UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

(Mark One)
   
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
   
  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
   
[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 

For the transition period from ____ to _____

 

Commission file number: 000-19871

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   94-3078125

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

25 Recreation Park Drive, Unit 108

Hingham, MA 02043

(Address including zip code of registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

(781) 875-3605

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Par value $0.01   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data file required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months/(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]   Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer   [X] Smaller reporting company [X]
  Emerging Growth Company [  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: approximately $25,919,740

 

Common stock outstanding as of March 28, 2019: 4,307,580 shares

 

 

 

   

 

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are projections in respect of future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “intends”, “expects”, “will”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “potential”, or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks listed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” commencing on page 13 of this report, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

 

Table of Contents

 

    Page
  PART I  
Item 1. Business 1
Item 1A. Risk Factors 13
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 28
Item 2. Properties 28
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 28
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 29
     
  PART II  
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 30
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 31
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 31
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 35
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 35
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 35
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 36
Item 9B. Other Information 36
     
  PART III  
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 36
Item 11. Executive Compensation 40
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 43
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 44
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services 44
     
  PART IV  
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 45

 

NOTE REGARDING REFERENCES TO OUR COMPANY

 

Throughout this Form 10-K, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Microbot” refer to Microbot Medical Inc., including our directly and indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries and, unless the context otherwise requires, the historical business, financial statements and operations of Microbot are of Microbot Medical Ltd., an Israeli corporation (“Microbot Israel”) which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on November 28, 2016. “StemCells” or “StemCells, Inc.” refers to the Company prior to its merger transaction with Microbot Israel.

 

 i 
 

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Description of Business.

 

The Company

 

Microbot is a pre-clinical medical device company specializing in the research, design and development of next generation robotic endoluminal surgery devices targeting the minimally invasive surgery space. Microbot is primarily focused on leveraging its micro-robotic technologies with the goal of improving surgical outcomes for patients.

 

Microbot’s current technological platforms, ViRobTM, CardioSertTM and TipCATTM, are comprised of proprietary innovative technologies. Using the ViRob platform, Microbot is currently developing its first product candidate: the Self Cleaning Shunt, or SCSTM, for the treatment of hydrocephalus and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or NPH. Although the SCS utilizes one of our platforms, we are focused on the development of a Multi Generation Pipeline Portfolio utilizing all three of our proprietary technologies.

 

Microbot has a patent portfolio of 30 issued/allowed patents and 21 patent applications pending worldwide.

 

We were incorporated on August 2, 1988 in the State of Delaware under the name Cellular Transplants, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation was restated on February 14, 1992 to change our name to CytoTherapeutics, Inc. On May 24, 2000, the Certificate of Incorporation as restated was further amended to change our name to StemCells, Inc. On November 28, 2016, C&RD Israel Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, completed its merger with and into Microbot Medical Ltd., or Microbot Israel, an Israeli corporation that then owned our assets and operated our current business, with Microbot Israel surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours. We refer to this transaction as the Merger. On November 28, 2016, in connection with the Merger, we changed our name from “StemCells, Inc.” to Microbot Medical Inc., and each outstanding share of Microbot Israel capital stock was converted into the right to receive shares of our common stock. In addition, all outstanding options to purchase the ordinary shares of Microbot Israel were assumed by us and converted into options to purchase shares of the common stock of Microbot Medical Inc. On November 29, 2016, our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MBOT”. Prior to the Merger, we were a biopharmaceutical company that operated in one segment, the research, development, and commercialization of stem cell therapeutics and related technologies. Substantially all of the material assets relating to the stem cell business were sold on November 29, 2016.

 

In May 2016, we effected a 1-for-12 reverse split of our common stock, and in November 2016, we effected a 1-for-9 reverse split of our common stock in connection with the Merger. In September 2018, we effected a 1-for-15 reverse split of our common stock. The share and per share information described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that occurred prior to these reverse splits have been adjusted to give retrospective effect to the reverse splits.

 

Technological Platforms

 

ViRob

 

The ViRob is an autonomous crawling micro-robot which can be controlled remotely or within the body. Its miniature dimensions are expected to allow it to navigate and crawl in different natural spaces within the human body, including blood vessels, the digestive tract and the respiratory system as well as artificial spaces such as shunts, catheters, ports, etc. Its unique structure is expected to give it the ability to move in tight spaces and curved passages as well as the ability to remain within the human body for prolonged time. The SCS product was developed using the ViRob technology.

 

CardioSert

 

On May 25, 2018, Microbot acquired a patent-protected technology from CardioSert Ltd., a privately-held medical device company based in Israel. The CardioSert technology contemplates a combination of a guidewire and microcatheter, technologies that are broadly used for surgery within a tubular organ or structure such as a blood vessel or duct. The CardioSert technology features a unique guidewire delivery system with steering and stiffness control capabilities which when developed is expected to give the physician the ability to control the tip curvature, to adjust tip load to varying degrees of stiffness in a gradually continuous manner. The CardioSert technology was originally developed to support interventional cardiologists in crossing chronic total occlusions (CTO) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures and has the potential to be used in other spaces and applications, such as peripheral intervention, and neurosurgery. CardioSert was part of a technological incubator supported by the Israel Innovation Authorities (formerly known as the Office of the Chief Scientist, or OCS), and a device based on the technology has successfully completed pre-clinical testing.

 

 1 
 

 

TipCAT

 

The TipCAT is a disposable self-propelled locomotive device that is specially designed to advance in tubular anatomies. The TipCAT is a mechanism comprising a series of interconnected balloons at the device’s tip that provides the TipCAT with its forward locomotion capability. The device can self-propel within natural tubular lumens such as the blood vessels, respiratory and the urinary and GI tracts. A single channel of air/fluid supply sequentially inflates and deflates a series of balloons creating an inchworm like forward motion. The TipCAT maintains a standard working channel for treatments. Unlike standard access devices such as guidewires, catheters for vascular access and endoscopes, the TipCAT does not need to be pushed into the patient’s lumen using external pressure; rather, it will gently advance itself through the organ’s anatomy. As a result, the TipCAT is designed to be able to reach every part of the lumen under examination regardless of the topography, be less operator dependent, and greatly reduce the likelihood of damage to lumen structure. The TipCAT thus offers functionality features equivalent to modern tubular access devices, along with advantages associated with its physiologically adapted self-propelling mechanism, flexibility, and design.

 

Industry Overview

 

CSF Management

 

Hydrocephalus is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, in the brain that can cause increased intracranial pressure. It is estimated that one in every 500 babies are born with hydrocephalus, and over 1,000,000 people in the United States currently live with hydrocephalus.

 

Symptoms of hydrocephalus vary with age, disease progression and individual tolerance to the condition, but they can include convulsion, tunnel vision, mental disability or dementia-like symptoms and even death. NPH is a type of hydrocephalus that usually occurs in older adults. NPH is generally treated as distinct from other types of hydrocephalus because it develops slowly over time. In NPH, the drainage of CSF is blocked gradually and the excess fluid builds up slowly. This slow accumulation means that the fluid pressure may not be as high as in other types of hydrocephalus. It is estimated that more than 700,000 Americans have NPH, but less than 20% receive an appropriate diagnosis.

 

Hydrocephalus is most often treated by the surgical insertion of a shunt system. The shunt system diverts the flow of CSF from the brain’s ventricles (or the lumbar subarachnoid space) to another part of the body where the fluid can be more readily absorbed. Hydrocephalus shunt designs have changed little since their introduction in the 1950s. A shunt system typically consists of three parts: the distal tubing or shunt (a flexible and sturdy plastic tube), the ventricular catheter (the proximal catheter), and a valve. The end of the shunt system with the proximal catheter is placed in the ventricles (within the CSF) and the distal catheter is placed in the site of the body where the CSF can be drained. A valve is located along the shunt to maintain and regulate the rate of CSF flow. Current systems can be created from separate components or bought as complete units.

 

The treatment of hydrocephalus with existing shunt systems often includes complications. For example, approximately 50% of shunts used in the pediatric population fail within two years of placement and repeated neurosurgical operations are often required. Ventricular catheter blockage, or occlusion, is by far the most frequent event that results in shunt failure. Shunt occlusion occurs when there is a partial or complete blockage of the shunt that causes it to function intermittently or not at all. Such a shunt blockage can be caused by the accumulation of blood cells, tissue, or bacteria in any part of the shunt system. In the event of shunt occlusion, CSF begins to accumulate in the brain or lumbar region again and the symptoms of untreated hydrocephalus can reappear until a shunt replacement surgery is performed.

 

Although several companies are active in the field of hydrocephalus treatment and the manufacturing of shunt systems and shunt components, Microbot believes that the majority of those companies are focusing on the development of valves. The development of a “smart shunt” – a shunt that could provide data to the physician on patient conditions and shunt function with sensor-based controls, or correct the high failure rate of existing shunt systems – is for the most part at an academic and conceptual level only. Reports of smart shunt technologies are typically focused on a subset of components with remaining factors left unspecified, such as hardware, control algorithms or power management. Microbot does not believe that a smart shunt that can prevent functional failures has been developed to date. Because of the limited innovation in this area, Microbot believes an opportunity exists to provide patients suffering from hydrocephalus or NPH with a more effective instrument for treating their condition.

 

An alternative, short-term solution to hydrocephalus is the implantation of an External Ventricular Drainage, or EVD, an implanted device used in neurosurgery for the short-term treatment and monitoring of elevated intracranial pressure when the normal flow of CSF inside the brain is obstructed. If after using an EVD, the underlying hydrocephalus does not eventually resolve, the EVD may then be converted to a cerebral shunt, a fully internalized, long-term treatment for hydrocephalus.

 

EVDs are also used in other instances when the normal flow of CSF inside the brain is obstructed, such as a result of head trauma, intracerebral hemorrhage, brain tumors and infection. The EVD serves to divert excess fluids from the brain and allows for the monitoring of intracranial pressure. An EVD must be placed in a center with full neurosurgical capabilities because immediate neurosurgical intervention may be needed if a complication of EVD placement, such as bleeding, is encountered. EVD is one of the most commonly used and most important life-saving procedures in the neurologic ICU, with more than 200,000 neuro-intensive patients requiring EVD insertions annually.

 

Similar to shunts, EVDs are also prone to occlusion, mostly due to cellular debris, such as blood clots and/or tissue fragments. Studies have shown that approximately 1-7% of EVDs require replacement secondary to occlusion. Current solutions for EVD occlusion include irrigation and replacement, which we believe may be ineffective (in the case of irrigation) or costly (in the case of replacement) and in either case, put the patient at risk of unintended side effects. Microbot believes that with its portfolio of technologies, and its initial pre-clinical results, it is well-positioned to explore and expand its offerings as an alternative solution for EVD occlusion.

 

 2 
 

 

Minimally Invasive Endovascular Neurosurgery

 

Minimally Invasive Surgery, or MIS, refers to surgical procedures performed through tiny incisions instead of a single large opening. Because the incisions are small, patients tend to have quicker recovery times and experience less trauma than with conventional surgery. The global MIS market is expected to exceed $50 billion by 2019, with a CAGR of over 20% through 2023. MIS involves three major category of devices: surgical, monitoring and visualization, and endoscopy. The market for surgical devices, including ablation, electrosurgery and medical robotic systems, accounts for the largest share of revenue and is also expected to show the highest rate of growth.

 

As a subset of MIS, endovascular neurosurgery refers to surgeries performed by using devices that pass through the blood vessels to diagnose and treat neurological diseases and conditions such as stroke, arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and atherosclerosis, rather than using open surgery.

 

The global neurovascular device market was valued at $1.62 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach a value of $2.92 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 6.5%. Increases in the geriatric population and a rise in the number of patients suffering from neurovascular disorders, implementation of advanced technological platforms, and favorable reimbursement policies across established markets are expected to drive this market’s growth. On the other hand, the high cost of the endovascular devices and scarcity of neurovascular surgeons may impede such growth.

 

Stroke is a devastating condition, affecting 33 million people worldwide every year. In the United States alone, there are nearly 800,000 instances of stroke yearly, with about three in four being first-time strokes. This number is expected to increase to one million annually in 2021. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is a leading cause of long-term disability, with related care costs estimated at $70 billion annually.

 

Mechanical thrombectomy has only been approved as a first-line treatment for ischemic stroke since 2016. Prior to such approval, chemical thrombolysis using tissue plasminogen activators was the only first-line treatment available, limiting the therapeutic window for ischemic stroke patients to as little as 3-4 hours from the onset of symptoms. With mechanical thrombectomy, treatment can be started within 6-24 hours of the time the patient was last known to be well. The US mechanical thrombectomy market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.9% between 2014-2020, to reach a value over $350 million.

 

According to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, an estimated 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, or 1 in 50 people. The annual rate of rupture is approximately 8 – 10 per 100,000 people, or about 30,000 people in the United States annually. Embolic coiling is the established gold-standard treatment for aneurysms, and the most established product line in the neurovascular market – it is a strong but relatively stagnant market, projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.7% between 2014-2020, to reach a value of over $800 million. New devices that improve treatment of complex aneurysms, such as embolization-enabling stents, bifurcations stents, flow-diversion stents, liquid embolics and intrasaccular devices, are expected to boost market growth.

 

The major companies in the field of neurovascular devices include Stryker Corporation, Medtronic Plc., Cerenovus (Johnson & Johnson), Terumo Corporation and Penumbra, Inc. Neurovascular access devices are the means for delivering neurovascular treatment tools and devices from an opening in the femoral or radial arteries into the brain vasculature. Such access devices include sheaths, guidewires and microcatheters. Wires and catheters account for 18.6% of the overall neurovascular market.

 

Navigating and placing access devices through tortuous and highly delicate brain arteries is a complex procedure that requires high-level surgical skills with specialist training. In many procedures, surgeons exchange numerous access devices before reaching the target and applying the therapeutic agent or device, increasing the risk of adverse events and the exposure of both patient and physician to radiation. Adverse events, such as perforation of brain arteries or the release of embolies from a thrombus or atherosclerotic lesion can have devastating or even fatal results.

 

Microbot believes that with its portfolio of technologies specifically CardioSert and TipCAT, it is well-positioned to explore and develop such technologies as neurovascular access devices, with a focus on improving the ease and access and enhancing the safety of endovascular neurosurgery.

 

Our Product Pipeline

 

Self-Cleaning Shunt

 

The SCS device is designed to act as the ventricular catheter portion of a CSF shunt system that is used to relieve hydrocephalus and NPH. It is designed to work as an alternative to any ventricular catheter options currently on the market and to connect to all existing shunt system valves currently on the market; therefore, the successful commercialization of the SCS is not dependent on any single shunt system. Initially, Microbot expects the SCS device to be an aftermarket purchase that would be deployed to modify existing products by the end user. Microbot believes that the use of its SCS device will be able to reduce, and potentially eliminate, shunt occlusions, and by doing so, Microbot believes its SCS has the potential to become the gold standard ventricular shunt in the treatment of hydrocephalus and NPH.

 

 3 
 

 

The SCS device embeds an internal robotic cleaning mechanism in the lumen, or inside space, of the ventricular catheter which prevents cell accumulation and tissue ingrowth into the catheter. The SCS device consists of a silicone tube with a perforated titanium tip, which connects to a standard shunt valve at its distal end. The internal cleaning mechanism is embedded in the lumen of the titanium tip. Once activated, the cleaning mechanism keeps tissue from entering the catheter perforations while maintaining the CSF flow in the ventricular catheter.

 

The internal cleaning mechanism of the SCS device is activated by means of an induced magnetic field, which is currently designed to be externally generated by the patient through a user-friendly headset that transmits the magnetic field at a pre-determined frequency and operating sequence protocol. The magnetic field that is created by the headset is then captured by a flexible coil and circuit board that is placed just under the patient’s scalp in the location where the valve is located. The circuit board assembly converts the magnetic field into the power necessary to activate the cleaning mechanism within the proximal part of the ventricular catheter.

 

Microbot has completed the development of an SCS prototype and is currently continuing the safety testing, general proof of concept testing and performance testing for the device, which Microbot began in mid-2013. In May 2018, Microbot announced the results of two pre-clinical studies assessing the SCS, an in-vitro study and a small animal study. The in-vitro study, which was performed at Wayne State University by Dr. Carolyn Harris, supports the SCS’s potential as a viable technology for preventing occlusion in shunts used to treat hydrocephalus. The animal study designed to assess the safety profile of the SCS, which was performed by James Patterson McAllister, PhD, a Professor of Neurosurgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, met the primary goal to determine the safety of the SCS device that aims to prevent obstruction in CSF catheters. Since the completion of these initial studies, Microbot has commenced a follow-up study to further evaluate the safety and to investigate the efficacy of the SCS. The follow-up study is also being conducted by leading hydrocephalus experts at Washington University and Wayne State University. The study will include a larger sample size compared to the initial studies and the primary and secondary endpoints will seek to validate the safety and efficacy of the SCS that will be activated in both in-vitro (lab) and in-vivo (animal) models. Microbot plans to use the findings for initial regulatory submissions in the United States, Europe and other jurisdictions, although upon the completion of animal studies, Microbot may conduct clinical trials if they are requested by the FDA or if Microbot decides that the data from such trials would improve the marketability of the product candidate.

 

In conjunction with initiating this follow-up study, Microbot also contracted with Envigo CRS Israel, a leading provider of non-clinical contract research services, to conduct an in-vitro study designed to evaluate the operational performance of the SCS. The Envigo study used human brain glioblastoma cells in order to assess the performance of the SCS in a test system with accelerated cell growth, accumulation, and obstruction rates. The performance of a constantly activated (always-on) SCS to prevent shunt occlusion in the laboratory study was compared with a non-operating SCS after 30 days, and the results were captured with photographs shared by Microbot in a press release issued on January 14, 2019. While significant cell growth and accumulation was seen in the cell cultures with a non-operating SCS, the shunt openings within the cells seeded with a constantly operating SCS remained clear, with little to no cell attachment on the robotic brush (ViRob) and on the opening where the robotic brush (ViRob) operates after 30 days of cell culturing and growth. We believe this experiment validates the operational effectiveness of the SCS to prevent shunt occlusion and provides additional data to support the device’s proof of concept. We believe the in-vitro laboratory study further confirms that the SCS has the ability to operate after cells have accumulated on the catheter holes and the robotic brush (ViRob) and to potentially disintegrate existing occlusions formed on the robotic brush (ViRob) and on the opening where the robotic brush (ViRob) operates, based on the results from a third test group in which cells were allowed to grow for 4 weeks and then exposed to an activated SCS device. The images captured by Envigo and Microbot demonstrate that the cleaning mechanism of the SCS is powerful enough to clear accumulated cells at blocked pores, as significant improvements were observed in the degree of shunt obstruction after only a short period of time following activation of the SCS.

 

Microbot believes that the animal study results of its first generation SCS device should be available during the second half of 2019 and we expect to submit that data to the FDA as part of a pre-submission meeting request. The proposed indication for use of the SCS device would be for the treatment of hydrocephalus and/or NPH as a component of a shunt system when draining or shunting of CSF is indicated. It continues to be possible that the FDA could require us to conduct a human clinical study to support the safety and efficacy of the SCS and that such clinical data would need to be part of the future regulatory submission to authorize marketing of the medical device in the U.S.

 

Microbot may also conduct clinical trials for the SCS in other countries where such trials are necessary for Microbot to sell its SCS device in such country’s market, although it has no current plans to do so.

 

TipCAT

 

A TipCAT prototype was shown to self-propel and self-navigate in curved plastic pipes and curved ex-vivo colon. In addition, in its first feasibility study, the prototype device was tested in a live animal experiment and successfully self-propelled through segments of the animal’s colon, with no post-procedural damage. All tests were conducted at AMIT (Alfred Mann Institute of Technology at the Technion), prior to the licensing of TipCAT by Microbot.

 

 4 
 

 

Currently, Microbot is not pursuing the development of the TipCAT as a colonoscopy tool due to its focus on the endovascular neurosurgery space, and as such it is currently exploring the use of the TipCAT for minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgical applications to complement its other technologies.

 

CardioSert

 

CardioSert was part of a technological incubator supported by the Israel Innovation Authorities (formerly known as the Office of the Chief Scientist, or OCS), and a device based on the technology has successfully completed pre-clinical testing. Although the CardioSert technology was originally developed to support interventional cardiologists in crossing chronic total occlusions (CTO) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures, it has the potential to be used in other spaces and applications, such as neurosurgery which Microbot will be focusing on.

 

Strategy

 

Microbot’s goal is to generate sales of its products, once they have received regulatory approval, by establishing SCS and TipCAT devices as the standard-of-care in the eyes of doctors, surgeons, patients and medical facilities, as well as getting the support of payors and insurance companies. Microbot believes that it can achieve this objective by working with hospitals to demonstrate the key benefits of its products. Microbot’s strategy includes the following key elements:

 

  Continue to refine existing product candidates and develop additional micro-robotic solutions. As Microbot prepares to bring its initial product candidates through pre-clinical and clinical trials, if necessary, and eventually to market, it continues to focus on improving its product candidates to respond to clinical data and patient and physician feedback. Microbot also expects to continue to innovate in the micro-robotics field by continuing to find ways of using its technology to solve unmet needs, with the overarching goal of providing a safer, more effective and more efficient surgical environment for patients and physicians.
     
  Establish and leverage relationships with key institutions and leading clinicians. Microbot intends to develop relationships with a relatively small number of hospitals and clinics through its clinical stage. Microbot’s objective will be to maintain clinical focus with such hospitals and clinics so as to establish the SCS, as well as other future products, as the standard of care in such institutions for their respective procedures. Microbot also expects to identify key clinicians with hydrocephalus specialties with the expectation that such clinical focus will accelerate the adoption of its candidate products.
     
  Continuously invest in research and development. Microbot’s most significant expense has historically been research and development, and Microbot expects that this will continue in the foreseeable future, including expenses it expects to incur to improve on its prototype products in order to respond to clinical data, to develop additional applications using its technologies and to develop future product candidates.
     
  Explore partnerships for the introduction of Microbot’s products. Microbot intends to focus its marketing and sales efforts initially on pursuing collaborations with global medical device companies that have established sales and distribution networks. Microbot will seek to enter collaborations and partnerships with strategic players that offer synergies with Microbot’s product candidates and expertise.
     
  Seek additional IP and technologies to complement and strengthen Microbot’s current IP portfolio. Microbot intends to continue exploring new technologies, IP and know-how to add to its current portfolio and to allow Microbot to enter new spaces and strengthen its overall product portfolio.

 

SCS Opportunities

 

The SCS is designed to prevent shunt occlusions in hydrocephalus and NPH patients who have undergone or are undergoing the surgical insertion of a shunt system. For purposes of its marketing strategy, Microbot has split the market for shunt systems into two sub-markets:

 

  Primary shunt placement; and
     
  Shunt replacement.

 

Microbot’s SCS device is universal (meaning that it is designed to be attachable to any valve on the market); therefore, Microbot’s initial go-to-market strategy is the development of strategic partnerships with leading global medical device companies with ready sales and distribution channels. Outside of a strategic partnership, it is most likely that Microbot’s SCS product will be initially used in shunt replacement surgeries to replace occluded ventricular catheters. Accordingly, Microbot intends to establish key hospital and clinic relationships that will allow it to diffuse the technology among experts and other stakeholders. Microbot is also planning to apply for the SCS device to be covered under the current reimbursement codes in the United States for use in hydrocephalus and NPH shunt procedures.

 

TipCAT Opportunities

 

Microbot is currently exploring the use of the TipCAT for minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgical applications.

 

CardioSert Opportunities

Microbot is currently exploring the use of the CardioSert for minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgical applications.

 

Competition

 

SCS Competitive Landscape

 

Several academic research groups, such as at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, are currently researching sensing and obstruction-resistant catheter designs, and the Smart Sensors and Integrated Microsystems (SSIM) Program at Wayne State University has publicized that it is engaging in smart shunt development activity. However, based on its knowledge of the patented technologies, Microbot believes that these technologies are still early in the research and development cycle. The SCS also faces non-direct competition from Aqueduct Neurosciences, Inc., which is developing a non-shunt, electro-mechanical technology platform to control the draining of cerebrospinal fluid.

 

 5 
 

 

Microbot does not expect its SCS device to directly compete against shunt systems currently available in the market. The SCS device is designed to replace a component of existing shunt systems and is expected to be an aftermarket purchase that would be used to modify existing products by the end user. However, there can be no assurance that Microbot’s product candidate will be accepted by the shunt market as an alternative component.

 

TipCAT Competitive Landscape

 

Microbot is currently exploring the use of the TipCAT for minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgical applications and has not at this time completed its evaluation of the competitive landscape for such uses.

 

Some of Microbot’s competitors currently have significantly greater resources than Microbot does; have established relationships with healthcare professionals, customers and third-party payors; and have long-term contracts with group purchasing organizations in the United States. In addition, many of Microbot’s competitors have established distributor networks, greater resources for product development, sales and marketing, additional lines of products and the ability to offer financial incentives such as rebates, bundled products or discounts on other product lines that Microbot cannot provide.

