was paid on September 4, 2019 to all shareholders of record on the Nasdaq Global Market at the close of trade on
August 21, 2019. See Item 10.B - “Memorandum and Articles - Dividend and Liquidation Rights” below for more information
regarding our dividend policy).
B. Significant Changes.
None.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing.
A. Offer and Listing Details.
The Company’s ordinary shares are traded on the Nasdaq Global Market and on TASE under the symbol “CAMT”. We are subject to Israeli securities legislation which applies to
companies that are traded in dual listing.
B. Plan of distribution.
Not applicable.
C. Markets.
See above.
D. Selling Shareholders.
Not applicable.
E. Dilution.
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the Issue.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Additional Information.
A. Share Capital
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles
Following is a summary of material information concerning our share capital and a brief description of the material provisions contained in our Memorandum of Association and our
Articles, which were last amended in the 2018 AGM.
Register
Our registration number at the Israeli registrar of companies is 51-123543-4.
Objectives and Purposes
Our Memorandum of Association and Articles provide that our purpose is to engage in any legal business and may contribute a reasonable amount for a worthy cause, even if such
contribution is not within the framework of the Company’s business considerations.
Share Capital
Our authorized share capital consists of one class of shares, which are our ordinary shares. Out of our authorized share capital of 100,000,000 ordinary shares, par value NIS
0.01 per ordinary share, 38,649,979 ordinary shares were outstanding and fully-paid as of December 31, 2019.
The ordinary shares do not have preemptive rights. The ownership and voting of our ordinary shares are not restricted in any way by our Articles, or by the laws of the State of
Israel, except for shareholders who are citizens of countries in a state of war with Israel. Under the Companies Law, Israeli companies may purchase and hold their own shares, subject to the same conditions that apply to distribution of dividends
(see Item 10.B - “Memorandum and Articles - Dividend and Liquidation Rights” below). These shares do not confer any rights
whatsoever for as long as they are held by us. Additionally, a subsidiary may purchase or hold shares of its parent company to the same extent that the parent company is entitled to purchase its own shares, and these shares do not confer any voting
rights for as long as they are held by the subsidiary.
Transfer of Shares
Ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Ordinary shares registered on the books of the transfer agent in the United States may be freely transferred on the transfer
agent’s books.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Our Board of Directors may declare a dividend to be paid to the holders of ordinary shares out of our retained earnings or our earnings derived over the two most recent years,
whichever is higher, as reflected in the last audited or reviewed financial report prepared less than six months prior to distribution, provided that there is no reasonable concern that a payment of a dividend will prevent us from satisfying our
existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due. Dividends are distributed to shareholders in proportion to the nominal value of their respective holdings.
In the event of our liquidation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of ordinary shares in proportion to the nominal
value of their respective holdings. This right may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution rights to the holders of any class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future. Our shareholders would
need to approve any class of shares with preferential rights.
Modification of Class Rights
The Companies Law provides that the articles of a company may not be modified in such a manner that would have a detrimental effect on the rights of a particular class of shares
without the vote of a majority of the affected class. Under our Articles, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company may, by a resolution adopted by its shareholders, amend the rights attached to all or any of its authorized share
capital, whether issued or not, create new classes of shares and/or attach different rights to each class of shares, including special or preferential rights and/or different rights from those attached to the existing shares, including redeemable
shares, deferred shares, etc.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is the American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York.
Voting, Shareholders’ Meetings and Resolutions
Holders of ordinary shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders. These voting rights may be affected by the grant of
special voting rights to the holders of any class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.
As part of the Chroma Voting Agreement, Priortech and Chroma vote together in the
Company’s shareholders’ meetings (see Item 4.A. – “History and Development of the Company”).
According to the Companies Law, an annual meeting of the shareholders must be held every year not later than 15 months following the last annual meeting. A special meeting of the
shareholders may be convened by the board of directors at its decision or upon the demand of any of: (1) two of the directors or 25% of the then serving directors, whichever is fewer; (2) one shareholder or more owning at least 5% of the issued
share capital and at least 1% of the voting rights in the Company; or (3) one shareholder or more owning at least 5% of the voting rights in the Company. If the Board of Directors does not convene a meeting upon a valid demand of any of the above
then whoever made the demand, and in the case of several shareholders,, those shareholders holding more than half of the voting rights of the shareholders making such demand, may convene a meeting of the shareholders to be held within three months
of the demand. Alternatively, upon petition by the individuals making the demand, a court may order that a meeting be convened.
The quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy within one half hour of the time scheduled for the
beginning of the meeting, who hold or represent together at least 25% of the voting power in our company.
A meeting adjourned due to lack of a quorum is generally adjourned to the same day in the following week at the same time and place or any time and place as the directors
designate in a notice to the shareholders. If a quorum is not present at the reconvened meeting, the meeting may be held with any number of participants. However, if the meeting was convened following a demand by the shareholders, the quorum will
be that minimum number of shareholders authorized to make the demand.
In any shareholders’ meeting, a shareholder can vote either in person or by proxy provided such proxy is received by the Company up to twenty-four hours prior to the time set for
the meeting. Alternatively, shareholders who hold shares through members of TASE may vote electronically via the electronic voting system of the Israel Securities Authority, up to six hours prior to the time set for the meeting. General meetings of
shareholders will be held in Israel, unless decided otherwise by our Board of Directors.
Most resolutions at a shareholders’ meeting may be passed by a majority of the voting power of the company represented at the shareholders’ meeting and voting on the matter.
Resolutions requiring special voting procedures include the appointment and removal of external directors, approval of transactions with controlling shareholders, the terms of office and employment of directors (except for terms which are
consistent with the company’s compensation policy, and require approval by a regular majority), the chief executive officer or controlling shareholders, approval of the Company’s compensation policy and any amendments thereto, and approval of a
merger or a tender offer. See in Item 6.C - “Board Practices - Committees of the Board of Directors” and “Approval of Certain Transactions with Related Parties” above and in “Anti-Takeover Effects of Israeli Laws; Mergers and Acquisitions under
Israeli Law” below.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Israeli Laws; Mergers and Acquisitions under Israeli Law
In general, a merger of a company that was incorporated before the enactment of the Companies Law requires the approval of the holders of a majority of 75% of the voting power
represented at the annual or special general meeting in person or by proxy or by a written ballot, as shall be permitted, and voting thereon in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law. Upon the request of a creditor of either party of
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. In addition, a merger may not be completed unless at least (i) 50 days have passed from the time that the requisite proposal for the merger has been filed by each party with the Israeli Registrar of Companies and (ii) 30 days have passed
since the merger was approved by the shareholders of each party.
