Item 10. Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Our directors and executive officers, their
ages and positions as of April 15, 2016 are as follows:
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
|
|
|
Directors
|
|
|
Shlomo Yanai
|
63
|
Chairman of the Board
|
Moshe Manor
|
59
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Amos Bar Shalev (1)(2)(3)
|
63
|
Director
|
Zeev Bronfeld (1)(2)(3)
|
64
|
Director
|
Yodfat Harel Buchris (1)(2)(3)
|
43
|
Director
|
Roger D. Kornberg, Ph.D.
|
68
|
Director
|
Aharon Schwartz, Ph.D.
|
73
|
Director
|
Executive Officers
|
|
|
Einat Brill Almon, Ph.D.
|
57
|
Senior Vice President, Product Development
|
Yossi Maimon, CPA
|
45
|
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
|
Tzvi Palash
|
59
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
Yoseph Shaaltiel, Ph.D.
|
63
|
Executive VP, Research and Development
|
________________________________
(1) Member of Nominating Committee
(2) Member of Audit Committee
(3) Member of Compensation Committee
Shlomo Yanai.
Shlomo Yanai has served as the Chairman
of our Board of Directors since July 2014. Mr. Yanai is currently the Chairman of the Board of Cambrex Corporation (NYSE:CBM) and
a director of Quinpario Acquisition Corp. 2 (NASDAQ:QPACU), Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGNT) and Perrigo Co. plc (NASDAQ:PRGO).
From 2012 through 2015, Mr. Yanai served as a director of Lumenis Ltd. Mr. Yanai served as President and Chief Executive Officer
of Teva (NASDAQ:TEVA, TASE:TEVA) from March 2007 until May 2012 and, prior to joining Teva, Mr. Yanai was President and Chief Executive
Officer of Makhteshim-Agan Industries Ltd. from 2003 until 2006. Before that, he was a Major General in the Israel Defense Forces,
where he served for 32 years, in various positions, the last two positions being Commanding Officer of the Southern Command and
Head of the Division of Strategic Planning. Mr. Yanai was the head of the Israeli security delegation to the peace talks at Camp
David, Shepherdstown and Wye River. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the Technion — Israel Institute
of Technology of Haifa, Israel, and of the International Advisory Board, MBA Program of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel,
as well as an honorary member of the Board of the Institute for Policy and Strategy of the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya,
Israel. Mr. Yanai holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Tel Aviv University, a master’s
degree in national resources management from George Washington University, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program
of Harvard Business School and U.S. National War College (NDU). Mr. Yanai was the recipient of the Max Perlman Award for Excellence
in Global Business Management from Tel Aviv University, Israel in 2005 and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bar-Ilan University,
Israel in 2012. We believe Mr. Yanai’s qualifications to serve as Chairman of our Board of Directors include his vast global
operating experience in the life-science and pharmaceutical and agro-chemicals industry. He also brings a global perspective to
the Board, incorporating his industry and Board leadership experience and his distinguished military service.
Moshe Manor.
Mr. Manor has served as our President and
Chief Executive Officer and as a director of our company since November 2014. Mr. Manor served in a number of senior executive
positions at Teva (NASDAQ:TEVA, TASE:TEVA) from 1984 through 2012. Most recently, he served as President, Teva Asia & Pacific
where he led the strategy and development of a high growth region for Teva. Prior to that, he was Group Vice President, Global
Branded Products, leading the Innovative Commercial and Research & Development franchises. From 2006 through 2008, Mr. Manor
was Senior Vice President, Global Innovative Resources, and was responsible for generating over $3 billion in sales with Copaxone®
and Azilect®. Previously, he served as director of Teva Israel. Most recently, Mr. Manor serves on the Board of Directors of
Kamedis Ltd. and Coronis Partners, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of a startup company, MEway Pharma. He holds a BA
in Economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and an MBA from the Tel-Aviv University. We believe Mr. Manor’s qualifications
to serve on our Board of Directors include his extensive experience in the life-science and pharmaceutical industry on a global
scale.
Amos Bar Shalev.
Mr.
Bar Shalev has served as our director since July 2008. Previously, Mr. Bar Shalev served as a director of Protalix Ltd. from 2005
through January 31, 2008, and as our director from December 31, 2006 through January 31, 2008. Mr. Bar Shalev brings to us extensive
experience in managing technology companies. Currently, Mr. Bar Shalev serves on the boards of directors of Aposense Ltd. (TASE:
APOS), an Israeli publicly-traded company listed on the TASE, since 2011, and of Ocure Ltd. (since 2012) and Velox Ltd. (since
2013), privately-held Israeli companies. From 2004 through 2012, Mr. Bar Shalev served as a director of Technorov Holdings (1993)
Ltd. and managed its portfolio. In addition, he served on the board of directors of Highcon Systems Ltd., a privately-held Israeli
company, from 2010 through 2012. From 1997 through 2004, he was a Managing Director of TDA Capital Partners, a management company
of the TGF (Templeton Tadiran) Fund. From 2004 through 2007, he was the President of Win Buyer Ltd. He has served on the board
of directors of many other companies, including, among others, NESS Ltd. (acquired by BioNess Inc.), Idanit (acquired by Scitex
Corporation Ltd.), Objet Geometrix (merged with Stratasys, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSYS)), Verisity, Scitex Vision (acquired by Hewlett Packard),
Golden Wings Investment Company Ltd., the venture capital fund of the Israeli Air Force Veterans Business Club, Win Buyer Ltd.
and Sun Light Ltd. He received his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion, Israel in 1978 and M.B.A. from the Tel Aviv
University in 1981. He holds the highest award from the Israeli Air Force for technological achievements. We believe Mr. Bar Shalev’s
qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his years of experience in the management of Israeli businesses.
Zeev Bronfeld.
Mr. Bronfeld has served as
a director of Protalix Ltd. since 1996 and as our director since December 31, 2006. Mr. Bronfeld brings to us vast experience in
management and value building of biotechnology companies. He is an experienced businessman who is involved in a number of biotechnology
companies. He was a co-founder of Biocell Ltd., a former Israeli publicly traded holding company that specialized in biotechnology
companies and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1986 through 2015. Mr. Bronfeld currently serves as a director of The
Trendlines Group (42T.SI), D.N.A. Biomedical Solutions Ltd. (TASE:DNA), and Macrocure Ltd. (NASDAQ:MCUR), all of which are public
companies. Mr. Bronfeld is also a director of a number of privately-held companies, most of which are involved in the life sciences,
such as Entera Bio Ltd., Contipi Medical Ltd. and TransBiodiesel Ltd. From 2004 through 2012, Mr. Bronfeld served as a director
of D. Medical Industries Ltd., a company that was dually-listed on the Nasdaq and the TASE. Mr. Bronfeld received a B.A. in Economics
from the Hebrew University in 1975. We believe Mr. Bronfeld’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his
years of experience in the management of private and public Israeli companies, including life science companies.