 

Microbot’s products could also be rendered obsolete or uneconomical by technological advances developed in the future by existing or new competitors.

 

Intellectual Property

 

General

 

The SCS and TipCAT are based on technological platforms licensed from The Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd., or TRDF, as further discussed below. Microbot plans to develop other micro-robotic solutions through internal research and development, to strengthen its intellectual property position, and to continue exploring strategic collaborations and accretive acquisition opportunities. Microbot currently holds an intellectual property portfolio of 31 issued/allowed patents and 20 patent applications.

 

Microbot relies or intends to rely on intellectual property licensed or developed, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, technical innovations, laws of unfair competition and various licensing agreements, to provide its future growth, to build its competitive position and to protect its technology. As Microbot continues to expand its intellectual property portfolio, it is critical for Microbot to continue to invest in filing patent applications to protect its technology, inventions, and improvements.

 

Microbot requires its employees and consultants to execute confidentiality agreements in connection with their employment or consulting relationships with Microbot. Microbot also requires its employees and consultants who work on its product candidates to agree to disclose and assign to Microbot all inventions conceived during the term of their service, while using Microbot property, or which relate to Microbot’s business.

 

Patent applications in the United States and in foreign countries are maintained in secrecy for a period of time after filing, which results in a delay between the filing date of the patent applications and the time when they are published. Patents issued and patent applications filed relating to medical devices are numerous, and there can be no assurance that current and potential competitors and other third parties have not filed or in the future will not file applications for, or have not received or in the future will not receive, patents or obtain additional proprietary rights relating to product candidates, products, devices or processes used or proposed to be used by Microbot. Microbot believes that the technologies it employs in its products and systems do not infringe the valid claims of any third-party patents. There can be no assurance, however, that third parties will not seek to assert that Microbot devices and systems infringe their patents or seek to expand their patent claims to cover aspects of Microbot’s products and systems.

 

The medical device industry in general has been characterized by substantial litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights. Any such claims, regardless of their merit, could be time-consuming and expensive to respond to and could divert Microbot’s technical and management personnel. Microbot may be involved in litigation to defend against claims of infringement by other patent holders, to enforce patents issued to Microbot, or to protect Microbot’s trade secrets. If any relevant claims of third-party patents are upheld as valid and enforceable in any litigation or administrative proceeding, Microbot could be prevented from practicing the subject matter claimed in such patents, or would be required to obtain licenses from the patent owners of each such patent, or to redesign Microbot’s products, devices or processes to avoid infringement. There can be no assurance that such licenses would be available or, if available, would be available on terms acceptable to Microbot or that Microbot would be successful in any attempt to redesign products or processes to avoid infringement. Accordingly, an adverse determination in a judicial or administrative proceeding or failure to obtain necessary licenses, could potentially prevent Microbot from manufacturing and selling its products.

 

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Microbot’s issued U.S. patents, which cover Microbot’s product candidates, will expire between 2026 and 2033, not including any patent term adjustments that may be available. Issued patents outside of the United States directed to Microbot’s product candidates will expire between 2026 and 2032.

 

License Agreement with the Technion

 

In June 2012, Microbot entered into a license agreement with TRDF, the technology transfer subsidiary of The Technion Institute of Technology, pursuant to which it obtained an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sub-licensable license to certain patents and inventions relating to the SCS and TipCAT technology platforms invented by Professor Moshe Shoham, a director of and advisor to the Company, and in certain circumstances other TRDF-related persons. Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, in order to maintain the license with respect to each platform, Microbot must use commercially reasonable efforts to develop products covered by the license, including meeting certain agreed upon development milestones. The milestones for SCS include commencing initial studies in humans by December 2019. The milestones for TipCAT include commencing initial studies in humans, if needed, by December 2019 and commencing a full clinical trial, if necessary, by December 2020. Failure to meet any development milestone will give TRDF the right to terminate the license with respect to the technology underlying the missed milestone. Although Microbot expects to meet the milestone requirements, TRDF has demonstrated flexibility with respect to amending the terms of the license to extend the milestone dates.

 

As partial consideration for the grant of the licenses under the agreement, Microbot issued a number of shares to TRDF equal to 3% of its issued and outstanding shares at such time on a fully diluted basis. Such shares were initially subject to antidilution protections but are no longer subject to adjustment. In addition, as partial consideration for the licenses granted, Microbot agreed to pay TRDF royalties of between 1.5% and 3.0% of net sales of products covered by the licenses, subject to certain reductions, and certain percentages of amounts received by Microbot in the event of sublicensing.

 

In the case of termination of the license by Microbot without cause or by TRDF for cause, TRDF has the right to receive a non-exclusive license from Microbot with respect to improvements to the licensed technologies made by Microbot. In such cases, TRDF would pay a royalty of 10% of the income received by TRDF in connection its sublicensing of such patent right and related intellectual property. If the license from TRDF were to be terminated with respect with either of the technology platforms underlying the SCS or the TipCAT, Microbot would no longer be able to continue its development of the related product candidate. However, Microbot believes that its current intellectual property portfolio, and its ongoing efforts to expand into other micro-robotic surgical technologies, will give it the flexibility to shift its resources towards developing and commercializing related products.

 

Research and Development

 

Microbot’s research and development programs are generally pursued by engineers and scientists employed by Microbot in its offices in Israel on a full-time basis or as consultants, or through partnerships with industry leaders in manufacturing and design and researchers in academia. Microbot is also working with subcontractors in developing specific components of its technologies.

 

The primary objectives of Microbot’s research and development efforts are to continue to introduce incremental enhancements to the capabilities of its candidate products and to advance the development of proposed products.

 

Microbot has received funds from the Israeli Innovation Authority (formerly known as the Office of the Chief Scientist in Israel), for research and development activities. Microbot received a grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority in 2012, which grant reimbursed Microbot for 50% of its research and development expenses, up to $764,466. This first grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority ended in 2014. After the expiration of the first grant, Microbot received approval for an additional grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority which reimbursed Microbot for 50% of its research and development expenses for the period from May 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015, up to $924,166. After the expiration of the second grant, Microbot received an approval for a third grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority which reimbursed Microbot for 50% of its research and development expenses for the period from May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017, up to $1,026,050.

 

In November 2017, Microbot was awarded an additional non-dilutive grant of up to 2,610,000 Israeli New Shekels (approximately $735,000) from the Israel Innovation Authority, of which up to 2,198,000 NIS are at a reimbursement rate of 40% and up to 412,000 NIS are at a reimbursement rate of 30%. The grant provided additional sources that were utilized by Microbot for the continued development of the SCS for the treatment of hydrocephalus and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. The grant funds were used for or applied towards a number of research and development expenses, such as employees’ salaries, research and development expenses (including materials, as well as professional and consulting fees). The recoveries are recognized in the corresponding period when such expenses are incurred. For this grant, we received from the IIA a total of 991,008 NIS. The last installment of this reimbursement was received by Microbot in December 2018. No additional payments are expected from this grant. With respect to such grants from the IIA, Microbot is committed to pay royalties, as, if and when it successfully commercializes the SCS and generates revenue from sales of the SCS, at a rate of between 3% to 3.5% on sales proceeds up to the total amount of grants received, linked to the dollar, plus interest at an annual rate of USD LIBOR. Under the terms of the grants and applicable law, Microbot is restricted from transferring any technologies, know-how, manufacturing or manufacturing rights developed using the grant outside of Israel without the prior approval of the Israel Innovation Authority. Microbot has no obligation to repay the grant, if the SCS project fails, is unsuccessful or aborted before any sales are generated. The financial risk is assumed completely by the IIA.

 

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Microbot expects to continue to access government funding in the future.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, Microbot incurred research and development expenses of approximately $2,515,000 compared to research and development expenses of approximately $1,100,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Microbot has already made plans to develop a second version of its SCS device that will have an embedded controller and battery, initially to support its animal trials. This alternative design will allow the cleaning mechanism to be automatically activated, without the need for the patient’s involvement in the activation process.

 

Microbot has completed the development of an SCS prototype and is currently completing the safety testing, general proof of concept testing and performance testing for the device, which Microbot began in mid-2013. In May 2018, Microbot announced the results of two pre-clinical studies assessing the SCS, an in-vitro study and a small animal study. The in-vitro study, which was performed at Wayne State University by Dr. Carolyn Harris, supports the SCS’s potential as a viable technology for preventing occlusion in shunts used to treat hydrocephalus. The animal study designed to assess the safety profile of the SCS, which was performed by James Patterson McAllister, PhD, a Professor of Neurosurgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, met the primary goal to determine the safety of the SCS device that aims to prevent obstruction in CSF catheters. Since the completion of these initial studies, Microbot has commenced a follow-up study to further evaluate the safety and to investigate the efficacy of the SCS. The follow-up study is also being conducted by leading hydrocephalus experts at Washington University and Wayne State University. The study will include a larger sample size compared to the initial studies and the primary and secondary endpoints will seek to validate the safety and efficacy of the SCS that will be activated in both in-vitro (lab) and in-vivo (animal) models. Microbot plans to use the findings for initial regulatory submissions in the United States, Europe and other jurisdictions, although upon the completion of animal studies, Microbot may conduct clinical trials if they are requested by the FDA or if Microbot decides that the data from such trials would improve the marketability of the product candidate.

 

In conjunction with initiating this follow-up study, Microbot also contracted with Envigo CRS Israel, a leading provider of non-clinical contract research services, to conduct an in-vitro study designed to evaluate the operational performance of the SCS. The Envigo study used human brain glioblastoma cells in order to assess the performance of the SCS in a test system with accelerated cell growth, accumulation, and obstruction rates. The performance of a constantly activated (always-on) SCS to prevent shunt occlusion in the laboratory study was compared with a non-operating SCS after 30 days, and the results were captured with photographs shared by Microbot in a press release issued on January 14, 2019. While significant cell growth and accumulation was seen in the cell cultures with a non-operating SCS, the shunt openings within the cells seeded with a constantly operating SCS remained clear, with little to no cell attachment on the robotic brush (ViRob) and on the opening where the robotic brush (ViRob) operates after 30 days of cell culturing and growth. We believe this experiment validates the operational effectiveness of the SCS to prevent shunt occlusion and provides additional data to support the device’s proof of concept. We believe the in-vitro laboratory study further confirms that the SCS has the ability to operate after cells have accumulated on the catheter holes and the robotic brush (ViRob) and to potentially disintegrate existing occlusions formed on the robotic brush (ViRob) and on the opening where the robotic brush (ViRob) operates, based on the results from a third test group in which cells were allowed to grow for 4 weeks and then exposed to an activated SCS device. The images captured by Envigo and Microbot demonstrate that the cleaning mechanism of the SCS is powerful enough to clear accumulated cells at blocked pores, as significant improvements were observed in the degree of shunt obstruction after only a short period of time following activation of the SCS.

 

Microbot believes that the animal study results of its first generation SCS device should be available during the second half of 2019 and we expect to submit that data to the FDA as part of a pre-submission meeting request. The proposed indication for use of the SCS device would be for the treatment of hydrocephalus as a component of a shunt system when draining or shunting of CSF is indicated. It continues to be possible that the FDA could require us to conduct a human clinical study to support the safety and efficacy of the SCS and that such clinical data would need to be part of the future regulatory submission to authorize marketing of the medical device in the U.S.

 

Manufacturing

 

Microbot does not have any manufacturing facilities or manufacturing personnel. Microbot currently relies, and expects to continue to rely, on third parties for the manufacturing of its product candidates for preclinical and clinical testing, as well as for commercial manufacturing if its product candidates receive marketing approval.

 

Commercialization

 

Microbot has not yet established a sales, marketing or product distribution infrastructure for its product candidates, which are still in development stages. Microbot plans to access the U.S. markets for hydrocephalus and NPH with its initial device offerings through strategic partnerships but may develop its own focused, specialized sales force or distribution channels once it has several commercialized products in its portfolio. Microbot has not yet developed a commercial strategy outside of the United States.

 

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Government Regulation

 

General

 

Microbot’s medical technology products and operations are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and other countries. Most notably, if Microbot seeks to sell its products in the United States, its products will be subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) as implemented and enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates the development, bench and clinical testing, manufacturing, labeling, storage, record-keeping, promotion, marketing, sales, distribution and post-market support and reporting of medical devices in the United States to ensure that medical products distributed domestically are safe and effective for their intended uses. Regulatory policy affecting its products can change at any time.

 

Advertising and promotion of medical devices in the United States, in addition to being regulated by the FDA, are also regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and by state regulatory and enforcement authorities. Recently, promotional activities for FDA-regulated products of other companies have been the subject of enforcement action brought under healthcare reimbursement laws and consumer protection statutes. In addition, under the federal Lanham Act and similar state laws, competitors and others can initiate litigation relating to advertising claims.

 

Foreign countries where Microbot wishes to sell its products may require similar or more onerous approvals to manufacture or market its products. Government agencies in those countries also enforce laws and regulations that govern the development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, advertising, marketing and distribution, and market surveillance of medical device products. These regulatory requirements can change rapidly with relatively short notice.

 

Other regulations Microbot encounters in the United States and in other jurisdictions are the regulations that are common to all businesses, such as employment legislation, implied warranty laws, and environmental, health and safety standards, to the extent applicable. In the future, Microbot will also encounter industry-specific government regulations that would govern its products, if and when they are developed for commercial use.

 

U.S. Regulation

 

The FDA governs the following activities that Microbot performs, will perform, upon the clearance or approval of its product candidates, or that are performed on its behalf, to ensure that medical products distributed domestically or exported internationally are safe and effective for their intended uses:

 

  product design, and development;
     
  product safety, testing, labeling and storage;
     
  record keeping procedures; and
     
  product marketing.

 

There are numerous FDA regulatory requirements governing the approval or clearance and subsequent commercial marketing of Microbot’s products. These include:

 

  the timely submission of product listing and establishment registration information, along with associated establishment user fees;
     
  continued compliance with the Quality System Regulation, or QSR, which require specification developers and manufacturers, including third-party manufacturers, to follow stringent design, testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of the manufacturing process;
     
  labeling regulations and FDA prohibitions against the promotion of products for uncleared, unapproved or off-label use or indication;
     
  clearance or approval of product modifications that could significantly affect the safety or effectiveness of the device or that would constitute a major change in intended use;
     
  Medical Device Reporting regulations (MDR), which require that manufacturers keep detailed records of investigations or complaints against their devices and to report to the FDA if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to recur;
     
  adequate use of the Corrective and Preventive Actions process to identify and correct or prevent significant systemic failures of products or processes or in trends which suggest same;
     
  post-approval restrictions or conditions, including post-approval study commitments;
     
  post-market surveillance regulations, which apply when necessary to protect the public health or to provide additional safety and effectiveness data for the device; and
     
  notices of correction or removal and recall regulations.

 

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Unless an exemption applies, before Microbot can commercially distribute medical devices in the United States, Microbot must obtain, depending on the classification of the device, either prior 510(k) clearance, 510(k) de-novo clearance or premarket approval (PMA), from the FDA. The FDA classifies medical devices into one of three classes based on the degree of risk associated with each medical device and the extent of regulatory controls needed to ensure the device’s safety and effectiveness:

 

  Class I devices, which are low risk and subject to only general controls (e.g., registration and listing, medical device labeling compliance, MDRs, Quality System Regulations, and prohibitions against adulteration and misbranding) and, in some cases, to the 510(k) premarket clearance requirements;
     
  Class II devices, which are moderate risk and generally require 510(k) or 510(k) de-novo premarket clearance before they may be commercially marketed in the United States as well as general controls and potentially special controls like performance standards or specific labeling requirements; and
     
  Class III devices, which are devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting or implantable devices, or devices deemed not substantially equivalent to a predicate device. Class III devices generally require the submission and approval of a PMA supported by clinical trial data.

 

Microbot expect the medical products in its pipeline currently to be classified as Class II. Class II devices are those for which general controls alone are insufficient to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness and there is sufficient information to establish special controls. Special controls can include performance standards, post-market surveillance, patient histories and FDA guidance documents. Premarket review and clearance by the FDA for these devices is generally accomplished through the 510(k) or 510(k) de-novo premarket notification process. As part of the 510(k) or 510(k) de-novo notification process, FDA may require the following:

 

  Development of comprehensive product description and indications for use;
     
  Comprehensive review of predicate devices and development of data supporting the new product’s substantial equivalence to one or more predicate devices; and
     
  If appropriate and required, certain types of clinical trials (IDE submission and approval may be required for conducting a clinical trial in the US).

 

Clinical trials involve use of the medical device on human subjects under the supervision of qualified investigators in accordance with current Good Clinical Practices (GCPs), including the requirement that all research subjects provide informed consent for their participation in the clinical study. A written protocol with predefined end points, an appropriate sample size and pre-determined patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, is required before initiating and conducting a clinical trial. All clinical investigations of devices to determine safety and effectiveness must be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s Investigational device Exemption, or IDE, regulations that among other things, govern investigational device labeling, prohibit promotion of the investigational device, and specify recordkeeping, reporting and monitoring responsibilities of study sponsors and study investigators. If the device presents a “significant risk,” as defined by the FDA, the agency requires the device sponsor to submit an IDE application, which must become effective prior to commencing human clinical trials. The IDE will automatically become effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA denies the application or notifies the company that the investigation is on hold and may not begin. If the FDA determines that there are deficiencies or other concerns with an IDE that requires modification, the FDA may permit a clinical trial to proceed under a conditional approval. In addition, the study must be approved by, and conducted under the oversight of, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for each clinical site. If the device presents a non-significant risk to the patient, a sponsor may begin the clinical trial after obtaining approval for the trial by one or more IRBs without separate approval from the FDA, but it must still follow abbreviated IDE requirements, such as monitoring the investigation, ensuring that the investigators obtain informed consent, and labeling and record-keeping requirements. 510(k) clearance typically involves the following:

 

  Assuming successful completion of all required testing, a detailed 510(k) premarket notification or 510(k) de-novo is submitted to the FDA requesting clearance to market the product. The notification includes all relevant data from pertinent preclinical and clinical trials, together with detailed information relating to the product’s manufacturing controls and proposed labeling, and other relevant documentation.
     
  A 510(k) clearance letter from the FDA will authorize commercial marketing of the device for one or more specific indications for use.
     
  After 510(k) clearance, Microbot will be required to comply with a number of post-clearance requirements, including, but not limited to, Medical Device Reporting and complaint handling, and, if applicable, reporting of corrective actions. Also, quality control and manufacturing procedures must continue to conform to QSRs. The FDA periodically inspects manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with QSRs, which impose extensive procedural, substantive, and record keeping requirements on medical device manufacturers. In addition, changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and, depending on the change, validation activities may need to be performed. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain compliance with QSRs and other types of regulatory controls.

 

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After a device receives 510(k) clearance from FDA, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a major change in its intended use or technological characteristics, requires a new 510(k) clearance or could require a PMA. The FDA requires each manufacturer to make the determination of whether a modification requires a new 510(k) notification or PMA in the first instance, but the FDA can review any such decision. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s decision not to seek a new 510(k) clearance or PMA for a particular change, the FDA may retroactively require the manufacturer to seek 510(k) clearance or PMA. The FDA can also require the manufacturer to cease U.S. marketing and/or recall the modified device until additional 510(k) clearance or PMA approval is obtained.

 

The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, will also regulate the advertising claims of Microbot’s products to ensure that the claims Microbot makes are consistent with its regulatory clearances, that there is scientific data to substantiate the claims and that product advertising is neither false nor misleading.

 

To obtain 510(k) clearance, Microbot must submit a notification to the FDA demonstrating that its proposed device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device (i.e., a device that was in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class I or Class II, or a 510(k)-cleared device). The FDA’s 510(k) clearance process generally takes from three to 12 months from the date the application is submitted but also can take significantly longer. If the FDA determines that the device or its intended use is not substantially equivalent to a predicate device, the device is automatically placed into Class III, requiring the submission of a PMA.

 

There is no guarantee that the FDA will grant Microbot 510(k) clearance for its pipeline medical device products, and failure to obtain the necessary clearances for its products would adversely affect Microbot’s ability to grow its business. Delays in receipt or failure to receive the necessary clearances, or the failure to comply with existing or future regulatory requirements, could reduce its business prospects.

 

Devices that cannot be cleared through the 510(k) process due to lack of a predicate device but would be considered low or moderate risk may be eligible for the 510(k) de-novo process. In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act, or FDAMA added the de novo classification pathway now codified in section 513(f)(2) of the FD&C Act. This law established an alternate pathway to classify new devices into Class I or II that had automatically been placed in Class III after receiving a Not Substantially Equivalent, or NSE, determination in response to a 510(k) submission. Through this regulatory process, a sponsor who receives an NSE determination may, within 30 days of receipt, request FDA to make a risk-based classification of the device through what is called a “de novo request.” In 2012, section 513(f)(2) of the FD&C Act was amended by section 607 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), in order to provide a second option for de novo classification. Under this second pathway, a sponsor who determines that there is no legally marketed device upon which to base a determination of substantial equivalence can submit a de novo request to FDA without first submitting a 510(k).

 

In the event that Microbot receives a Not Substantially Equivalent determination for either of its device candidates in response to a 510(k) submission, the Microbot device may still be eligible for the 510(k) de-novo classification process.

 

Devices that cannot be cleared through the 510(k) or 510(k) de-novo classification process require the submission of a PMA. The PMA process is much more time consuming and demanding than the 510(k) notification process. A PMA must be supported by extensive data, including but not limited to data obtained from preclinical and/or clinical studies and data relating to manufacturing and labeling, to demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction the safety and effectiveness of the device. After a PMA application is submitted, the FDA’s in-depth review of the information generally takes between one and three years and may take significantly longer. If the FDA does not grant 510(k) clearance to its products, there is no guarantee that Microbot will submit a PMA or that if Microbot does, that the FDA would grant a PMA approval of Microbot’s products, either of which would adversely affect Microbot’s business.

 

Microbot is currently evaluating whether it is appropriate for it to seek 510(k) clearance, given the technological features of the SCS device and the FDA’s recent announcements about enhancing the 510(k) process to further ensure safety and efficacy. However, the Company believes that given the similarities between the SCS and some cleared predicate devices, there is a reasonable likelihood that a de novo application might be acceptable to the FDA.

 

Foreign Regulation

 

In addition to regulations in the United States, Microbot will be subject to a variety of foreign regulations governing clinical trials, marketing authorization and commercial sales and distribution of its products in foreign countries. The approval process varies from country to country, and the time may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval or clearance. The requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from country to country.

 

International sales of medical devices are subject to foreign governmental regulations which vary substantially from country to country. Whether or not Microbot obtains FDA approval or clearance for its products, Microbot will be required to make new regulatory submissions to the comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries before Microbot can commence clinical trials or marketing of the product in such countries. The time required to obtain certification or approval by a foreign country may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA clearance or approval, and the requirements may differ. Below are summaries of the regulatory systems for medical devices in Europe and Israel, where Microbot currently anticipates marketing its products. However, its products may also be marketed in other countries that have different systems or minimal requirements for medical devices.

 

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Europe. The primary regulatory body in Europe is the European Union, or E.U., which consists of 28 member states and has a coordinated system for the authorization of medical devices.

 

The E.U. has adopted legislation, in the form of directives to be implemented in each member state, concerning the regulation of medical devices within the European Union. The directives include, among others, the Medical Device Directive, or MDD, that establishes certain requirements with which medical devices must comply before they can be commercialized in the European Economic Area, or EEA (which comprises the member states of the E.U. plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland). Under the MDD, medical devices are classified into four Classes, I, IIa, IIb, and III, with Class I being the lowest risk and Class III being the highest risk. However, the E.U. authorities, including the European Commission, do not have direct regulatory over medical device manufacturers under the MDD. Rather, the MDD directs E.U. Member States to implement laws and regulations consistent with the provisions set forth in the directive.

 

Under the MDD, to demonstrate compliance of a medical device with the essential requirements, manufacturers must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and its classification. An accredited body known as a “Notified Body”, which is an entity designated by an E.U. Member State (or competent authority) to perform conformity assessments, will typically audit and examine the manufacturer’s quality system for the production, quality, design and final inspection of the medical devices and review a Technical File containing technical documents regarding the device, including but limited to, detailed device description, manufacturing information, preclinical and clinical tests, risk analysis, compliance with essential requirements, etc., before issuing a certification demonstrating compliance with the essential requirements. Medical devices that comply with the essential requirements are entitled to bear the Conformité Européene, or CE Mark. Medical devices properly bearing the CE Mark may be commercially distributed throughout the EEA. Under the MDD, notified bodies are also charged with performing periodic inspections to verify that a manufacturer’s quality system, particularly the production and quality controls, is adequately executed and maintained.