The Companies Law also provides that an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a tender offer: (a) if there is no existing shareholder in the company
holding shares conferring 25% or more of the voting rights at the general meeting (a “control block”) and as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of a control block; or (b) if there is no existing shareholder in the
company holding shares conferring 45% or more of the voting rights at the general meeting and as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of 45% or more of the voting rights at the general meeting. Notwithstanding, the above
requirements do not apply if the acquisition: (1) was made in a private placement that received shareholders’ approval (which includes an explicit approval of the purchaser becoming a holder of a “control block”, or 45% or more, of the voting power
in the company, unless there is already a holder of a “control block” or 45% or more, respectively, of the voting power in the company); (2) was from a holder of a “control block” in the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder of a
“control block”; or (3) was from a holder of 45% or more of the voting power in the company and resulted in the acquirer becoming a holder of 45% or more of the voting power in the company. The tender offer must be extended to all shareholders, but
the offeror is not required to purchase more than 5% of the company’s outstanding shares, regardless of how many shares are tendered by shareholders. The tender offer may be consummated only if: (i) at least 5% of the company’s outstanding shares
will be acquired by the offeror and (ii) the number of shares tendered in the offer exceeds the number of shares whose holders objected to the offer.
If as a result of an acquisition of shares, the acquirer will hold more than 90% of a company’s outstanding shares, the acquisition must be made by means of a tender offer for
all of the outstanding shares. If as a result of such full tender offer the acquirer would own more than 95% of the outstanding shares, then all the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to it. The law provides for
appraisal rights if any shareholder files a request in court within six months following the consummation of a full tender offer, but the acquirer will be entitled to stipulate that tendering shareholders forfeit their appraisal rights. If as a
result of a full tender offer the acquirer would own 95% or less of the outstanding shares, then the acquirer may not acquire shares that will cause his shareholding to exceed 90% of the outstanding shares.
Furthermore, certain provisions of other Israeli laws may have the effect of delaying, preventing or making more difficult an acquisition of or merger with us; see in Item 3.D – “Risk Factors - Provisions of Israeli law could delay, prevent or make undesirable an acquisition
of all or a significant portion of our shares or assets.”
C. Material Contracts.
None.
D. Exchange Controls
There are currently no Israeli currency control restrictions on payments of dividends or other distributions with respect to our ordinary shares or the proceeds from the sale
of the shares, except for the obligation of Israeli residents to file reports with the Bank of Israel regarding certain transactions. However, legislation remains in effect pursuant to which currency controls can be imposed by administrative action
at any time.
The ownership or voting of our ordinary shares by non-residents of Israel, except with respect to citizens of countries which are in a state of war with
Israel, is not restricted in any way by our memorandum of association or articles of association or by the laws of the State of Israel.
E. Taxation
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
Subject to the limitations described herein, this discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary
shares to a U.S. holder. A U.S. holder is a holder of our ordinary shares who is:
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an individual citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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a corporation (or another entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia;
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an estate, the income of which may be included in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
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a trust (i) if, in general, a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or (ii) that has in effect a valid
election under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
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Unless otherwise specifically indicated, this discussion does not consider the U.S. tax consequences to a person that is not a U.S. holder or a partnership (a “non-U.S. holder”) and considers only U.S. holders that will own ordinary shares as capital assets (generally, for investment).
This discussion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), current and proposed
Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code and administrative and judicial interpretations of the Code, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address all
aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to any particular U.S. holder based on the U.S. holder’s particular circumstances. In particular, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders
who are broker‑dealers, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, grantor trusts, S corporations, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, certain former citizens or former long-term residents of
the United States, or U.S. holders who own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10% or more of our shares (by vote or value), U.S. holders who have elected mark-to-market accounting, U.S. holders holding the ordinary shares as part of a
hedging, straddle or conversion transaction, U.S. holders that received ordinary shares as a result of exercising employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, and U.S. holders
who are subject to the alternative minimum tax.
If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our ordinary shares, the tax treatment of the partnership and a partner
in such partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such a partner or partnership should consult its tax advisor as to its tax consequences.
You are advised to consult your tax advisor with respect to the specific U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax consequences of purchasing, holding
or disposing of our ordinary shares.
Taxation of Distributions on the Ordinary Shares
The amount of a distribution with respect to the ordinary shares will equal the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property distributed and will also include the
amount of any non-U.S. taxes withheld from such distribution. A distribution paid by us with respect to the ordinary shares to a U.S. holder will be treated as dividend income to the extent that the distribution does not exceed our current and
accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends that are received by U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or trusts will be taxed at the rate applicable to long-term capital gains (currently a
maximum rate of 20%), provided that such dividends meet the requirements of “qualified dividend income.” For this purpose, qualified dividend income generally includes dividends paid by a non-U.S. corporation if certain holding period and other
requirements are met and either (a) the stock of the non-U.S. corporation with respect to which the dividends are paid is “readily tradable” on an established securities market in the U.S. (e.g., the Nasdaq Global Market) or (b) the non-U.S.
corporation is eligible for benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the U.S. which includes an information exchange program and is determined to be satisfactory by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The IRS has determined that the
U.S.-Israel income tax treaty is satisfactory for this purpose. Dividends that fail to meet such requirements, and dividends received by corporate U.S. holders, are taxed at ordinary income rates. No dividend received by a U.S. holder will be a
qualified dividend (1) if the U.S. holder held the ordinary share with respect to which the dividend was paid for less than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the ex-dividend date with respect to such
dividend, excluding for this purpose, under the rules of Code Section 246(c), any period during which the U.S. holder has an option to sell, is under a contractual obligation to sell, has made and not closed a short sale of, is the grantor of a
deep-in-the-money or otherwise nonqualified option to buy, or has otherwise diminished its risk of loss by holding other positions with respect to, such ordinary share (or substantially identical securities); or (2) to the extent that the U.S.
holder is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in property substantially similar or related to the ordinary share with respect to which the dividend is paid. If we were to be
a “passive foreign investment company” or PFIC (as such term is defined in the Code) for any taxable year, dividends paid on our ordinary shares in such year or in the following taxable year would not be qualified dividends. See discussion below
regarding our PFIC status at “Tax Consequences if We Are a Passive Foreign Investment Company”. In addition, a non-corporate U.S. holder will be able to take a qualified dividend into
account in determining its deductible investment interest (which is generally limited to its net investment income) only if it elects to do so; in such case the dividend will be taxed at ordinary income rates.