Yodfat Harel Buchris.
Mrs. Harel Buchris has
served as our director since June 2007. Since February 2014, Mrs. Harel Buchris has served as the employer representative in Israel’s
National Labor Court. She is also a Partner and a member of the board of directors of YP and 6 Partners Ltd., a business consulting
and investment company. Since February 2016 she has served on the board of directors of Israel Discount Bank Limited (DSCT:TA)
and, since January 2016, on the board of directors of Eltek Ltd. (ELTK:NASDAQ). From 2006 to 2013, Mrs. Harel Buchris served as
a Managing Director of Tamares Capital Ltd., a private investment group with interests in real estate, technology, manufacturing,
leisure and media. At Tamares Capital, Mrs. Harel Buchris served as the Business Development Director and the head of the Israel
office. Prior to joining Tamares Capital, from 2004 to 2006, she was the Head of the Medical Desk of Orbotech, Ltd. (NASDAQ:ORBK),
a company providing high-tech inspection and imaging solutions for bare printed circuit board (PCB), flat panel display (FPD) and
PCB assembly manufacturing worldwide. Prior to that, from 1994 to 2003, she was a Managing Director of Harel-Hertz Investment House
Ltd., a business investment company with offices in Tel Aviv, Israel and Tokyo, Japan. In 2002, Harel-Hertz Investment House became
the Israeli representative office for ITX Corporation, a publicly-traded company in Japan. Mrs. Harel Buchris has served on the
board of directors of Tamares Capital, Tamares Hotels, El Al, British Israel, Storewiz, N-trig, Secure Pharma, Siklu and Tamares
Telecom. Mrs. Harel Buchris holds a B.A. in Communications and Political Science from Bar Ilan University and an executive M.B.A.
from Bradford University, Great Britain. She has also completed programs in Mediation at Gome, Israel Mediation Center, Directors’
Studies and Advanced Advertising and Marketing at the Israel Management Center. We believe Mrs. Harel Buchris’ qualifications
to serve on our Board of Directors include her experience in the management of Israeli and other businesses.
Roger D. Kornberg, Ph.D.
Professor Kornberg
has served as our director since February 2008. He has served as a director of OphthaliX Inc. (OTCBB:OPLI) since 2012, and as the
chairman of the board of directors of two related start-up companies. He also serves as the Chief Scientist of Cocrystal Pharma,
Inc. (OTCQB: COCP) (f/k/a Biozone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and in 2014 served on their Board of Directors. He served as a director
of Teva (NASDAQ:TEVA, TASE:TEVA) from 2007 through 2013. Professor Kornberg is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
and the Winzer Professor of Medicine in the Department of Structural Biology at Stanford University, Stanford, California. He has
been a member of the faculty of Stanford University since 1972. Prior to that, he was a professor at Harvard Medical School. Professor
Kornberg is a renowned biochemist and in 2006 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in recognition for his studies of the
molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription, the process by which DNA is copied to RNA. Professor Kornberg is also the recipient
of several awards, including the 2001 Welch Prize, the highest award granted in the field of chemistry in the United States, and
the 2002 Leopold Mayer Prize, the highest award granted in the field of biomedical sciences from the French Academy of Sciences.
He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Harvard University in 1967 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University in 1972.
He holds honorary degrees from universities in Europe and Israel, including the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he currently
is a visiting professor. We believe Professor Kornberg’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his expertise
in chemistry and medicine and his experience in the academic arena.
Aharon Schwartz, Ph.D.
Dr. Schwartz retired from Teva
in 2011 where he served in a number of positions from 1975 through 2011, the most recent being Vice President, Head of Teva Innovative
Ventures from 2008. Dr. Schwartz is currently chairman of the board of directors of a number of life science companies, including
BiolineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ:BLRX, TASE:BLRX), DPharm Ltd. (TASE:DPRM), BioCancell Ltd. (TASE:BICL) and CureTech Ltd., and a member of
the board of directors of Alcobra Ltd. (NASDAQ:ADHD) and Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ:FOMX). Dr. Schwartz received his Ph.D.
in organic chemistry in 1978 from the Weizmann Institute, his M.Sc. in organic chemistry from the Technion and a B.Sc. in chemistry
and physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Schwartz received a second Ph.D. in 2014 from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem in the history and philosophy of science.
Einat Brill Almon, Ph.D.
Dr. Almon joined Protalix Ltd.
in December 2004, originally as a Senior Director and later as a Vice President and then Senior Vice President, Product Development,
and became our Senior Vice President, Product Development on December 31, 2006. Dr. Almon has many years of experience in the management
of life science projects and companies, including biotechnology and agrobiotech, with direct experience in clinical, device and
scientific software development, as well as a strong background and work experience in Intellectual Property. Prior to joining
Protalix Ltd., from 2001 to 2004, she served as Director of R&D and IP of Biogenics Ltd., a company that developed an autologous
platform for tissue-based protein drug delivery. Biogenics, based in Israel, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medgenics Inc. Dr.
Almon has trained as a biotechnology patent agent at leading IP firms in Israel. Dr. Almon holds a Ph.D. and an M.Sc. in molecular
biology of cancer research from the Weizmann Institute of Science, a B.Sc. from the Hebrew University and has carried out Post-Doctoral
research at the Hebrew University in the area of plant molecular biology.
Yossi Maimon, CPA.
Mr. Maimon joined Protalix
Ltd. on October 15, 2006 as its Chief Financial Officer and became our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on December 31,
2006. Prior to joining Protalix, from 2002 to 2006, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Colbar LifeScience Ltd., or Colbar,
a biomaterial company focusing on aesthetics, where he led all of the corporate finance activities, fund raisings and legal aspects
of Colbar including the sale of Colbar to Johnson and Johnson. Mr. Maimon has a B.A. in accounting from the City University of
New York and an MBA from Tel Aviv University, and he is a Certified Public Accountant in the United States (New York State) and
Israel.
Tzvi Palash.