 

In addition, the MDD requires all medical device manufacturers to inform the competent authorities of their respective Member States of the address(es) of any business facilities and descriptions of any certified medical device products. The MDD also requires manufacturers to file vigilance reports in the event a device malfunction, deterioration in performance, or inadequate instructions or labeling results in, or could lead to, death or serious harm to a patient.

 

In September 2012, the European Commission published proposals for the revision of the EU regulatory framework for medical devices. The proposal would replace the MDD with a new regulation, the Medical Devices Regulation, or MDR. Unlike the MDD that must be implemented into national laws, the Medical Devices Regulation would be directly applicable in all EEA member states and so is intended to eliminate current national differences in regulation of medical devices. E.U. lawmakers published a revised draft of the proposed MDR in June 2016, which continues to be discussed within the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

 

Final formal adoption is expected both by the European Council and the European Parliament during the second quarter of 2017. If finally adopted, the MDR is expected to become applicable three years thereafter. The adoption of the MDR may, however, be materially delayed due to disagreements about specific portions of the regulation, as well as the implementation process. In its current form it would, among other things, impose additional reporting requirements on manufacturers of high risk medical devices, impose an obligation on manufacturers to appoint a “qualified person” responsible for regulatory compliance, and provide for more strict clinical evidence requirements. These new rules and procedures will likely result in increased regulatory oversight of all medical devices marketed in the E.U., and this may, in turn, increase the costs, time and requirements that need to be met in order to place a medical devices on the EEA market.

 

Microbot intends to apply for the CE Mark for each of its medical device products. There is no guarantee that Microbot will be granted a CE Mark for all or any of its pipeline products and failure to obtain the CE Mark would adversely affect its ability to grow its business.

 

Israel. Israel’s Medical Devices Law generally requires the registration of all medical products with the Ministry of Health, or MOH, Registrar as a precondition for production and distribution in Israel. Special exemptions may apply under limited circumstances and for purposes such as the provision of essential medical treatment, research and development of the medical device, and personal use, among others.

 

Registration of medical devices requires the submission of an application to the Ministry of Health Medical Institutions and Devices Licensing Department, or AMAR. An application for the registration of a medical device includes the following:

 

  Name and address of the manufacturer, and of the importer as applicable;
     
  Description of the intended use of the medical device and of its medical indications;
     
  Technical details of the medical device and of its components, and in the event that the device or the components are not new, information should be provided on the date or renovation;

 

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  Certificate attesting to the safety of the device, issued by a competent authority of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, European Community (EC), Member States (MSs), Israel, Japan, or the United States;
     
  Information on any risk which may be associated with the use of the device (including precautionary measures to be taken);
     
  Instructions for use of the device in Hebrew; the MOH may allow the instructions to be in English for certain devices;
     
  Details of the standards to which the device complies;
     
  Description of the technical and maintenance services, including periodic checks and inspections; and
     
  Declaration, as appropriate: of the local manufacturer/importer, and of the foreign manufacturer.

 

If the application includes a certificate issued by a competent authority of one of the following “recognized” countries: Australia, Canada, European Community (CE) Member States (MSs), Japan, or the United States, the registration process is generally expedited, but could still take 6-9 months for approval. If such certificate is not available, the registration process will take significantly longer and a license is rarely issued. Furthermore, the MOH will determine what type of testing is needed. In general, in the case of Israeli manufactured devices that are not registered or authorized in any “recognized” country, the application requires presentation of a risk analysis, a clinical evaluation, a summary of the clinical trials, and expert opinions regarding the device’s safety and effectiveness. Additional requirements may apply during the registration period, including follow-up reviews, to improve the quality and safety of the devices.

 

According to regulations issued by Israel’s Minister of Health in June 2013, a decision on a request to register a medical device must be delivered by AMAR within 120 days from the date of the request, although this rarely occurs. The current rules for the registration of medical devices do not provide for an expedited approval process.

 

Once granted by the MOH, a license (marketing authorization) for a medical device is valid for five years from the date of registration of the device, except for implants with a life-supporting function, for which the validity is for only two years from the date of registration. Furthermore, the holder of the license, the Israeli Registration Holder, or IRH, must do the following to maintain its license:

 

  Reside and maintain a place of business in Israel and serve as the regulatory representative.
     
  Respond to questions from AMAR concerning the registered products.
     
  Report adverse events to AMAR.
     
  Renew the registration on time to keep the market approval active.
     
  Comply with post-marketing requirements, including reporting of adverse and unexpected events occurring in Israel or in other countries where the device is in use.

 

Getting a device listed on Israel’s four major Sick Funds (health insurance entities) is also necessary in order for Israeli hospitals and health care providers to order such products.

 

Microbot intends to apply for a license from the MOH for each of its medical devices. There is no guarantee that Microbot will be granted licenses for its pipeline products and failure to obtain such licenses would adversely affect its ability to grow its business.

 

Employees

 

Microbot’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman, Harel Gadot, along with one full-time employee, are based in Microbot’s U.S. office located in Hingham, Massachusetts. Additionally, Microbot currently has 8 full-time employees and 1 part time employee based in its office located in Caesarea, Israel. These employees oversee day-to-day operations of the Company supporting management and leading engineering, manufacturing, intellectual property and administration functions of the Company. As required, Microbot also engages consultants to provide services to the Company, including regulatory, legal and corporate services. Microbot has no unionized employees.

 

Microbot currently plans to hire an additional 4-6 full-time employees within the next 12 months subject to the availability of funds, whose principal responsibilities will be the support of its operational, research and development, regulatory and clinical development activities.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our business, operating results, financial performance, and share price may be materially adversely affected by a number of factors, including but not limited to the following risk factors, any one of which could cause actual results to vary materially from anticipated results or from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in other reports, press releases or other statements issued from time to time. Additional factors that may cause such a difference are set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

 

 13 
 

 

Risks Relating to Microbot’s Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital

 

Microbot has had no revenue and has incurred significant operating losses since inception and is expected to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future. The Company may never become profitable or, if achieved, be able to sustain profitability.

 

Microbot has incurred significant operating losses since its inception and expects to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future as Microbot continues its preclinical and clinical development programs for its existing product candidates, SCS and TipCAT; its research and development of any other future product candidates; and all other work necessary to obtain regulatory clearances or approvals for its product candidates in the United States and other markets. In the future, Microbot intends to continue conducting micro-robotics research and development; performing necessary animal and clinical testing; working towards medical device regulatory compliance; and, if SCS, TipCAT or other future product candidates are approved or cleared for commercial distribution, engaging in appropriate sales and marketing activities that, together with anticipated general and administrative expenses, will likely result in Microbot incurring further significant losses for the foreseeable future.

 

Microbot is a development-stage medical device company and currently generates no revenue from product sales, and may never be able to commercialize SCS, TipCAT, the CardioSert technology or other future product candidates. Microbot does not currently have the required approvals or clearances to market or test in humans SCS, TipCAT, the CardioSert technology or any other future product candidates and Microbot may never receive them. Microbot does not anticipate generating significant revenues until it can successfully develop, commercialize and sell products derived from its product pipeline, of which Microbot can give no assurance. Even if Microbot or any of its future development partners succeed in commercializing any of its product candidates, Microbot may never generate revenues significant enough to achieve profitability.

 

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with its product development pipeline and strategy, Microbot cannot accurately predict when it will achieve profitability, if ever. Failure to become and remain profitable would depress the value of the Company and could impair its ability to raise capital, which may force the Company to curtail or discontinue its research and development programs and/or day-to-day operations. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that profitability, if achieved, can be sustained on an ongoing basis.

 

Microbot has a limited operating history, which may make it difficult to evaluate the prospects for the Company’s future viability.

 

Microbot has a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of its business plan or performance and prospects can be made. The business and prospects of Microbot must be considered in the light of the potential problems, delays, uncertainties and complications that may be encountered in connection with a newly established business. The risks include, but are not limited to, the possibility that Microbot will not be able to develop functional and scalable products, or that although functional and scalable, its products will not be economical to market; that its competitors hold proprietary rights that may preclude Microbot from marketing such products; that its competitors market a superior or equivalent product; that Microbot is not able to upgrade and enhance its technologies and products to accommodate new features and expanded service offerings; or the failure to receive necessary regulatory clearances or approvals for its products. To successfully introduce and market its products at a profit, Microbot must establish brand name recognition and competitive advantages for its products. There are no assurances that Microbot can successfully address these challenges. If it is unsuccessful, Microbot and its business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Microbot’s operations to date have been limited to organizing the company, entering into licensing arrangements to initially obtain rights to its technologies, developing and securing its technologies, raising capital, developing regulatory and reimbursement strategies for its product candidates and preparing for pre-clinical and clinical trials of the SCS and TipCAT. Microbot has not yet demonstrated its ability to successfully complete development of any product candidate, obtain marketing clearance or approval, manufacture a commercial-scale product or arrange for a third party to do so on its behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Consequently, any predictions made about Microbot’s future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if Microbot had a longer operating history.

 

Microbot will need substantial additional funding. If Microbot is unable to raise capital when needed, it could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its product development programs or commercialization efforts.

 

To date, Microbot has funded its operations primarily through offerings of debt and equity securities, grants and loans. Microbot does not know when, or if, it will generate any revenue, but does not expect to generate significant revenue unless and until it obtains regulatory clearance or approval of and commercializes one of its current or future product candidates. It is anticipated that the Company will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and that losses will increase as it continues the development of, and seeks regulatory review of, its product candidates, and begins to commercialize any approved or cleared products following a successful regulatory review.

 

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Microbot expects the research and development expenses of the Company to increase substantially in future periods as it conducts pre-clinical studies in large animals and potentially clinical trials for its product candidates, and especially if it initiates additional research programs for future product candidates, including the CardioSert technology. In addition, if the Company obtains marketing clearance or approval for any of its product candidates, it expects to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product manufacturing, marketing and sales. Furthermore, Microbot incurs substantial costs associated with operating as a public company in the United States. Accordingly, the Company will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with its continuing operations. If the Company is unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, it could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its research and development programs or any future commercialization efforts.

 

Microbot believes that the net cash of the Company will be sufficient to fund the Company for at least 12 months and fund operations necessary to continue development activities of the SCS.

 

The Company may need to raise additional funds through equity offerings or otherwise in order to meet expected future liquidity needs, including the introduction of the SCS device into the hydrocephalus and NPH market. The Company’s future capital requirements, generally, will depend on many factors, including:

 

  the timing and outcomes of the product candidates’ regulatory reviews, subsequent approvals or clearances, or other regulatory actions;
     
 

the final outcome of the Company’s existing lawsuit with Sabby, discussed in greater detail elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our pending appeal to overturn the court’s March 2019 decision in favor of the plaintiffs, and whether other investors in the Company’s June 2017 equity financing will bring an action against the Company under similar legal theories;

     
  the costs, design, duration and any potential delays of the clinical trials that could be conducted at the FDA’s request using Microbot’s product candidates;
     
  the costs of acquiring, licensing or investing in new and existing businesses, product candidates and technologies;
     
  the costs to maintain, expand and defend the scope of Microbot’s intellectual property portfolio;
     
  the costs to secure or establish sales, marketing and commercial manufacturing capabilities or arrangements with third parties regarding same;
     
  the Company’s need and ability to hire additional management and scientific and medical personnel; and
     
  the costs to operate as a public company in the United States.

 

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to the Company’s investors, restrict its operations or require it to relinquish rights to its technologies or product candidates.

 

Until such time, if ever, as the Company can generate substantial product revenues, it expects to finance its cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, licensing, collaboration or similar arrangements, grants and debt financings. The Company does not have any committed external source of funds. To the extent that the Company raises additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of its stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of holder of the Company’s common stock. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting the Company’s ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, declaring dividends or other distributions, selling or licensing intellectual property rights, and other operating restrictions that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to conduct its business.

 

If the Company raises additional funds through licensing, collaboration or similar arrangements, it may have to relinquish valuable rights to its technologies, future revenue streams, research and development programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to the Company. If the Company is unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other arrangements when needed, it may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate its product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that it would otherwise prefer to develop and market itself.

 

 15 
 

 

Risks Relating to the Development and Commercialization of Microbot’s Product Candidates

 

Microbot’s business depends heavily on the success of its lead product candidate, the SCS. If Microbot is unable to commercialize the SCS or experiences significant delays in doing so, Microbot’s business will be materially harmed.

 

On January 27, 2017, Microbot entered into a research agreement with Washington University in St. Louis to develop the protocol for and to execute the necessary animal study to determine the effectiveness of the Microbot’s SCS prototype. The initial research was completed in 2017 with a comprehensive study expected to be completed in 2019. Upon the completion of animal studies, Microbot may conduct clinical trials if they are requested by the FDA or if Microbot decides that the data from such trials would improve the marketability of the product candidate. After all necessary clinical and performance data supporting the safety and effectiveness of SCS are collected, Microbot must still obtain FDA clearance or approval to market the device and those regulatory processes can take several months to several years to be completed. Therefore, Microbot’s ability to generate product revenues will not occur for at least the next few years, if at all, and will depend heavily on the successful commercialization of SCS in the treatment of hydrocephalus. The success of commercializing SCS will depend on a number of factors, including the following:

 

  our ability to obtain additional capital;
     
  successful completion of animal studies and, if necessary, human clinical trials and the collection of sufficient data to demonstrate that the device is safe and effective for its intended use;
     
  receipt of marketing approvals or clearances from the FDA and other applicable regulatory authorities;
     
  establishing commercial manufacturing arrangements with one or more third parties;
     
  obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protections;
     
  protecting Microbot’s rights in its intellectual property portfolio;
     
  establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities;
     
  generating commercial sales of SCS, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with other entities;
     
  acceptance of SCS, if and when commercially launched, by the medical community, patients and third-party payors;
     
  effectively competing with existing shunt and endoscope products on the market and any new competing products that may enter the market; and
     
  maintaining quality and an acceptable safety profile of SCS following clearance or approval.

 

If Microbot does not achieve one or more of these factors in a timely manner or at all, it could experience significant delays or an inability to successfully commercialize SCS, which would materially harm its business. These risks may also apply to Microbot’s other technologies.

 

Microbot’s ability to expand its technology platforms for other uses, including endovascular neurosurgery other than for the treatment of hydrocephalus, may be limited.

 

After spending time working with experts in the field, Microbot has recently decided to no longer pursue the use of TipCAT in colonoscopy and has instead committed to focus on expanding all of its technology platforms for use in segments of the endovascular neurosurgery market, including traumatic brain injury, to capitalize on its existing competencies in hydrocephalus and the market’s needs. Microbot’s ability to expand its technology platforms for use in the endovascular neurosurgery market will be limited by its ability to develop and/or refine the necessary technology, obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for their use on humans, and the marketing of its products and otherwise obtaining market acceptance of its product in the United States and in other countries.

 

Microbot operates in a competitive industry and if its competitors have products that are marketed more effectively or develop products, treatments or procedures that are similar, more advanced, safer or more effective, its commercial opportunities will be reduced or eliminated, which would materially harm its business.

 

Our competitors may develop products, treatments or procedures that directly compete with our products and potential products and which are similar, more advanced, safer or more effective than ours. The medical device industry is very competitive and subject to significant technological and practice changes. Microbot expects to face competition from many different sources with respect to the SCS and products that it is seeking to develop or commercialize with respect to its other product candidates in the future.

 

Competing against large established competitors with significant resources may make establishing a market for any products that it develops difficult which would have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s business. Microbot’s commercial opportunities could also be reduced or eliminated if its competitors develop and commercialize products, treatments or procedures quicker, that are safer, more effective, are more convenient or are less expensive than the SCS or any product that Microbot may develop. Many of Microbot’s potential competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than Microbot may have. Mergers and acquisitions in the medical device industry market may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of Microbot’s potential competitors.

 

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At this time, Microbot does not know whether the FDA will require it to submit clinical data in support of its future marketing applications for its SCS product candidate, particularly in light of recent initiatives by the FDA to enhance and modernize its approach to medical device safety and innovation, which creates uncertainty for Microbot as well as the possibility of increased product development costs and time to market.

 

Although Microbot has identified a predicate device for its lead product candidate, the SCS, which it intended to use in its 510(k) application, it may determine that a 510(k) de novo application is more appropriate for the SCS. If the Company determines to proceed with the 510(k) application and the FDA agrees with the Company’s determination, the SCS will be classified by the FDA as Class II and eligible for marketing pursuant to FDA clearance through the 510(k) application. However, in light of recent initiatives by the FDA relating to safety and efficacy, there is no guarantee that the FDA will agree with the Company’s determination or that the FDA would accept the predicate device that Microbot intends to submit in its 510(k). The FDA also may request additional data in response to a 510(k), or require Microbot to conduct further testing or compile more data in support of its 510(k). Such additional data could include clinical data that must be derived from human clinical studies that are designed appropriately to address the potential questions from the FDA regarding a proposed product’s safety or effectiveness. It is unclear at this time whether and how various activities recently initiated or announced by the FDA to modernize the U.S. medical device regulatory system could affect the marketing pathway or timeline for our product candidate, given the timing and the undeveloped nature of some of the FDA’s new medical device safety and innovation initiatives. One of the recent initiatives was announced in April 2018, when the FDA Commissioner issued a statement with the release of a Medical Device Safety Action Plan. Among other key areas of the Medical Device Safety Action Plan, the Commissioner stated that the FDA is “exploring what further actions we can take to spur innovation towards technologies that can make devices and their use safer. For instance, our Breakthrough Device Program that helps address unmet medical needs can be used to facilitate patient access to innovative new devices that have important improvements to patient safety. We’re considering developing a similar program to support the development of safer devices that do not otherwise meet the Breakthrough Program criteria, but are clearly intended to be safer than currently available technologies.” This type of program may negatively affect our existing development plan for the SCS product candidate or it may benefit Microbot, but at this time those potential impacts from recent FDA medical device initiatives are unknown and uncertain. Similarly, the FDA Commissioner announced various agency goals under a Medical Innovation Access Plan in 2017.

 

If the FDA does require clinical data to be submitted as part of the SCS marketing submission, any type of clinical study performed in humans will require the investment of substantial expense, professional resources and time. In order to conduct a clinical investigation involving human subjects for the purpose of demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of a medical device, a company must, among other things, apply for and obtain Institutional Review Board, or IRB, approval of the proposed investigation. In addition, if the clinical study involves a “significant risk” (as defined by the FDA) to human health, the sponsor of the investigation must also submit and obtain FDA approval of an Investigational Device Exemption, or IDE, application. Microbot may not be able to obtain FDA and/or IRB approval to undertake clinical trials in the United States for any new devices Microbot intends to market in the United States in the future. Moreover, the timing of the commencement, continuation and completion of any future clinical trial may be subject to significant delays attributable to various causes, including scheduling conflicts with participating clinicians and clinical institutions, difficulties in identifying and enrolling patients who meet trial eligibility criteria, failure of patients to complete the clinical trial, delay in or failure to obtain IRB approval to conduct a clinical trial at a prospective site, and shortages of supply in the investigational device.

 

Thus, the addition of one or more mandatory clinical trials to the development timeline for the SCS would significantly increase the costs associated with developing and commercializing the product and delay the timing of U.S. regulatory authorization. The current uncertainty regarding near-term medical device regulatory changes by the FDA could further affect our development plans for the SCS, depending on their nature, scope and applicability. Microbot and its business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected as a result of any such costs, delays or uncertainty.

 

The FDA may disagree with Microbot’s determination that the SCS is a Class II device or that the chosen predicate device (or any predicate device) is appropriate for a substantial equivalence comparison to the SCS.

 

Although the Company intended to submit a 501(k) application for its lead product candidate, the SCS, the Company is now considering that the FDA may determine that the SCS is a Class III device because there is no appropriate predicate device for substantial equivalence comparison, which would require Microbot to submit a De Novo classification request or an application for premarket approval (“PMA”). Both De Novo requests and PMA applications require applicants to prepare information and data about device safety and efficacy in addition to the 510(k) requirements, including a benefit-risk analysis, a discussion of proposed general and special controls to eliminate or mitigate device risks, and additional testing data. PMA applications almost always require data from human clinical studies, and while De Novo requests do not require human clinical study data, in most cases, such data is necessary to demonstrate that the FDA can appropriately classify the device as Class II.

 

 17 
 

 

Any type of clinical study performed in humans will require the investment of substantial expense, professional resources and time. In order to conduct a clinical investigation involving human subjects for the purpose of demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of a medical device, a company must, among other things, apply for and obtain Institutional Review Board, or IRB, approval of the proposed investigation. In addition, if the clinical study involves a “significant risk” (as defined by the FDA) to human health, the sponsor of the investigation must also submit and obtain FDA approval of an Investigational Device Exemption, or IDE, application. Microbot may not be able to obtain FDA and/or IRB approval to undertake clinical trials in the United States for any new devices Microbot intends to market in the United States in the future. Moreover, the timing of the commencement, continuation and completion of any future clinical trial may be subject to significant delays attributable to various causes, including scheduling conflicts with participating clinicians and clinical institutions, difficulties in identifying and enrolling patients who meet trial eligibility criteria, failure of patients to complete the clinical trial, delay in or failure to obtain IRB approval to conduct a clinical trial at a prospective site, and shortages of supply in the investigational device. Thus, the addition of one or more mandatory clinical trials to the development timeline for the SCS would significantly increase the costs associated with developing and commercializing the product and delay the timing of U.S. regulatory authorization.

 

Furthermore, if Microbot is required to submit a De Novo request or PMA application instead of a 510(k), the FDA review process may take significantly more time. While the FDA commits to reviewing 510(k)s in 90 days, the review period for De Novo requests and PMA applications is 150 days and 180 days, respectively. After an initial review of our De Novo request or PMA application, the FDA may request additional information or data which can significantly delay an ultimate decision on our submission.

 

Thus, submitting a De Novo request or PMA application for the SCS would significantly increase the costs associated with developing and commercializing the product and delay the timing of U.S. regulatory authorization. Microbot and its business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected as a result of any such costs or delays.

 

Unsuccessful animal studies, clinical trials or procedures relating to product candidates under development could have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s prospects.

 

The regulatory approval process for new products and new indications for existing products requires extensive data and procedures, including the development of regulatory and quality standards and, potentially, certain clinical studies. Unfavorable or inconsistent data from current or future clinical trials or other studies conducted by Microbot or third parties, including the studies now being performed by The Washington University or perceptions regarding such data, could adversely affect Microbot’s ability to obtain necessary device clearance or approval and the market’s view of Microbot’s future prospects. Failure to successfully complete these studies in a timely and cost-effective manner could have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s prospects. Because animal trials, clinical trials and other types of scientific studies are inherently uncertain, there can be no assurance that these trials or studies will be completed in a timely or cost-effective manner or result in a commercially viable product. Clinical trials or studies may experience significant setbacks even if earlier preclinical or animal studies have shown promising results. Furthermore, preliminary results from clinical trials may be contradicted by subsequent clinical analysis. Results from clinical trials may also not be supported by actual long-term studies or clinical experience. If preliminary clinical results are later contradicted, or if initial results cannot be supported by actual long-term studies or clinical experience, Microbot’s business could be adversely affected. Clinical trials also may be suspended or terminated by us, the FDA or other regulatory authorities at any time if it is believed that the trial participants face unacceptable health risks.

 

Microbot has no prior experience in conducting clinical trials and will depend upon the ability of third parties, including contract research organizations, collaborative academic groups, future clinical trial sites and investigators, to conduct or to assist the Company in conducting clinical trials for its product candidates, if such trials become necessary.

 

As a development-stage, pre-clinical company, Microbot has no prior experience in designing, initiating, conducting and monitoring human clinical trials, if data from such trials become necessary in order to obtain regulatory clearance or approval of our product candidates. Should the FDA or another regulatory agency in a foreign market request clinical data to support the safety and effectiveness of Microbot’s product candidates, Microbot will depend upon its ability and/or the ability of future collaborators, contract research organizations, clinical trial sites and investigators to successfully design, initiate, conduct and monitor such clinical trials.

 

Failure by Microbot or by any of these future collaborating parties to timely and effectively initiate, conduct and monitor a future clinical trial could significantly delay or materially impair Microbot’s ability to complete those clinical trials and/or obtain regulatory clearance or approval of its product candidates and, consequently, could delay or materially impair its ability to generate revenues from the commercialization of those products.

 

If the commercial opportunity for SCS and any other commercial products that may be developed by Microbot is smaller than Microbot anticipates, Microbot’s future revenue from SCS and such other products will be adversely affected and Microbot’s business will suffer.

 

If the size of the commercial opportunities in any of Microbot’s target markets is smaller than it anticipates, Microbot may not be able to achieve profitability and growth. Microbot is developing SCS as a device for the treatment of hydrocephalus and NPH. Microbot expects its future revenues to be primarily derived from the sales of the SCS, which has not undergone an FDA pre-market review process necessary to commercialize the product candidate in the United States. It is difficult to predict the penetration, future growth rate or size of the market for Microbot’s product candidate.