The amount of any distribution which exceeds the amount treated as a dividend will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital, reducing the U.S. holder’s tax basis in
its ordinary shares to the extent thereof, and then as capital gain from the deemed disposition of the ordinary shares. Corporate holders will not be allowed a deduction for dividends received in respect of the ordinary shares.
Distributions paid by us in NIS generally will be included in the income of U.S. holders at the dollar amount of the distribution (including any non-U.S. taxes withheld
therefrom), based upon the exchange rate in effect on the date the distribution is included in income, regardless of whether the payment is, in fact, converted into U.S. dollars. U.S. holders will have a tax basis in the NIS for U.S. federal income
tax purposes equal to that dollar value. Any subsequent gain or loss in respect of the NIS arising from exchange rate fluctuations will generally be taxable as U.S. source ordinary income or loss.
Subject to the limitations set forth in the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, U.S. holders may elect to claim a foreign tax credit against their U.S. federal income
tax liability for non-U.S. income taxes withheld from dividends received in respect of the ordinary shares. The conditions and limitations on claiming a foreign tax credit include, among others, computation rules under which foreign tax credits
allowable with respect to specific classes of income cannot exceed the U.S. federal income taxes otherwise payable with respect to each such class of income. In this regard, dividends paid by us generally will be foreign source “passive income” for
U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. U.S. holders that do not elect to claim a foreign tax credit may instead claim a deduction for the non-U.S. income taxes withheld if such U.S. holders itemize their deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The rules relating to foreign tax credits are complex, and you should consult your tax advisor to determine whether and to what extent you would be entitled to this credit. A U.S. holder will be denied a foreign tax credit for non-U.S. income taxes
withheld from a dividend received on the ordinary shares (i) if the U.S. holder has not held the ordinary shares for at least 16 days of the 31-day period beginning on the date which is 15 days before the ex-dividend date with respect to such
dividend or (ii) to the extent the U.S. holder is under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Any days during which a U.S. holder has substantially diminished its risk of loss
on the ordinary shares are not counted toward meeting the required 16-day holding period.
The discussion above is subject to the discussion below entitled “Tax Consequences if We Are a Passive Foreign Investment
Company”.
Taxation of the Disposition of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion below under “Tax Consequences if We Are a Passive Foreign Investment Company” upon the
sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares (other than in certain non-recognition transactions), a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition
and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in such ordinary shares. The gain or loss recognized on the disposition of such ordinary shares will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder held the ordinary shares for more than one year at the time of
the disposition. Long-term capital gains of certain non-corporate shareholders are generally subject to a maximum rate of 20%. Gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder on a sale, exchange or other disposition of ordinary shares generally will be
treated as U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.
A U.S. holder that uses the cash method of accounting calculates the dollar value of the proceeds received on the sale as of the date that the sale settles. However, a U.S.
holder that uses the accrual method of accounting is required to calculate the value of the proceeds of the sale as of the trade date and may therefore realize foreign currency gain or loss. A U.S. holder may avoid realizing foreign currency gain
or loss by electing to use the settlement date to determine the proceeds of sale for purposes of calculating the foreign currency gain or loss. In addition, a U.S. holder that receives foreign currency upon disposition of ordinary shares and
converts the foreign currency into U.S. dollars after the settlement date or trade date (whichever date the U.S. holder is required to use to calculate the value of the proceeds of sale) may have foreign exchange gain or loss based on any
appreciation or depreciation in the value of the foreign currency against the dollar, which will generally be U.S. source ordinary income or loss.
Net Investment Income Tax
Non-corporate U.S. holders may be subject to an additional 3.8% surtax on all or a portion of their “net investment income”, which may include dividends on, or capital gains
recognized from the disposition of, our ordinary shares. U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Net Investment Income tax on their investment in our ordinary shares.
Tax Consequences if We Are a Passive Foreign Investment Company
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we will be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, if either (1) 75% or more of our gross income in a taxable year is passive income,
or (2) 50% or more of the value (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) of our assets in a taxable year produce or are held for the production of passive income. If we own (directly or indirectly) at least 25% by value of the stock of
another corporation, we will be treated for purposes of the foregoing tests as owning our proportionate share of that other corporation’s assets and as directly earning our proportionate share of that other corporation’s income. If we are a PFIC, a
U.S. holder must determine under which of three alternative taxing regimes it wishes to be taxed:
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The “QEF” regime applies if the U.S. holder elects to treat us as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”) for the first taxable year in which the U.S. holder owns our ordinary shares or in which we
are a PFIC, whichever is later, and if we comply with certain reporting requirements. A U.S. holder may not make a QEF election with respect to warrants. If the QEF regime applies, then, for each taxable year that we are a PFIC, such
U.S. holder will include in its gross income a proportionate share of our ordinary earnings (which is taxed as ordinary income) and net capital gain (which is taxed as long-term capital gain), subject to a separate election to defer
payment of taxes, which deferral is subject to an interest charge. These amounts would be included in income by an electing U.S. holder, whether or not such amounts are actually distributed to the U.S. holder. A U.S. holder’s basis in
our ordinary shares for which a QEF election has been made would be increased to reflect the amount of any taxed but undistributed income. Generally, a QEF election allows an electing U.S. holder to treat any gain realized on the
disposition of its ordinary shares as capital gain.
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Special rules apply if a QEF election is made after the first taxable year in which a U.S. holder holds our ordinary shares and we are a PFIC. In such an event, the U.S. holder
would be treated as if it had sold our ordinary shares for their fair market value on the last day of the taxable year immediately preceding the taxable year for which the QEF election is made and will recognize gain (but not loss) on such deemed
sale in accordance with the excess distribution regime described below. Under certain circumstances, a U.S. holder may be eligible to make a retroactive QEF election with respect to a taxable year in the U.S. holder’s holding period if such U.S.
holder (1)(a) reasonably believed that we were not a PFIC as of the QEF election due date for the prior taxable year, and (b) filed a protective statement in which the U.S. holder described the basis for its reasonable belief and extended the
statute of limitation on the assessment of PFIC related taxes for all taxable years to which the protective statement applies; (2) obtains IRS consent; or (3) is a “qualified shareholder” within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations.