Mr. Palash has served
as Protalix Ltd.’s Chief Operating Officer since September 6, 2010. Prior to joining Protalix Ltd., from 2006 through 2010,
Mr. Palash served as a General Manager of ColBar. In that position, Mr. Palash served as a member of the Global Aesthetic Management
Team at the Consumer Group of Johnson & Johnson. Prior to that, from 2001 through 2006, Mr. Palash served as the Vice President,
Operations of ColBar, and he has served in different positions at Teva. Mr. Palash has an M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the Hebrew
University and a B.Sc. in Biology from the Tel Aviv University.
Yoseph Shaaltiel, Ph.D.
Dr.
Shaaltiel founded Protalix Ltd. in 1993 and has served as a member of our Board of Directors and as our Vice President, Research
and Development since December 31, 2006. Prior to establishing Protalix Ltd., from 1988 to 1993, Dr. Shaaltiel was a Research Associate
at the MIGAL Technological Center. He also served as Deputy Head of the Biology Department of the Biological and Chemical Center
of the Israeli Defense Forces and as a Biochemist at Makor Chemicals Ltd. Dr. Shaaltiel was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University
of California at Berkeley and at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He has co-authored over 40 articles and abstracts on plant biochemistry
and holds seven patents. Dr. Shaaltiel received his Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, an M.Sc.
in Biochemistry from the Hebrew University and a B.Sc. in Biology from the Ben Gurion University.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires
our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC reports regarding their
ownership and changes in ownership of our equity securities. We believe that all Section 16 filings requirements were met
by our officers and directors during 2015, except that each of Dr. Shaaltiel, Dr. Brill Almon, Mr. Maimon and Mr. Palash made one
late Form 4 filing during 2015. In making this statement, we have relied solely upon examination of the copies of Forms 3, 4 and
5, Schedule 13s and written representations of our former and current directors, officers and 10% shareholders.
Audit Committee
We require that all Audit Committee members
possess the required level of financial literacy and at least one member of the Audit Committee meet the current standard of requisite
financial management expertise as required by the NYSE MKT and applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Messrs. Bar Shalev
and Bronfeld, and Mrs. Harel Buchris have been appointed by the Board of Directors to serve on the Audit Committee until their
respective successors have been duly elected.
Our Audit Committee operates under a formal
charter that governs its duties and conduct. A current copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on our website at
http://www.protalix.com
.
All members of the Audit Committee are independent
from our executive officers and management.
Our independent registered public accounting
firm reports directly to the Audit Committee.
Our Audit Committee meets with management
and representatives of our registered public accounting firm prior to the filing of officers’ certifications with the SEC
to receive information concerning, among other things, effectiveness of the design or operation of our internal controls over financial
reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Our Audit Committee has adopted a Policy for
Reporting Questionable Accounting and Auditing Practices and Policy Prohibiting Retaliation against Reporting employees to enable
confidential and anonymous reporting of improper activities to the Audit Committee.
Messrs. Bar Shalev and Bronfeld and Mrs. Harel
Buchris qualify as “audit committee financial experts” under the applicable rules of the SEC. In making the determination
as to these individuals’ status as audit committee financial experts, our Board of Directors determined they have accounting
and related financial management expertise within the meaning of the aforementioned rules, as well as the listing standards of
the NYSE MKT.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics that includes provisions ranging from restrictions on gifts to conflicts of interest. All of our employees and directors
are bound by this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Violations of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be reported to
the Audit Committee.
The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics includes
provisions applicable to all of our employees, including senior financial officers and members of our Board of Directors and is
posted on our website (www.protalix.com). We intend to post amendments to or waivers from any such Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics.
Item 11. Executive
Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The primary goals of the Compensation
Committee of our Board of Directors with respect to executive compensation are to attract and retain the most talented and dedicated
executives possible, to tie annual and long-term cash and stock incentives to achievement of specified performance objectives,
and to align executives’ incentives with shareholder value creation. To achieve these goals, the Compensation Committee implements
and maintains compensation plans that tie a portion of executives’ overall compensation to key strategic goals such as developments
in our clinical path, the establishment of key strategic collaborations, the build-up of our pipeline and the strengthening of
our financial position. The Compensation Committee evaluates individual executive performance with a goal of setting compensation
at levels the committee believes are comparable with executives in other companies of similar size and stage of development operating
in the biotechnology industry while taking into account our relative performance and our own strategic goals.
Elements of Compensation
Executive compensation
consists of following elements:
Base Salary.
Base salaries
for our executives are established based on the scope of their responsibilities taking into account competitive market compensation
paid by other companies for similar positions. Generally, we believe that executive base salaries should be targeted near the median
of the range of salaries for executives in similar positions with similar responsibilities at comparable companies. The Compensation
Committee convenes, from time to time to evaluate present and future executive compensation, which evaluation generally includes
an evaluation of the peer group considered in analyzing executive compensation. The Compensation Committee intends to continue
reviewing and revising the peer group periodically to ensure that it continues to reflect companies similar to our company in size
and development stage. The Compensation Committee also reviews executive compensation reports and an analysis of publicly-traded
biotechnology companies prepared by third party experts from a well-known consulting firm for additional data and other information
regarding executive compensation for comparative purposes.
Base salaries are usually reviewed
annually, and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities,
performance and experience. The base salaries of each of our President and Chief Executive Officer, our Executive Vice President,
Research and Development, our Senior Vice President, Product Development, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and our
Chief Operating Officer, who we refer to collectively as the “Named Executive Officers,” are discussed herein. In March
2016, our Board of Directors adopted certain recommendations of the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of our Named
Executive Officers with no change in the base salary component, as discussed below.
Annual Bonus
.
The Compensation Committee has the
authority to award discretionary annual bonuses to our executive officers. The discretionary annual bonus awards were intended
to compensate officers for achieving financial, clinical, regulatory and operational goals and for achieving individual annual
performance objectives. For any given year, the compensation objectives vary, but relate generally to strategic factors such as
developments in our clinical path, the execution of a license agreement for the commercialization of product candidates, the establishment
of key strategic collaborations, the build-up of our pipeline and financial factors such as capital raising. Bonuses are awarded
generally based on corporate performance, with adjustments made within a range for individual performance, at the discretion of
the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee determines, on a discretionary basis, the size of the entire bonus pool
and the amount of the actual award to each Named Executive Officer.