 

 18 
 

 

The commercial success of the SCS will require broad acceptance of the devices by the doctors and other medical professionals who specialize in the procedures targeted by each device, a limited number of whom may be able to influence device selection and purchasing decisions. If Microbot’s technologies are not broadly accepted and perceived as having significant advantages over existing medical devices, then it will not meet its business objectives. Such perceptions are likely to be based on a determination by medical facilities and physicians that Microbot’s product candidates are safe and effective, are cost-effective in comparison to existing devices, and represent acceptable methods of treatment. Microbot cannot assure that it will be able to establish the relationships and arrangements with medical facilities and physicians necessary to support the market uptake of its product candidates. In addition, its competitors may develop new technologies for the same markets Microbot is targeting that are more attractive to medical facilities and physicians. If doctors and other medical professionals do not consider Microbot product candidates to be suitable for application in the procedures we are targeting and an improvement over the use of existing or competing products, Microbot’s business goals will not be realized.

 

Customers will be unlikely to buy the SCS unless Microbot can demonstrate that they can be produced for sale to consumers at attractive prices.

 

To date, Microbot has focused primarily on research and development of the first generation versions of the SCS. Consequently, Microbot has no experience in manufacturing its product candidates, and intends to manufacture its product candidates through third-party manufacturers. Microbot can offer no assurance that either it or its manufacturing partners will develop efficient, automated, low-cost manufacturing capabilities and processes to meet the quality, price, engineering, design and production standards or production volumes required to successfully mass produce its commercial products. Even if its manufacturing partners are successful in developing such manufacturing capability and quality processes, including the assurance of GMP-compliant device manufacturing, there can be no assurance that Microbot can timely meet its product commercialization schedule or the production and delivery requirements of potential customers. A failure to develop such manufacturing processes and capabilities could have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s business and financial results.

 

The proposed price of Microbot’s product candidates, once approved for sale, will be dependent on material and other manufacturing costs. Microbot cannot offer any assurances that its manufacturing partner will be able manufacture its product candidates at a competitive price or that achieving cost reductions will not cause a reduction in the performance, reliability and longevity of its product candidates.

 

Microbot has relied on, and intends to continue to rely on, third-party manufacturers to produce its product candidates.

 

Microbot currently relies, and expects to rely for the foreseeable future, on third-party manufacturers to produce and supply its product candidates, and it expects to rely on third parties to manufacture the commercialized products as well, should they receive the necessary regulatory clearance or approval. Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks to which Microbot would not be subject if Microbot manufactured its product candidates or future commercial products itself, including:

 

  limitations on supply availability resulting from capacity, internal operational problems or scheduling constraints of third parties;
     
  potential regulatory non-compliance or other violations by the third-party manufacturer that could result in quality assurance issues or government enforcement action that has a negative effect on Microbot’s product candidates and distribution strategy;
     
  the possible breach of manufacturing agreements by third parties because of various factors beyond Microbot’s control; and
     
  the possible termination or non-renewal of manufacturing agreements by third parties for various reasons beyond Microbot’s control, at a time that is costly or inconvenient to Microbot.

 

If Microbot is not able to maintain its key manufacturing relationships, Microbot may fail to find replacement manufacturers or develop its own manufacturing capabilities, which could delay or impair Microbot’s ability to obtain regulatory clearance or approval for its product candidates and could substantially increase its costs or deplete profit margins, if any. If Microbot does find replacement manufacturers, Microbot may not be able to enter into agreements with them on terms and conditions favorable to it and there could be a substantial delay before new facilities could be qualified and registered with the FDA and other foreign regulatory authorities.

 

If Microbot’s product candidates are not considered to be a safe and effective alternative to existing technologies, Microbot will not be commercially successful.

 

The SCS and TipCAT rely on new technologies, and Microbot’s success will depend on acceptance of these technologies by the medical community as safe, clinically effective, cost effective and a preferred device as compared to products of its competitors. Microbot does not have long-term data regarding efficacy, safety and clinical outcomes associated with the use of SCS or TipCAT. Any data that is generated in the future may not be positive or may not support the product candidates’ regulatory dossiers, which would negatively affect market acceptance and the rate at which its product candidates are adopted. Equally important will be physicians’ perceptions of the safety of Microbot’s product candidates because Microbot’s technologies are relatively new. If, over the long term, Microbot’s product candidates do not meet surgeons’ expectations as to safety, efficacy and ease of use, they may not become widely adopted.

 

Market acceptance of Microbot’s product candidates will also be affected by other factors, including Microbot’s ability to convince key opinion leaders to provide recommendations regarding its product candidates; convince distributors that its technologies are attractive alternatives to existing and competing technologies; supply and service sufficient quantities of products directly or through marketing alliances; and price products competitively in light of the current macroeconomic environment, which is becoming increasingly price sensitive.

 

 19 
 

 

Microbot may be subject to penalties and may be precluded from marketing its product candidates if Microbot fails to comply with extensive governmental regulations.

 

Microbot believes that its medical device product candidates will be categorized as Class II devices, which typically require a 510(k) or 510(k) de-novo premarket submission to the FDA. However, the FDA has not made any determination about whether Microbot’s medical product candidates are Class II medical devices and may disagree with that classification. If the FDA determines that Microbot’s product candidates should be reclassified as Class III medical devices, Microbot could be precluded from marketing the devices for clinical use within the United States for months, years or longer, depending on the specifics of the change in classification. Reclassification of any of Microbot’s product candidates as Class III medical devices could significantly increase Microbot’s regulatory costs, including the timing and expense associated with required clinical trials and other costs.

 

The FDA and non-U.S. regulatory authorities require that Microbot product candidates be manufactured according to rigorous standards. These regulatory requirements significantly increase Microbot’s production costs, which may prevent Microbot from offering products within the price range and in quantities necessary to meet market demands. If Microbot or one of its third-party manufacturers changes an approved manufacturing process, the FDA may need to review the process before it may be used. Failure to comply with applicable pre-market and post-market regulatory requirements could subject Microbot to enforcement actions, including warning letters, fines, injunctions and civil penalties, recall or seizure of its products, operating restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of its production, and criminal prosecution.

 

If Microbot is not able to both obtain and maintain adequate levels of third-party reimbursement for procedures involving its product candidates after they are approved for marketing and launched commercially, it would have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s business.

 

Healthcare providers and related facilities are generally reimbursed for their services through payment systems managed by various governmental agencies worldwide, private insurance companies, and managed care organizations. The manner and level of reimbursement in any given case may depend on the site of care, the procedure(s) performed, the final patient diagnosis, the device(s) utilized, available budget, or a combination of these factors, and coverage and payment levels are determined at each payor’s discretion. The coverage policies and reimbursement levels of these third-party payors may impact the decisions of healthcare providers and facilities regarding which medical products they purchase and the prices they are willing to pay for those products. Microbot cannot assure you that its sales will not be impeded and its business harmed if third-party payors fail to provide reimbursement for Microbot products that healthcare providers view as adequate.

 

In the United States, Microbot expects that its product candidates, once approved, will be purchased primarily by medical institutions, which then bill various third-party payors, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which administers the Medicare program through Medicare Administrative Contractors, and other government health care programs and private insurance plans, for the healthcare products and services provided to their patients. The process involved in applying for coverage and incremental reimbursement from CMS is lengthy and expensive. Moreover, many private payors look to CMS in setting their reimbursement policies and amounts. If CMS or other agencies limit coverage for procedures utilizing Microbot’s products or decrease or limit reimbursement payments for doctors and hospitals utilizing Microbot’s products, this may affect coverage and reimbursement determinations by many private payors.

 

If a procedure involving a medical device is not reimbursed separately by a government or private insurer, then a medical institution would have to absorb the cost of Microbot’s products as part of the cost of the procedure in which the products are used. At this time, Microbot does not know the extent to which medical institutions would consider insurers’ payment levels adequate to cover the cost of its products. Failure by hospitals and surgeons to receive an amount that they consider to be adequate reimbursement for procedures in which Microbot products are used could deter them from purchasing Microbot products and limit sales growth for those products.

 

Microbot has no control over payor decision-making with respect to coverage and payment levels for its medical device product candidates, once they are approved. Additionally, Microbot expects many payors to continue to explore cost-containment strategies (e.g., comparative and cost-effectiveness analyses, so-called “pay-for-performance” programs implemented by various public government health care programs and private third-party payors, and expansion of payment bundling initiatives, and other such methods that shift medical cost risk to providers) that may potentially impact coverage and/or payment levels for Microbot’s current product candidates or products Microbot develops in the future.

 

As Microbot’s product offerings are used across diverse healthcare settings, they will be affected to varying degrees by the different payment systems.

 

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Clinical outcome studies for the SCS may not provide sufficient data to make Microbot’s product candidates the standard of care.

 

Microbot’s business plan relies on the broad adoption by surgeons of the SCS for primary shunt placement procedures to prevent shunt occlusions. Although Microbot believes the occurrence of shunt occlusion complications is well known among physicians practicing in the relevant medical fields, SCS may be adopted for replacement shunt surgeries only. Neurosurgeons may adopt SCS for primary shunt placement procedures only upon additional clinical studies with longer follow up periods, if at all. It may also be necessary to provide outcome studies on the preventative capabilities of the SCS in order to convince the medical community of its safety and efficacy. Clinical studies may not show an advantage in SCS based procedures in a timely manner, or at all, and outcome studies have not been designed at this time, and may be too large and too costly for Microbot to conduct. Both situations could prevent broad adoption of the SCS and materially impact Microbot’s business.

 

Microbot products may in the future be subject to mandatory product recalls that could harm its reputation, business and financial results.

 

The FDA and similar foreign governmental authorities have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture that could pose a risk of injury to patients. In the case of the FDA, the authority to require a recall must be based on an FDA finding that there is a reasonable probability that the device would cause serious injury or death, although in most cases this mandatory recall authority is not used because manufacturers typically initiate a voluntary recall when a device violation is discovered. In addition, foreign governmental bodies have the authority to require the recall of Microbot products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any material deficiency in a device is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by Microbot or one of its distributors could occur as a result of component failures, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues. Recalls of any Microbot products would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on Microbot’s financial condition and results of operations, and any future recall announcements could harm Microbot’s reputation with customers and negatively affect its sales. In addition, the FDA could take enforcement action, including any of the following sanctions for failing to timely report a recall to the FDA:

 

  untitled letters, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
     
  detention or seizure of Microbot products;
     
  operating restrictions or partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
     
  refusing or delaying requests for 510(k) clearance or premarket approval of new products or modified products;
     
  withdrawing 510(k) clearances or other types of regulatory authorizations -that have already been granted;
     
  refusing to grant export approval for Microbot products; or
     
  criminal prosecution.

 

If Microbot’s future commercialized products cause or contribute to a death or a serious injury, Microbot will be subject to Medical Device Reporting regulations, which can result in voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions.

 

Under FDA regulations, Microbot will be required to report to the FDA any incident in which a marketed medical device product may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or in which a medical device malfunctioned and, if the malfunction were to recur, would likely cause or contribute to death or serious injury. In addition, all manufacturers placing medical devices in European Union markets are legally bound to report any serious or potentially serious incidents involving devices they produce or sell to the relevant authority in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.

 

Microbot anticipates that in the future it is likely that we may experience events that would require reporting to the FDA pursuant to the Medical Device Reporting (MDR) regulations. Any adverse event involving a Microbot product could result in future voluntary corrective actions, such as product actions or customer notifications, or agency actions, such as inspection, mandatory recall or other enforcement action. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as defending Microbot in a lawsuit, will require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business, and may harm our reputation and financial results.

 

Microbot could be exposed to significant liability claims if Microbot is unable to obtain insurance at acceptable costs and adequate levels or otherwise protect itself against potential product liability claims.

 

The testing, manufacture, marketing and sale of medical devices entail the inherent risk of liability claims or product recalls. Product liability insurance is expensive and may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. A successful product liability claim or product recall could inhibit or prevent the successful commercialization of Microbot’s products, cause a significant financial burden on Microbot, or both, which in any case could have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s business and financial condition.

 

The results of Microbot’s research and development efforts are uncertain and there can be no assurance of the commercial success of Microbot’s product candidates.

 

Microbot believe that its success will depend in part on its ability to expand its product offerings and continue to improve its existing product candidates in response to changing technologies, customer demands and competitive pressures. As such, Microbot expects to continue dedicating significant resources in research and development. The product candidates and services being developed by Microbot may not be technologically successful. In addition, the length of Microbot’s product candidates and service development cycle may be greater than Microbot originally expected.

 

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Our business strategy in part relies on identifying, acquiring and developing complementary technologies and products, which entails risks which could negatively affect our business, operations and financial condition.

 

We may pursue other acquisitions of businesses and technologies. Acquisitions entail numerous risks, including:

 

  difficulties in the integration of acquired operations, services and products;
     
  failure to achieve expected synergies;
     
  diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;
     
  assumption of unknown material liabilities of acquired companies;
     
  amortization of acquired intangible assets, which could reduce future reported earnings;
     
  potential loss of clients or key employees of acquired companies; and
     
  dilution to existing stockholders.

 

As part of our growth strategy, we may consider, and from time to time may engage in, discussions and negotiations regarding transactions, such as acquisitions, mergers and combinations within our industry. The purchase price for possible acquisitions could be paid in cash, through the issuance of common stock or other securities, borrowings or a combination of these methods.

 

We cannot be certain that we will be able to identify, consummate and successfully integrate acquisitions, and no assurance can be given with respect to the timing, likelihood or business effect of any possible transaction. For example, we could begin negotiations that we subsequently decide to suspend or terminate for a variety of reasons. However, opportunities may arise from time to time that we will evaluate. Any transactions that we consummate would involve risks and uncertainties to us. These risks could cause the failure of any anticipated benefits of an acquisition to be realized, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

If Microbot fails to retain certain of its key personnel and attract and retain additional qualified personnel, Microbot might not be able to pursue its growth strategy effectively.

 

Microbot is dependent on its senior management, in particular Harel Gadot, Microbot’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Although Microbot believes that its relationship with members of its senior management is positive, there can be no assurance that the services of any of these individuals will continue to be available to Microbot in the future. Microbot’s future success will depend in part on its ability to retain its management and scientific teams, to identify, hire and retain additional qualified personnel with expertise in research and development and sales and marketing, and to effectively provide for the succession of senior management, when necessary. Competition for qualified personnel in the medical device industry is intense and finding and retaining qualified personnel with experience in the industry is very difficult. Microbot believes that there are only a limited number of individuals with the requisite skills to serve in key positions at Microbot, particularly in Israel, and it competes for key personnel with other medical equipment and technology companies, as well as research institutions.

 

Microbot does not carry, and does not intend to carry, any key man life insurance policies on any of its existing executive officers.

 

Risks Relating to International Business

 

If Microbot fails to obtain regulatory clearances in other countries for its product candidates under development, Microbot will not be able to commercialize these product candidates in those countries.

 

In order for Microbot to market its product candidates in countries other than the United States, it must comply with the safety and quality regulations in such countries.

 

In Europe, these regulations, including the requirements for approvals, clearance or grant of Conformité Européenne, or CE, Certificates of Conformity and the time required for regulatory review, vary from country to country. Failure to obtain regulatory approval, clearance or CE Certificates of Conformity (or equivalent) in any foreign country in which Microbot plans to market its product candidates may harm its ability to generate revenue and harm its business. Approval and CE marking procedures vary among countries and can involve additional product testing and additional administrative review periods. The time required to obtain approval or CE Certificate of Conformity in other countries might differ from that required to obtain FDA clearance. The regulatory approval or CE marking process in other countries may include all of the risks detailed above regarding FDA clearance in the United States. Regulatory approval or the CE marking of a product candidate in one country does not ensure regulatory approval in another, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval or a CE Certificate of Conformity in one country may negatively impact the regulatory process in others. Failure to obtain regulatory approval or a CE Certificate of Conformity in other countries or any delay or setback in obtaining such approval could have the same adverse effects described above regarding FDA clearance in the United States.

 

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Microbot cannot be certain that it will be successful in complying with the requirements of the CE Certificate of Conformity and receiving a CE Mark for its product candidates or in continuing to meet the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive in the European Economic Area (EEA).

 

Israel’s Medical Devices Law generally requires the registration of all medical products with the Ministry of Health, or MOH, Registrar through the submission of an application to the Ministry of Health Medical Institutions and Devices Licensing Department, or AMAR. If the application includes a certificate issued by a competent authority of a “recognized” country, which includes Australia, Canada, the European Community Member States, Japan or the United States, the registration process is expedited, but is generally still expected to take 6 to 9 months for approval. If certification from a recognized country is not available, the registration process takes significantly longer and a license is rarely issued under such circumstances, as the MOH may require the presentation of significant additional clinical data. Once granted, a license (marketing authorization) for a medical device is valid for five years from the date of registration of the device, except for implants with a life-supporting function, for which the validity is for only two years from the date of registration. Furthermore, the holder of the license must meet several additional requirements to maintain the license. Microbot cannot be certain that it will be successful in applying for a license from the MOH for its product candidates.

 

Microbot operations in international markets involve inherent risks that Microbot may not be able to control.

 

Microbot’s business plan includes the marketing and sale of its proposed product candidates internationally, and specifically in Europe and Israel. Accordingly, Microbot’s results could be materially and adversely affected by a variety of factors relating to international business operations that it may or may not be able to control, including:

 

  adverse macroeconomic conditions affecting geographies where Microbot intends to do business;
     
  foreign currency exchange rates;
     
  political or social unrest or economic instability in a specific country or region;
     
  higher costs of doing business in certain foreign countries;
     
  infringement claims on foreign patents, copyrights or trademark rights;
     
  difficulties in staffing and managing operations across disparate geographic areas;
     
  difficulties associated with enforcing agreements and intellectual property rights through foreign legal systems;
     
  trade protection measures and other regulatory requirements, which affect Microbot’s ability to import or export its product candidates from or to various countries;
     
  adverse tax consequences;
     
  unexpected changes in legal and regulatory requirements;
     
  military conflict, terrorist activities, natural disasters and medical epidemics; and
     
  Microbot’s ability to recruit and retain channel partners in foreign jurisdictions.

 

Microbot’s financial results may be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and Microbot’s current currency hedging strategy may not be sufficient to counter such fluctuations.

 

Microbot’s financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars and the financial results of the Company are denominated in U.S. dollars, while a significant portion of Microbot’s business is conducted, and a substantial portion of its operating expenses are payable, in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Exchange rate fluctuations may have an adverse impact on Microbot’s future revenues or expenses as presented in the financial statements. Microbot may in the future use financial instruments, such as forward foreign currency contracts, in its management of foreign currency exposure. These contracts would primarily require Microbot to purchase and sell certain foreign currencies with or for U.S. dollars at contracted rates. Microbot may be exposed to a credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties of these contracts. In addition, these financial instruments may not adequately manage Microbot’s foreign currency exposure. Microbot’s results of operations could be adversely affected if Microbot is unable to successfully manage currency fluctuations in the future.

 

Risks Relating to Microbot’s Intellectual Property

 

Microbot’s right to develop and commercialize its existing product candidates are subject to the terms and condition of a license granted to Microbot by Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd. and termination of the license with respect to one or both of the technology platforms underlying the product candidates would result in Microbot ceasing its development efforts for the applicable product candidate(s).

 

Microbot entered into a license agreement with Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd., or TRDF, in 2012 pursuant to which Microbot obtained an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sub-licensable license to certain patents and inventions relating to the SCS and TipCAT technology platforms. Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, in order to maintain the license with respect to each platform, Microbot must use commercially reasonable efforts to develop products covered by the license, including meeting certain agreed upon development milestones. TRDF has the option to terminate a license granted with respect a particular technology in the event Microbot fails to meet a development milestone associated with such technology. Therefore, the failure to meet development milestones may lead to a complete termination of the applicable license agreement and result in Microbot ceasing its development efforts for the applicable product candidate. The milestones for SCS include commencing initial studies in humans by December 2019. The milestones for TipCAT include commencing initial studies in humans by December 2019 and commencing a full clinical trial, if necessary, by December 2020. Failure to meet any development milestone will give TRDF the right to terminate the license with respect to the technology underlying the missed milestone. Although Microbot expects to meet the milestone requirements, TRDF has demonstrated flexibility with respect to amending the terms of the license to extend the milestone dates, although we can give no assurance at this time that TRDF will continue to be so flexible with respect to amending the terms of the license.

 

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Under the license agreement, Microbot is also subject to various other obligations, including obligations with respect to payment upon the achievement of certain milestones and royalties on product sales. TRDF may terminate the license agreement under certain circumstances, including material breaches by Microbot or under certain bankruptcy or insolvency events. In the case of termination of the license by Microbot without cause or by TRDF for cause, TRDF has the right to receive a non-exclusive license from Microbot with respect to improvements to the licensed technologies made by Microbot.

 

If TRDF were to terminate the license agreement or if Microbot was to otherwise lose the ability to exploit the licensed patents, Microbot’s competitive advantage could be reduced or terminated, and Microbot will likely not be able to find a source to replace the licensed technology.

 

However, if there is any future dispute between Microbot and TRDF regarding the respective parties’ rights under the license agreement, Microbot’s ability to develop and commercialize the SCS and TipCAT may be materially harmed.

 

Microbot may not meet its product candidates’ development and commercialization objectives in a timely manner or at all.

 

Microbot has established internal goals, based upon expectations with respect to its technologies, which Microbot has used to assess its progress toward developing its product candidates. These goals relate to technology and design improvements as well as to dates for achieving specific development results. If the product candidates exhibit technical defects or are unable to meet cost or performance goals, Microbot’s commercialization schedule could be delayed and potential purchasers of its initial commercialized products may decline to purchase such products or may opt to pursue alternative products, which would materially harm its business.

 

Intellectual property litigation and infringement claims could cause Microbot to incur significant expenses or prevent Microbot from selling certain of its product candidates.

 

The medical device industry is characterized by extensive intellectual property litigation. From time to time, Microbot might be the subject of claims by third parties of potential infringement or misappropriation. Regardless of outcome, such claims are expensive to defend and divert the time and effort of Microbot’s management and operating personnel from other business issues. A successful claim or claims of patent or other intellectual property infringement against Microbot could result in its payment of significant monetary damages and/or royalty payments or negatively impact its ability to sell current or future products in the affected category and could have a material adverse effect on its business, cash flows, financial condition or results of operations.

 

If Microbot or TRDF are unable to protect the patents or other proprietary rights relating to Microbot’s product candidates, or if Microbot infringes on the patents or other proprietary rights of others, Microbot’s competitiveness and business prospects may be materially damaged.

 

Microbot’s success depends on its ability to protect its intellectual property (including its licensed intellectual property) and its proprietary technologies. Microbot’s commercial success depends in part on its ability to obtain and maintain patent protection and trade secret protection for its product candidates, proprietary technologies, and their uses, as well as its ability to operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others.

 

Microbot currently holds, through licenses or otherwise, an intellectual property portfolio that includes U.S. and international patents and pending patents, and other patents under development. Microbot intends to continue to seek legal protection, primarily through patents, including the TRDF licensed patents, for its proprietary technology. Seeking patent protection is a lengthy and costly process, and there can be no assurance that patents will be issued from any pending applications, or that any claims allowed from existing or pending patents will be sufficiently broad or strong to protect its proprietary technology. There is also no guarantee that any patents Microbot holds, through licenses or otherwise, will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that the patent rights granted will provide competitive advantages to Microbot. Microbot’s competitors have developed and may continue to develop and obtain patents for technologies that are similar or superior to Microbot’s technologies. In addition, the laws of foreign jurisdictions in which Microbot develops, manufactures or sells its product candidates may not protect Microbot’s intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.

 

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Adverse outcomes in current or future legal disputes regarding patent and other intellectual property rights could result in the loss of Microbot’s intellectual property rights, subject Microbot to significant liabilities to third parties, require Microbot to seek licenses from third parties on terms that may not be reasonable or favorable to Microbot, prevent Microbot from manufacturing, importing or selling its product candidates, or compel Microbot to redesign its product candidates to avoid infringing third parties’ intellectual property. As a result, Microbot may be required to incur substantial costs to prosecute, enforce or defend its intellectual property rights if they are challenged. Any of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s business, financial condition and resources or results of operations.

 

Microbot has the first right, but not the obligation, to control the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement of the licensed patents from TRDF. However, there may be situations in which Microbot will not have control over the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement of the patents that Microbot licenses, or may not have sufficient ability to consult and input into the patent prosecution and maintenance process with respect to such patents. If Microbot does not control the patent prosecution and maintenance process with respect to the TRDF licensed patents, TRDF may elect to do so but may fail to take the steps that are necessary or desirable in order to obtain, maintain and enforce the licensed patents.

 

Microbot’s ability to develop intellectual property depends in large part on hiring, retaining and motivating highly qualified design and engineering staff and consultants with the knowledge and technical competence to advance its technology and productivity goals. To protect Microbot’s trade secrets and proprietary information, Microbot has entered into confidentiality agreements with its employees, as well as with consultants and other parties. If these agreements prove inadequate or are breached, Microbot’s remedies may not be sufficient to cover its losses.