Once made, the QEF election applies to all subsequent taxable years of the U.S. holder in which it holds our ordinary shares and for which we are a PFIC and can be revoked only
with the consent of the IRS.
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A second regime, the “mark-to-market” regime, may be elected so long as our ordinary shares are “marketable stock” (e.g., “regularly traded” on the Nasdaq Global Market). Under current law, a mark-to-market election cannot be made
with respect to warrants. Pursuant to this regime, in any taxable year that we are a PFIC, an electing U.S. holder’s ordinary shares are marked-to-market each taxable year and the U.S. holder recognizes as ordinary income or loss an
amount equal to the difference as of the close of the taxable year between the fair market value of our ordinary shares and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our ordinary shares. Losses are allowed only to the extent of net
mark-to-market gain previously included by the U.S. holder under the election for prior taxable years. An electing U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in our ordinary shares is increased by income recognized under the mark-to-market election
and decreased by the deductions allowed under the election.
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Under the mark-to-market election, in a taxable year that we are a PFIC, gain on the sale of our ordinary shares is treated as ordinary income, and loss on the sale of our
ordinary shares, to the extent the amount of loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gain previously included, is treated as ordinary loss. The mark-to-market election applies to the taxable year for which the election is made and all later
taxable years, unless the ordinary shares cease to be marketable stock or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.
If the mark-to-market election is made after the first taxable year in which a U.S. holder holds our ordinary shares and we are a PFIC, then special rules would apply.
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A U.S. holder making neither the QEF election nor the mark-to-market election is subject to the “excess distribution” regime. Under this regime, “excess distributions” are subject to special tax rules. An excess distribution includes
(1) a distribution with respect to our ordinary shares that is greater than 125% of the average distributions received by the U.S. holder from us over the shorter of either the preceding three taxable years or such U.S. holder’s holding
period for our ordinary shares prior to the distribution year and (2) gain from the disposition of our ordinary shares.
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Excess distributions must be allocated ratably to each day that a U.S. holder has held our ordinary shares. A U.S. holder must include amounts allocated to the current taxable
year and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, in its gross income as ordinary income for that year. All amounts allocated to other taxable years of the U.S. holder would be taxed at the highest tax rate for each
such year applicable to ordinary income and the U.S. holder also would be liable for interest on the deferred tax liability for each such year calculated as if such liability had been due with respect to each such year. The portions of gains and
distributions that are not characterized as “excess distributions” are subject to tax in the current taxable year as ordinary income under the normal tax rules of the Code.
A U.S. person who inherits shares in a foreign corporation that was a PFIC in the hands of the decedent is generally denied the otherwise available step-up in the tax basis of
such shares to fair market value at the date of death. Instead, such U.S. holder’s basis would generally be equal to the lesser of the decedent’s basis or the fair market value of the ordinary shares on the date of death. Furthermore, if we are a
PFIC, each U.S. holder will generally be required to file an annual report with the IRS.
Based on an analysis of our assets and income, we believe that we were not a PFIC for our taxable year ended December 31, 2019. We currently expect that we will not be a PFIC in
2020. However, PFIC status is determined as of the end of the taxable year and is dependent on a number of factors, including the relative value of our passive assets and our non‑passive assets, our market capitalization and the amount and type of
our gross income. There can be no assurance that we will not become a PFIC for the current taxable year ending December 31, 2020 or in a future taxable year. We will notify U.S. holders in the event we conclude that we will be treated as a PFIC for
any taxable year to enable U.S. holders to consider whether or not to elect to treat us as a QEF for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to “mark-to-market” the ordinary shares, or to become subject to the “excess distribution” regime, and we expect
that in such event we will provide U.S. holders with the information needed to make a QEF election.
U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules, including eligibility for and the manner and advisability of
making, the QEF election or the mark-to-market election.
Non-U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares
Except as described below, a non-U.S. holder of ordinary shares will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on the receipt of dividends on, and the proceeds
from the disposition of, an ordinary share, unless, in the case of U.S. federal income taxes, that item is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States and, in the case of a resident of a
country which has an income tax treaty with the United States, that item is attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States or, in the case of an individual, a fixed place of business in the United States. In addition, gain
recognized by an individual non-U.S. holder on the disposition of ordinary shares will be subject to income tax in the United States if the non-U.S. holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale and
certain other conditions are met.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A U.S. holder (except for certain exempt recipients, such as corporations) generally is subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding with respect to
dividends paid on, and the receipt of the proceeds from the disposition of, our ordinary shares. A U.S. holder of our ordinary shares who does not provide a correct taxpayer identification number may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.
Backup withholding will generally not apply if a U.S. holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number, certifies that such holder is not subject to backup withholding or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding applies.
Non-U.S. holders generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding with respect to the payment of dividends on, or proceeds from the disposition of,
our ordinary shares provided the non-U.S. holder provides its taxpayer identification number, certifies to its foreign status or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding applies.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax and may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. federal income tax liability of a holder, or alternatively, the holder may be eligible
for a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules, in either case, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Certain U.S. holders (and to the extent provided in IRS guidance, certain non-U.S. holders) who hold interests in “specified foreign financial assets” (as defined in Section
6038D of the Code) are generally required to file an IRS Form 8938 as part of their U.S. federal income tax returns to report their ownership of such specified foreign financial assets, which may include our common shares, if the total value of
those assets exceed certain thresholds. Substantial penalties may apply to any failure to timely file IRS Form 8938. In addition, in the event a holder that is required to file IRS Form 8938 does not file such form, the statute of limitations on
the assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes of such holder for the related tax year may not close until three years after the date that the required information is filed. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their
tax reporting obligations.
ISRAELI TAXATION
The following summary describes the current tax structure applicable to companies in Israel, with special reference to its effect on us. It also discusses Israeli tax
consequences material to persons purchasing our ordinary shares. We recommend that you consult your tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of an investment in our ordinary shares.
General Corporate Tax Structure
The corporate tax rate applicable in 2019 and 2020 is 23%.
