ELTK Eltek Ltd

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected by any of these risks. If any of these risks occur, the value of our ordinary shares and our other securities may decline. You should carefully consider the risk factors discussed under the caption “ Risk Factors ” in this Prospectus and in any other filings that we make with the SEC subsequent to the date of this prospectus which are incorporated herein by reference, and in any supplement to this prospectus, before making your investment decision.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry

We have a history of operating losses and may not be able to achieve and sustain long term profitable operations.  We may not have sufficient resources to fund our operations in the future.

 

           In the year ended December 31, 2018, we incurred a net loss of $2.6 million, and have not maintained consistent profitable operations in the past. We have incurred an accumulated deficit of approximately $21.3 million since inception and our working capital deficiency amounted to $6.1 million as of March 31, 2019. There can be no assurance that we will be able to operate profitably in the future.  To the extent that we incur operating losses in the future, we may have insufficient working capital to fund our operations.  If we do not generate sufficient cash from operations, we will be required to obtain additional financing or reduce our level of expenditure.  Such financing may not be available in the future, or, if available, may not be on terms favorable to us.  If adequate funds are not available to us, our business, and results of operations and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.

 

We will require additional capital in the future, which may not be available to us .

 

As of March 31, 2019, we had $1.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and had a working capital deficit of $6.1 million. On April 2019, we concluded a rights offering, in which we raised net proceeds of approximately $3.2 million.  Out of this amount, approximately $1.7 million was used to repay debt and the remainder is being used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including possible investments in plant and equipment.  The lack of sufficient working capital could negatively impact our ability to compete effectively in the future. To the extent that we incur operating losses in the future or are unable to generate free cash flows from our business, we may not have sufficient working capital to fund our operations and will be required to obtain additional financing. Our working capital requirements and cash flow provided by our operating and financing activities are likely to vary greatly from quarter to quarter, depending on the following factors: (i) the timing of orders and deliveries; (ii) net profit in the period; (iii) the purchase of new equipment; (iv) the build‑up of inventories; (v) the payment terms offered to our customers; (vi) the payment terms offered by our suppliers; and (vii) approval of the current or additional lines of credit and long-term loans from banks.

 

As of March 31, 2019, we had revolving lines of credit aggregating NIS 23.7 million (approximately $6.5 million) with our banks and from a non-banking financial institution, of which $4.4 million was utilized as of such date, and $1.3 million of long-term loans (including current maturities) from banks and fixed assets suppliers. In addition, as of December 31, 2018 we had shareholders’ loans in the amount of NIS 10 million ($2.7 million) not including accrued interest, from entities within the Nistec group controlled by the Chairman of our Board of Directors, Yitzhak Nissan.  As of March 31, 2019, the total principal amount of the loans received by us from Nistec was NIS 12 million (approximately $ 3.3 million). As of December 31, 2019, we were not in compliance with our banks’ covenants. These credit facilities may not remain available to us in the future.  Furthermore, under certain circumstances the banks may require us to accelerate or make immediate payment in full of our credit facilities.  All our assets are pledged as security for our liabilities to our banks, whose consents are required for any future pledge of such assets.

 

In November 2017, Nistec Ltd. provided a guarantee for a NIS 3.0 million (approximately $840,000) loan from a bank, and in August 2018 it also provided a guarantee for a NIS 7.0 million (approximately $1,930,000) loan from a non-banking financial institution. On April 17, 2019, we repaid the NIS 3.0 million bank loan. On August 8, 2019 Nistec agreed that in the event that the guarantee on the NIS 7.0 million loan will be exercised by the non-banking financial institution, we will be required to repay Nistec Golan Ltd. on October 1, 2020. In addition, Nistec Golan guaranteed NIS 2.0 million (approximately $530,000) of our existing line of credit to a bank, which we were required to repay by April 30, 2019. During February 2019, our audit committee approved the exercise of the option that Nistec Golan will repay the debt owed to the bank, and in such event, the guarantee will convert into a loan from Nistec Golan, which is due on May 1, 2020. The proceeds from this offering were used to repay such debt, and therefore, the audit committee’s approval regarding the exercise of the option described above was cancelled upon completion of the rights offering. In February 2019, Nistec Golan (which acquired the loans issued by and assumed the guarantees of Nistec Ltd.) informed us that it intended to convert approximately $2.5 million of these loans in connection with a planned rights offering. Subsequently, we were informed that instead of the conversion of debt owed to it, Nistec Golan would participate in the rights offering by way of a cash investment of at least $2.5 million, and therefore, the principal amount of NIS 12 million loans (approximately $ 3.3 million) remain outstanding.

In March 2019, we issued at no charge to the holders of our ordinary shares subscription rights to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,380,920 shares, such that each shareholder received five (5) subscription rights for every three (3) ordinary shares owned on the record date, at a price of $1.464 per ordinary share. We raised $3.4 million in gross proceeds from this offering (the “Rights Offering”).  The proceeds of the Rights Offering were used to reduce our drawing under our lines of credit by NIS 6.0 million (approximately $1.7 million), as well as for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including the possible investment in plant and equipment.

As of August 8, 2019 the aggregate principal amount of the loans received by us from Nistec is NIS 12 million (approximately $ 3.3 million). Nistec has agreed that 2 million of these loans will become due on May 1, 2020 subject to the existence of sufficient financial resources for the repayment of this amount and the remaining loans aggregating  NIS 10 million (approximately $ 2.8 million) will become due on or after October 1, 2020. In addition, the company and Nistec have agreed to enter into discussions to renegotiate the term and interest provisions of the remaining loans aggregating NIS 10 million (approximately $ 2.8 million), subject to audit committee, board and shareholder approval.

 

We are not in compliance with financial covenants in our loan agreements

 

We are subject to financial covenants in our loan agreements with the banks that provide us with our credit facilities and long-term loans. Our compliance with the financial covenants is measured annually based on our annual audited financial statements. As of December 31, of each of the three years ended December 31, 2018, we were not in compliance with these covenants; however, one bank granted us a waiver for such non-compliance until the publication of financial statements as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, we were not in compliance with our bank covenants. On February 2019, the banks granted us a waiver from such non-compliance. We are required by one bank to meet these covenants in our financial statements for December 31, 2019 (to be issued no later than May 1, 2020) and the other bank granted us a waiver from such non-compliance, and adjusted the financial covenants, to be met in our financial statements for December 31, 2019 (to be issued not later than 120 days from December 31, 2019).