 

Dependence on patent and other proprietary rights and failing to protect such rights or to be successful in litigation related to such rights may result in Microbot’s payment of significant monetary damages or impact offerings in its product portfolios.

 

Microbot’s long-term success largely depends on its ability to market technologically competitive product candidates. If Microbot fails to obtain or maintain adequate intellectual property protection, it may not be able to prevent third parties from using its proprietary technologies or may lose access to technologies critical to our product candidates. Also, Microbot currently pending or future patent applications may not result in issued patents, and issued patents are subject to claims concerning priority, scope and other issues.

 

Furthermore, Microbot has not filed applications for all of our patents internationally and it may not be able to prevent third parties from using its proprietary technologies or may lose access to technologies critical to its product candidates in other countries.

 

Risks Relating to Operations in Israel

 

Microbot has facilities located in Israel, and therefore, political conditions in Israel may affect Microbot’s operations and results.

 

Microbot has facilities located in Israel. In addition, three of its seven directors (one of whom is also its Chief Operating Officer) and its Chief Financial Officer, are residents of Israel. Accordingly, political, economic and military conditions in Israel will directly or indirectly affect Microbot’s operations and results. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its Arab neighbors. An ongoing state of hostility, varying in degree and intensity has led to security and economic problems for Israel. For a number of years there have been continuing hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians. This includes hostilities with the Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which have adversely affected the peace process and at times resulted in armed conflicts. Such hostilities have negatively influenced Israel’s economy as well as impaired Israel’s relationships with several other countries. Israel also faces threats from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, from ISIS and rebel forces in Syria, from the government of Iran and other potential threats from additional countries in the region. Moreover, some of Israel’s neighboring countries have recently undergone or are undergoing significant political changes. These political, economic and military conditions in Israel could have a material adverse effect on Microbot’s business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth.

 

Political relations could limit Microbot’s ability to sell or buy internationally.

 

Microbot could be adversely affected by the interruption or reduction of trade between Israel and its trading partners. Some countries, companies and organizations continue to participate in a boycott of Israeli firms and others doing business with Israel, with Israeli companies or with Israeli-owned companies operating in other countries. Foreign government defense export policies towards Israel could also make it more difficult for us to obtain the export authorizations necessary for Microbot’s activities. Also, over the past several years there have been calls in the United States, Europe and elsewhere to reduce trade with Israel. There can be no assurance that restrictive laws, policies or practices directed towards Israel or Israeli businesses will not have an adverse impact on Microbot’s business.

 

Israel’s economy may become unstable.

 

From time to time, Israel’s economy may experience inflation or deflation, low foreign exchange reserves, fluctuations in world commodity prices, military conflicts and civil unrest. For these and other reasons, the government of Israel has intervened in the economy employing fiscal and monetary policies, import duties, foreign currency restrictions, controls of wages, prices and foreign currency exchange rates and regulations regarding the lending limits of Israeli banks to companies considered to be in an affiliated group. The Israeli government has periodically changed its policies in these areas. Reoccurrence of previous destabilizing factors could make it more difficult for Microbot to operate its business and could adversely affect its business.

 

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Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the NIS currencies may negatively affect Microbot’s operating costs.

 

A significant portion of Microbot’s expenses are paid in New Israeli Shekels, or NIS, but its financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. As a result, Microbot is exposed to the risks that the NIS may appreciate relative to the U.S. dollar, or the NIS instead devalues relative to the U.S. dollar, and the inflation rate in Israel may exceed such rate of devaluation of the NIS, or that the timing of such devaluation may lag behind inflation in Israel. In any such event, the U.S. dollar cost of Microbot’s operations in Israel would increase and Microbot’s U.S. dollar-denominated results of operations would be adversely affected. Microbot cannot predict any future trends in the rate of inflation in Israel or the rate of devaluation (if any) of the NIS against the U.S. dollar.

 

Microbot’s primary expenses paid in NIS that are not linked to the U.S. dollar are employee expenses in Israel and lease payments on its Israeli facility. If Microbot is unsuccessful in hedging against its position in NIS, a change in the value of the NIS compared to the U.S. dollar could increase Microbot’s research and development expenses, labor costs and general and administrative expenses, and as a result, have a negative impact on Microbot’s profits.

 

Funding and other benefits provided by Israeli government programs may be terminated or reduced in the future and the terms of such funding may have a significant impact on future corporate decisions.

 

Microbot participates in programs under the auspices of the Israeli Innovation Authority, for which it receives funding for the development of its technologies and product candidates. If Microbot fails to comply with the conditions applicable to this program, it may be required to pay additional penalties or make refunds and may be denied future benefits. From time to time, the government of Israel has discussed reducing or eliminating the benefits available under this program, and therefore these benefits may not be available in the future at their current levels or at all.

 

Microbot’s research and development efforts from inception until now have been financed in part through such Israeli Innovation Authority royalty bearing grants in an aggregate amount of approximately $1,247,000 through December 31, 2018. With respect to such grants Microbot is committed to pay royalties at a rate of between 3% to 3.5% on sales proceeds up to the total amount of grants received, linked to the dollar, plus interest at an annual rate of USD LIBOR. In addition, as a recipient of Israeli Innovation Authority grants, Microbot must comply with the requirements of the Israeli Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Law, 1984, or the R&D Law, and related regulations. Under the terms of the grants and the R&D Law, Microbot is restricted from transferring any technologies, know-how, manufacturing or manufacturing rights developed using Israeli Innovation Authority grants outside of Israel without the prior approval of Israeli Innovation Authority. Therefore, if aspects of its technologies are deemed to have been developed with Israeli Innovation Authority funding, the discretionary approval of an Israeli Innovation Authority committee would be required for any transfer to third parties outside of Israel of the technologies, know-how, manufacturing or manufacturing rights related to such aspects. Furthermore, the Israeli Innovation Authority may impose certain conditions on any arrangement under which it permits Microbot to transfer technology or development outside of Israel or may not grant such approvals at all.

 

If approved, the transfer of Israeli Innovation Authority-supported technology or know-how outside of Israel may involve the payment of significant fees, which will depend on the value of the transferred technology or know-how, the total amount Israeli Innovation Authority funding received by Microbot, the number of years since the funding and other factors. These restrictions and requirements for payment may impair Microbot’s ability to sell its technology assets outside of Israel or to outsource or transfer development or manufacturing activities with respect to any product or technology outside of Israel. Furthermore, the amount of consideration available to Microbot’s shareholders in a transaction involving the transfer of technology or know-how developed with Israeli Innovation Authority funding outside of Israel (such as through a merger or other similar transaction) may be reduced by any amounts that Microbot is required to pay to the Israeli Innovation Authority.

 

Some of Microbot’s employees and officers are obligated to perform military reserve duty in Israel.

 

Generally, Israeli adult male citizens and permanent residents are obligated to perform annual military reserve duty up to a specified age. They also may be called to active duty at any time under emergency circumstances, which could have a disruptive impact on Microbot’s workforce.

 

It may be difficult to enforce a non-Israeli judgment against Microbot or its officers and directors.

 

The operating subsidiary of the Company is incorporated in Israel. Some of Microbot’s executive officers and directors are not residents of the United States, and a substantial portion of Microbot’s assets and the assets of its executive officers and directors are located outside the United States. Therefore, a judgment obtained against Microbot, or any of these persons, including a judgment based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be collectible in the United States and may not necessarily be enforced by an Israeli court. It also may be difficult to affect service of process on these persons in the United States or to assert U.S. securities law claims in original actions instituted in Israel. Additionally, it may be difficult for an investor, or any other person or entity, to initiate an action with respect to U.S. securities laws in Israel. Israeli courts may refuse to hear a claim based on an alleged violation of U.S. securities laws reasoning that Israel is not the most appropriate forum in which to bring such a claim. In addition, even if an Israeli court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that Israeli law and not U.S. law is applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law often involves the testimony of expert witnesses, which can be a time consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by Israeli law. There is little binding case law in Israel that addresses the matters described above. As a result of the difficulty associated with enforcing a judgment against Microbot in Israel, it may be impossible to collect any damages awarded by either a U.S. or foreign court.

 

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Risks Relating to Microbot’s Securities, Governance and Other Matters

 

If we fail to comply with the continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock may be delisted and the price of our common stock and our ability to access the capital markets could be negatively impacted.

 

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain that listing, we must satisfy minimum financial and other continued listing requirements and standards, including those regarding director independence and independent committee requirements, minimum stockholders’ equity, minimum share price, and certain corporate governance requirements. There can be no assurances that we will be able to comply with the applicable listing standards. In 2018, we effected a 1:15 reverse stock split to address our stock price falling below the minimum share price required by Nasdaq. Failure to meet applicable Nasdaq continued listing standards could result in a delisting of our common stock. A delisting of our common stock from The Nasdaq Capital Market could materially reduce the liquidity of our common stock and result in a corresponding material reduction in the price of our common stock. In addition, delisting could harm our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the potential loss of confidence by investors, employees and fewer business opportunities. Additionally, if we are not eligible for quotation or listing on another exchange, trading of our common stock could be conducted only in the over-the-counter market or on an electronic bulletin board established for unlisted securities such as the Pink Sheets or the OTC Bulletin Board. In such event, it could become more difficult to dispose of, or obtain accurate price quotations for, our common stock, and there would likely also be a reduction in our coverage by securities analysts and the news media, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline further.

 

We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock.

 

We anticipate that we will retain our earnings, if any, for future growth and therefore do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Stock in the future. Investors seeking cash dividends should not invest in our Common Stock for that purpose.

 

Anti-takeover provisions in the Company’s charter and bylaws under Delaware law may prevent or frustrate attempts by stockholders to change the board of directors or current management and could make a third-party acquisition of the Company difficult.

 

Provisions in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws may delay or prevent an acquisition or a change in management. These provisions include a classified board of directors. In addition, because the Company is incorporated in Delaware, it is governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits stockholders owning in excess of 15% of outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with the Company. Although the Company believes these provisions collectively will provide for an opportunity to receive higher bids by requiring potential acquirors to negotiate with the Company’s board of directors, they would apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by the Company’s stockholders to replace or remove then current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of the board of directors, which is responsible for appointing members of management.

 

The market price for our Common Stock may be volatile.

 

The market price for our Common Stock may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:

 

  actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results;
     
  changes in financial or operational estimates or projections;
     
  conditions in markets generally;
     
  changes in the economic performance or market valuations of companies similar to ours;
     
  announcements by us or our competitors of new products, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
     
  our intellectual property position; and
     
  general economic or political conditions in the United States, Israel or elsewhere.

 

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In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of shares of our Common Stock.

 

The issuance of shares upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options could cause immediate and substantial dilution to existing stockholders.

 

The issuance of shares upon exercise of warrants and options could result in substantial dilution to the interests of other stockholders since the holders of such securities may ultimately convert and sell the full amount issuable on conversion.

 

We are subject to litigation and may be subject to similar or other litigation in the future, which may divert management’s attention and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We were named as the defendant in a lawsuit, which we refer to as the Matter, captioned Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund Ltd., Plaintiffs, against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “Court”) (Index No. 654581/2017). The complaint alleged, among other things, that we breached multiple representations and warranties contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) related to our June 8, 2017 equity financing, or the Financing, of which the Plaintiffs participated. The complaint sought rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $3,375,000 purchase price with respect to the Financing, and damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but alleged to exceed $1 million. A trial was held on February 11, 2019. On February 28, 2019, the Court issued a Decision and Order After Trial to rescind the SPA. The rescission would require the Plaintiffs to transfer back to us the shares they purchased in the Financing, and for us to return to Plaintiffs their purchase price of $3.375 million. On March 27, 2019, the Company filed a Notice of Appeal and an Undertaking to stay execution of the judgment pending appeal.  However, management is unable to assess the likelihood that we would be successful in the appeal. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated financial position. Additionally, in the event we lose our appeals, we will likely be required to use the proceeds from recent offerings or available cash towards payment of damages and interest on the damages from the date of the decision to the Plaintiffs, and to the Other Investors described below if and to the extent they bring similar lawsuits against us and prevail or if we settle the Sabby litigation, that we otherwise would have used to build our business and develop our technologies into commercial products. In such event, we would be required to raise additional capital sooner than we otherwise would, of which we can give no assurance of success.

 

On April 4, 2018, we entered into a Tolling and Standstill Agreement with Empery Asset Master, Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient LP, Empery Tax Efficient II LP, and Hudson Bay Master Fund, Ltd., the other investors in the Financing, of whom we refer to as the Other Investors. Pursuant to the Tolling Agreement, among other things, (a) the Other Investors agree not to bring any claims against us arising out of the Matter, (b) the parties agree that if we reach an agreement to settle the claims asserted by the Sabby Funds in the above suit, we will provide the same settlement terms on a pro rata basis to the Other Investors, and the Other Investors will either accept same or waive all of their claims and (c) the parties froze in time the rights and privileges of each party as of the effective date of the Tolling Agreement, until (i) an agreement to settle the suit is executed; (ii) a judgment in the suit is obtained; or (iii) the suit is otherwise dismissed with prejudice.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 2. Description of Property.

 

Microbot’s principal executive office is located at 25 Recreation Drive, Unit 108, Hingham, MA 02043. Microbot also occupies facilities in premises of approximately 6,000 square feet at 8 Hatochen Street, 3rd Floor, Caesarea, Israel. This facility is expected to provide the space and infrastructure necessary to accommodate its development work based on its current operating plan. Microbot does not own any real property.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm business.

 

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Sabby Litigation

 

We were named as the defendant in a lawsuit, which we refer to as the Matter, captioned Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund Ltd., Plaintiffs, against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “Court”) (Index No. 654581/2017). The complaint alleged, among other things, that we breached multiple representations and warranties contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) related to our June 8, 2017 equity financing, or the Financing, of which the Plaintiffs participated. The complaint sought rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $3,375,000 purchase price with respect to the Financing, and damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but alleged to exceed $1 million. A trial was held on February 11, 2019. On February 28, 2019, the Court issued a Decision and Order After Trial to rescind the SPA. The rescission would require the Plaintiffs to transfer back to us the shares they purchased in the Financing, and for us to return to Plaintiffs their purchase price of $3.375 million. On March 27, 2019, the Company filed a Notice of Appeal and an Undertaking to stay execution of the judgment pending appeal. However, management is unable to assess the likelihood of the likelihood that we would be successful in the appeal. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated financial position. Additionally, in the event we lose our appeals, we will likely be required to use the proceeds from recent offerings or available cash towards payment of damages and interest on the damages from the date of the decision to the Plaintiffs, and to the Other Investors described below if and to the extent they bring similar lawsuits against us and prevail or if we settle the Sabby litigation, that we otherwise would have used to build our business and develop our technologies into commercial products. In such event, we would be required to raise additional capital sooner than we otherwise would, of which we can give no assurance of success.

 

On April 4, 2018, we entered into a Tolling and Standstill Agreement with Empery Asset Master, Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient LP, Empery Tax Efficient II LP, and Hudson Bay Master Fund, Ltd., the other investors in the Financing, of whom we refer to as the Other Investors. Pursuant to the Tolling Agreement, among other things, (a) the Other Investors agree not to bring any claims against us arising out of the Matter, (b) the parties agree that if we reach an agreement to settle the claims asserted by the Sabby Funds in the above suit, we will provide the same settlement terms on a pro rata basis to the Other Investors, and the Other Investors will either accept same or waive all of their claims and (c) the parties froze in time the rights and privileges of each party as of the effective date of the Tolling Agreement, until (i) an agreement to settle the suit is executed; (ii) a judgment in the suit is obtained; or (iii) the suit is otherwise dismissed with prejudice.

 

Potential Litigation Under 15 U.S.C. §78p(b)

 

We intend to bring an action against a former shareholder for recovery of short swing profits under 15 U.S.C. §78p(b). As of the time of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not yet filed the complaint or initiated the action, but we intend to do so shortly after such date.

 

Other than the foregoing, we are not currently a party in any legal proceeding or governmental regulatory proceeding nor are we currently aware of any pending or potential legal proceeding or governmental regulatory proceeding proposed to be initiated against us that would have a material adverse effect on us or our business.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “MBOT” since November 29, 2016. Prior to that, our common stock was traded under the symbol “STEM.” The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market.

 

    High    Low 
Year Ended December 31, 2019:          
1st Quarter (through March 28, 2019)  $

19.40

   $1.62 

 

   High   Low 
Year Ended December 31, 2018:        
1st Quarter  $17.25   $9.97 
2nd Quarter   15.29    8.69 
3rd Quarter   11.55    5.47 
4th Quarter   8.30    1.38 

 

   High   Low 
Year Ended December 31, 2017:        
1st Quarter  $8.64   $4.41 
2nd Quarter   5.43    1.42 
3rd Quarter   1.5    1.00 
4th Quarter   1.42    1.02 

 

As of March 28, 2019, there were approximately 167 holders of record of our common stock, and the closing sales price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $7.63.

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on common stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on our common stock will depend on earnings, financial condition, debt covenants in place, and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. If we do not pay dividends, our common stock may be less valuable because a return on a stockholders’ investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information Table

 

The following table provides information about shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options under all of our existing compensation plans as of December 31, 2018.

 

   Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights   Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights   Number of securities remaining available for future issuance 
Plan Category               
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 2017 Equity Incentive Plan   257,920   $16.43    225,409 
                
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders:               
Microbot Israel Employee Stock Option Plan(1)   62,542   $0.0    - 
Stock Options (2)   77,846   $             4.2    - 
Total   398,308         225,409 

 

 

(1) Such options were originally issued by Microbot Israel under its Employee Stock Option Plan, and represented the right to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 of Microbot Israel’s ordinary shares. As of the effective time of the Merger, such options were retroactively adjusted to reflect the Merger and now represent the right to purchase shares of our common stock.
(2) Such options were originally issued by Microbot Israel to MEDX Ventures Group LLC, of which Mr. Gadot is the Chief Executive Officer, Company Group Chairman and majority equity owner, and represented the right to purchase an aggregate of 403,592 of Microbot Israel’s ordinary shares. As of the effective time of the Merger, such options were retroactively adjusted to reflect the Merger and now represent the right to purchase shares of our common stock.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

This item is not required for a smaller reporting company.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Certain information contained in this MD&A includes “forward-looking statements.” Statements which are not historical reflect our current expectations and projections about our future results, performance, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, prospects and opportunities and are based upon information currently available to us and our management and their interpretation of what is believed to be significant factors affecting our existing and proposed business, including many assumptions regarding future events. Actual results, performance, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, prospects and opportunities could differ materially and perhaps substantially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements as a result of various risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those risks described in detail in the section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled “Risk Factors” as well as elsewhere in this Annual Report.

 

Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “may,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “could,” “scheduled,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “seek,” or “project” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology.

 

In light of these risks and uncertainties, and especially given the nature of our existing and proposed business, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K will in fact occur. Potential investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

Overview

 

Microbot is a pre-clinical medical device company specializing in the research, design and development of next generation robotic endoluminal surgery devices targeting the minimally invasive surgery space. Microbot is primarily focused on leveraging its micro-robotic technologies with the goal of improving surgical outcomes for patients.

 

Microbot’s current technological platforms, ViRobTM, CardioSertTM and TipCATTM, are comprised of proprietary innovative technologies. Using the ViRob platform, Microbot is currently developing its first product candidate: the Self Cleaning Shunt, or SCSTM, for the treatment of hydrocephalus and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or NPH. Although the SCS utilizes one of our platforms, we are focused on the development of a Multi Generation Pipeline Portfolio utilizing all three of our proprietary technologies.

 

Microbot has a patent portfolio of 30 issued/allowed patents and 21 patent applications pending worldwide.

 

Technological Platforms

 

ViRob

 

The ViRob is an autonomous crawling micro-robot which can be controlled remotely or within the body. Its miniature dimensions are expected to allow it to navigate and crawl in different natural spaces within the human body, including blood vessels, the digestive tract and the respiratory system as well as artificial spaces such as shunts, catheters, ports, etc. Its unique structure is expected to give it the ability to move in tight spaces and curved passages as well as the ability to remain within the human body for prolonged time. The SCS product was developed using the ViRob technology.

 

CardioSert

 

On May 25, 2018, Microbot acquired a patent-protected technology from CardioSert Ltd., a privately-held medical device company based in Israel. The CardioSert technology contemplates a combination of a guidewire and microcatheter, technologies that are broadly used for surgery within a tubular organ or structure such as a blood vessel or duct. The CardioSert technology features a unique guidewire delivery system with steering and stiffness control capabilities which when developed is expected to give the physician the ability to control the tip curvature, to adjust tip load to varying degrees of stiffness in a gradually continuous manner. The CardioSert technology was originally developed to support interventional cardiologists in crossing chronic total occlusions (CTO) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures and has the potential to be used in other spaces and applications, such as peripheral intervention, and neurosurgery. CardioSert was part of a technological incubator supported by the Israel Innovation Authorities (formerly known as the Office of the Chief Scientist, or OCS), and a device based on the technology has successfully completed pre-clinical testing.

 

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TipCAT

 

The TipCAT is a disposable self-propelled locomotive device that is specially designed to advance in tubular anatomies. The TipCAT is a mechanism comprising a series of interconnected balloons at the device’s tip that provides the TipCAT with its forward locomotion capability. The device can self-propel within natural tubular lumens such as the blood vessels, respiratory and the urinary and GI tracts. A single channel of air/fluid supply sequentially inflates and deflates a series of balloons creating an inchworm like forward motion. The TipCAT maintains a standard working channel for treatments. Unlike standard access devices such as guidewires, catheters for vascular access and endoscopes, the TipCAT does not need to be pushed into the patient’s lumen using external pressure; rather, it will gently advance itself through the organ’s anatomy. As a result, the TipCAT is designed to be able to reach every part of the lumen under examination regardless of the topography, be less operator dependent, and greatly reduce the likelihood of damage to lumen structure. The TipCAT thus offers functionality features equivalent to modern tubular access devices, along with advantages associated with its physiologically adapted self-propelling mechanism, flexibility, and design. Microbot is no longer pursuing the development of the TipCAT as a colonoscopy tool but is currently exploring the use of the TipCAT for minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgical applications.

 

Financial Operations Overview

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses and overhead for Microbot’s research, development and engineering personnel, prototype materials and research studies, obtaining and maintaining Microbot’s patent portfolio. Microbot expenses its research and development costs as incurred.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of the costs associated with management costs, professional fees for accounting, auditing, consulting and legal services, and allocated overhead expenses.

 

Microbot expects that its general and administrative expenses may increase in the future as it expands its operating activities, maintains and expands its patent portfolio and incurs additional costs associated with the Merger, the preparation of becoming a public company and maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements. Microbot expects these potential increases will likely include management costs, legal fees, accounting fees, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums and expenses associated with investor relations.

 

Income Taxes

 

Microbot has incurred net losses and has not recorded any income tax benefits for the losses. It is still in its development stage and has not yet generated revenues, therefore, it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will not be available for the tax losses to be fully utilized in the future.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

 

Microbot’s management’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on its financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires Microbot to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, Microbot evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to accrued research and development expenses. Microbot bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

While Microbot’s significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to its financial statements, Microbot believes the following accounting policies are the most critical for fully understanding and evaluating its financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company measures the fair value of certain of its financial instruments (such as the derivative warrant liabilities) on a recurring basis.

 

A fair value hierarchy is used to rank the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

  Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
     
  Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices in the markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

Microbot’s functional currency is the U.S. dollars, and its reporting currency is the U.S. dollar.

 

Government Grant and Input Tax Credit Recoveries

 

Microbot from time to time has received, and may in the future continue to receive, grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority to cover eligible company expenditures. These are presented as other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss as the grant funds are used for or applied towards a number of Microbot’s operating expenses, such as salaries and benefits, research and development and professional and consulting fees. The recoveries are recognized in the corresponding period when such expenses are incurred.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Microbot recognizes research and development expenses as incurred, typically estimated based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as clinical site activations, manufacturing steps completed, or information provided by vendors on their actual costs incurred. Microbot determines the estimates by reviewing contracts, vendor agreements and purchase orders, and through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. These estimates are made as of each balance sheet date based on facts and circumstances known to Microbot at that time. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, Microbot will adjust the estimate accordingly. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services, including fees for process development or manufacturing and distribution of clinical supplies that will be used in future research and development activities, are capitalized as prepaid expenses and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed.

 

Microbot may pay fees to third-parties for manufacturing and other services that are based on contractual milestones that may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the research and development expense.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

 

The following table sets forth the key components of Microbot’s results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

   Years Ended December 31,    
   2018   2017   Increase/(Decrease) 
Research and development expenses  $2,515   $1,100   $          1,415 
General and administrative expenses   4,729    4,167    562 
Financing (income) expenses, net   (4)    2,322    2,326 

 

Research and Development Expenses. Microbot’s research and development expenses were approximately $2,515,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to approximately $1,100,000 for the same period in 2017. The increase in research and development expenses of approximately $1,415,000 in 2018 was primarily due to an increase in payroll, stock-based compensation, professional services and patents expenses. Microbot expects its research and development expenses to increase over time as Microbot advances its development programs and begins pre-clinical and clinical trials for the SCS.