The Compensation Committee selects, in its discretion, the executive
officers of our company or our subsidiary who are eligible to receive bonuses for any given year. Any bonus granted by the Compensation
Committee will generally be paid upon the achievement of a specific milestone, subject to certain terms and conditions. The Compensation
Committee has not fixed a minimum or maximum award for any executive officer’s annual discretionary bonus. Each of our executive
officers is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus under his or her employment agreement.
Performance Bonus
.
In
March 2016, the Compensation Committee adopted a new performance-based bonus plan for the Named Executive Officers and other members
of our management. The new bonus plan is designed to provide cash bonuses over a three-year period based on our company’s
achievement of what we consider to be major milestones. The amounts payable to each person for each milestone were determined after
consideration of both personal and company objectives and are based on a multiple of the person’s monthly salary. Such multiples
range from a maximum of 12 months to a minimum of one-half a month. Each bonus is payable upon the achievement of the applicable
milestone, subject to certain terms and conditions. The bonus plan is summarized as follows:
Milestone
|
|
Moshe
Manor
|
|
Yoseph Shaaltiel, Ph.D.
|
|
Einat Brill
Almon, Ph.D.
|
|
Yossi
Maimon
|
|
Tzvi
Palash
|
Clinical Development Milestone for Certain Product Candidate
|
|
$108,000
|
|
$42,000
|
|
$72,000
to $108,000
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$34,000
|
Regulatory Development Milestone for Same Product Candidate
|
|
$108,000
to $216,000
|
|
$84,000
to $168,000
|
|
$108,000
to $216,000
|
|
$36,000
to $54,000
|
|
$34,000
to $68,000
|
Clinical Development Milestone for Certain Product Candidate
|
|
$54,000
|
|
$10,500
|
|
$27,000
to $54,000
|
|
$9,000
|
|
$8,500
|
Clinical Development Milestone for Certain other Product Candidate
|
|
$54,000
|
|
$10,500
|
|
$27,000
to $54,000
|
|
$9,000
|
|
$8,500
|
General Regulatory Milestone
|
|
$102,000
|
|
$42,000
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$18,000
|
|
$102,000
|
Substantial Transaction involving a Certain Product Candidate
|
|
$128,000
|
|
$21,000
|
|
$18,000
|
|
$115,000
to $141,000
|
|
$17,000
|
Substantial Transaction involving other Product Candidate
|
|
$112,000
|
|
$10,500
|
|
$9,000
|
|
$49,000
to $60,000
|
|
$8,500
|
Corporate Finance Milestones
|
|
$216,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
$197,000
to $242,000
|
|
|
Early-Stage Clinical Milestones
|
|
$72,000
|
|
$252,000
|
|
$72,000
|
|
$36,000
|
|
$68,000
|
Options and Share-Based Compensation.
Our amended 2006 stock incentive plan authorizes us to grant options to purchase shares of common stock, restricted stock and other
securities to our employees, directors and consultants. Our Compensation Committee is the administrator of the stock incentive
plan. Stock option or other grants are generally made at the commencement of employment and following a significant change in job
responsibilities or to meet other special retention or performance objectives. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves
stock option and other awards to executive officers based upon a review of competitive compensation data, its assessment of individual
performance, a review of each executive’s existing long-term incentives, and retention considerations. The exercise price
of stock options granted under our amended 2006 stock incentive plan must be equal to at least 100% of the fair market value of
our common stock on the date of grant; however, in certain circumstances, grants may be made at a lower price to Israeli grantees
who are residents of the State of Israel. See “Summary Compensation Table – Grants of Plan-Based Awards” below
for grants of options to our Named Executives Officers during fiscal year 2015.
Severance and Change in Control
Benefits.
Pursuant to the employment agreements entered into with each of our executive officers, the executive officer
is entitled to be insured by Protalix Ltd. under a Manager’s Policy in lieu of severance. The intention of such Manager’s
Policies is to provide the Israel-based officers with severance protection of one month’s salary for each year of employment.
In addition, the stock options and restricted stock granted to each of our Named Executive Officers provide that all of such instruments
are subject to accelerated vesting immediately upon a change in control of our company. As part of the new bonus plan adopted in
March 2016, it was agreed that the Board of Directors will grant certain cash bonuses to the Named Executive Officers and other
of our employees in its sole discretion upon the occurrence of a change in control.
Other Compensation.
Consistent
with our compensation philosophy, we intend to continue to maintain our current benefits for our executive officers; however, the
Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend, or add to the officer’s executive benefits if it deems it advisable.
As an additional benefit to all of our Israel-based Named Executive Officers and for most of our employees, we generally contribute
to certain funds amounts equaling a total of approximately 15% of their gross salaries for certain pension and other savings plans
for the benefit of the Named Executive Officers. In addition, in accordance with customary practice in Israel, our Israel-based
executives’ agreements require us to contribute towards their vocational studies, and to provide annual recreational allowances,
a company car and a company phone. We believe these benefits are currently equivalent with median competitive levels for comparable
companies.
Executive Compensation.
We refer to the “Summary Compensation Table” set forth below for information regarding the compensation earned during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 by: our President and Chief Executive Officer, our Executive Vice President, Research
and Development, our Senior Vice President, Product Development, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and our Chief Operating
Officer, who we refer to collectively as the “Named Executive Officers.”
Compensation Committee Report
The above report of the Compensation Committee does not constitute
soliciting material and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing by us under the Securities
Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and
discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth below with our management. Based on this review and discussion, the
Compensation Committee has recommended to our Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our
Annual Report on Form 10–K and our annual proxy statement on Schedule 14A.
Respectfully submitted on April 5, 2016, by
the members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
.
Amos Bar Shalev
Zeev Bronfeld
Yodfat Harel Buchris
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth a summary for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively, of the cash and non-cash compensation awarded, paid or
accrued by us or Protalix Ltd. to our President and Chief Executive Officer, our Executive Vice President, Research and Development,
our Senior Vice President, Product Development, our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and our Chief Operating Officer,
who we refer to collectively as the “Named Executive Officers.” There were no restricted stock awards, long-term incentive
plan payouts or other compensation paid during fiscal years 2015, 2014, and 2013 by us or Protalix Ltd. to the Named Executive
Officers, except as set forth below. All of the Named Executive Officers are employees of our subsidiary, Protalix Ltd. All currency
amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars.
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Salary($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Award(s) ($)
|
|
|
Option
Award(s) ($)
|
|
|
All
Other
Compensation ($)(1)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Moshe Manor (2)
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
334,708
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
427,864
|
|
|
|
95,823
|
|
|
|
858,395
|
|
President and
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
93,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
200,962
|
|
|
|
18,399
|
|
|
|
313,028
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yoseph Shaaltiel, Ph.D.