 

These credit facilities may not remain available to us in the future.  Furthermore, under certain circumstances the banks may require us to accelerate or make immediate payment in full of our credit facilities.  All our assets are encumbered as security for our liabilities to our banks, whose consents are required for any future pledge of such assets. The borrowings from our banks are secured by specific liens on certain assets, by a first priority charge on the rest of our now-owned or after-acquired assets and by a fixed lien on goodwill (intangible assets) and insurance rights (rights to proceeds on insured assets in the event of damage).  In addition, the agreements prohibit us from selling or otherwise transferring any assets except in the ordinary course of business or from placing a lien on our assets without the banks’ consent.

 

           Both banks have the right to demand immediate repayment of the loans and lines of credit in the event of non-compliance with the financial covenants or a change of control in our company, if such a change occurred without their prior approval. Our failure to remain in compliance with each of the banks’ covenants, obtain waivers, negotiate agreements with new covenant terms, or obtain additional financing, if required, may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial position. There is considerable doubt that we will retain compliance with the bank covenants during 2019.

 

We are dependent on one-of-a-kind machinery that may malfunction and may not be easily replaced.

 

The proper function of our manufacturing equipment is an important element for effectively operating our business. We own and use several unique manufacturing machines, some of which are aging and sometimes malfunction, causing disruptions and occasionally even cessation of our manufacturing activities, which adversely affects our business. It is possible that substantial funds may be required to repair or replace our unique machinery, which may not be available to us. Further, the replacement of certain machinery could be a long process. Machinery failure could cause a cessation of our manufacturing activities for a significant period of time, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Key customers account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of a key customer would have an adverse impact on our business results.

 

               In the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, a group of nine (9) affiliated companies accounted for 12.0%, 14.6%, and 16.3% of our total revenues, respectively and another group of four (4) affiliated companies accounted for 9.3%, 10.2%, and 5.9% of our total revenue, respectively. We expect that a significant portion of our future revenues will continue to be dependent on a small number of customers. If we are unable to retain our key customers, or maintain our level of business with such customers, or, if we are unable to attract sufficient new business to compensate for the loss of or reduction in business from any of our key customers, our results of operations and financial condition would be adversely affected.

 

Our results of operations may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations.

Our revenues and expenses are denominated in NIS, dollars and euros. Due to the different proportions of currencies our revenues and expenses are denominated in, fluctuations in rates of exchange between NIS and other currencies may affect our operating results and financial condition. The NIS value of our dollar and euro denominated revenues are negatively impacted by the depreciation of the dollar and the Euro against the NIS. The average exchange rate for the NIS against the dollar was 0.1% lower in 2018 than in 2017, which had a minor impact on our operating results in 2018.  In the past, the NIS exchange rate against the dollar and other foreign currencies fluctuated, generally reflecting inflation rate differentials.  We cannot predict any future trends in the rate of inflation in Israel or the rate of depreciation or appreciation of the NIS against the dollar.  If NIS value of our dollar or Euro denominated revenues decreases, our results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

           We are currently not engaged in hedging transactions.  If we were to decide to enter into any hedging transactions in the future in order to protect ourselves in part from currency fluctuations, we may not be successful in our hedging efforts, or such transactions, if entered into, may not materially reduce the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on our results of operations.  Such hedging transactions may not necessarily mitigate the longer-term impact of currency fluctuations on the operating costs of our business operations and may result in additional expenses.

 

Unfavorable national and global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

           During periods of slowing economic activity, our customers may reduce their demand for our products, technology and professional services, which would reduce our sales, and our business, operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected. The global and domestic economies continue to face a number of economic challenges, including threatened sovereign defaults, credit downgrades, restricted credit for businesses and consumers and potentially falling demand for a variety of products and services. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, could result in longer sales cycles, slower adoption of new technologies and increased price competition for our products and services. We could also be exposed to credit risk and payment delinquencies on our accounts receivable, which are not covered by collateral.

 

           Significant portions of our business are conducted outside the markets in which our products and solutions are manufactured or generally sold, and accordingly, we often export a substantial number of products into such markets. We may, therefore, be denied access to potential customers or suppliers or denied the ability to ship products from any of our subsidiaries into the countries in which we currently operate or wish to operate, as a result of economic, legislative, political and military conditions, including hostilities and acts of terrorism, in such countries.

 

           We may also be required in the future to increase our reserves for doubtful accounts.  In addition, the fair value of some of our assets may decrease as a result of an uncertain economy and as a result, we may be required to record impairment charges in the future. If global economic and market conditions or economic conditions in key markets remain uncertain or weaken further, our financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected.

 

We are subject to environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with those laws and regulations requires us to incur costs and we are subject to fines or other sanctions for non-compliance.

           Our operations are regulated under various environmental laws and regulations that govern, among other things, the discharge of hazardous materials into the air and water, as well as the handling, storage and disposal of such materials.  Compliance with these laws and regulations is a major consideration for PCB manufacturers because metals and chemicals classified as hazardous substances are used in the manufacturing process.  Since May 2003, our environmental management system has been ISO 14001 certified. This certification was based on successful implementation of environmental management requirements and includes ongoing monitoring of our processes, raw materials and products.  The certification is subject to periodic compliance audits conducted by the Standards Institution of Israel. If, in the future, we are found to be in violation of environmental laws or regulations, we could be liable for damages, costs of remedial actions, may be subject to criminal prosecution including a range of potential penalties, and could also be subject to revocation of permits necessary to conduct our business or any part thereof.  Any such liability or revocation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  Environmental laws could become more stringent over time, imposing greater compliance costs and increasing risks and penalties associated with a violation. A shortage of water in Israel may reduce the allocation of water available to manufacturing plants, including ours, which could affect the concentrations of pollutants in our wastewater, making it harder to comply with the foregoing regulations, in which event we would be required to invest additional funds to improve our wastewater treatment systems.

           The cost of compliance with environmental laws and regulations depends in part on the requirements in such laws and regulations and on the method selected to implement them.  If new or more restrictive standards are imposed, the cost of compliance could be very high and have an adverse impact on our revenues and results of operations if we cannot recover those costs through the rates that we charge our customers.

           Our customers are also required to comply with various government regulations, legal requirements and industry standards, including many of the industry-specific regulations discussed above.  Our customers’ failure to comply could affect their businesses, which in turn would affect our sales to them.  In addition, if our customers are required by regulation or other requirements to make changes in their product lines, these changes could significantly disrupt particular programs for these customers and create inefficiencies in our business.