 

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were approximately $4,729,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to approximately $4,167,000 for the same period in 2017. The substantial increase in general and administrative expenses of approximately $562,000 in 2018 was primarily due to share-based compensation of $907,000, offset by lower public relations and other professional service fees. Microbot believes its general and administrative expenses may increase over time as it advances its programs, increases its headcount and operating activities and incurs expenses associated with being a public company.

 

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Financing Expenses. Financing income was approximately $4,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, compared to expenses of approximately $2,322,000 for the same period in 2017. The net decrease in financial expenses was primarily due to revaluation and extinguishment of the convertible note and change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Microbot has incurred losses since inception and negative cash flows from operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. As of December 31, 2018, Microbot had a net working capital of approximately $1,071,000, consisting primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Microbot anticipates that it will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future as it continues research and development efforts of its product candidates, hires additional staff, including clinical, scientific, operational, financial and management personnel, and incurs additional costs associated with being a public company.

 

Microbot has funded its operations through the issuance of capital stock, grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority, and convertible debt. Since inception (November 2010) through December 31, 2018, Microbot has raised gross cash proceeds of approximately $18,000,000, and incurred a total cumulative loss of approximately $27,864,000.

 

On January 14, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with an accredited institutional investor providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the purchaser of an aggregate of (i) 330,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price per share of $6.50 and (ii) 125,323 pre-funded warrants each to purchase one share of common stock, at a purchase price per Pre-Funded Warrant of $6.49. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $3.0 million. The closing of the offering took place on January 15, 2019. The pre-funded warrants were exercised in full in January 2019.

 

On January 15, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain accredited institutional investors providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the purchasers of an aggregate of 590,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price per share of $10.00. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $5.9 million. The closing of the offering took place on January 17, 2019.

 

On January 23, 2019 the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with accredited institutional investors providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the purchasers of an aggregate of 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price per share of $9.875. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $2.47 million. The closing of the offering took place on January 25, 2019.

 

In November 2017, Microbot was awarded an additional non-dilutive grant of up to 2,610,000 Israeli New Shekels (approximately $735,000) from the Israel Innovation Authority. The grant provides additional sources to be utilized by Microbot for the continued development of the Self-Cleaning Shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. The grant funds may be used for or applied towards a number of research and development expenses, such as employees’ salaries, research and development expenses (including materials, as well as professional and consulting fees. The recoveries are recognized in the corresponding period when such expenses are incurred. With respect to such grant, Microbot is committed to pay royalties, as, if and when it successfully commercializes the SCS and generates revenue from sales of the SCS, at a rate of between 3% to 3.5% on sales proceeds up to the total amount of grants received, linked to the dollar, plus interest at an annual rate of USD LIBOR. Under the terms of the grant and applicable law, Microbot is restricted from transferring any technologies, know-how, manufacturing or manufacturing rights developed using the grant outside of Israel without the prior approval of the Israel Innovation Authority. Microbot has no obligation to repay the grant, if the SCS project fails, is unsuccessful or aborted before any sales are generated. The financial risk is assumed completely by the IIA.

 

Microbot believes that its net cash will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least 12 months and fund operations necessary to continue development activities of the SCS and TipCAT.

 

Microbot plans to continue to fund its research and development and other operating expenses, other development activities relating to additional product candidates, and the associated losses from operations, through future issuances of debt and/or equity securities and possibly additional grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority. The capital raises from issuances of convertible debt and equity securities could result in additional dilution to Microbot’s shareholders. In addition, to the extent Microbot determines to incur additional indebtedness, Microbot’s incurrence of additional debt could result in debt service obligations and operating and financing covenants that would restrict its operations. Microbot can provide no assurance that financing will be available in the amounts it needs or on terms acceptable to it, if at all. If Microbot is not able to secure adequate additional working capital when it becomes needed, it may be required to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible and/or suspend or curtail planned research programs. Any of these actions could materially harm Microbot’s business.

 

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Cash Flows

 

The following table provides a summary of the net cash flow activity for each of the periods set forth below (in thousands):

 

   Years ended December 31, 
   2018   2017 
Net cash used in operating activities  $(4,916)  $(4,856)
Net cash used in investing activities   (223)   (58)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities   (412)   13,019 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents  $(5,551)  $8,105 

 

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

 

Cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 was approximately $4,916,000, calculated by adjusting net loss from operations by approximately $2,376,000 to eliminate non-cash and expense items not involving cash flows such as depreciation and accumulated interest on convertible loans, as well as other changes in current assets and liabilities resulting in non-cash adjustments in the income statement. Cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was approximately $4,856,000, similarly adjusted by approximately $2,733,000. Net cash used by investing activities of approximately $223,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted of leasehold improvement moving to new offices in Israel compared to approximately $58,000 in the year ended December 31, 2017. Net cash used by financing activities of approximately $412,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted of deferred expenses relating to issuance of common stock compared to approximately $13,019,000 in the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Microbot has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Microbot’s cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018 consisted of readily available checking and money market funds. Microbot’s primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. However, because of the short-term nature of the instruments in Microbot’s portfolio, a sudden change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on Microbot’s financial condition and/or results of operations. Microbot does not believe that its cash or cash equivalents have significant risk of default or illiquidity. While Microbot believes its cash and cash equivalents do not contain excessive risk, Microbot cannot provide absolute assurance that in the future its investments will not be subject to adverse changes in market value. In addition, Microbot maintains significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at one or more financial institutions that are in excess of federally insured limits.

 

Foreign Exchange Risks

 

Our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars and financial results are denominated in U.S. dollars, while a significant portion of our business is conducted, and a substantial portion of our operating expenses are payable, in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

Exchange rate fluctuations may have an adverse impact on our future revenues, if any, or expenses as presented in the financial statements. We may in the future use financial instruments, such as forward foreign currency contracts, in its management of foreign currency exposure. These contracts would primarily require us to purchase and sell certain foreign currencies with or for U.S. dollars at contracted rates. We may be exposed to a credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties of these contracts. In addition, these financial instruments may not adequately manage our foreign currency exposure. Our results of operations could be adversely affected if we are unable to successfully manage currency fluctuations in the future.

 

Effects of Inflation

 

Inflation generally affects Microbot by increasing its clinical trial costs. Microbot does not believe that inflation and changing prices had a significant impact on its results of operations for any periods presented herein.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The consolidated financial statements and supplementary data required by this item are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K immediately following Part IV and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

 35 
 

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, management of the Company, under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, reviewed and performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2018. Based on that review and evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, along with the management of the Company, have determined that as of December 31, 2018, the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and were effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a – 15(f) of the Exchange Act). There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time. We have assessed the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a -15(f) of the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2018, and have concluded that, as of December 31, 2018, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

None.

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance.

 

Board of Directors

 

We currently have six directors serving on our Board of Directors (our “Board”). The Board currently consists of Harel Gadot, Yoav Waizer, Yoseph Bornstein, Scott Burell, Martin Madden and Prattipati Laxminarain.

 

Messrs. Gadot, Waizer and Madden are Class I directors whose terms expire at the Company’s 2019 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Burell is a Class II director whose term expires at the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. Messrs. Bornstein and Laxminarain are Class III directors whose terms expire at the Company’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

The following table lists the names, ages and positions of the individuals who serve as executive officers and directors of the Company, as of March 28, 2019:

 

Name   Age   Position
Harel Gadot   47   President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Yoav Waizer   54   Director
Yoseph Bornstein   60   Director
Scott Burell   54   Director
Martin Madden   58   Director
Prattipati Laxminarain   61   Director

 

 36 
 

 

Harel Gadot, became President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company’s Board following the consummation of the merger of C&RD Israel Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with and into Microbot Medical Ltd. (“Microbot Israel”), with Microbot Israel surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Mr. Gadot is a co-founder of Microbot Israel and has served as Microbot Israel’s Chief Executive Officer since Microbot Israel was founded in November 2010. He has been the Chairman of Microbot Israel’s board of directors since July 2014. He also serves as the Chairman of XACT Robotics Ltd., an Israel-based private company seeking to develop a novel platform technology for robotic needle steering in minimally invasive interventional procedures such as biopsies and ablations, since August 2013 and MEDX Xelerator L.P., a medical device and digital health Israeli incubator, since July 2016. From December 2007 to April 2010 Mr. Gadot was a Worldwide Group Marketing Director at Ethicon Inc., a Johnson and Johnson Company, where he was responsible for the global strategic marketing of the Company. Mr. Gadot also held management positions, as well as leading regional strategic position for Europe, Middle-East and Africa, as well as In Israel, while at Johnson and Johnson. Mr. Gadot served as director for ConTIPI Ltd. from August 2010 until November 2013 when ConTIPI Ltd. was acquired by Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Mr. Gadot holds a B.Sc.in Business from Siena College, Loudonville NY, and an M.B.A. from the University of Manchester, UK. The Company believes that Mr. Gadot is qualified to serve as Chairman of the Board and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company due to his extensive experience in strategic marketing and general management in the medical device industry.

 

Yoav Waizer, became a director of the Company following the Merger and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Microbot Israel since May 2015. Mr. Waizer provides CFO services on a part-time basis to a number of venture capital funds and companies; including to Israeli Technology Investments (ITI) Fund, Next Gear Venture Partners L.P. and to Medica Venture Partners. Mr. Waizer served as CFO & COO at Cedar Fund, a venture capital fund focuses on investing in Israel-related high-tech companies and prior to that Mr. Waizer was the CFO of Star Ventures Israel, the Israeli fund of Star Ventures, a $1 billion venture capital fund investing in all stages of development within the Telecom, Enterprise S/W, Wireless and Life Sciences sectors. Mr. Waizer is currently a director of Yeda Research & Development Co. Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science, and XACT Robotics Ltd., a private Israeli company developing novel platform robotic technology for use in minimally invasive procedures. Mr. Waizer was the CFO on a part-time basis of MEDX Xelerator L.P., a medical device and digital health Israeli incubator. Mr. Waizer holds Master of Business Administration in Information Systems and B.Sc. in Accounting and Statistics, both from the Tel-Aviv University. The Company believes that Mr. Waizer is qualified to serve as a member of the Company’s board due to his extensive investment experience and extensive knowledge of the life sciences industry.

 

Yoseph Bornstein, became a director of the Company following the Merger. Mr. Bornstein is a co-founder of Microbot Israel and has been a member of the Board of Directors since Microbot Israel was founded in November 2010. Mr. Bornstein founded Shizim Ltd., a life science holding group in October 2000 and has served as its president since then. Mr. Bornstein is the Chairman of GCP Clinical Studies Ltd., a provider of clinical research services and educational programs in Israel since January 2002. He is the Chairman of Biotis Ltd., a service company for the bio-pharmaceutical industry, since June 2000. In addition, he is the Chairman of Dolphin Medical Ltd., a service company for the medical device industry, since April 2012 and the Chairman of ASIS Enterprises B.B.G. Ltd., a business August 2007. In October 1992, Mr. Bornstein founded Pharmateam Ltd., an Israeli company that specialized in representing international pharmaceutical companies which was sold in 2000. Mr. Bornstein is also a founder of a number of other privately held life-science companies. Mr. Bornstein served as the Biotechnology Committee Chairman of the Unites States-Israel Science & Technology Commission (the “USISTF”) from September 2002 to February 2005 as well as a consultant for USISTF from September 2002 to February 2005. He is also the founder of ILSI-Israel Life Science Industry Organization (who was integrated into IATI) and ITTN-Israel Tech Transfer Organization. The Company believes that Mr. Bornstein is qualified to serve as a member of the Board due to his extensive experience in, and knowledge of, the life sciences industry and international business.

 

Scott R. Burell, became a director of the Company following the Merger. Since August 1, 2018, Mr. Burell has been the Chief Financial Officer of AIVITA Biomedical, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company. From November 2006 until its sale to Invitae Corp. in November 2017, he was the Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of CombiMatrix Corporation (NASDAQ: CBMX), a family health-focused clinical molecular diagnostic laboratory specializing in pre-implantation genetic screening, prenatal diagnosis, miscarriage analysis, and pediatric developmental disorders. He successfully led the split-off of CombiMatrix in 2007 from its former parent, has led several successful public and private debt and equity financing transactions as well as CombiMatrix’s reorganization in 2010. Prior to this, Mr. Burell had served as CombiMatrix’s Vice President of Finance since November 2001 and as its Controller from February 2001 to November 2001. From May 1999 to first joining CombiMatrix in February 2001, Mr. Burell was the Controller for Network Commerce, Inc., a publicly traded technology and information infrastructure company located in Seattle. Prior to this, Mr. Burell spent 9 years with Arthur Andersen’s Audit and Business Advisory practice in Seattle. During his tenure in public accounting, Mr. Burell worked with many clients, both public and private, in the high-tech and healthcare markets, and was involved in numerous public offerings, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Burell is a Board member of Collplant Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq: CLGN), an Israeli -based publicly traded biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine. Mr. Burell is also a Board member of Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTSL), an Israeli-based publicly traded telecommunications services company. Mr. Burell obtained his Washington state CPA license in 1992 and is a certified public accountant (currently inactive). He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Finance from Central Washington University. The Company believes Mr. Burell’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience as an executive of a public life sciences company and knowledge of financial accounting in the medical technology field.

 

Martin Madden, has been a director of the Company since February 6, 2017. Mr. Madden has held various positions at Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates from 1986 to January 2017, most recently as Vice President, Research & Development of DePuy Synthes, a Johnson & Johnson Company, from February 2016 to January 2017. Prior to that, from July 2015 to February 2016, Mr. Madden was the Vice President, New Product Development of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. From January 2012 to July 2015, Mr. Madden was the Vice President, Research & Development of Johnson & Johnson’s Global Surgery Group. Mr. Madden holds a MBA from Columbia University, a M.S. from Carnegie Mellon University in Mechanical Engineering, and a B.S. from the University of Dayton in Mechanical Engineering. The Company believes that Mr. Madden is qualified to serve as a member of the Board due to his extensive experience in research and development, portfolio planning, technology assessment and assimilation, and project management and budgeting.

 

 37 
 

 

Prattipati Laxminarain, has been a director of the Company since December 6, 2017. From April 2006 through October 2017, Mr. Laxminarain served as Worldwide President at Codman Neuro, a global neurosurgery and neurovascular company that offers a portfolio of devices for hydrocephalus management, neuro intensive care and cranial surgery and other technologies, and which was part of DePuy Synthes Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Laxminarain holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, India and a Bachelor of Engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. The Company believes that Mr. Laxminarain is qualified as a Board member of the Company because of his extensive experience working with medical device companies and knowledge of the industries in which the Company intends to compete.

 

Executive Officers

 

Following are the name, age and other information for our named executive officers, as of March 28, 2019. All company officers have been appointed to serve until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Information regarding Mr. Gadot is set forth above under “–Board of Directors.”

 

Name   Age   Position
Harel Gadot   47   President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
David Ben Naim   50   Chief Financial Officer

 

David Ben Naim, became the Company’s part-time Chief Financial Officer following the consummation of the Merger. Mr. Ben Naim is the general manager of DBN Finance Services Ltd., a company which provides outsourcing financial services to public and private companies, since 2014, including the Company. Through DBN Finance Services, Mr. Ben Naim has acted as the outsourced CFO for Emerald Medical Applications Corp. (OTC:MRLA), a digital health startup company engaged in the development, sale and service of imaging solutions, Tempramed Inc., a private medical device company, Vonetize PLC (TASE:VNTZ), an Israeli company that offers video on demand and over-the-top content services, Unet Credit Finance Services Ltd. (TASE:UNCR-M), and Todos Medical Ltd. (OTC:TOMDF), an Israeli cancer in-vitro-diagnostic company engaging in the development of a series of blood tests for the early detection of a variety of cancers. Prior to that, Mr. Ben Naim served as Chief Financial Officer for several companies in the biomedical and technology industries. From July 2012 to September 2014, Mr. Ben Naim served as Chief Financial Officer for Insuline Medical Ltd. (TASE: INSL), an Israel-based company focused on improving performance of insulin treatment methods. From 2008 until 2011, Mr. Ben Naim served as Chief Financial Officer of Crow Technologies 1977 Ltd. (OTC:CRWTF), a company that designs, develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of security and alarm systems. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Ben Naim served as Chief Financial Officer of Ilex Medical Ltd. (TASE:ILX), a leading company in the medical diagnostics field. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Ben Naim was the Corporate Controller of Tadiran Telecom Ltd. He started his career in 1998 at Deloitte & Touche where he left in 2003 as an Audit Senior Manager. Mr. Ben Naim holds a B.A. in social sciences from Open University, Israel, a CPA license from Ramat Gan College, Israel, and an M.B.A. from Ono Academic College, Israel.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Presently, the Board has three standing committees — the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee (the “Compensation Committee”), and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Corporate Governance Committee”). All members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance Committee are, and are required by the charters of the respective committees to be, independent as determined under Nasdaq Listing rules.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs. Burell, Madden and Bornstein. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent, and the Board has determined that Mr. Burell is an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in SEC rules. The Audit Committee acts pursuant to a written charter which is available through our website at www.microbotmedical.com.

 

The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Audit Committee does this primarily by reviewing the Company’s financial reports and other financial information as well as the Company’s systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting, legal compliance, and ethics that management and the Board of Directors have established. The Audit Committee also assesses the Company’s auditing, accounting and financial processes more generally. The Audit Committee recommends to the Board of Directors the appointment of a firm of independent auditors to audit the financial statements of the Company and meets with such personnel of the Company to review the scope and the results of the annual audit, the amount of audit fees, the company’s internal accounting controls, the Company’s financial statements contained in this proxy statement, and other related matters.

 

 38 
 

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee is composed of Messrs. Waizer, Madden and Bornstein. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee is independent. The Compensation Committee acts pursuant to a written charter which is available through our website at www.microbotmedical.com.

 

The Compensation Committee acts pursuant to a written charter. The Compensation Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors and management concerning salaries in general, determines executive compensation and approves incentive compensation for employees and consultants.

 

Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Corporate Governance Committee is composed of Messrs. Waizer, Laxminarain and Burell. Each of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee is independent. The Corporate Governance Committee acts pursuant to a written charter which is available through our website at www.microbotmedical.com.

 

The Corporate Governance Committee oversees nominations to the Board and considers the experience, ability and character of potential nominees to serve as directors, as well as particular skills or knowledge that may be desirable in light of the Company’s position at any time. From time to time, the Corporate Governance Committee may engage the services of a paid search firm to help the Corporate Governance Committee identify potential nominees to the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee and Board seek to nominate and appoint candidates to the Board who have significant business experience, technical expertise or personal attributes, or a combination of these, sufficient to suggest, in the Board’s judgment, that the candidate would have the ability to help direct the affairs of the company and enhance the Board as a whole. The Corporate Governance Committee may identify potential candidates through any reliable means available, including recommendations of past or current members of the Board from their knowledge of the industry and of the Company. The Corporate Governance Committee also considers past service on the Board or on the board of directors of other publicly traded or technology focused companies. The Corporate Governance Committee has not adopted a formulaic approach to evaluating potential nominees to the Board; it does not have a formal policy concerning diversity, for example. Rather, the Corporate Governance Committee weighs and considers the experience, expertise, intellect, and judgment of potential nominees irrespective of their race, gender, age, religion, or other personal characteristics. The Corporate Governance Committee may look for nominees that can bring new skill sets or diverse business perspectives. Potential candidates recommended by security holders will be considered as provided in the company’s “Policy Regarding Shareholder Candidates for Nomination as a Director,” which sets forth the procedures and conditions for such recommendations. This policy is available through our website at www.microbotmedical.com.

 

There were no material changes to the procedures by which securityholders may recommend nominees to the Board, since the Company last provided the disclosure in this section.

 

Director Oversight and Qualifications

 

While management is responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks the company faces, the Board, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. An important part of risk management is not only understanding the risks facing the company and what steps management is taking to manage those risks, but also understanding what level of risk is appropriate for the company. In support of this oversight function, the Board receives regular reports from our Chief Executive Officer and members of senior management on operational, financial, legal, and regulatory issues and risks. The Audit Committee additionally is charged under its charter with oversight of financial risk, including the company’s internal controls, and it receives regular reports from management, the company’s internal auditors and the company’s independent auditors. The chairman of the Board and independent members of the Board work together to provide strong, independent oversight of the company’s management and affairs through its standing committees and, when necessary, special meetings of directors.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics and Conduct that applies to all of our directors, officers, employees, and consultants. A copy of our code of ethics is posted on our website at www.microbotmedical.com. We intend to disclose any substantive amendment or waivers to this code on our website. There were no substantive amendments or waivers to this code in 2018.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires our executive officers, directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC reports of ownership of our securities and changes in reported ownership. Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to us, or written representations from the reporting persons that no Form 5 was required, we believe that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners have been met, with the exception of Mr. Ben Naim who failed to timely file a 4 report showing 1 transaction.

 

 39 
 

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The following table sets forth information regarding each element of compensation that was paid or awarded to the named executive officers of the Company for the periods indicated.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Stock Awards ($)  

Option

Awards

($) (1)

   Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)   All Other Compensation ($)   Total ($) 
                                 
Harel Gadot  2018    360,000    55,000(2)       580,667        13,800(3)   1,009,467 
Chief Executive  2017    389,000    158,000        156,219        15,000(3)   718,219 
Officer  2016    275,000                        275,000 
                                        
Hezi Himelfarb(7)  2018    280,067    12,931(4)       425,101        13,000(5)   718,101 
Former Chief Operating Officer & General Manager  2017    228,653(6)   40,625        92,205        (6)   361,483 
   2016    16,000                        16,000 
                                        
David Ben Naim  2018    70,026            26,890            96,916 
Chief Financial  2017    66,000            188            66,188 
Officer  2016    6,000                        6,000 

 

 

(1) Amounts shown do not reflect cash compensation actually received by the named executive officer. Instead, the amounts shown are the non-cash aggregate grant date fair values of stock option awards made during the periods presented as determined pursuant to ASC Topic 718 and excludes the effect of forfeiture assumptions. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock option awards are set forth under Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
(2) Represents the remaining portion of Mr. Gadot’s 2017 bonus, which was paid in 2018. Mr. Gadot’s bonus for the 2018 fiscal year was paid in 2019.
(3) All Other Compensation includes Mr. Gadot’s monthly automobile allowance and tax gross-up.
(4) Represents the remaining portion of Mr. Himelfarb’s 2017 bonus, which was paid in 2018.
(5) All Other Compensation includes Mr. Himelfarb’s yearly automobile allowance.
(6) The salary includes $13,000 for Mr. Himelfarb’s yearly automobile allowance.
(7) Effective as of February 1, 2019, Mr. Himelfarb, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, resigned from all positions with the Company and from his position as General Manager of Microbot Medical Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Himelfarb has remained to assist with the transition of his duties.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table presents the outstanding equity awards held by each of the named executive officers as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

 

    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 of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested    Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested    Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested 
                                       
Harel Gadot   77,846       $4.20   9/01/2024                
    48,672    72,175    15.75   9/14/2027                    
Hezi Himelfarb   29,003    43,505    19.35   10/15/2027                
David Ben Naim   2,000    3,000    15.30   12/28/2027                
Simon Sharon   -    10,000    9.00   08/13/2028                

 

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Harel Gadot Employment Agreement

 

The Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Gadot Agreement”) with Harel Gadot on November 28, 2016, to serve as the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, on an indefinite basis subject to the termination provisions described in the Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Gadot Agreement, Mr. Gadot shall receive an annual base salary of $360,000. The salary will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the Company to determine potential increases taking into account such performance metrics and criteria as established by the Executive and the Company.

 

Mr. Gadot shall also be entitled to receive a target annual cash bonus of up to a maximum amount of 40% of base salary, which maximum amount was paid for the 2018 fiscal year.

 

Mr. Gadot shall be further entitled to a monthly automobile allowance and tax gross up on such allowance of $1,150, and shall be granted options to purchase shares of common stock of the Company representing 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company, based on vesting and other terms to be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

In the event Mr. Gadot’s employment is terminated as a result of death, Mr. Gadot’s estate would be entitled to receive any earned annual salary, bonus, reimbursement of business expenses and accrued vacation, if any, that is unpaid up to the date of Mr. Gadot’s death.

 

In the event Mr. Gadot’s employment is terminated as a result of disability, Mr. Gadot would be entitled to receive any earned annual salary, bonus, reimbursement of business expenses and accrued vacation, if any, incurred up to the date of termination.

 

In the event Mr. Gadot’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause, Mr. Gadot would be entitled to receive any compensation then due and payable incurred up to the date of termination.