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
271,730
|
|
|
|
85,000
|
|
|
|
110,244
|
|
|
|
112,497
|
|
|
|
74,058
|
|
|
|
653,529
|
|
Executive Vice President,
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
305,548
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
|
|
232,979
|
|
|
|
62,651
|
|
|
|
84,719
|
|
|
|
775,897
|
|
Research and Development
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
302,901
|
|
|
|
120,000
|
|
|
|
429,927
|
|
|
|
140,770
|
|
|
|
81,672
|
|
|
|
1,075,270
|
|
Einat Brill Almon, Ph.D.
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
234,899
|
|
|
|
117,
500
|
|
|
|
97,120
|
|
|
|
102,215
|
|
|
|
62,362
|
|
|
|
614,096
|
|
Senior Vice President,
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
263,917
|
|
|
|
85,000
|
|
|
|
205,244
|
|
|
|
56,170
|
|
|
|
68,489
|
|
|
|
678,820
|
|
Product Development
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
261,505
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
378,745
|
|
|
|
126,208
|
|
|
|
66,600
|
|
|
|
933,058
|
|
Yossi Maimon, CPA
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
266,776
|
|
|
|
246,009
|
|
|
|
97,120
|
|
|
|
102,215
|
|
|
|
68,398
|
|
|
|
780,518
|
|
Vice President,
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
299,090
|
|
|
|
225,000
|
|
|
|
205,244
|
|
|
|
56,170
|
|
|
|
74,493
|
|
|
|
859,997
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
292,096
|
|
|
|
110,000
|
|
|
|
378,745
|
|
|
|
126,208
|
|
|
|
67,739
|
|
|
|
974,788
|
|
Tzvi Palash
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
|
208,106
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
53,547
|
|
|
|
49,141
|
|
|
|
71,192
|
|
|
|
441,986
|
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
233,669
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
113,161
|
|
|
|
11,413
|
|
|
|
74,520
|
|
|
|
482,763
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
231,668
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
208,822
|
|
|
|
72,055
|
|
|
|
72,105
|
|
|
|
604,650
|
|
________________________________
|
(1)
|
Includes employer contributions to pension and/or insurance
plans and other miscellaneous payments.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr. Manor commenced his tenure as our President and Chief
Executive Officer as of November 1, 2014.
|
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table summarizes the grant of awards made to the
Named Executive Officers during 2015 as of December 31, 2015.
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
All Other Stock Awards:
Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)
|
|
Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option Awards ($)
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(i)
|
|
(l)
|
Yoseph Shaaltiel
|
|
March 23, 2015
|
|
275,000
|
|
270,252
|
Einat Brill Almon
|
|
March 23, 2015
|
|
250,000
|
|
245,684
|
Yossi Maimon
|
|
March 23, 2015
|
|
250,000
|
|
245,684
|
Tzvi Palash
|
|
March 23, 2015
|
|
125,000
|
|
122,842
|
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information
with respect to the Named Executive Officers concerning equity awards as of December 31, 2015.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised
Options
Exercisable (#)
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#)
|
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
|
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|
|
Number
of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)
|
|
|
Market
Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)
|
|
Moshe Manor
|
|
|
281,250
|
|
|
|
618,750
|
|
|
|
2.37
|
|
|
|
9/29/2024
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
Yoseph Shaaltiel
|
|
|
122,162
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
0.001
|
|
|
|
6/30/2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
263,728
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
2/7/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2.65
|
|
|
|
2/25/2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
145,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6.90
|
|
|
|
2/25/2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,375
|
|
|
|
40,163
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
275,000
|
|
|
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
3/23/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Einat Brill Almon
|
|
|
311,272
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
2/7/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6.90
|
|
|
|
2/25/2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,688
|
|
|
|
35,382
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
3/23/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yossi Maimon
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
2/7/2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.90
|
|
|
|
2/25/2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,688
|
|
|
|
35,382
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
3/23/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tzvi Palash
|
|
|
160,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.55
|
|
|
|
8/29/2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,125
|
|
|
|
19,508
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
1.72
|
|
|
|
3/23/2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option exercises during 2015 and vested stock
awards for Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2015 were as follows:
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)
|
|
|
Value Received on Exercise ($)
|
|
|
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)
|
|
|
Value Received on Vesting ($)
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
|
(d)
|
|
|
(e)
|
|
Moshe Manor
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Yoseph Shaaltiel
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
52,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Einat Brill Almon
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
46,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yossi Maimon
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
46,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tzvi Palash
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
25,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential Payments upon Termination or
Change-in-Control/Corporate Transaction
Each of our Named Executive Officers (while they remain employed
by our company) is entitled to be insured by Protalix Ltd. under a Manager’s Policy in lieu of severance upon termination.
The intention of such Manager’s Policies is to provide our officers with severance protection of one month’s salary
for each year of employment. We do not provide any change in control/corporate transaction benefits to our Named Executive Officers
except for certain cash bonuses at the board’s sole discretion and the acceleration of the vesting periods for outstanding
options and restricted stock. Had we experienced a change in control/corporate transaction on December 31, 2015, the value of the
acceleration of the vesting period of Mr. Manor’s options would be zero; as of the same date all exercise prices of options
held by each of our other Named Executive Officers were above the market value of our shares and, accordingly, the value of the
acceleration of the stock options held by each of them as of such date would be zero. In addition, had we experienced a change
in control/corporate transaction on December 31, 2015, the value of the acceleration of vesting of the restricted stock held by
each of Dr. Shaaltiel, Dr. Brill Almon, Mr. Maimon and Mr. Palash would be $40,163, $35,382, $35,382, and $19,508, respectively.
Employment Arrangements
Moshe Manor.
Mr. Manor joined Protalix Ltd. as its President
and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to an employment agreement dated September 28, 2014. Pursuant to the employment agreement,
his current monthly base salary is NIS 95,000 (approximately $25,200) and Mr. Manor is entitled to an annual discretionary bonus
subject to the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall determine the bonus on the basis of agreed-upon
annual objectives which shall include both measurable and strategic parameters. The monthly salary is subject to cost of living
adjustments from time to time as may be required by law. The Board of Directors also granted to Mr. Manor options to purchase 900,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to $2.37 per share, the closing sales price of the common stock on the NYSE
MKT for the last trading day immediately preceding the effective date of the grant. The options vest over four years on a quarterly
basis in 16 equal increments, subject to certain conditions. Vesting of the options will be accelerated in full upon a Corporate
Transaction or a Change in Control, as those terms are defined in the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. Mr.