However, the effective tax rate payable by a company that derives income from a preferred enterprise, discussed further below, may be considerably less. See below in Item 10.E -
“Taxation - Tax Benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959”.
Tax benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 (the “Investment Law”)
The Company’s production facility has been granted “Approved Enterprise” status under the Investment Law. The Company participates in the Alternative Benefits Program and,
accordingly, income from its approved enterprises will be tax exempt for a period of 10 years (or up to 14 years commencing in the year in which the company was granted “Approved Enterprise” status), commencing in the first year in which the
Approved Enterprise first generates taxable income; this is due to the fact that the Company operates in Zone ”A” in Israel.
On April 1, 2005, an amendment to the Investment Law came into effect (the “Amendment”) and has significantly changed the provisions of
the Investment Law. The Amendment limits the scope of enterprises which may be approved by the Investment Center by setting criteria for the approval of a facility as a “Beneficiary Enterprise”, such as provisions generally requiring that at least
25% of the Beneficiary Enterprise’s income will be derived from export. Additionally, the Amendment enacted major changes in the manner in which tax benefits are awarded under the Investment Law so that companies no longer require Investment Center
approval in order to qualify for tax benefits.
In addition, the Amendment provides that terms and benefits included in any certificate of approval already granted will remain subject to the provisions of the law as they were
on the date of such approval. Therefore, the Company’s existing Approved Enterprise will generally not be subject to the provisions of the Amendment. As a result of the Amendment, tax-exempt income generated under the provisions of the Amendment,
as part of a new Beneficiary Enterprise, will subject the Company to taxes upon distribution or liquidation.
The Company has been granted the status of Approved Enterprises, under the Investment Law, for investment programs for the periods which ended in 2007 and 2010, and the status
of Beneficiary Enterprise according to the Amendment, for a period ending in 2014. In addition Camtek has elected 2010 as the year of election for a period ending 2021 (collectively, “Programs”).
The Investment Law and the criteria for receiving an “Approved Enterprise” or “Beneficiary Enterprise” status may be amended from time to time and there is no assurance that we
will be able to obtain additional benefits under the Investment Law.
On December 29, 2010, the Investment Law was amended to significantly revise the tax incentive regime in Israel commencing on January 1, 2011 (the “December 2010 Amendment”). The December 2010 Amendment introduced a new status of “Preferred Enterprise,” replacing the existing status of “Beneficiary Enterprise.” Similarly to “Beneficiary Enterprise,” a Preferred Enterprise is an
industrial company meeting certain conditions, including deriving a minimum of 25% of its income from export activities. However, under the December 2010 Amendment, the requirement for a minimum investment in production assets in order to be
eligible for the benefits granted under the Investments Law was cancelled. A Preferred Enterprise is entitled to a reduced flat tax rate with respect to preferred enterprise income at the following rates:
|
Tax Year
|
Development “Zone A”
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Other Areas within Israel
|
Regular Corporate Tax Rate
|
|
2011-2012
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10%
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15%
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24%-25%
|
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2013
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7%
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12.5%
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25%
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|
2014-2015
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9%
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16%
|
26.5%
|
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2016
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9%
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16%
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25%
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2017
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7.5%
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16%
|
24%
|
|
2018
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7.5%
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16%
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23%
|
|
2019
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7.5%
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16%
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23%
|
|
2020
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7.5%
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16%
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23%
|
Dividends distributed from income which is attributed to “Preferred Enterprise” will be subject to withholding tax at source at the following rates: (i) Israeli resident
corporation at 0%; (ii) Israeli resident individual at 20%; and (iii) non-Israeli resident at 20%, such withholding rate can be reduced subject to a reduced tax rate under the provisions of an applicable double tax treaty.
The December 2010 Amendment was also revised to allow financial assistance to companies located in development Zone A to be granted not only as a cash grant but also as a loan.
The rates for grants and loans could be up to 20% of the amount of the approved investment.
In December, 2016, the Economic Efficiency Law (Legislative Amendments for Applying the Economic Policy for the 2017 and 2018 Budget Years), 2016 which includes Amendment 73 to
the Investment Law (the “December 2016 Amendment”) was published. The investment law was amended to introduce a new tax incentive regime for intellectual property (IP) based companies. Effective January 1, 2017, the December 2016 Amendment enhanced
tax incentives for certain industrial companies by reducing the corporate tax rate and tax withholding obligation.
According to the December 2016 Amendment, a Preferred Enterprise located in development Zone A will be subject to a tax rate of 7.5%
instead of 9% effective from January 1, 2017 and thereafter (the tax rate applicable to preferred enterprises located in other areas remains at 16%). The December 2016 Amendment also prescribes special tax tracks for Technological Enterprises,
which are subject to regulation issued by the Minister of Finance on May 28, 2017.
In 2019 the Company filed a notice to the Israeli Tax Authorities regarding the implementation of the Preferred Enterprise for its 2019 preferred income (instead of a
Beneficiary Enterprise). As the Company is located in Development Area A, the applied corporate tax rate is 7.5%.
The new tax tracks under the December 2016 Amendment are as follows:
Technological Preferred Enterprise - an enterprise for which total consolidated revenues of its parent company and all subsidiaries are
less than NIS 10 billion. A Technological Preferred Enterprise, as defined in the Law, which is located in the center of Israel will be subject to tax at a rate of 12% on profits deriving from intellectual property (in development zone A - a
tax rate of 7.5%).
Special Technological Preferred Enterprise - an enterprise for which total consolidated revenues of its parent company and all
subsidiaries exceed NIS 10 billion. Such enterprise will be subject to tax at a rate of 6% on profits deriving from intellectual property, regardless of the enterprise’s geographical location.
In summary, as of 2019, the applicable tax rates are as follows:
|
Enterprise type
|
Development “Zone A”
|
Other Areas within Israel
|
Regular Corporate Tax Rate
|
|
Preferred Enterprise
|
7.5%
|
16%
|
23%
|
|
Special preferred Enterprise
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5%
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8%
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23%
|
|
Technological Preferred Enterprise
|
7.5%
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12%
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23%
|
|
Special Technological Preferred Enterprise
|
6%
|
6%
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23%
|
In addition, any dividend distributed from a Preferred Technological Enterprise to foreign companies holding at least 90% of the share capital will be subject to a reduced tax
rate of 4%.