We have in the past been, and currently are, subject to claims and litigation relating to environmental matters.  If we are found to be in violation of environmental laws, we could be liable for damages and costs of remediation and may be subject to a halt in production, which may adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

           We have in the past been, and currently are, subject to claims and litigation relating to environmental matters.  We may be subject to further environmental claims alleging that we are in violation of environmental laws. If we are unsuccessful in such claims and other future claims and litigations or if actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and judgments, we may be exposed to losses that could be material to our company.

           During 2014, 2015 and 2016, we received notices from Meitav, the water company of the Petach Tikva municipality, requiring payment of fees totaling NIS 3.8 million ($980,000) excluding VAT, for discharges of industrial wastewater allegedly not meeting the applicable standards into the municipal sewage system.  The payment demands were made on the basis of several samplings conducted by Meitav in our premises during 2013-2015. In December 2015, we completed the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility. In 2016, six (6) wastewater samples were inspected by Meitav and were found to be in compliance with applicable standards. We reached a settlement with Meitav in July 2016.

           In October 2015, we filed an application for an emissions permit with the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection, or the Ministry.  In January 2016, we received a notice of non-compliance from the Ministry stating that the application was incomplete and that we are in breach of the Clean Air Law, 5768-2008 and the Licensing of Businesses Law, 5728-1968. We submitted amended applications and conducted several discussions with the Ministry in 2016 and 2017 and received the emissions permit in July 2017.

In March 2019, representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection, or the Ministry, inspected the Company’s premises and as a result issued a warning of a breach of the Clean Air Law, 5768-2008 and a warning of Hazardous Materials Law (1993). The Company was invited to a hearing at the Ministry during August 2019. In regards to some of the findings, the company believes that it has not violated such laws. The Company believes that during the hearing and after presenting to the Ministry the correction made for some of the findings, the issue will be resolved but there can be no assurance that our standpoint will be accepted.

           If we are found to be in violation of environmental laws, then in addition to fines, we could be liable for damages, costs of remedial actions and a range of potential penalties and could also be subject to a shutdown of our factory. Such sanctions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Rapid changes in the Israeli and international electronics industries and recessionary pressures may adversely affect our business.

Our principal customers include manufacturers of defense and aerospace, medical, industrial, telecom and networking equipment, as well as contract electronic manufacturers. The electronics industry is subject to rapid technological changes and products obsolescence. Discontinuance or modification of products containing PCBs manufactured by our company could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, the electronics industry is subject to sharp economic cycles.  Increased or excess production capacity by our competitors in the PCB industry and recessionary pressure in major electronics industry segments may result in intensified price competition and reduced margins.  As a result, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. A decline in the Israeli and international electronic markets may cause a decline in our revenues and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition in the future.

Because competition in the PCB market is intense, our business, operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected.

The global PCB industry is highly fragmented and intensely competitive.  It is characterized by rapidly changing technology, frequent new product introductions and rapidly changing customer requirements.  We compete principally in the market for complex, flex-rigid and rigid multi-layer PCBs.  In the Israeli market we mainly compete with PCB Technologies Ltd. and major international PCB exporters, mainly from South East Asia, Europe and North America. In March 2018 it was published that PCB Technologies signed an agreement for a significant investment of NIS 124.2 million (approximately $35 million) investment in the company, which could improve its competitiveness.

           In the European market we mainly compete with Advanced Circuit Boards NV (Belgium), AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG (Austria), Dyconex and Cicor (Switzerland), Graphics, Exception PCB and Invotec (United Kingdom), Cistelaier and Somacis (Italy), Schoeller-Electronics GmbH (formerly Ruwel Werke GmbH) (Germany) and certain other German companies.  In the North American market we mainly compete with TTM, Inc. (previously known as DDi Corp. and Viasystems), KCA Electronics Inc., Lenthor Engineering, Printed Circuits, Inc., Teledyne and certain other American companies.

           Many of these competitors have significantly greater financial and marketing resources than us.  Our current competition in the rigid PCB segment is mainly from PCB manufacturers in South East Asia (mainly in China), which have substantially lower production costs than us.  Continued competitive pressures could cause us to lose significant market share.

           In addition, these competitors may respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies or adapt more quickly to changes in customer requirements than we do. We must continually develop improved manufacturing processes to meet our customers’ needs for complex products, and our manufacturing process technology is generally not subject to significant proprietary protection. During recessionary periods in the electronics industry, our strategy of providing quick-turn services, an integrated manufacturing solution, and responsive customer service may take on reduced importance to our customers. As a result, we may need to compete more on the basis of price, which would cause our gross margins to decline.

We are dependent upon a select number of suppliers for timely delivery of key raw materials and the loss of one or more of these suppliers would adversely affect our manufacturing ability.  If these suppliers delay or discontinue the manufacture or supply of these raw materials, we may experience delays in production and shipments, increased costs and cancellation of orders for our products.

We currently obtain our key raw materials from a select number of suppliers.  We do not have long-term supply contracts with our suppliers and our principal suppliers may not continue to supply raw materials to us at current levels or at all.  Any delays in delivery of or shortages in these raw materials could interrupt and delay manufacturing of our products and may result in the cancellation of orders for our products.

As the majority of PCB manufacturing is centered in South East Asia, raw material suppliers may focus their attention and give higher priority to manufacturers in those areas, which may interrupt the supply of raw materials to us.  In addition, these suppliers could discontinue the manufacture or supply of these raw materials at any time. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, our purchases from one supplier accounted for 22.6%, 22.4% and 17.9% of our total consolidated raw material costs, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2018, our purchases from two (2) suppliers accounted for 24.7% and 19.4% of our total of consolidated raw material costs, respectively. We may not be able to identify and integrate alternative sources of supply in a timely fashion. Any transition to alternate suppliers may result in delays in production and shipment and increased expenses and may limit our ability to deliver products to our customers.

If a raw material or component supplier fails to satisfy our product quality standards, including standards relating to “conflict minerals” it could harm our customer relationships.  Furthermore, if we are unable to identify an alternative source of supply, we may have to modify our products or a large portion of our production process to use a substitute raw material, which may cause delays in production and shipments, increased design and manufacturing costs and increased prices for our products.

We may not succeed in our efforts to expand into the U.S. market.  If we are unsuccessful, our future revenues and profitability would be adversely affected.