Manor’s employment agreement is terminable by our company on 90 days written notice for any reason during the first year
of the agreement’s term and on 180 days written notice thereafter. Mr. Manor may terminate the agreement on 90 days written
notice for any reason during its term. We may terminate the Agreement for cause without notice. Mr. Manor is entitled to be insured
by the Company under a Manager’s Policy in lieu of severance, company contributions towards vocational studies, annual recreational
allowances, a company car and a company phone. Mr. Manor is entitled to 24 working days of vacation.
Yoseph Shaaltiel, Ph.D.
Dr. Shaaltiel founded Protalix
Ltd. in 1993 and currently serves as our Executive Vice President, Research and Development. Dr. Shaaltiel entered into an employment
agreement with Protalix Ltd. on September 1, 2001. Pursuant to the employment agreement, his current monthly base salary is NIS
80,750 (approximately $21,400) per month. The employment agreement is terminable by Protalix Ltd. on 90 days’ written notice
for any reason and we may terminate the agreement for cause without notice. In addition, vesting of all of Dr. Shaaltiel’s
options and restricted shares will be accelerated in full upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control, as those terms are
defined in the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. Dr. Shaaltiel is entitled to be insured by Protalix Ltd.
under a Manager’s Policy in lieu of severance, company contributions towards vocational studies, annual recreational allowances,
a company car and a company phone. Dr. Shaaltiel is entitled to 29 working days of vacation.
Einat Brill Almon, Ph.D.
Dr. Brill Almon joined Protalix
Ltd. on December 19, 2004 as its Vice President, Product Development, pursuant to an employment agreement effective on December
19, 2004 by and between Protalix Ltd. and Dr. Brill Almon, and currently serves as our Senior Vice President, Product Development.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, her current monthly base salary is NIS 69,825 per month (approximately $18,500). She is also
entitled to certain specified bonuses in the event that Protalix achieves certain specified clinical development milestones within
specified timelines. In addition, vesting of all of Dr. Brill Almon’s options and restricted shares will be accelerated in
full upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control, as those terms are defined in the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan, as amended. The employment agreement is terminable by either party on 60 days’ written notice for any reason and we
may terminate the agreement for cause without notice. Dr. Brill Almon is entitled to be insured by Protalix Ltd. under a Manager’s
Policy in lieu of severance, company contributions towards vocational studies, annual recreational allowances, a company car and
a company phone at up to NIS 1,000 per month. Dr. Brill Almon is entitled to 29 working days of vacation.
Yossi Maimon, CPA.
Mr. Maimon joined Protalix Ltd. as
its Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement effective as of October 15, 2006 by and between Protalix Ltd. and
Mr. Maimon and currently serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to the employment agreement, his current monthly base
salary is NIS 69,825 (approximately $18,500) and Mr. Maimon is entitled to an annual discretionary bonus and additional discretionary
bonuses in the event Protalix achieves significant financial milestones, subject to the Board’s sole discretion. The monthly
salary is subject to cost of living adjustments from time to time. In addition, vesting of all of Mr. Maimon’s options and
restricted shares will be accelerated in full upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change in Control, as those terms are defined in
the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. The employment agreement is terminable by either party on 60 days’
written notice for any reason and we may terminate the agreement for cause without notice. Mr. Maimon is entitled to be insured
by Protalix Ltd. under a Manager’s Policy in lieu of severance, company contributions towards vocational studies, annual
recreational allowances, a company car and a company phone. Mr. Maimon is entitled to 29 working days of vacation.
Tzvi Palash.
Mr. Palash joined Protalix Ltd. as its Chief
Operating Officer pursuant to an employment agreement effective September 6, 2010 and currently serves as our Chief Operating Officer.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Palash’s current monthly base salary is NIS 65,550 (approximately $17,350) and
Mr. Palash is entitled to an annual discretionary bonus for performance subject to the sole discretion of our compensation committee.
The monthly salary is subject to cost of living adjustments from time to time as may be required by law. In addition, vesting of
all of Mr. Palash’s options and restricted shares will be accelerated in full upon a Corporate Transaction or a Change in
Control, as those terms are defined in the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. The employment agreement is terminable
by either party on 60 days’ written notice for any reason and we may terminate the agreement for cause without notice. Mr.
Palash is entitled to be insured by Protalix Ltd. under a Manager’s Policy in lieu of severance, company contributions towards
vocational studies, annual recreational allowances, a company car, a company phone, a company laptop and lodging accommodations
in the Carmiel area. Mr. Palash is entitled to 27 working days of vacation.
Amended 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
Our Board of Directors and a majority of our
shareholders approved our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan on December 14, 2006. Our shareholders approved an amendment to the plan on
June 17, 2012 and subsequently on November 10, 2014. Of the 13,841,655 shares originally reserved for issuance under the plan,
as amended, as of December 31, 2015, there are outstanding options and unvested restricted stock covering 7,085,510 shares of our
common stock in the aggregate, subject to adjustment for a stock split or any future stock dividend or other similar change in
our common stock or our capital structure. As of December 31, 2015, options to acquire 760,844 shares of common stock remain available
for grant under the amended 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.
Our amended 2006 Stock Incentive Plan provides
for the grant of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and dividend equivalent rights,
collectively referred to as “awards.” Stock options granted under the amended 2006 Stock Incentive Plan may be either
incentive stock options under the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or non-qualified stock options. Incentive
stock options may be granted only to employees. Awards other than incentive stock options may be granted to employees, directors
and consultants.
The amended 2006 Stock Incentive Plan is also
designed to comply with the provisions of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance New Version, 1961 (including as amended pursuant to
Amendment 132 thereto) (the “tax ordinance”) and is intended to enable us to grant awards to grantees who are Israeli
residents as follows: (i) awards to employees pursuant to Section 102 of the tax ordinance; and (ii) awards to non-employees pursuant
to Section 3(I) of the tax ordinance. For this purpose, “employee” refers only to employees, office holders and directors
of our company or a related entity excluding those who are considered “Controlling Shareholders” pursuant to, or otherwise
excluded by, the tax ordinance. In accordance with the terms and conditions imposed by the Tax Ordinance, grantees who receive
awards under the amended 2006 stock incentive plan may be afforded certain tax benefits in Israel as described below.