Neither the provisions of the December 2010 Amendment nor the December 2016 Amendment apply to companies currently having an “Approved Enterprise” or “Beneficiary Enterprise”
status, which will continue to be entitled to the tax benefits according to the provisions of the Investment Law prior to the aforementioned amendments, unless the company having the benefits of such status has elected by filing with the Israeli
Tax Authority not later than the date prescribed for the filing of the company’s annual tax return for the respective year, to adopt the provisions of the December 2010 Amendment. Such election cannot be later rescinded. A company having the status
of “Beneficiary Enterprise” or “Approved Enterprise” making such election by June 30, 2015 will be entitled to distribute income generated by the Beneficiary Enterprise” or “Approved Enterprise,” subject to withholding tax at source at the
following rates: (i) Israeli resident corporations at 0%; (ii) Israeli resident individuals at 20%; and (iii) non-Israeli residents at 20%, subject to a reduced tax rate under the provisions of an applicable double tax treaty.
During the years 1998-2006 Camtek was subject to tax in accordance with the Approved and Beneficiary Enterprise provisions under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital
Investments. As such, Camtek has income that was exempt from tax. If Camtek should distribute dividends from the exempt income it will be required to pay income tax on the amount of the dividend distributed at the tax rate that would have been
applicable to it in the year the income was produced if it had not been exempt from tax.
As of December 31, 2019, approximately $20.7 million of the Company’s prior year earnings were tax-exempt earnings attributable to its Approved Enterprise programs and
approximately $3.1 million were tax-exempt earnings attributable to its Beneficiary Enterprise program. The tax-exempt income attributable to the Approved and Beneficiary Enterprise cannot be distributed to shareholders without subjecting the
Company to taxes. If these retained tax-exempt profits are distributed, the Company will be taxed at the corporate tax rate applicable to such profits for the year of which they were generated. According to the Investment Law, tax-exempt income
generated under the Beneficiary Enterprise status will be taxed upon dividend distribution or complete liquidation, whereas tax exempt income generated under the Approved Enterprise status will be taxed only upon dividend distribution. As of
December 31, 2019, if the income attributed to the Approved Enterprise was distributed as dividend, the Company would incur a tax liability of approximately $5.2 million. If income attributed to the Beneficiary Enterprise was distributed as
dividend, including upon liquidation, the Company would incur a tax liability in the amount of approximately $0.8 million.
These amounts will be recorded as an income tax expense in the period in which the Company declares the dividend.
The Company intends to reinvest the amount of its tax-exempt income and not distribute any amounts of its undistributed tax exempt income as dividend. Accordingly, no deferred
income taxes have been provided on income attributable to the Company’s Approved and Beneficiary Enterprise programs, as the undistributed tax exempt income is essentially permanent in duration.
The entitlement to the above benefits is conditional upon the Company’s fulfilling the conditions stipulated by the Investment Law, regulations published thereunder and the
certificates of approval for the specific investments in Approved Enterprises.
Should the Company fail to meet such requirements in the future, income attributable to its Programs could be subject to the statutory Israeli corporate tax rate, and the Company
could be required to refund a portion of the tax benefits already received, with respect to such program. The Company’s management believes that the Company is meeting the aforementioned conditions.
Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development, 1984
For information regarding the R&D Law, see above in Item 4.B - “Business Overview - The Israel Innovation Authority, formerly – the Israeli Office of Chief Scientist”.
Net Operating Loss Carry forwards
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had a net operating loss, or NOL, of $6,962,000 carry forward for Israeli tax purposes.
Law for the Encouragement of Industry (Taxes), 1969
We believe that we currently qualify as an “Industrial Company” within the meaning of the Law for the Encouragement of Industry
(Taxes), 1969 (the “Industry Encouragement Law”). According to the Industry Encouragement Law, an “Industrial Company” is a company incorporated in, and resident of Israel, at least 90% of the income of
which, in a given tax year, exclusive of income from specified government loans, capital gains, interest and dividends which are not classified for such company as business income, is derived from an industrial enterprise owned by it. In general,
an “Industrial enterprise” is defined as an enterprise whose major activity in a given tax year is industrial production.
The following corporate tax benefits are available to Industrial Companies:
|
•
|
amortization of the cost of purchased know-how and patents over an eight-year period for tax purposes, from the tax year it began to use them;
|
|
•
|
amortization of expenses incurred in some cases in connection with a public issuance of publicly traded securities over a three-year period; and
|
|
•
|
accelerated depreciation rates on equipment and buildings.
|
Eligibility for the benefits under the Industry Encouragement Law is not subject to receipt of prior approval from any governmental
authority. No assurance can be given that we qualify or will continue to qualify as an “Industrial Company” or that the benefits described above will be available in the future.
Taxation of Shareholders’ Capital Gains
Israeli law imposes a capital gains tax on the sale of capital assets. The law distinguishes between the “Real Gain” and the “Inflationary Surplus.” The Real Gain is the
difference between the total capital gain and the Inflationary Surplus. The Inflationary Surplus is computed on the basis of the cost multiplied by the difference between the Israeli consumer monthly price index as known at the date of sale and the
date of purchase and, with respect to an individual, when the shares are nominated or linked to a foreign currency the Inflationary Surplus would be calculated according to the difference in changes in the foreign currency. The Inflationary Surplus
accumulated after January 1, 1994 is exempt from capital gains tax.
Generally, the tax rate applicable to capital gains derived from the sale of shares listed on a stock market is 25% for Israeli individuals and 30% if the seller is considered a
“significant shareholder” (i.e. in general, a shareholder holding directly or indirectly, including jointly with others, at least 10% of any means of control in the company) at any time during the 12 month period preceding such sale. The tax rate
will be 25% retroactive from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2011, and 30% thereafter.
Israeli companies are subject to the corporate tax rate on capital gains derived from the sale of publicly-traded shares. Capital gains accrued on the sale of an asset purchased
prior to January 1, 2003 will be subject to tax at a blended rate. The marginal tax rate for individuals (in 2019, a rate of 47%) will be applied to the portion of the gain amount which bears the same ratio to the total gain realized as the ratio
which the holding period commencing at the acquisition date and terminating on January 1, 2003 bears to the total holding period. The remainder of the gain realized will be subject to capital gains tax at the rates applicable to an asset purchased
after January 1, 2003 (see above).