           Our business plan assumes an increase in revenues to the U.S. market.  However, our efforts to increase sales to the U.S. market may not succeed and sales to the medical, defense and aerospace industries may be affected by several factors, including cutbacks in U.S. government spending, and this may not become a substantial market for us. If we are unsuccessful in such efforts, our future revenues and profitability would be adversely affected. In order to sell PCBs to the U.S. defense market we were required to obtain International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration from the U.S. Department of State, which is subject to periodic extension. There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain our ITAR certification. In the event of a change in control of our company, the U.S. Department of State may investigate the transfer of control and oppose the transaction.  The loss of our ITAR certification could adversely affect our future revenues and profitability.

 

We may be subject to the requirements of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual for our facility security clearance, which is a prerequisite to our ability to work on classified contracts for the U.S. government.

 

           A facility security clearance is required in order to be awarded and perform classified contracts for the U.S Department of Defense, or the DoD, and certain other agencies of the U.S. government. To become a cleared entity, we must comply with the requirements of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, or the NISPOM, and any other applicable U.S. government industrial security regulations. Further, due to the fact that a significant portion of our voting equity is owned by a non-U.S. entity, we are required to be governed by and operate in accordance with the terms and requirements of a Special Security Agreement, or the SSA.

 

           If we were to violate the terms and requirements of the SSA, the NISPOM, or any other applicable U.S. government industrial security regulations (which may apply to us under the terms of classified contracts), we could lose our security clearance. We cannot be certain that we will be able to maintain our security clearance. If for some reason our security clearance is invalidated or terminated, we may not be able to continue to perform on classified contracts and would not be able to enter into new classified contracts, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

We may encounter difficulties with our international operations and sales that may have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability.

           Contracts with U.S. military agencies, as well as military equipment manufacturers in Europe, are subject to certain regulatory restrictions and approvals, which we may not be able to comply with or obtain.  We may not be able to maintain or increase international market demand for our products.  To the extent that we cannot do so, our business, operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

           International operations are subject to inherent risks, including the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Significant political developments could also have a materially adverse effect on us. In the United States, potential or actual changes in fiscal, defense appropriations, tax and labor policies could have uncertain and unexpected consequences that materially impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. In the U.K., “Brexit,” the referendum in which voters approved an exit from the European Union, or E.U., could lead to legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations which could adversely affect our business and financial condition. It is currently unclear if the U.K. and the E.U. will be able to reach an agreement regarding the U.K.’s formal exit from the E.U., and political changes in the U.K. following the “Brexit” referendum and other factors, leave it unclear when exactly the U.K. will exit and on what terms.

 

Compliance with the conditions of a new business permit issued in 2018 or a new business permit, if required,  may be costly. We may  become subject to  certain sanctions, including significant fines, criminal proceedings and in an unlikely event an order shutting down our factory

Israeli law required us to obtain a business permit in order to continue operating our business. Obtaining such business permit is a long and expensive process. We received a new permit in 2018 for the period ending December 31, 2099. However, as a result of a new regulation, we expect to receive a notice that the term of the new permit will be for only 10 years. The permit contains certain conditions, including conditions imposed by the Israeli Ministry for Environmental Protection, and a building permit, which includes additional conditions, which we are required to comply with. According to applicable regulation, the authorities may impose new conditions to our existing permit. Compliance with the present and future conditions, if any, may be costly. If we are unable to comply with such requirements, certain sanctions may be imposed, including significant fines, criminal proceedings and in an unlikely event an order shutting down our factory.

We are currently in discussions with the municipality in which our plant is located to review the necessity of obtaining a new business permit as a result of the transfer of shares from Nistec Ltd. to Nistec Golan in December 2018. In the event we will be required to obtain a new business permit, we may be required to comply with new conditions imposed by the authorities, and our compliance with all the existing conditions in the permit may be reexamined. Obtaining a new business permit, if required, will expose us to the above risks and substantial costs.

Our quarterly operating results fluctuate significantly. Results of operations in any period should not be considered indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

           Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and are likely to fluctuate significantly in the future.  Our future operating results will depend on many factors, including (but not limited to) the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the foregoing factors, quarterly revenues and operating results are difficult to forecast, and it is likely that there will be significant differences between the results of one quarter to another.

 

           Quarterly sales and operating results are also difficult to forecast because they are dependent almost exclusively on the volume and timing of orders during the quarter and our customers generally operate with a short delivery cycle and expect delivery of a significant portion of the order within 30 working days.  The delivery of such orders is subject to the number of available working days during the quarter, which can fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter due to holidays and vacations. Certain prototype and pre-production runs require even shorter turn-around times stemming from customers’ product launches and design changes. In addition, there might be sudden increases, decreases or cancellations of orders for which there are commitments, which further characterize the electronics industry and the companies that operate in it. The industry practice is to make such changes without any penalties, except for the time and materials expended on the order.

 

           Our expenses are, in significant part, relatively fixed in the short-term.  If revenue levels fall below expectations, our net income is likely to be disproportionately adversely affected because a proportionately smaller amount of the expenses varies with our revenues.  We may not be able to be profitable on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.  An ongoing pattern of cancellations, reductions in orders and delays could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.  Due to all of the foregoing, it is very difficult to predict revenues for any future quarter with any significant degree of accuracy.  Accordingly, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as indications of future performance.

 

Our products and related manufacturing processes are often highly complex and therefore we may be delayed in product shipment. Also our products may at times contain manufacturing defects, which may subject us to product liability and warranty claims.

           Our business involves highly complex manufacturing processes that are subject to periodic failure.  Process failures have occurred in the past and have resulted in delays in product shipments, and process failures may occur in the future.  Furthermore, we face an inherent business risk of exposure to warranty and product liability claims, which are likely to be substantial in light of the use of our products in business-critical applications.  Our products may fail to perform as expected or may be alleged to result in bodily injury or property damage. If we were to manufacture and deliver products to our customers that contain defects, whether caused by a design, manufacturing or component failure, or by deficiencies in the manufacturing processes, it may result in delayed shipments to customers and reduced or cancelled customer orders.  In addition, if any of our products are or are alleged to be defective, we may be required to participate in a recall of such products.  Over the years we have been involved in claims or litigation relating to allegedly defective products. A successful warranty or product liability claim against us in excess of our established warranty and legal reserves or available insurance coverage, or a requirement that we participate in a product recall may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows and may harm our business reputation, which could lead to customer cancellations or non-renewals.

Our operating margins may be affected as a result of price increases for our principal raw materials.