 

In the event Mr. Gadot’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he would be entitled to receive (i) any earned annual salary; (ii) 12 months’ pay and full benefits, (iii) a pro rata bonus equal to the maximum target bonus for that calendar year; (iv) the dollar value of unused and accrued vacation days; and (v) applicable premiums (inclusive of premiums for Mr. Gadot’s dependents) pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, as amended, for twelve (12) months from the date of termination for any benefits plan sponsored by the Company. In addition, 100% of any unvested portion of his stock options shall immediately vest and become exercisable.

 

The agreement contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation provisions pursuant to which Mr. Gadot agrees not to compete and solicit with the Company. Mr. Gadot also agreed to customary terms regarding confidentiality and ownership of intellectual property.

 

Hezi Himelfarb Employment Agreement

 

We entered into an employment agreement (the “Himelfarb Agreement”) with Mr. Himelfarb on December 5, 2016, to serve as our Chief Operating Office and General Manager, on an indefinite basis subject to the termination provisions described in the Himelfarb Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Himelfarb Agreement, Mr. Himelfarb shall receive a base salary of 64,000 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) per month or NIS 768,000 per year, or the equivalent of approximately $203,714 per annum based on an exchange rate of $.265 for NIS 1.0.

 

Mr. Himelfarb shall be entitled to grants or payments subject to the adoption by the Company at its discretion of a bonus plan or policy.

 

Under the Himelfarb Agreement, Mr. Himelfarb was entitled to participate in the Company’s motor vehicle program and receive a motor vehicle from the Company’s vehicle pool. The Company shall pay an amount equal to 8.33% of Mr. Himelfarb’s salary, which shall be allocated to a fund for severance pay to Mr. Himelfarb, and an additional amount equal to 6.25% of Mr. Himelfarb’s salary (6.5% as of January 1, 2017), which shall be allocated to a pension plan, in addition to disability insurance contributions and as otherwise may be required by applicable Israeli law from time to time. The Company shall also contribute to an educational fund an amount equal to 7.5% of each monthly payment of Mr. Himelfarb’s full salary. Mr. Himelfarb is also entitled to options to purchase 1,087,627 shares of the Company’s common stock, which represents 3% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of the closing of the Company’s merger transaction with the Subsidiary on November 28, 2016.

 

The Himelfarb Agreement contains customary non-competition provisions pursuant to which Mr. Himelfarb agrees not to compete with the Company. Mr. Himelfarb also agreed to customary terms regarding confidentiality and ownership of intellectual property.

 

 41 
 

 

Effective as of February 1, 2019, Mr. Himelfarb, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, resigned from all positions with the Company. Effective as of February 1, 2019, Mr. Himelfarb also resigned from his position as General Manager of Microbot Medical Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Himelfarb has remained to assist with the transition of his duties. As a result of certain termination provisions of the Himelfarb Agreement, Mr. Himelfarb is entitled to six months of compensation as a result of such resignation.

 

David Ben Naim Services Agreement

 

We entered into a services agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with DBN Finance Services effective October 31, 2016, to provide outsourced CFO services. Pursuant to the terms of the Services Agreement, DBN Finance Services will provide its services exclusively through Mr. David Ben Naim, who will serve as the principal financial and accounting officer of Microbot Israel and the Company. Mr. Ben Naim’s engagement will continue on an indefinite basis subject to the termination provisions described in the Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company shall pay the Service Provider a fixed fee of NIS 22,000, or the equivalent of approximately $5,835 per month based on an exchange rate of $.265 for NIS1.0, plus VAT per month, and the Company shall reimburse DBN Finance Services for reasonable and customary out of pocket expenses incurred by it or Mr. Ben Naim connection with the performance of the duties under the Services Agreement. In addition, the Company shall maintain for the benefit of Mr. Ben Naim, a Directors and Officers insurance policy, according to the Company’s policy for other directors and officers of the Company.

 

Both the Company and DBN Finance Services shall have the right to terminate the Agreement for any reason or without reason at any time by furnishing the other party with a 30-day notice of termination. The Company shall further be entitled to terminate the Services Agreement for “cause” without notice, in which case neither DBN Finance Services nor Mr. Ben Naim shall be entitled to any compensation due to such early termination.

 

DBN Finance Services and Mr. Ben Naim agreed to customary provisions regarding confidentiality and intellectual property ownership. The Services Agreement also contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation provisions pursuant to which DBN Finance Services and Mr. Ben Naim agree not to compete and solicit with the Company during the term of the Agreement and for a period of twelve months following the termination of the Agreement.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

The Company generally enters into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. Pursuant to the indemnification agreements, the Company has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless these current and former directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The agreements generally cover expenses that a director or officer incurs or amounts that a director or officer becomes obligated to pay because of any proceeding to which he is made or threatened to be made a party or participant by reason of his service as a current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, provided that he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses to the directors and officers subject to specified conditions. There are certain exceptions to the Company’s obligation to indemnify the directors and officers, and, with certain exceptions, with respect to proceedings that he initiates.

 

Limits on Liability and Indemnification

 

We provide directors and officers insurance for our current directors and officers.

 

Our certificate of incorporation eliminates the personal liability of our directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. The certificate of incorporation further provides that the Company will indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. We believe that this indemnification covers at least negligence on the part of the indemnified parties. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons under the foregoing provisions or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Director Compensation

 

The Company adopted a compensation package for the non-management members of its Board, pursuant to which each such Board member would receive for his services $12,000 per annum, $750 per duly called Board meeting and $250 per unanimous written consent. Furthermore, each member of the Audit Committee of the Board receives an additional $10,000 per annum, and other committee members receive an additional $5,000 per annum. Board members are also entitled to receive equity awards. Upon joining the Board, a member would receive an initial grant of $40,000 of stock options (calculated as the product of the exercise price on the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares underlying the stock option award required to equal $40,000), with an additional grant of stock options each year thereafter, to purchase such number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to $20,000, subject to the member of the Board having served on the Board for at least twelve continuous months, and having attended at least 80% of the Board meetings over the prior year.

 

 42 
 

 

The following table summarizes cash-based and equity compensation information for our outside directors, including annual Board and committee retainer fees and meeting attendance fees, for the year ended December 31, 2018:

 

Name  Fees earned or paid in cash   Stock Awards   Option Awards (1)   Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Compensation
   Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings   All Other Compensation   Total 
                             
Yoav Waizer  $32,500   $     -   $13,483   $          -   $        -   $          -   $45,983 
                                    
Yoseph Bornstein   41,250    -    13,483    -    -    -    54,733 
                                    
Scott Burell   41,250    -    13,483    -    -    -    54,733 
                                    
Martin Madden   41,250    -    13,483    -    -    -    54,733 
                                    
Prattipati Laxminarain   27,500    -    13,483    -    -    -    40,983 

 

 

(1) Amounts shown do not reflect cash compensation actually received by the director. Instead, the amounts shown are the non-cash aggregate grant date fair values of stock option awards made during the period presented as determined pursuant to ASC Topic 718 and excludes the effect of forfeiture assumptions. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock option awards are set forth under Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Messrs. Gadot and Himelfarb received compensation for their services to the Company as set forth under the summary compensation table above.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The following table shows the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned, as of March 28, 2019, by (i) each of our directors, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group, and (iv) all those known by us to be to a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the company’s common stock. In general, “beneficial ownership” refers to shares that an individual or entity has the power to vote or dispose of, and any rights to acquire common stock that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2019. We calculated percentage ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. The percentage of common stock beneficially owned is based on 4,307,580 shares outstanding as of March 28, 2019. In addition, shares issuable pursuant to options or other convertible securities that may be acquired within 60 days of March 28, 2019 are deemed to be issued and outstanding and have been treated as outstanding in calculating and determining the beneficial ownership and percentage ownership of those persons possessing those securities, but not for any other persons.

 

This table is based on information supplied by each prospective director, officer and principal stockholder of the Company. Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, the Company believes that the stockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown to be beneficially owned by them, based on information provided by such stockholders. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each director, executive officer and 5% or greater stockholders of the Company listed is: c/o Microbot Medical Inc., 25 Recreation Park Drive, Unit 108, Hingham, MA 02043.

 

Beneficial Owner 

Number of Shares

Beneficially Owned

   Percentage of Common Stock Beneficially Owned 
Directors and Executive Officers          
Harel Gadot(1)   310,066    6.98%
Yoav Waizer(2)   1,788    * 
Yoseph Bornstein(3)   303,816    7.05%
Scott Burell(2)   1,788    * 
Martin Madden(2)   1,788    * 
David Ben Naim(2)   2,375    * 
Prattipati Laxminarain(2)   1,788    * 
Yehezkel (Hezi) Himelfarb (2)(7)   34,442    * 
All current directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)(4)   623,409    14.00%
Five Percent Shareholders          
LSA - Life Science Accelerator Ltd.(3)   303,816    7.05%
MEDX Ventures Group LLC(5)   254,711    5.81%
Saber Holding GmbH(6)   287,134    6.67%

 

 

(1) Includes 77,864 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to MEDX Ventures Group and 55,355 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to Mr. Gadot. All of such shares and 77,864 options are held by MEDX Ventures Group LLC, which is beneficially owned by Mr. Gadot. See Note 6 below.
(2) Represents options to acquire shares of our common stock.
(3) Based on representations and other information made or provided to the Company by Mr. Bornstein, Mr. Bornstein is the CEO and Director of LSA and of Shizim, and Mr. Bornstein is the majority equity owner of Shizim. Shizim is the majority equity owner of LSA. Accordingly, Mr. Bornstein may be deemed to share voting and investment power over the shares beneficially owned by these entities and has an address of 16 Iris Street, Rosh-Ha’Ayin Israel 4858022. Includes 1,788 shares of our common stock issuable to Mr. Bornstein upon exercise of options.
(4)

Includes shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options as set forth in footnotes (1), (2) and (3). Does not include Mr. Himelfarb, who resigned effective February 1, 2019. See Note (7) below).

(5) Includes 77,864 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to MEDX Ventures Group. Mr. Gadot is the Chief Executive Officer, Company Group Chairman and majority equity owner of MEDX Venture Group and thus may be deemed to share voting and investment power over the shares beneficially owned by this entity. Does not include 55,355 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to Mr. Gadot directly. See Note 1 above.
(6) Pursuant to a Schedule 13D/A-2 filed on June 20, 2017, Mrs. Sandra Berkson owns 100% of the equity of Saber Holding GmbH. Mr. Avram Berkson and Mrs. Sandra Berkson have shared power with Saber to vote or direct the vote, and to dispose or direct the disposition, of such shares. Saber’s address is Krummbaumgasse 10/20, 1020 Wein, Austria.
(7) Effective as of February 1, 2019, Mr. Himelfarb, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, resigned from all positions with the Company and from his position as General Manager of Microbot Medical Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr. Himelfarb has remained to assist with the transition of his duties.

 

 43 
 

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Related parties can include any of our directors or executive officers, certain of our stockholders and their immediate family members. Each year, we prepare and require our directors and executive officers to complete Director and Officer Questionnaires identifying any transactions with us in which the officer or director or their family members have an interest. This helps us identify potential conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s private interest interferes, or appears to interfere, in any way with the interests of the company as a whole. Our code of ethics requires all directors, officers and employees who may have a potential or apparent conflict of interest to immediately notify our general counsel, who serves as our compliance officer. In addition, the Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering and reporting to the Board any questions of possible conflicts of interest of Board members. Our code of ethics further requires pre-clearance before any employee, officer or director engages in any personal or business activity that may raise concerns about conflict, potential conflict or apparent conflict of interest. Copies of our code of ethics and the Corporate Governance Committee charter are posted on the corporate governance section of our website at www.microbotmedical.com.

 

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Microbot Medical Ltd., entered into a license agreement with Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd., or TRDF, in 2012 pursuant to which it obtained an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sub-licensable license to certain patents and inventions relating to the SCS and TipCAT technology platforms. TRDF is a founder of Microbot. See “Description of Business – Intellectual Property” for a description of this agreement.

 

Other than the above transaction, there have been no related party transactions or any other transactions o relationships required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

 

Director Independence

 

NASDAQ’s listing standards and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require that the Company’s Board of Directors consist of a majority of independent directors, as determined under the applicable NASDAQ listing rules.

 

The independent members of our Board are Messrs. Waizer, Bornstein, Burell, Madden and Laxminarain.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Audit and Tax Fees

 

The Board, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, has selected the independent accounting firm of Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co., a Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, to audit the accounts of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2018.

 

The Audit Committee considered the tax compliance services provided by Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co., concluded that provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent accountants, and approved the provision by Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co. of tax compliance services with respect to the year ending December 31, 2018.

 

 44 
 

 

The Audit Committee received the following information concerning the fees of the independent accountants for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, has considered whether the provision of these services is compatible with independence of the independent accountants, and concluded that it is:

 

   Year Ended 
    12/31/18    12/31/17 
Audit Fees (1)  $50,000   $35,000 
Audit-Related Fees        
Tax Fees  $9,000     
All Other Fees (2)  $17,000     

 

 

(1) Audit fees represents fees for the integrated audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements, and review of audit-related SEC filings
(2) Includes fees related to issuing comfort letter and consent(s).

 

Audit and tax fees include administrative overhead charges and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for pre-approving all services (audit and non-audit) performed by our independent auditors. In accordance with such policies and procedures, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors in order to assure that the provision of such services is in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and does not impair the auditors’ independence. Under the policy, pre-approval is generally provided up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. In addition, the Audit Committee may pre-approve additional services on a case-by-case basis. During 2015 and through November 28, 2016, Microbot Israel did not have a standing audit committee.

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

 

(1) Financial Statements:

 

The financial statements are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on page F-1 and are hereby incorporated by reference

 

(2) Financial Statement Schedules:

 

The financial statement schedules are omitted as they are either not applicable or the information required is presented in the financial statements and notes thereto.

 

(3) Exhibits:

 

The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated by reference to the location indicated.

 

Exhibit Number   Description of Document
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of August 15, 2016, by and among StemCells, Inc., C&RD Israel Ltd. and Microbot Medical Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 15, 2016).
3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and filed on March 15, 2007).
3.2   Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2016).
3.3   Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 4, 2018).
3.4   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 3, 2016).
3.5   Certificate of Elimination (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 12, 2018).
4.1   Form of Series A Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 16, 2016).

 

 45 
 

 

4.2   Form of Series B Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 16, 2016).
4.3   Form of Pre-Funded Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2019)
4.4   Form of Wainwright Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2019)
4.5   Form of Wainwright Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2019).
4.6   Form of Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 25, 2019).
4.7   Form of Wainwright Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 25, 2019).
10.1   Form of Indemnification Agreement, between the Company and Each of its Directors and Officers (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2016).
10.2*   Employment Agreement with Harel Gadot (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2016).
10.3*   Services Agreement with DBN Finance Services Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2016).
10.4*   Employment Agreement with Yehezkel Himelfarb (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2016).
10.5   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated January 5, 2017 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2017).
10.6   Placement Agreement, dated January 4, 2017 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2017).
10.7   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated November 11, 2016, by and among StemCells, Inc., Stem Cell Sciences Holdings Limited, Stemcells California, Inc., and Boco Silicon Valley, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and filed on March 21, 2017).
10.8   Contract Research Agreement, dated January 27, 2017, with The Washington University (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and filed on March 21, 2017).
10.9   License Agreement, dated June 20, 2012, by and between Technion Research and Development Foundation, and Microbot Medical Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and filed on March 21, 2017).
10.10*   Microbot Medical Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended September 30, 2017, filed on November 14, 2017).
10.11*   Cooperation and Consulting Agreement, by and between StemCells, Inc. and Ken Stratton, dated June 6, 2016 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2016, filed on August 15, 2016).
10.12*   Cooperation and Consulting Agreement, by and between StemCells, Inc. and Gregory Schiffman, dated June 6, 2016 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2016, filed on August 15, 2016).
10.13   Cooperation and Consulting Agreement, by and between StemCells, Inc. and Ian Massey, dated June 6, 2016 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2016, filed on August 15, 2016).
10.14   Agreement, dated January 4, 2018, by and between CardioSert Ltd. and Microbot Medical Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2018).
10.15   Tolling and Standstill Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2018, by and among (a) Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, on behalf of Empery Asset Master, Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient LP, Empery Tax Efficient II LP, and Hudson Bay Master Fund, Ltd. and (b) Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., on behalf of the Company. (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 19, 2018.)
10.16   Engagement Letter, dated as of October 12, 2018, by and between Microbot Medical Inc. and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2019)
10.17   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2019, by and among Microbot Medical Inc., and the Purchaser (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2019)
10.18   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2019, by and among Microbot Medical Inc., and the Purchaser (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2019)
10.19   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2019, by and among Microbot Medical Inc., and the Purchaser (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 25, 2019)
21.1   Subsidiaries of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and filed on March 21, 2017).
 31.1   Certification Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13(a)-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Harel Gadot, Chief Executive Officer)
 31.2   Certification Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13(a)-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (David Ben Naim, Chief Financial Officer)
 32.1   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Harel Gadot, Chief Executive Officer)
 32.2   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (David Ben Naim, Chief Financial Officer)
101.INS   XBRL Instance.
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation.
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition.
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels.
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation.

 

 

* Indicates Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

 

 46 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.
   
  /s/ Harel Gadot 
  Harel Gadot
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Dated: March 29, 2019  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Harel Gadot   Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer   March 29, 2019
Harel Gadot   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ David Ben Naim   Chief Financial Officer   March 29, 2019
David Ben Naim   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Yoav Waizer   Director   March 29, 2019
Yoav Waizer        
         
/s/ Yoseph Bornstein   Director   March 29, 2019
Yoseph Bornstein        
         
/s/ Prattipati Laxminarain   Director   March 29, 2019
Prattipati Laxminarain        
         
/s/ Scott Burell   Director   March 29, 2019
Scott Burell        
         
    Director    
Martin Madden        

 

 47 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

  Page
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018, and 2017 F-3
   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 F-4
   
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 F-5
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 F-6
   
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements F-7-F-23

 

 F-1 
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Microbot Medical Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements


We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Microbot Medical Inc. and its subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).

 

In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion


These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co.

Certified Public Accountants

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

 

Tel Aviv, Israel

April 1, 2019

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.

 

 F-2 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

      As of December 31,
   Note  2018  2017
ASSETS         
          
Current assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents       $5,238   $10,787 
Restricted cash        25    27 
Other current assets   3    568    116 
         5,831    10,930 
                
Fixed assets, net   4    259    90 
                
Total assets       $6,090   $11,020 
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY               
                
Current liabilities:               
Trade payables       $630   $78 
Accrued liabilities   5    755    450 
Other accrued liabilities   8    3,375    - 
Total current liabilities        4,760    528 
                
Long-term liabilities:               
                
Derivative warrant liability   7    8    28 
         8    28 
                
Total liabilities        4,768    556 
                
Commitments and contingencies   8           
                
Temporary equity:   9           
Common stock of $0.01 par value; issued and outstanding: 0 and 721,107 shares as of December 31, 2018 and 2017        -    500 
                
Shareholders’ equity:               
Preferred stock of $0.01 par value; Authorized: 1,000,000 shares as of December 31, 2018 and 2017; issued and outstanding: 0 and 4,001 shares as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively   9    -    (*)
Common stock of $0.01 par value; Authorized: 220,000,000 as of December 31, 2018 and 2017; issued and outstanding (**): 3,012,343 and 2,013,193 shares as of December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively        31    27 
Additional paid-in capital        32,530    30,561 
Treasury shares   8    (3,375)   - 
Accumulated deficit        (27,864)   (20,624)
         1,322    9,964 
                
        $6,090   $11,020 

 

(*)Less than 1
(**)December 31 2017 share data represents the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 reverse stock split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-3 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

       Years ended 
       December 31, 
  Note   2018   2017 
             
Research and development expenses, net   11   $2,515   $1,100 
                
General and administrative expenses   12    4,729    4,167 
                
Operating loss        7,244    5,267 
                
Financing (income) expenses, net   13    (4)   2,322 
                
Net loss and comprehensive loss       $7,240   $7,589 
                
Net loss per share, basic and diluted   10   $(2.41)  $(2.76)
                
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted (*)        2,904,253    2,178,827 

 

(*)December 31, 2017 share data represents the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 reverse stock split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-4 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

   Preferred A Shares   Common Stock (***)   Additional   Treasury      Total    
   Number   Amount   Number   Amount   paid-in capital   shares (1)   Accumulated deficit   shareholders’ equity   Temporary equity (**) 
                                     
Balances, December 31, 2016   9,736   $

 

(*)

    (**)1,788,884  $18   $14,713   $-   $(13,035)  $1,696   $500 
Issuance of common stock   -    -    299,815    3    12,699    -    -    12,702    - 
Share-based compensation   -    -    8,085    (*)    479    -    -    479    - 
Exercise of options   -    -    31,787    (*)    (*)    -    -    -    - 
Cashless exercise of warrants   -    -    24    (*)    -    -    -    (*)    - 
Extinguishment of convertible notes and issuance of preferred A shares   3,255    (*)    -    -    2,676    -    -    2,676    - 
Conversion of preferred A shares to common stock   (8,990)   (*)    605,705    6    (6)   -    -    -    - 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    (7,589)   (7,589)   - 
Balances, December 31, 2017   4,001     (*)    2,734,300    27    30,561    -    (20,624)   9,964    500 
Share-based compensation   -    -    -    -    1,399    -    -    1,399    - 
Exercise of options   -    -    2,487    (*)    (*)    -    -    -    - 
Common shares classified out of temporary equity                       500    -         500    (500)
Shares issued as consideration-vendor   -    -    6,738    1    73    -    -    74    - 
Conversion of preferred A shares to common stock   (4,001)   (*)    268,818    3    (3)   -    -    -    - 
Rescission of share purchase agreement   -    -    -    -    -    (3,375)   -    (3,375)   - 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    (7,240)   (7,240)   - 
                                              
Balances, December 31, 2018   -   $ (*)    **3,012,343  $31   $32,530   $(3,375)  $(27,864)  $1,322   $- 

 

(1) Refer to Note 8 for further information

 

(*) Less than 1

 

(**) Includes 721,107 common stock classified as temporary equity as of December 31, 2017.

 

(***) December 31, 2016 and 2017 share data represent the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 reverse stock split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-5 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

   Years ended December 31, 
   2018   2017 
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES          
           
Net loss  $(7,240)  $(7,589)
           
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Depreciation   54    21 
Interest and amortization of discount on convertible notes   -    237 
Financing loss on debt extinguishment   -    2,364 
Changes in fair value of derivative warrant liability   (20)   (285)
Shares issued as consideration-vendor   74    - 
Share-based compensation expense   1,399    479 
Changes in assets and liabilities:          
Other receivables   (40)   (14)
Other payables and accrued liabilities   463    (69)
           
Net cash used in operating activities   (5,310)   (4,856)
           
INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES          
           
Purchase of property and equipment   (223)   (58)
           
Net cash used in investing activities   (223)   (58)
           
FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
           
Inflows in connection with current assets and liabilities acquired in reverse recapitalization, net   -    317 
Deferred financing fees   (18)   - 
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs   -    12,702 
           
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (18)   13,019 
           
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents   (5,551)   8,105 
           
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year   10,814    2,709 
           
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year  $5,263   $10,814 
           

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Non-cash financing transactions:

          
Cashless exercise of warrants  $ (*)  $ (*)
Rescission of share purchase agreement  $3,375   $- 
Conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock  $30   $90 
Extinguishment of convertible notes in exchange for Series A Convertible Preferred Stock  $-   $2,083 

Financing fees included in other payables and accrued liabilities

  $394   $- 

Temporary equity classified to permanent equity

  $500   $- 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-6 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data) 

 

NOTE 1 GENERAL

 

A.Description of business

 

Microbot Medical Inc. (the “Company”) is a pre-clinical medical device company specializing in the research, design and development of next generation micro-robotics assisted medical technologies targeting the minimally invasive surgery space. The Company is primarily focused on leveraging its micro-robotic technologies with the goal of improving surgical outcomes for patients.

 

It was incorporated on August 2, 1988 in the State of Delaware under the name Cellular Transplants, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation was restated on February 14, 1992 to change the name of the Company to Cyto Therapeutics, Inc. On May 24, 2000, the Certificate of Incorporation as restated was further amended to change the name of the Company to StemCells, Inc.

 

On November 28, 2016, the Company consummated a transaction pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 15, 2016, with Microbot Medical Ltd., a private medical device company organized under the laws of the State of Israel (“Microbot Israel”). On the same day and in connection with the Merger, the Company changed its name from StemCells, Inc. to Microbot Medical Inc. On November 29, 2016, the Company’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MBOT”.

 

Prior to the Merger, the Company was a biopharmaceutical company that conducted research, development, and commercialization of stem cell therapeutics and related technologies. The sale of substantially all material assets relating to the stem cell business were completed on November 29, 2016.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company”. “StemCells” or “StemCells, Inc.” refers to the Company prior to the Merger.