Our Board of Directors or the Compensation
Committee, referred to as the “plan administrator,” will administer our amended 2006 stock incentive plan, including
selecting the grantees, determining the number of shares to be subject to each award, determining the exercise or purchase price
of each award, and determining the vesting and exercise periods of each award.
The exercise price of stock options granted
under the 2006 stock incentive plan must be equal to at least 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of
grant; however, in certain circumstances, grants may be made at a lower price to Israeli grantees who are residents of the State
of Israel. If, however, incentive stock options are granted to an employee who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the voting
power of all classes of our stock or the stock of any parent or subsidiary of our company, the exercise price of any incentive
stock option granted must equal at least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date and the maximum term of these incentive
stock options must not exceed five years. The maximum term of all other awards must not exceed 10 years (or five years in the case
of an incentive stock option granted to any participant who owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes
of our stock or the stock of any parent or subsidiary of our company). The plan administrator will determine the exercise or purchase
price (if any) of all other awards granted under the amended 2006 stock incentive plan.
Under the amended 2006 stock incentive plan,
incentive stock options and options to Israeli grantees may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed
of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the participant
only by the participant. Other awards shall be transferable by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and to the extent
and in the manner authorized by the plan administrator by gift or pursuant to a domestic relations order to members of the participant’s
immediate family. The amended 2006 stock incentive plan permits the designation of beneficiaries by holders of awards, including
incentive stock options.
If the service of a participant in the amended
2006 stock incentive plan is terminated for any reason other than cause, the participant may exercise awards that were vested as
of the termination date for a period ending upon the earlier of 12 months from the date of termination (or such shorter or longer
period set forth in the award agreement) or the expiration date of the awards unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator.
If the service of a participant in the amended 2006 stock incentive plan is terminated for cause, the participant may exercise
awards that were vested as of the termination date for a period ending upon the earlier of 14 days from the date of termination
(or such shorter or longer period set forth in the award agreement) or the expiration date of the awards unless otherwise determined
by the plan administrator.
In the event of a corporate transaction, all
awards will terminate unless assumed by the successor corporation. Unless otherwise provided in a participant’s award agreement,
in the event of a corporate transaction and with respect to the portion of each award that is assumed or replaced, then such portion
will automatically become fully vested and exercisable immediately upon termination of a participant’s service if the participant
is terminated by the successor company or us without cause within 12 months after the corporate transaction. With respect to the
portion of each award that is not assumed or replaced, such portion will automatically become fully vested and exercisable immediately
prior to the effective date of the corporate transaction so long as the participant’s service has not been terminated prior
to such date.
In the event of a change in control, except
as otherwise provided in a participant’s award agreement, following a change in control (other than a change in control that
also is a corporate transaction) and upon the termination of a participant’s service without cause within 12 months after
a change in control, each award of such participant that is outstanding at such time will automatically become fully vested and
exercisable immediately upon the participant’s termination. In addition, the stock options and shares of restricted stock
issued to each of our Named Executive Officers are subject to accelerated vesting immediately upon a corporate transaction or a
change in control of our company, as defined in our amended 2006 stock incentive plan.
Under our amended 2006 stock incentive plan,
a corporate transaction is generally defined as:
·
a merger or consolidation in which we are not the surviving entity, except for the principal purpose of changing our company’s
state of incorporation;
·
the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets;
·
the complete liquidation or dissolution of our company;
·
any reverse merger in which we are the surviving entity but our shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to
such merger are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or
otherwise, or in which securities possessing more than forty percent (40%) of the total combined voting power of our outstanding
securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger;
or
·
acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons of beneficial ownership
of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of our outstanding securities but excluding
any such transaction or series of related transactions that the plan administrator determines not to be a corporate transaction
(provided however that the plan administrator shall have no discretion in connection with a corporate transaction for the purchase
of all or substantially all of our shares unless the principal purpose of such transaction is changing our company’s state
of incorporation).
Under our amended 2006 stock incentive
plan, a change of control is defined as:
·
the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons of beneficial ownership of securities possessing
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of our outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made directly to our shareholders and which a majority of the members of our board (who have generally been on our board
for at least 12 months) who are not affiliates or associates of the offeror do not recommend shareholders accept the offer; or
·
a change in the composition of our board over a period of 12 months or less, such that a majority of our board members ceases,
by reason of one or more contested elections for board membership, to be comprised of individuals who were previously directors
of our company.
Unless terminated sooner, the amended 2006
stock incentive plan will automatically terminate on December 31, 2020. Our Board of Directors has the authority to amend, suspend
or terminate our amended 2006 stock incentive plan. No amendment, suspension or termination of the amended 2006 stock incentive
plan shall adversely affect any rights under awards already granted to a participant. To the extent necessary to comply with applicable
provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Internal Revenue Code, the rules of any applicable
stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to awards granted to residents
therein (including the Tax Ordinance), we shall obtain shareholder approval of any such amendment to the 2006 stock incentive plan
in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
Impact of Israeli Tax Law
The awards granted to employees pursuant to
Section 102 of the Tax Ordinance under the amended 2006 stock incentive plan may be designated by us as approved options under
the capital gains alternative, or as approved options under the ordinary income tax alternative.
To qualify for these benefits, certain requirements
must be met, including registration of the options in the name of a trustee. Each option, and any shares of common stock acquired
upon the exercise of the option, must be held by the trustee for a period commencing on the date of grant and deposit into trust
with the trustee and ending 24 months thereafter.
Under the terms of the capital gains alternative,
we may not deduct expenses pertaining to the options for tax purposes.
Under the amended 2006 stock incentive plan,
we may also grant to employees options pursuant to Section 102(c) of the Tax Ordinance that are not required to be held in trust
by a trustee. This alternative, while facilitating immediate exercise of vested options and sale of the underlying shares, will
subject the optionee to the marginal income tax rate of up to 50% as well as payments to the National Insurance Institute and health
tax on the date of the sale of the shares or options. Under the 2006 stock incentive plan, we may also grant to non-employees options
pursuant to Section 3(I) of the Tax Ordinance. Under that section, the income tax on the benefit arising to the optionee upon the
exercise of options and the issuance of common stock is generally due at the time of exercise of the options.
These options shall be further subject to
the terms of the tax ruling that has been obtained by Protalix Ltd. from the Israeli tax authorities in connection with the merger.