           In recent years, our suppliers have increased their prices for most of our principal raw materials. We have faced pressure to raise our prices for our products to compensate for supplier price increases in order to maintain our operating margins, which we may not be able to achieve due to the competitive market. We have been taking steps to increase our prices since the third quarter of 2018, however, such price increases may result in reduced orders for our products. Additional price increases for our principal raw materials may materially affect our operating margins and future profitability.

Obstacles in our transition to a new enterprise resource planning system may adversely affect our business and results of operations and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

           We have engaged in a multi-year process of conforming the majority of our operations onto one global enterprise resource planning system, or ERP. The ERP is designed to improve the efficiency of our supply chain and financial transaction processes, accurately maintain our books and records, and provide information important to the operation of the business to our management team. In the third quarter of 2017 we decided, due to lack of human and financial resources and unfavorable cost-benefits, to withhold implementation of ERP system. The ERP system was then fully amortized and is not fully supported. In addition, we were notified that the hardware that the ERP runs on, will not be supported after the end of 2019 and the operating system of the hardware is at high risk of not being supported in the near future. The implementation of the ERP may continue in the future, which will require significant investment of human and financial resources, and we may experience significant delays, increased costs and other difficulties as a result. Any significant disruption or deficiency in the design and implementation of the ERP could have a material adverse effect on our ability to fulfill and invoice customer orders, apply receipts, place purchase orders with suppliers, and make disbursements, and could negatively impact data processing and electronic communications among business locations, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated financial condition or results of operations. While we have invested significant resources in planning and project management, significant implementation issues may arise.

Breaches of network or information technology security, natural disasters or terrorist attacks could have an adverse effect on our business.

           Breaches of network or information technology (IT) security, natural disasters, pandemics, terrorist acts or acts of war may cause equipment failures or disrupt our systems and operations.  Although we have not become aware of any of these events as of the date of this annual report, we expect that our inability to operate our facilities as a result of such events, even for a limited period of time, may result in significant expenses and/or loss of market share to other competitors in the global PCB industry.  While we maintain insurance coverage for some of these events, the potential liabilities associated with these events could exceed the insurance coverage we maintain.  In addition, a failure to protect the privacy of customer and employee confidential data against breaches of network or IT security could result in damage to our reputation.  Any of these occurrences could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

           In particular, both unsuccessful and successful cyber-attacks on companies have increased in frequency, scope and potential harm in recent years.  We have been subject, and will likely continue to be subject, to attempts to breach the security of our networks and IT infrastructure through cyber-attack, malware, computer viruses and other means of unauthorized access. However, to date, we have not been become aware that we were subject to cyber-attacks or other cyber incidents which, individually or in the aggregate, resulted in a material impact to our operations or financial condition.  While we use firewall and anti-virus systems, there is no assurance that cyber-attacks will always be blocked or discovered, and as a result, we may encounter damages to our computer network servers, manipulation of our data (including production, financial and other information).

If our workforce will be represented by a labor union we could incur additional costs or experience work stoppages as a result of the renegotiation of our labor contracts.

           In November 2011, we were notified by the General Federation of Labor in Israel, or the Histadrut, that more than one-third of our employees in Israel had decided to join the Histadrut and that they established an employees’ union committee.  In 2012, a significant portion of our employees decided to resign their membership in the Histadrut, which then ceased to represent our employees. If our employees are represented by a union in the future, we could incur additional costs, experience work stoppages, either of which could adversely affect our business operations, including through a loss of revenue and strained relationships with customers.

We are required to comply with “conflict minerals” rules which impose costs on us, may make our supply chain more complex, and could adversely impact our business.

           We are subject to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, that will require us to perform due diligence, disclose and report whether our products contain conflict minerals. President Trump’s administration has indicated that the Dodd-Frank Act will be under further scrutiny and some of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act may be revised, repealed or amended. In April 2017, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, announced that it was suspending enforcement of portions of the conflict minerals regulations enacted under the Dodd-Frank Act following a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The implementation of these requirements and any changes effected by the Trump administration could adversely affect the sourcing, availability and pricing of the materials used in the manufacture of components used in our products. In addition, we will likely incur additional costs to comply with the disclosure requirements, including costs related to conducting diligence procedures to determine the sources of conflict minerals that may be used in or necessary to the production of our products and, if applicable, potential changes to our products, processes or sources of supply as a consequence of such verification activities. It is also possible that we may face reputational harm if we determine that certain of our products contain minerals not determined to be conflict-free or if we are unable to alter our products, processes or sources of supply to avoid use of such materials. Furthermore, we may encounter challenges in satisfying those customers that require that all of the components of our products be certified as conflict free, and if we cannot satisfy these customers, they may choose a competitor’s products.

Increased regulation associated with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions could impose significant additional costs on operations.

           Various governments and governmental agencies have adopted or are contemplating statutory and regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change and emissions of greenhouse gases. International treaties or agreements may also result in increasing regulation of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, including the introduction of greenhouse gas emissions trading mechanisms.  Any such law or regulation regarding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions could impose significant costs on our operations and on the operations of our customers and suppliers, including increased energy, capital equipment, environmental monitoring, reporting and other compliance costs.  The potential costs of “allowances,” “offsets” or “credits” that may be part of potential cap-and-trade programs or similar proposed regulatory measures are still uncertain.  Any adopted future climate change and greenhouse gas laws or regulations could negatively impact our ability, and that of our customers and suppliers, to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to such laws or regulations. These statutory and regulatory initiatives, if enacted, may impact our operations directly or indirectly through our suppliers or customers.  Until the timing, scope and extent of any future law or regulation becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We depend on key personnel for the success of our business.

           Our success depends, to a significant extent, on the continued active participation of our executive officers and other key personnel.  In addition, there is significant competition for employees with technical expertise in our industry.  In order to succeed we would need to be able to:

           We cannot make assurances that we will be successful in attracting, integrating, motivating and retaining key personnel.  If we are unable to retain our key personnel and attract additional qualified personnel as and when needed, our business may be adversely affected.

From time to time, we may be named as a defendant in actions involving the alleged violation of  labor laws related to employment practices, wages and benefits.

              

             From time to time we are involved in labor related legal proceedings arising from the operation of our business.  During the last year we recruited a new management team and reduced our overall headcount, which actions may expose our company to increased labor related legal proceedings.

We may fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which 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.

           Our efforts to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, governing internal control and procedures for financial reporting 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 significant resources.  We may identify material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our assessments of our internal control over financial reporting.  Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in investigations 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.

Technological change may adversely affect the market acceptance of our products.