Application of the U.S.‑Israel Tax Treaty to Capital Gains Tax
Under Israeli law, the capital gain from the sale of shares by non-Israeli residents is tax exempt in Israel as long as our shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or any
other stock exchange recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Finance, and provided certain other conditions are met, the most relevant of which are: (A) the capital gain is not attributed to the foreign resident’s permanent establishment in Israel,
(B) the shares were acquired by the foreign resident after the company’s shares had been listed for trading, and (C) if the seller is a non-Israeli corporation, less than 25% of its means of control are held by Israeli residents.
In addition, under the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel with Respect to Taxes on Income, as amended, or the
U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, Israeli capital gains tax will not apply to the sale, exchange or disposition of ordinary shares by a person:
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|
•
|
who holds such shares as a capital asset;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
who qualifies as a resident of the United States within the meaning of the U.S.-Israel tax treaty; and
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|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
who is entitled to claim the benefits available to the person by the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty.
|
However, this exemption does not apply, among other cases, if the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment of such person in Israel, or if the holder is a resident of
the United States within the meaning of the U.S.-Israeli Tax Treaty who holds, directly or indirectly, shares representing 10% or more of our voting power during any part of the 12-month period preceding the sale, exchange or disposition, subject
to certain conditions. Under these circumstances, the sale, exchange or disposition would be subject to Israeli tax, to the extent applicable. However, under the U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty, such U.S. resident generally will be permitted to claim a
credit for the Israeli taxes paid against the U.S. federal income tax imposed on the sale, exchange or disposition, subject to the limitations under U.S. law applicable to foreign tax credits. The U.S.-Israel Tax Treaty does not relate to U.S.
state or local taxes.
Taxation of Non-Residents on Receipt of Dividends
In general, non-residents of Israel are subject to Israeli tax and Israeli tax withholding at source on the receipt of dividends paid on the ordinary shares at the rate of 25%,
or 30% if the dividend recipient is a significant controlling shareholder, unless the dividends are paid from income derived from an Approved Enterprise during the applicable benefit period, or a different rate is provided in a treaty between
Israel and the shareholder’s country of residence. The lower withholding tax rate under a tax treaty is applicable if the shareholder provides in advance certification of a reduced withholding tax rate from the Israeli Tax Authority.
Under the U.S.‑Israel Tax Treaty, the maximum tax on dividends paid to a holder of the ordinary shares who is a U.S. Resident will be 25%. However, when dividends are paid from
income derived during any period for which the Israeli company is not entitled to the reduced tax rate applicable to an Approved Enterprise under Israel’s Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments-1959, the maximum tax will be 12.5% if the
holder is a company holding shares representing 10% or more of the voting power during the part of the taxable year preceding the date of payment of dividends and during the whole of its prior taxable year, if any, and, if the company has not
derived more than 25% of its revenues from passive income. When dividends are paid from income derived during any period for which the Israeli company is entitled to the reduced tax rate applicable to a Preferred Enterprise then the tax will be
15%.
Surcharge Tax
Furthermore, an additional tax liability at the rate of 3% was added to the applicable tax rate on the annual taxable income of individuals (whether any such individual is an
Israeli resident or non-Israeli resident) exceeding NIS 649,560 in 2019 and NIS 651,600 in 2020.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents.
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts.
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display.
We file annual reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and other material that are filed
through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval, or EDGAR, system. Information about us is also available on our site at http://www.camtek.com. Such information on our site is not part of this Annual Report.
I. Subsidiary Information.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates is not significant as we have no outstanding loans; see Item 5.B –
“Liquidity and Capital Resources” above.
Foreign Currency Rate Fluctuations
We are a global company that operates in a multi-currency environment. In recent months, foreign currency exchange rates have been subject to considerable fluctuations. As a
major portion of the costs of our Israeli operations, such as personnel, subcontractors, materials and facility‑related costs, are incurred in NIS, an increase in the NIS value relative to the U.S. Dollar will increase our costs expressed in U.S.
Dollars, and a decrease in the NIS value relative to the U.S. Dollar will decrease our costs expressed in U.S. Dollars. During 2019, the value of the U.S. Dollar weakened against the NIS by 8%. We may, from time to time, take various measures
designed to reduce our exposure to these effects, but any such steps may be inadequate to protect us from currency rate fluctuations. We had no open hedging transactions as of December 31, 2019.
In our consolidated financial statements, transactions and balances originally denominated in U.S. Dollars are presented at their original amounts. Gains and losses arising from
non-dollar transactions and balances are included in net income as part of financial expenses, net.
Our balance sheet exposures to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and other currencies are primarily from NIS denominated balances. As of December 31,
2019, we had net liabilities of approximately $6.2 million, denominated in NIS. Any fluctuation in the exchange rate between the NIS and the U.S. dollar of 1% will cause us expenses or income of $62 thousand, in case of increase or decrease in
rates, respectively.
In addition, although our products’ prices in most countries are denominated in U.S. Dollars, in certain territories (currently, Europe and Japan) our products’ prices are
denominated in local currencies, and much of our service income in additional territories is denominated in local currencies. If there is a significant devaluation in the relevant local currencies in which we operate compared to the U.S. Dollar,
those prices of our products or services that are denominated in local currency in the relevant territories will increase relative to that local currency and may be less competitive.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies.
Not applicable.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of
Proceeds.
Not applicable.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures.
|
|
(a)
|
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
|
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2019, and have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file
or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.
Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Based on
the evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2019, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
|
|
(b)
|
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
|
Our management, under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
our financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective
can provide only reasonable assurances with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may decline.
Our management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in Internal
Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
Based on this evaluation, management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as at December 31, 2019, and concluded that such internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) is effective.
|
|
(c)
|
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.
|
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 has been audited by our principal accountant Somekh Chaikin, a member firm of KPMG
International, an independent registered public accounting firm. The related report to our shareholders and the Board of Directors appears on page F-2 of this Annual Report.
|
|
(d)
|
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
|
There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Annual Report that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Our Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Andorn qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” for purposes of the Nasdaq Rules, and that each of Mr. Shacham-Diamand
and Ms. Andorn are independent directors in accordance with Nasdaq Rules and meet the independence criteria set forth in the Companies Law.