Under the tax ruling, the options issued by us in connection with the assumption of Section 102 options previously issued by Protalix
Ltd. under the capital gains alternative shall be issued to a trustee, shall be designated under the capital gains alternative
and the issuance date of the original options shall be deemed the issuance date for the assumed options for the calculation of
the respective holding period.
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation
of our non-employee directors during fiscal year 2015. The fees to our current directors were paid by Protalix Ltd.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
|
|
Option Award(s) ($)
|
|
Total ($)
|
Shlomo Yanai
|
|
200,000
|
|
96,096
|
|
296,096
|
Zeev Bronfeld
|
|
80,000
|
|
|
|
80,000
|
Amos Bar Shalev
|
|
80,000
|
|
|
|
80,000
|
Yodfat Harel Buchris
|
|
80,000
|
|
|
|
80,000
|
Roger D. Kornberg
|
|
55,000
|
|
|
|
55,000
|
Aharon Schwartz
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
Directors’ fees paid to each of Zeev
Bronfeld and Yodfat Harel Buchris are paid to the applicable director’s employer in accordance with arrangements between
the director and the employer.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
Our Compensation Committee currently consists
of Messrs. Bar Shalev and Bronfeld and Mrs. Harel Buchris. No member of our Compensation Committee or any executive officer of
our company or of Protalix Ltd. has a relationship that would constitute an interlocking relationship with executive officers or
directors of another entity. No Compensation Committee member is or was an officer or employee of ours or of Protalix Ltd. Further,
none of our executive officers serves on the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive
officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
Item 13. Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Corporate Governance and Independent Directors
In compliance with the listing requirements of the NYSE MKT,
we have a comprehensive plan of corporate governance for the purpose of defining responsibilities, setting high standards of professional
and personal conduct and assuring compliance with such responsibilities and standards. We currently regularly monitor developments
in the area of corporate governance to ensure we are in compliance with the standards and regulations required by the NYSE MKT.
A summary of our corporate governance measures follows.
Independent Directors
We believe a majority of the members of our Board of Directors
are independent from management. When making determinations from time to time regarding independence, the Board of Directors will
reference the listing standards adopted by the NYSE MKT as well as the independence standards set forth in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under that Act. We anticipate our Board of Directors will analyze
whether a director is independent by evaluating, among other factors, the following:
·
Whether the member of the Board of Directors has any material relationship with us, either directly, or as a partner, shareholder
or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us;
·
Whether the member of the Board of Directors is a current employee of our company or any of our subsidiaries, or was an
employee of our company or any of our subsidiaries within three years preceding the date of determination;
·
Whether the member of the Board of Directors is, or in the three years preceding the date of determination has been, affiliated
with or employed by (i) a present internal or external auditor of our company or any affiliate of such auditor or (ii) any former
internal or external auditor of our company or any affiliate of such auditor, which performed services for us within three years
preceding the date of determination;
·
Whether the member of the Board of Directors is, or in the three years preceding the date of determination has been, part
of an interlocking directorate, in which any of our executive officers serve on the Compensation Committee of another company that
concurrently employs the member as an executive officer;
·
Whether the member of the Board of Directors receives any compensation from us, other than fees or compensation for service
as a member of the Board of Directors and any committee of the Board of Directors and reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred
in connection with such service and for reasonable educational expenses associated with Board of Directors or committee membership
matters;
·
Whether an immediate family member of the member of the Board of Directors is a current executive officer of our company
or was an executive officer of our company within three years preceding the date of determination;
·
Whether an immediate family member of the member of the Board of Directors is, or in the three years preceding the date
of determination has been, affiliated with or employed in a professional capacity by (i) a present internal or external auditor
of ours or any of our affiliates or (ii) any former internal or external auditor of our company or any affiliate of ours which
performed services for us within three years preceding the date of determination; and
·
Whether an immediate family member of the member of the Board of Directors is, or in the three years preceding the date
of determination has been, part of an interlocking directorate, in which any of our executive officers serve on the Compensation
Committee of another company that concurrently employs the immediate family member of the member of the Board of Directors as an
executive officer.
The above list is not exhaustive and we anticipate that the
Audit Committee will consider all other factors which could assist it in its determination that a director will have no material
relationship with us that could compromise that director’s independence.
Under these standards, our Board of Directors has determined
that Messrs. Bar Shalev and Bronfeld and Mrs. Harel Buchris are considered “independent” pursuant to the rules of the
NYSE MKT and Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act. In addition, our Board of Directors has determined that at least two of these
directors are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements and have substantial business experience that results
in their financial sophistication, qualifying them for membership on our audit committee. Our Board of Directors has also determined
that Mr. Bar Shalev, Mr. Bronfeld, Mrs. Harel Buchris, Dr. Kornberg, Dr. Schwartz and Mr. Yanai are “independent” pursuant
to the rules of the NYSE MKT.
The position of chairman of the board is not held by our chief
executive officer at this time. The Board of Directors does not have a policy mandating the separation of these functions. We believe
it is in our best interest that Mr. Yanai serve as the chairman of our board. This decision was based on Mr. Yanai’s vast
global operating experience in the life-science and pharmaceutical and agro-chemicals industry as well as the global perspective
he brings to our Board of Directors, incorporating his industry and board leadership experience and his distinguished military
service. Our non-management directors hold formal meetings, separate from management, at least twice per year. We have no formal
policy regarding attendance by our directors at annual shareholders meetings, although we encourage such attendance and anticipate
most of our directors will attend these meetings. Messrs. Yanai, Manor, Bronfeld, Bar Shalev and Dr. Schwartz and Mrs. Harel
Buchris attended our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders.
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Our Board of Directors oversees an enterprise-wide approach
to risk management, designed to support the achievement of business objectives, including organizational and strategic objectives,
to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance shareholder value. The involvement of our Board of Directors in setting
our business strategy is a key part of its assessment of management’s plans for risk management and its determination of
what constitutes an appropriate level of risk for the company. The participation of our Board of Directors in our risk oversight
process includes receiving regular reports from members of senior management on areas of material risk to our company, including
operational, financial, legal and regulatory, and strategic and reputational risks. While the full board has the ultimate oversight
responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of the board also have responsibility for risk management. For
example, financial risks, including internal controls, are overseen by the audit committee and risks that may be implicated by
our executive compensation programs are overseen by the compensation committee. Upon identification of a risk, the assigned board
committee or our full Board of Directors discuss or review risk management and risk mitigation strategies. Additional review or
reporting on enterprise risks is conducted as needed or as requested by our Board of Directors or a committee thereof.