           Technological change in the PCB industry is rapid and continual.  To satisfy customers’ needs for increasingly complex products, PCB manufacturers must continue to develop improved manufacturing processes, provide innovative solutions and invest in new facilities and equipment.  To the extent we determine that new technologies and equipment are required to remain competitive, the acquisition and implementation of such technologies and equipment are likely to require significant capital investment.  We expect that we will need to invest large amounts in the next few years to replace or refurbish old equipment and to remain competitive in the market.  This capital may not be available to us in the future for such purposes and any new manufacturing processes developed by us may not become or remain commercially viable.  As a result, we may not be able to maintain our current technological position.  Furthermore, the PCB industry may in the future encounter competition from new technologies that may reduce demand for PCBs or may render existing technology less competitive or obsolete.  Our future process development efforts may not be successful or the emergence of new technologies, industry standards or customer requirements may render our technology, equipment or processes obsolete or uncompetitive.

We compete with PCB manufacturers in Asia whose manufacturing costs are lower than ours.

           In recent years, many electronics manufacturers have moved their commercial production to Asia to take advantage of its exceptionally large, relatively low-cost labor pool.  The continued outsourcing of production to the Far-East is likely to result in additional commercial market share potential for PCB manufacturers with a strong presence and reputation in such markets. Accordingly, we will need to compete with PCB manufacturers whose costs of production may be substantially lower than ours. This competition may limit our ability to price our products profitably, which could significantly harm our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we distinguish ourselves by focusing on developing cutting edge technologies for high-end products, in order to serve our sophisticated defense, aerospace and medical customers. This may limit our ability to reach certain clientele, which demands lower-end products in order to reduce its costs.

The measures we take in order to protect our intellectual property may not be effective or sufficient.

           Our success depends in part on our proprietary techniques and manufacturing expertise, particularly in the area of complex multi-layer and flex-rigid PCBs.  We currently rely on a combination of trade secrets, copyright and trademark law, together with non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements, to establish and protect the proprietary rights and technology used in our products.  Like many companies in the PCB industry, we do not hold any patents.  We believe that, because of the rapid pace of technological change in the electronics industry, the legal protections for our products are less significant factors in our success than the knowledge, ability and experience of our employees, the frequency of product enhancements and the timeliness and quality of support services that we provide.

           We generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, customers and potential customers and limit the access to and the distribution of our proprietary information.  Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology without authorization, or to develop similar technology independently.  Further, the laws of certain countries in which we sell our products do not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Substantial unauthorized use of our products could have a material adverse effect on our business.  We cannot make assurances that our means of protecting our proprietary rights will be adequate or that our competitors will not independently develop similar technology.

Claims that our products infringe upon the intellectual property of third parties may require us to incur significant costs.

           While we do not believe that our products and proprietary rights infringe upon the proprietary rights of others, third parties may assert infringement claims against us or claims that we have violated a patent or infringed on a copyright, trademark or other proprietary right belonging to them.  Any infringement claim, even one without merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources to defend against the claim.  Moreover, a successful claim of product infringement against us or a settlement could require us to pay substantial amounts or obtain a license to continue to use the technology that is the subject of the claim, or otherwise restrict or prohibit our use of the technology.  We might not be able to obtain a license from the third party asserting the claim on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.  We also may not be able to obtain a license from another provider of suitable alternative technology to permit us to continue offering the product.  Infringement claims asserted against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

           During the last several years, a supplier of one of our software packages has requested to conduct an audit of our operations to verify that we do not breach any intellectual property rights it allegedly owns.  We believe that we have fully, diligently and timely complied with our obligation toward the supplier.  We also believe that the supplier has no right to conduct any audit of our products or services and such audit may cause us to breach confidentiality obligations to other entities, and therefore replied that there were no grounds for his request.  If we are found to be in violation of such supplier’s intellectual property rights, we could be liable for compensation and costs of an unknown amount.  Such liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our products and product components need to meet certain industry standards.

Our products and product components need to meet certain standards for the aerospace, defense, and other industries to which we market our products.  In addition, new industry standards in the aviation and defense industries could cause some or all of our products and services to become obsolete and unmarketable, which would adversely affect our results of operations.  Noncompliance with any of these standards could limit our sales and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We may be required to make payments to satisfy our indemnification obligations.

           We have agreements with our directors and senior officers which may require us, subject to Israeli law and certain limitations in the agreements, to indemnify our directors and senior officers for certain liabilities and expenses that may be imposed on them due to acts performed, or failures to act, in their capacity as office holders as defined in the Israeli Companies Law, 5759-1999, or the Israeli Companies Law.  These liabilities may include  financial liabilities imposed by judgments or settlements in favor of third parties, and reasonable litigation expenses imposed by a court in relation to criminal charges from which the indemnitee was acquitted or criminal proceedings in which the indemnitee was convicted of an offense that does not require proof of criminal intent.  Furthermore, we agreed to exculpate our directors and officers with respect to a breach of their duty of care towards our company. On October 17, 2017, our shareholders approved an updated indemnification agreement to be entered to with our directors and officers.

           In addition, as part of the transaction in which Nistec acquired a controlling stake in our company, we agreed to indemnify Nistec for any losses or liabilities occasioned by the breach of any representations or warranties that we made in the investment agreement.  If we are found to have breached any of these representations or warranties, we could be required to expend significant amounts of cash to meet our indemnification obligations. Payments made pursuant to such indemnification obligations may materially adversely affect our financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Our Securities

 

Our share price has been volatile in the past and may continue to be susceptible to significant market price and volume fluctuations in the future.

           Our ordinary shares have experienced significant market price and volume fluctuations in the past and may experience significant market price and volume fluctuations in the future in response to factors such as the following, some of which are beyond our control:

Domestic and international stock markets often experience extreme price and volume fluctuations.  Market fluctuations, as well as general political and economic conditions, such as a recession, interest rate or currency rate fluctuations or political events or hostilities in or surrounding Israel, could adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.

           Low trading volume may also increase the price volatility of our ordinary shares. A thin trading market could cause the price of our ordinary shares to fluctuate significantly more than the stock market as a whole.

The voting interest of Mr. Nissan, individually and through Nistec Golan, our controlling shareholder, may conflict with the interests of other shareholders.

Mr. Yitzhak Nissan, our Chairman of the Board, beneficially owns 65.35% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Mr. Nissan and Nistec Golan have the ability to exercise a significant influence over our business and affairs and generally have the power to determine all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders where our shares vote together as a single class, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions.  Mr. Nissan and Nistec Golan may make decisions regarding Eltek and our business that are opposed to other shareholders’ interests or with which other shareholders may disagree. Nistec Golan’s and Mr. Nissan’s voting power could have the effect of deterring or preventing a change in control of our Company that might otherwise be beneficial to our other shareholders.