Item 16B. Code of Ethics.
We adopted a Code of Ethics, which is applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive, financial and accounting officers and persons
performing similar functions. A copy of the Code of Ethics, in its current version, is available on our website, www.camtek.com. We will also provide a copy of the Code of Ethics to any person, without charge, upon written request addressed
to our CFO at our corporate headquarters in Israel: Camtek Ltd., Ramat Gabriel Industrial Zone, P.O. BOX 544, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Our Audit Committee maintains a policy of approving and recommending only those services to be performed by our independent auditors which are permitted under the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 and the applicable rules of the SEC relating to auditor’s independence, and our independent auditors are remunerated at levels that accord with such basic principles of auditor independence.
The following table presents the aggregate amount of fees for professional services rendered to the Company by our principal accountant KPMG International, for the years ended
December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
Fee Category
|
For 2019 Services Rendered
|
For 2018 Services Rendered
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees (1)
|
255,700
|
$249,437
|
|
Tax Fees (2)
|
16,312
|
$14,551
|
(1) Audit Fees: the audit fees for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were for professional services rendered for the integrated audit of Camtek’s
annual consolidated financial statements and its internal controls over financial reporting and services that are normally provided by independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
(2) Tax Fees rendered during 2019 by our auditor were for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our Audit Committee has adopted a policy for pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit services. Under the policy, the Audit Committee will pre-approve all auditing services
and permitted non-audit services (including fees and other terms) to be performed for the Company by its independent auditor. All of the fees listed in the table above were approved by the Audit Committee. In addition, the Audit Committee may adopt
policies and procedures to permit delegation of authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when appropriate, including the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and permitted non-audit services. Decisions of the subcommittee
to grant pre-approvals will be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.
Not applicable.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated
Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
Not applicable.
Item 16G. Corporate Governance.
Pursuant to Rules 5255(a) and 5615(a)(3) of the Nasdaq Rules, we are relying on our home country practice with respect to the following matters: the eligibly of our securities
for a direct registration program; the composition and responsibilities of our Compensation Committee; the approval of stock option plans; certain annual meeting requirements – all as set forth below:
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We have opted out the requirement that all securities listed on Nasdaq be eligible for a direct registration program operated by a registered clearing agency as set forth in Rule 5255(a). Our procedures regarding the issuance of
stock certificates comply with Israeli law and practice. According to the Companies Law, a share certificate is defined as a certificate which states the name of the owner registered in the company’s shareholders register, as well as
the number of shares he or she owns. In the event that what is registered in the company’s shareholders register conflicts with a share certificate, then the evidentiary value of the shareholder register outweighs the evidentiary value
of the share certificate. A shareholder registered in the company’s shareholders register is entitled to receive from the company a certificate evidencing his ownership of the share.
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As all members of our Audit Committee meet the independence requirements for compensation committee members set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5605(d)(2), as a foreign private issuer, we have elected, pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5615(a)(3), to
follow Israeli practice, in lieu of compliance with the certain provisions of Nasdaq Rule 5605(d), requiring us to have a separate compensation committee. Accordingly, and consistent with Israeli law allowing an audit committee that
satisfies the requirements of the Companies Law regarding the composition of a compensation committee, to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the compensation committee, our Audit Committee has been authorized to assume the
functions and responsibilities of a compensation committee. In this respect, we have also opted out the requirement to adopt and file a compensation committee charter as set forth in Rule 5605(d)(1).We have opted out the requirement for
shareholder approval of stock option plans and other equity based compensation arrangements as set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5635 and Nasdaq Rule 5605(d), respectively. Nevertheless, as required under the Companies Law, special shareholder
voting procedures are followed for the approval of equity based compensation of certain Office Holders or employees who are controlling shareholders or any relative thereof, as well as of our Chief Executive Officer and members of our
Board of Directors. Equity based compensation arrangements with Office Holders (chief executive officer and directors excluded) or employees who are not controlling shareholders or any relative thereof, are approved by our Compensation
Committee and our Board of Directors, provided they are consistent with our Compensation Policy, and in special circumstances in deviation therefrom, taking into account certain considerations as set forth in the Companies Law.
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We have opted out the requirement for conducting annual meetings as set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5620(a), which requires Camtek to hold its annual meetings of shareholders within twelve months of the end of a company’s fiscal year end.
Instead, Camtek is following home country practice and law in this respect. The Companies Law requires that an annual meeting of shareholders be held every year, and not later than 15 months following the last annual meeting (see in
Item 10.B – “Memorandum and Articles - Voting, Shareholders’ Meetings and Resolutions” above). Our 2019 AGM was
held on June 3, 2019, therefore our 2020 annual general meeting of shareholders must be held by September 3, 2020. Further, we have opted out the requirement set under Rule 5620(c) of the Nasdaq Rules which requires the presence of two
or more shareholders holding at least 33 1/3%, and in lieu follow our home country practice and Israeli law, according to which the quorum for any shareholders meeting will be the presence of two or more shareholders holding at least
25% of the voting rights in the aggregate - within half an hour from the time set for opening the meeting.
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We have chosen to follow our home country practice in lieu of the requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5250(d)(1), relating to an issuer’s furnishing of its annual report to shareholders. Specifically, we file annual reports on Form 20-F,
which contain financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm, electronically with the SEC and post a copy on our website.
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Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure.
Not applicable.
Item 17. Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company has furnished financial statements and related information specified in Item 18.
Item 18. Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our consolidated financial statements and report of independent registered public accounting firm in connection therewith, as appear below, are hereby incorporated into this
Annual Report.
CAMTEK LTD.
Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2019 and 2018.
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Exhibit No.
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Exhibit
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Articles of Registrant, as amended October 24, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A
to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 6-K, File No. 000-30664, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2011) and November 3, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit B to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form 6-K, File No. 000-30664, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2016) and October 3, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Registration Statement
on Form 6-K, File No. 000-30664, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2018).
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4.4
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101
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The following financial information from Camtek Ltd.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i)
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2018 and 2017; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended
December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text. Users of this data are advised,
in accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T promulgated by the SEC, that this Interactive Data File is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is
deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.*
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‡
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English translations from Hebrew original.
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SIGNATURES
The Company hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report
on its behalf.
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CAMTEK LTD.
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By:
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/s/ Rafi Amit
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Name: Rafi Amit
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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