We were not in compliance with NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements until recently, and if we fail to maintain compliance with NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements our shares may be delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market.

           Our ordinary shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ELTK.”  To continue to be listed on NASDAQ, we need to satisfy a number of requirements, including a minimum bid price for our ordinary shares of $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days and shareholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million, or $35 million market value of listed securities or $500,000 of net income from continuing operations for the most recently completed fiscal year or two of the three most recently completed fiscal years.

           Our ordinary shares have experienced significant market price and volume fluctuations in the past and for certain periods have traded below the $1.00 threshold requirement for continued trading. On June 23, 2015 we received notification from Nasdaq advising us that we were not in compliance with the $1.00 threshold requirement for continued trading.  On August 26, 2015, we regained compliance with the listing rules, and the matter was then closed.  On December 28, 2016, for the second time, we received notification from Nasdaq advising us that we were not in compliance with the $1.00 threshold requirement for continued trading.  Following a reverse split of our ordinary shares, on November 22, 2017, we regained compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and our shares continue to be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

           On October 2, 2018, we received notification from Nasdaq advising us that as of October 1, 2018, we did not maintain stockholders’ equity of $2.5 million, nor did we meet the alternatives of market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations, and therefore were not in compliance with the stockholders’ equity listing rule. On December 7, 2018, we received a notice from Nasdaq advising that we were granted an extension of time to regain compliance with the shareholders’ equity requirement until March 31, 2019. As a result of the receipt of approximately $2.5 million from our Rights Offering prior to March 31, 2019, we regained compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and our shares continue to be listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Nasdaq has advised us that it will continue to monitor our ongoing compliance with the shareholders’ equity requirement and, if at the time of our next periodic report we do not evidence compliance, we may be subject to delisting. If we are ultimately delisted from NASDAQ, trading in our ordinary shares would be conducted on a market where an investor would likely find it significantly more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the value of, our ordinary shares.

Penny stock rules may limit the ability of our stockholders to sell their stock.

The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. If we lose our listing on NASDAQ Capital Market our securities will be covered by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors.” The term “accredited investor” refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly with their spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the SEC, which provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our securities. We believe that the penny stock rules discourage investor interest in and limit the marketability of our common stock.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, has adopted sales practice requirements which may also limit a shareholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.

In addition to the penny stock rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative, low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative, low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our ordinary shares, which may limit their ability to buy and sell our shares and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.

We may in the future be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, which would subject our U.S. investors to adverse tax rules.

           U.S. holders of our ordinary shares may face income tax risks. There is a risk that we will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”).  Our treatment as a PFIC could result in a reduction in the after-tax return to U.S. Holders (as defined below in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) of our ordinary shares and would likely cause a reduction in the value of such shares. A foreign corporation will be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income,” or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation’s gross assets produce, or are held for the production of, such “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” If we are treated as a PFIC, U.S. Holders of ordinary shares would be subject to a special adverse U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by us, the distributions they receive from us, and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their ordinary shares. In particular, dividends paid by us, if any, would not be treated as “qualified dividend income,” eligible for preferential tax rates in the hands of non-corporate U.S. shareholders.  We believe that we were not a PFIC for the 2018 tax year.  However, since PFIC status depends upon the composition of our income and the market value of our assets from time to time, there can be no assurance that we will not become a PFIC in any future taxable year. U.S. Holders should carefully read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax risks related to owning and disposing of our ordinary shares.

We do not expect to distribute dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares.  We currently intend to retain our current and any future earnings to finance operations and expand our business and, therefore, do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.  According to the Israeli Companies Law, a company may distribute dividends out of its profits, provided that there is no reasonable concern that such dividend distribution will prevent the company from paying all its current and foreseeable obligations, as they become due, or otherwise upon the permission of the court. In the event cash dividends are declared, such dividends will be paid in NIS.  The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and would depend on various factors, including our operating results, financial condition, future prospects and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.  You should not rely on an investment in our company if you require dividend income from your investment.

Risks Related to Our Incorporation and Location in Israel

Political, economic and military instability in Israel may disrupt our operations and negatively affect our business condition, harm our results of operations and adversely affect our share price.

We are incorporated under the laws of, and our principal executive offices, production, manufacturing and research and development facilities are located in, the State of Israel.  As a result, political, economic and military conditions affecting Israel directly influence us.  Conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East, including Syria which border Israel, have resulted in continued political uncertainty and violence in the region. Efforts to improve Israel’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority have failed to result in a permanent solution, and there have been numerous periods of hostility in recent years. In addition, relations between Israel and Iran continue to be seriously strained, especially with regard to Iran’s nuclear program. Such instability may affect the local and global economy, could negatively affect business conditions and, therefore, could adversely affect our operations. To date, these matters have not had any material effect on our business and results of operations; however, the regional security situation and worldwide perceptions of it are outside our control and there can be no assurance that these matters will not negatively affect us in the future.

           Our commercial insurance does not cover losses that may occur as a result of an event associated with the security situation in the Middle East.  Although the Israeli government has in the past covered the reinstatement value of certain damages that were caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war, we cannot assure you that this government coverage will be maintained, or if maintained, will be sufficient to compensate us fully for damages incurred.  Any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

           Parties with whom we do business have sometimes declined to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing us to make alternative arrangements when necessary in order to meet our business partners face to face.  In addition, the political and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements.  Furthermore, several countries and companies restrict business with Israel and Israeli companies, and additional countries may impose restrictions on doing business with Israel and Israeli companies. Restrictive laws or policies directed towards Israel or Israeli businesses may have an adverse impact on our operations, our financial results or the expansion of our business.

           To date, these matters have not had any material effect on our business and results of operations; however, the regional security situation and worldwide perceptions of it are outside our control and there can be no assurance that these matters will not negatively affect us in the future.

Our results of operations may be negatively affected by the obligation of our personnel to perform military reserve service.

           Some of our employees, directors and officers in Israel are obligated to perform annual reserve duty in the Israeli Defense Forces and may be called for active duty under emergency circumstances at any time.  If a military conflict or war arises, these individuals could be required to serve in the military for extended periods of time.  Our operations could be disrupted by the absence for a significant period of one or more of our executive officers or key employees or a significant number of other employees due to military service.  Any disruption in our operations could adversely affect our business.

Our operations may be affected by negative labor conditions in Israel.

           Strikes and work stoppages occur relatively frequently in Israel. If Israeli trade unions threaten additional strikes or work stoppages and such strikes or work stoppages occur, these may, if prolonged, have a material adverse effect on the Israeli economy and on our business, including our ability to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner.

Service and enforcement of legal process on us and our directors and officers may be difficult to obtain.

           Service of process upon our directors and officers and the Israeli experts named herein, all of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States.  Furthermore, since substantially all of our assets, all of our directors and officers are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or these individuals or entities may not be collectible within the United States.

           There is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in original actions instituted in Israel.  However, subject to certain time limitations and other conditions, Israeli courts may enforce final judgments of United States courts for liquidated amounts in civil matters, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of those and similar acts.

Under current Israeli law, we may not be able to enforce covenants not to compete and therefore may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise of some of our former employees.

           We currently have non-competition clauses in the employment agreements of most of our employees.  The provisions of such clauses prohibit our employees, if they cease working for us, from directly competing with us or working for our competitors.  Recently, Israeli labor courts have required employers, seeking to enforce non-compete undertakings against former employees, to demonstrate that the competitive activities of the former employee will cause harm to one of a limited number of material interests of the employer recognized by the courts (for example, the confidentiality of certain commercial information or a company’s intellectual property).  In the event that any of our employees chooses to leave and work for one of our competitors, we may be unable to prevent our competitors from benefiting from the expertise our former employee obtained from us, if we cannot demonstrate to the court that we would be harmed.

Provisions of Israeli law may delay, prevent or make difficult an acquisition of us, which could prevent a change of control and therefore impact the price of our shares.

           Provisions of Israeli corporate and tax laws may have the effect of delaying, preventing or making more difficult a merger with, or other acquisition of, us or all or a significant portion of our assets.  Israeli corporate law regulates acquisitions of shares through tender offers and mergers, requires special approvals for transactions involving significant shareholders and regulates other matters that may be relevant to these types of transactions. 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.  These provisions may limit the price that investors may be willing to pay in the future for our ordinary shares. Furthermore, Israeli tax considerations may make potential transactions undesirable to us or to some of our shareholders.

           These laws may have the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control of our company, thereby limiting the opportunity for shareholders to receive a premium for their shares and possibly affecting the price that some investors are willing to pay for our company’s securities.  This could cause our ordinary shares to trade at prices below the price for which third parties might be willing to pay to gain control of us.  Third parties who are otherwise willing to pay a premium over prevailing market prices to gain control of us may be unable or unwilling to do so because of these provisions of Israeli law.

The rights and responsibilities of our shareholders are governed by Israeli law and differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders under U.S. law.

           We are incorporated under Israeli law.  The rights and responsibilities of holders of our ordinary shares are governed by our memorandum of association, articles of association and by Israeli law.  These rights and responsibilities differ in some respects from the rights and responsibilities of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations.  In particular, each shareholder of an Israeli company has a duty to act in good faith and in a customary manner in exercising his or her rights and fulfilling his or her obligations toward the company and other shareholders and to refrain from abusing his or her power in the company, including, among other things, in voting at the general meeting of shareholders on certain matters.  Israeli law provides that these duties are applicable in shareholder votes on, among other things, amendments to a company’s articles of association, increases in a company’s authorized share capital, mergers and interested party transactions requiring shareholder approval. In addition, a controlling shareholder of an Israeli company, or a shareholder who knows that he or she possesses the power to determine the outcome of a shareholder vote or who has the power to appoint or prevent the appointment of a director or officer in the company, has a duty of fairness toward the company.  Currently there is not a clear definition of the duty of fairness under Israeli law.  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 holders of our ordinary shares that are not typically imposed on shareholders of U.S. corporations.

As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we may follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain NASDAQ requirements. We follow Israeli law and practice instead of NASDAQ rules regarding the composition of the board of directors, director nomination process and quorum at shareholders’ meetings.

           As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules.  We follow Israeli law and practice instead of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules regarding the composition of the board of directors, director nomination process and quorum at shareholders’ meetings.  As a foreign private issuer listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we may also follow home country practice regarding, for example, the requirement to obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events (such as for the establishment or amendment of certain equity based compensation plans, an issuance that will result in a change of control of the company, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or more interest in the company and certain acquisitions of the stock or assets of another company).  A foreign private issuer that elects to follow a home country practice instead of NASDAQ requirements must submit to NASDAQ in advance a written statement from an independent counsel in such issuer’s home country certifying that the issuer’s practices are not prohibited by the home country’s laws.  In addition, a foreign private issuer must disclose in its annual reports filed with the SEC, or on its website, each such requirement that it does not follow and describe the home country practice followed by the issuer instead of any such requirement.  Accordingly, our shareholders may not be afforded the same protection as provided under NASDAQ’s corporate governance rules.

The termination or reduction of tax and other incentives that the Israeli government provides to domestic companies may increase the costs involved in operating a company in Israel.

           The Israeli government currently provides tax and capital investment incentives to domestic companies, as well as grant and loan programs relating to research and development and marketing and export activities. In recent years, the Israeli government has reduced the benefits available under these programs and the Israeli governmental authorities have indicated that the government may in the future further reduce or eliminate the benefits of those programs. We have taken in the past and may take advantage of these benefits and programs again in the future, however, there is no assurance that such benefits and programs will continue to be available to us in the future. If such benefits and programs were terminated or further reduced, it could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. The government tax benefits that we currently are entitled to receive require us to meet several conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future.

           Some of our operations in Israel may entitle us to certain tax benefits under the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719-1959, or the Investment Law, once we are profitable. If we do not meet the requirements for maintaining these benefits, they may be reduced or canceled, and the relevant operations would be subject to Israeli corporate tax at the standard rate, which is set at 23% in 2018 and thereafter. In addition to being subject to the standard corporate tax rate, we could be required to refund any tax benefits that we have already received, plus interest and penalties thereon. Even if we continue to meet the relevant requirements, the tax benefits that our current “Benefited Enterprise” is entitled to may not be continued in the future at their current levels or at all. If these tax benefits were reduced or eliminated, the amount of taxes that we pay would likely increase, as all of our operations would consequently be subject to corporate tax at the standard rate, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Additionally, if we increase our activities outside of Israel, for example, by way of acquisitions, our increased activities may not be eligible for inclusion in Israeli tax benefits programs.