 

B.Risk Factors

 

To date, the Company has not generated revenues from its operations. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalent balance of approximately $5,238, which management believes is sufficient to fund its operations for more than 12 months from the date of issuance of these financial statements and sufficient to fund its operations necessary to continue development activities of its current proposed products, after taking into consideration the sale and issuance of common stock to investors for gross proceeds of approximately $11 million in cash during the first quarter of 2019 . Refer to Note 16 - “Subsequent Events” for further information.

 

Due to continuing research and development activities, the Company expects to continue to incur additional losses for the foreseeable future. The Company plans to continue to fund its current operations as well as other development activities relating to additional product candidates, through future issuances of either debt and/or equity securities and possibly additional grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority and other government institutions. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital in the equity and debt markets is dependent on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the market demand for the Company’s stock, which itself is subject to a number of development and business risks and uncertainties, as well as the uncertainty that the Company would be able to raise such additional capital at a price or on terms that are favorable to the Company.

 

C.Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions pertaining to transactions and matters whose ultimate effect on the financial statements cannot precisely be determined at the time of financial statements preparation. Although these estimates are based on management’s best judgment, actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

 F-7 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

D.Reverse Stock Split

 

On September 4, 2018, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to affect a one-for-15 reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock (the “Reverse Split”). As a result of the Reverse Split, every 15 shares of the Company’s old common stock were converted into one share of the Company’s new common stock. Fractional shares resulting from the Reverse Split were rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Reverse Split automatically and proportionately adjusted, based on the one-for-fifteen split ratio, all issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, as well as common stock underlying convertible preferred stock, stock options, warrants and other derivative securities outstanding at the time of the effectiveness of the Reverse Split. The exercise price on outstanding equity based-grants was proportionately increased, while the number of shares available under the Company’s equity-based plans was also proportionately reduced. Share and per share data (except par value) for the periods presented reflect the effects of the Reverse Split. References to numbers of shares of common stock and per share data in the accompanying financial statements and notes thereto for periods ended prior to September 4, 2018 have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Split on a retroactive basis.

 

NOTE 2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

 

A.Basis of presentation

 

The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

 

B.Financial statement in U.S. dollars

 

The functional currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar (“dollar”) since the dollar is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company has operated and expects to continue to operate in the foreseeable future.

 

Transactions and balances denominated in dollars are presented at their original amounts. Transactions and balances denominated in foreign currencies have been re-measured to dollars in accordance with the provisions of ASC 830-10, “Foreign Currency Translation”.

 

All transaction gains and losses from re-measurement of monetary balance sheet items denominated in non-dollar currencies are reflected in the statement of operations as financial income or expenses, as appropriate.

 

C.Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and demand deposits in banks, and other short-term liquid investments (primarily interest-bearing time deposits) with original maturities of less than three months.

 

D.Fair value of financial instruments

 

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, other receivable and other accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.

 

The Company measures the fair value of certain of its financial instruments (such as the derivative warrant liabilities) on a recurring basis. The method of determining the fair value of derivative warrant liabilities is discussed in Note 7.

 

A fair value hierarchy is used to rank the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices in the markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

 F-8 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data) 

 

Concentrations of credit risk

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company holds these investments in highly rated financial institutions. These amounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any credit losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on these funds. The Company has no off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk, such as foreign currency exchange contracts, option contracts, or other hedging arrangements.

 

E.Fixed assets

 

Fixed assets are presented at costs less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, at the following annual rates:

 

   % 
     
Research equipment and software   25-33 
Furniture and office equipment   7 
Leasehold improvements   20 

 

F.Liabilities due to termination of employment agreements

 

Under Israeli employment laws, employees of Microbot Israel are included under Article 14 of the Severance Compensation Act, 1963 (“Article 14”). According to Article 14, these employees are entitled to monthly deposits made by Microbot Israel on their behalf with insurance companies.

 

Payments in accordance with Article 14 release Microbot Israel from any future severance payments (under the Israeli Severance Compensation Act, 1963) with respect of those employees. The aforementioned deposits are not recorded as an asset in the Company’s balance sheet,

 

G.Basic and diluted net loss per share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss, as adjusted to include the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Shares of common stock and preferred stock contingently issuable for little or no cash are included in basic net loss per share on an as issued basis.

 

Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss, as adjusted to include preferred shares dividend participation rights of preferred shares outstanding during the year as well as of preferred shares that would have been outstanding if all potentially dilutive preferred shares had been issued, by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year, plus the number of shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if all potentially dilutive shares of common stock had been issued, using the treasury stock method, in accordance with ASC 260-10 “Earnings per Share”.

 

All outstanding stock options and warrants have been excluded from the calculation of the diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, since all such securities have an anti-dilutive effect.

 

The weighted average number of shares outstanding has been retroactively restated for the equivalent number of shares received by the accounting acquirer as a result of the reverse recapitalization as if these shares had been outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest period presented.

 

H.Research and development expenses, net

 

Research and development expenses are charged to the statement of operations as incurred. Grants for funding of approved research and development projects are recognized at the time the Company is entitled to such grants, on the basis of the costs incurred and applied as a deduction from the research and development expenses.

 

I.Share-based compensation

 

The Company applies ASC 718-10, “Share-Based Payment,” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expenses for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors including stock options under the Company’s stock plans based on estimated fair values.

 

 F-9 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data) 

 

ASC 718-10 requires companies to estimate the fair value of stock options using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s statement of operations.

 

The Company accounted for stock-based compensation awards to non-employees in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 505-50, “Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees” (“FASB ASC 505-50”). Under FASB ASC 505-50, the Company determines the fair value of the warrants or stock-based compensation awards granted as either the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable.

 

In June 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-07, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”, which simplifies the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions by aligning the measurement and classification guidance, with certain exceptions, to that for share-based payment awards to employees. The amendments expand the scope of the accounting standard for share-based payment awards to include share-based payment awards granted to non-employees in exchange for goods or services used or consumed in an entity’s own operations and supersedes the guidance related to equity-based payments to non-employees. The Company elected to early adopt these amendments on June 1, 2018. The adoption of these amendments did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted as share-based payment awards using a Black-Scholes options pricing model. The option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are expected volatility and the expected option term (the time from the grant date until the options are exercised or expire). Expected volatility is estimated based on volatility of similar companies in the technology sector for equity awards granted prior to the Merger and on the Company’s trading share price for equity awards granted subsequent to the Merger. The Company has historically not paid dividends and has no foreseeable plans to issue dividends. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield from governmental zero-coupon bonds with an equivalent term. The expected stock option term is calculated for stock options granted to employees and directors using the “simplified” method. Grants to non-employees are based on the contractual term. Changes in the determination of each of the inputs can affect the fair value of the stock options granted and the results of operations of the Company.

 

J.Reclassification

 

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

K.Income Taxes

 

The Company provides for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the tax rates in effect when these differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2018, and 2017, the Company had a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.

 

L.Recent Accounting Standards

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 “Leases” to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. For operating leases, the ASU requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, on its balance sheet. The ASU retains the current accounting for lessors and does not make significant changes to the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows by a lessee.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, “Targeted Improvements - Leases (Topic 842).” This update provides an optional transition method that allows entities to elect to apply the standard prospectively at its effective date, versus recasting the prior periods presented. If elected, an entity would recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This ASU is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019.

 

 F-10 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data) 

 

While the Company continues to assess all of the effects of adoption, it currently believes the most significant effects from implementing this standard relate to the recognition of new right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities on its balance sheet for real estate operating leases and car leases. Upon adoption, the Company currently expects to recognize additional ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $630, based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing standards for existing operating leases.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” to improve information on credit losses for financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The ASU replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses. This ASU is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, which includes Part I “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features” and Part II “Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests with a Scope Exception”. The ASU makes limited changes to the Board’s guidance on classifying certain financial instruments as either liabilities or equity. The ASU’s objective is to improve (1) the accounting for instruments with “down-round” provisions and (2) the readability of the guidance in ASC 480 on distinguishing liabilities from equity by replacing the indefinite deferral of certain pending content with scope exceptions. The ASU is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company has derivative warranty liabilities as discussed in Note 7 which upon adoption of the new standard are expected to be classified as permanent equity.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements”, which will improve the effectiveness of disclosure requirements for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. The standard removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements, and is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect that this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE 3 OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

   As of December 31, 
   2018   2017 
         
Amounts due from government institutions  $65   $35 
Deferred costs related to issuance of common shares (see Note 16)   412    - 
Prepaid expenses and others   91    81 
   $568   $116 

 

NOTE 4 FIXED ASSETS, NET

 

   As of December 31, 
   2018   2017 
         
Cost:          
Research equipment and software  $98   $76 
Leasehold improvement   83    - 
Furniture and office equipment   210    92 
    391    168 
Accumulated Depreciation:          
Research equipment and software   47    42 
Leasehold improvement   12    - 
Furniture and office equipment   73    36 
    132    78 
           
   $259   $90 

 

 F-11 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 5 - ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

   As of December 31, 
   2018   2017 
         
Employee-related liabilities  $67   $64 
Amounts due to certain government institution   220    56 
Other current liabilities   468    330 
   $755   $450 

 

NOTE 6 CONVERTIBLE LOAN FROM SHAREHOLDERS

 

Securities Exchange Agreement with Alpha Capital

 

On December 16, 2016, the Company entered into a Securities Exchange Agreement with Alpha Capital, pursuant to which Alpha Capital exchanged 655,967 shares (9,736,000 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock or rights to acquire shares of the common stock held by it, for 9,736 shares of a newly designated class of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The common stock and common stock underlying the rights to acquire common stock include all of the shares of common stock issued or issuable to Alpha Capital pursuant to the Merger. The 655,967 shares (9,735,925 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock and the rights to acquire common stock were cancelled and the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common Stock were reduced to 1,786,684 (26,518,315 before the Reverse Split).

 

On May 9, 2017, the Company entered into a Securities Exchange Agreement with Alpha Capital pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue 3,255 shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, in exchange for the full satisfaction, termination and cancellation of the outstanding 6% convertible promissory note of the Company in the principal amount of approximately $2,029 issued on November 28, 2016 and held by Alpha Capital. As a result of the extinguishment of the convertible note and issuance of the preferred shares, the Company recorded a financial loss in the amount of $2,360.

 

NOTE 7 - DERIVATIVE WARRANT LIABILITIES

 

The remaining outstanding warrants and terms as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (split-adjusted) are as follows: (*)

 

Issuance date  Outstanding as of December 31, 2017  Outstanding as of December 31, 2018  Exercise Price  Exercisable as of December 31, 2018  Exercisable Through
                
Series A (2013)   3,895    -   $-    -   October 2018
Series A (2013)   183    183   $2,725    183   April 2023
Series A (2015)   683    683   $1,363    683   April 2020
Series A (2016) (a)   625    -   $-    -   March 2018
Series B (2016) (a)   2,770    2,770   $40    2,770   March 2022

 

 

  (*)December 31, 2018 and 2017 warrant data represents the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 Reverse Split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.
  a) These warrants contain a full ratchet anti-dilution price protection so that, in most situations upon the issuance of any common stock or securities convertible into common stock at a price below the then-existing exercise price of the outstanding warrants, the warrant exercise price will be reset to the lower common stock sales price. As such anti-dilution price protection does not meet the specific conditions for equity classification, the Company is required to classify the fair value of these warrants as a liability, with changes in fair value to be recorded as income (loss) due to change in fair value of warrant liability. The estimated fair value of the Company’s warrant liability at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was approximately $8 and $28, respectively.

 

 F-12 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

As quoted prices in active markets for identical or similar warrants are not available, the Company uses directly observable inputs in the valuation of its derivative warrant liabilities (level 3 measurement).

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate fair value of these warrants. In using this model, the Company makes certain assumptions about risk-free interest rates, dividend yields, volatility, expected term of the warrants and other assumptions. Risk-free interest rates are derived from the yield on U.S. Treasury debt securities. Dividend yields are based on our historical dividend payments, which have been zero to date. Volatility is estimated from the historical volatility of our common stock as traded on NASDAQ. The expected term of the warrants is based on the time to expiration of the warrants from the date of measurement.

 

In March 2017, an institutional holder executed a cashless exercise of 51 warrants and 24 shares of common stock were issued in connection therewith.

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the valuation of the derivative warrant liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   Series A (2011)   Series A (2013)   Series A (2013)   Series A (2015)  

Series A

(2016)

  

Series B

(2016)

   Total 
Balances at December 31, 2017  $-   $-   $-   $-    $(*)   $28   $28 
Exercised   -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Expired   -    -    -    -    (*)    -    (*) 
Changes in fair value   -    -    -    -    -    (20)   (20)
Balances at December 31, 2018  $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $8   $8 

 

 

(*) Less than 1

 

The following table summarizes the observable inputs used in the valuation of the derivative warrant liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (split-adjusted):

 

   As of December 31, 2018   As of December 31, 2017 
    Series A (2016)    Series B (2016)    Series A (2016)    Series B (2016) 
Share price      $1.72   $15.10   $15.10 
Exercise price      $40.00   $40.00   $40.00 
Expected volatility       181.3%   60%   119%
Risk-free interest       2.92%   1.24%   1.89%
Dividend yield                
Expected life of up to (years)       3.25    0.25    4.25 

 

Activity in such liabilities measured on a recurring basis is as follows:

 

   Derivative Warrant Liabilities 
As of December 31, 2017  $28 
Revaluation of warrants   (20)
As of December 31, 2018  $8 

 

   Derivative Warrant Liabilities 
As of December 31, 2016  $313 
Revaluation of warrants   (285)
Exercise warrants   (*) 
As of December 31, 2017  $28 

 

 

(*) Less than 1

 

 F-13 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

In accordance with ASC-820-10-50-2(g), the Company has performed a sensitivity analysis of the derivative warrant liabilities of the Company which are classified as level 3 financial instruments. The Company recalculated the value of warrants by applying a +/- 5% changes to the input variables in the Black-Scholes model that vary overtime, namely, the volatility and the risk-free rate. A 5.0% decrease or increase in volatility would not have materially changed the value of the warrants. A 5.0% decrease or increase in the risk-free rate would not have materially changed the value of the warrants; the value of the warrants is not strongly correlated with small changes in interest rates.

 

NOTE 8 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Microbot Israel obtained from the Israeli Innovation Authority (“IIA”) grants for participation in research and development for the years 2013 through December 31, 2018 in the total amount of approximately $1,310 and, in return, Microbot Israel is obligated to pay royalties amounting to 3%-3.5% of its future sales up to the amount of the grant. The grant is linked to the exchange rate of the dollar to the New Israeli Shekel and bears interest of Libor per annum.

 

The repayment of the grants is contingent upon the successful completion of the Company’s research and development programs and generating sales. The Company has no obligation to repay these grants, if the project fails, is unsuccessful or aborted or if no sales are generated. The financial risk is assumed completely by the Government of Israel. The grants are received from the Government on a project-by-project basis.

 

Microbot Israel signed an agreement with the Technion Research and Development Foundation (“TRDF”) in June 2012 by which TRDF transferred to Microbot Israel a global, exclusive, royalty-bearing license. As partial consideration for the license, Microbot Israel shall pay TRDF royalties on net sales (between 1.5%-3%) and on sublicense income as detailed in the agreement.

 

Lease Agreements

 

In December 2016, the Company entered into car lease agreements, which will end on December 31, 2019. According to the lease agreement, the monthly car lease payment is approximately $2.5.

 

In January 2018, the Company entered into an office lease agreement in the U.S., with a term ending on December 31, 2021. According to the lease agreement, the monthly office lease payment is approximately $4.

 

In May 2017, the Company entered into an office lease agreement in Israel effective from February 1, 2018, with a term ending on December 31, 2020. According to the lease agreement, the monthly office lease payment is approximately $14.

 

Compensation Liability

 

The Company incurred compensation commitments of approximately $400 to a former executive that management estimates as remote that this amount will ever be paid out and therefore is not reflected in these consolidated financial statements.

 

Contract Research Agreements

 

Agreement with Washington University

 

On January 27, 2017, the Company entered into a Contract Research Agreement (the “Research Agreement”) with The Washington University (“Washington U.”), pursuant to which the parties are collaborating to determine the effectiveness of the Company’s self-cleaning shunt.

 

The study in Washington U. includes several phases. The first phase (initial research) was completed. An agreement on the second phase was entered into in September 2018 with total expected costs of approximately $248.1. Pursuant to the Research Agreement, all rights, title and interest in the data, information and results obtained or arrived at by Washington U. in the performance of its services under the Research Agreement, as well as any patentable inventions obtained or arrived at in the performance of such services, will be jointly owned by the Company and Washington U., and each will have full right to practice and grant licenses in joint inventions. Additionally, Washington U. granted to the Company: (a) a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, perpetual and irrevocable license to use and practice patentable inventions (other than joint inventions and improvements to Washington U.’s animal models) obtained or arrived at by Washington U. in the provision of its services under the Research Agreement (“University Inventions”) with respect to the self-cleaning shunt; and (b) an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license in University Inventions, on terms to be negotiated between the parties.

 

 F-14 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

Agreement with Wayne State University

 

On September 12, 2016, the Company entered into a research agreement (the “WSU Agreement”) with Wayne State University (“WSU.”), pursuant to which the parties are collaborating to determine the efficacy of the Company’s self-cleaning shunt.

 

The study in WSU includes several phases. The first phase (initial research) was completed. An agreement on the second phase was entered into in April 2018 with total expected costs of approximately $130. Pursuant to the WSU Agreement, WSU shall own all data generated by the research and the Company shall have unrestricted free right to use and disclose all the results, information and material generated from the WSU Agreement.

 

Rights to inventions, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable made solely by the employees of the Company in the course of performance of the workplan agreed upon between the Company and WSU shall belong to the Company.

 

Rights to inventions, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable made solely by the employees of WSU in the course of performance of the workplan agreed upon between the Company and WSU shall belong to WSU. WSU shall grant the Company with a worldwide non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free license to university inventions to use and practice patentable inventions.

 

Rights to inventions, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable made by at least one employee of WSU and one employee of the Company in the course of performance of the workplan agreed upon between the Company and WSU shall belong to WSU and the Company jointly. Both the Company and WSU will be free to use and license to others the rights of joint inventions for any and all purposes without consultation or obligation to the other party. WSU granted the Company a first option to negotiate an exclusive license to use and practice WSU inventions and its interest in the joint inventions as detailed in the WSU Agreement.

 

Litigation

 

The Company is named as the defendant in a lawsuit, captioned Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund Ltd., Plaintiffs, against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (the “Matter”). The complaint alleged, among other things, that the Company breached multiple representations and warranties contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) related to the June 8, 2017 equity financing of the Company (the “Financing”), of which the Plaintiffs participated. The complaint originally sought rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $3,375 purchase price with respect to the Financing, and damages in an amount to be determined at trial, but alleged to exceed $1,000.

 

On February 28, 2019, the Court issued its Decision and Order After Trial, finding for the Plaintiffs and ordering that the SPA be rescinded and that the parties be restored to the status quo ante.

 

The rescission would require the Plaintiffs to transfer back to the Company the shares they purchased pursuant to the SPA, and the Company to return to the Plaintiffs their purchase price of $3,375. As such, the Company recorded a short-term liability of $3,375 with an offset to shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2018 with respect to the court’s decision. On March 27, 2019, the Company filed a Notice of Appeal and an Undertaking to stay execution of the judgment pending appeal. If the Company loses on appeal, it also has to pay interest on the judgment from the judgment date at a 9% per annum rate.

 

Tolling and Standstill Agreement

 

On April 4, 2018, the Company entered into a Tolling and Standstill Agreement (the “Tolling Agreement”) with Empery Asset Master, Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient LP, Empery Tax Efficient II LP, and Hudson Bay Master Fund, Ltd., the other investors in the Financing (the “Other Investors”). Pursuant to the Tolling Agreement, among other things, (a) the Other Investors agree not to bring any claims against the Company arising out of the Matter, (b) the parties agree that if the Company reaches an agreement to settle the claims asserted by the Sabby Funds in the above suit, the Company will provide the same settlement terms on a pro rata basis to the Other Investors, and the Other Investors will either accept same or waive all of their claims and (c) the parties froze in time the rights and privileges of each party as of the effective date of the Tolling Agreement, until (i) an agreement to settle the suit is executed; (ii) a judgment in the suit is obtained; or (iii) the suit is otherwise dismissed with prejudice.

 

No provision has been recorded with respect to the Tolling Agreement since no settlement was reached with respect to the Matter.

 

 F-15 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

Agreement with CardioSert Ltd.

 

On January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel entered into an agreement with CardioSert Ltd. (“CardioSert”) to acquire certain patent-protected technology owned by CardioSert (the “Technology”).

 

Pursuant to the Agreement, Microbot Israel made an initial payment of $50 to CardioSert and had 90-days to elect to complete the acquisition. At the end of the 90-day period, at Microbot Israel’s sole option, CardioSert shall assign and transfer the Technology to Microbot Israel and Microbot Israel shall pay to CardioSert additional amounts and securities as determined in the agreement.

 

On April 10, 2018, Microbot delivered an Exercise Notice to CardioSert Ltd., notifying it that Microbot elected to exercise the option to acquire the Technology owned by CardioSert and therefore made an additional cash payment of $250 and 6,738 shares of common stock (100,000 shares of common stock before the Reverse Split) estimated of $74.

 

The agreement may be terminated by Microbot Israel at any time for convenience upon 90-days’ notice. The agreement may be terminated by CardioSert in case the first commercial sale does not occur by the third anniversary of the date of signing of the agreement except if Microbot Israel has invested more than $2,000 in certain development stages, or the first commercial sale does not occur within 50 months. In each of the above termination events, or in case of breach by Microbot Israel, CardioSert shall have the right to buy back the Technology from Microbot Israel for $1.00, upon 60 days prior written notice, but only 1 year after such termination. Additionally, the agreement may be terminated by either party upon breach of the other (subject to cure).

 

CardioSert agreed to assist Microbot Israel in the development of the Technology for a minimum of one year, for a monthly consultation fee of NIS 40,000 covering up to 60 consulting hours per month.

 

NOTE 9 SHARE CAPITAL

 

Each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued by the Company in December 2016 and in May 2017 (the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock”), was convertible, at the option of the holder, into 67 shares of common stock (1,000 shares of common stock before the Reverse Split), and conferred upon the holder dividend rights on an as converted basis. On December 12, 2018, the Company filed a Certificate of Elimination with respect to its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and as of December 31, 2018, the Company did not have any Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued or outstanding.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the holder of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock converted 8,990 shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for 605,705 shares (8,990,000 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock, pursuant to the terms of conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the holder of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock converted 4,001 shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for 268,818 shares (4,001,000 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock, pursuant to the terms of conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. As of December 31, 2018, all of the shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were fully converted.

 

See Note 8 – “Commitment s and Contingencies-Agreement with CardioSert Ltd.,” with respect to the issuance of 6,738 shares of the Company’s common stock

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

On March 2017, an institutional holder exercised, in a cashless transaction, 52 warrants (768 before the split) and 24 shares (359 shares before the split) of common stock were issued in connection therewith.

 

Share Capital Developments

 

The authorized capital stock consists of 221,000,000 shares of capital stock, which consists of 220,000,000 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.01 (the “Preferred Stock”). As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 3,012,343 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of Preferred Stock issued or outstanding.

 

On December 27, 2016, the Company exchanged 655,962 shares (9,735,925 shares before the Reverse Split) or rights to acquire shares of its common stock, for 9,736 shares of a newly designated class of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

 F-16 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

On January 5, 2017, the Company entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement with an institutional investor (the “Purchaser”) for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 47,163 shares (700,000 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock in a registered direct offering for $74.00 per share ($5.00 per share before the Reverse Split) or gross proceeds of $3,500. The Company paid the placement agent a fee of $210 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses, as well as other offering-related expenses.

 

On June 5, 2017, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors (the “Investors”) providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the Investors of an aggregate of 252,652 shares (3,750,000 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock, at a purchase price per share of $40.50 ($2.70 before the Reverse Split). The gross proceeds to the Company was $10,125 before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses of $922. See Note 8 – “Commitments and Contingencies-Litigation” with respect to certain rescission rights awarded to two affiliated Investors.

 

Employee Stock Option Grant

 

In September 2014, Microbot Israel’s board of directors approved a grant of 26,906 stock options (403,592 stock options before the Reverse Split) (77,846 stock options as retroactively adjusted to reflect the Merger) to its CEO, through MEDX Venture Group LLC. Each option was exercisable into an ordinary share, at an exercise price of $12.00 ($0.80 before the Reverse Split) ($4.20 as retroactively adjusted to reflect the Merger). The stock options were fully vested at the date of grant.

 

On May 2, 2016, Microbot Israel’s board of directors approved a grant of 33,333 stock options (500,000 stock options before the Reverse Split) (96,482 as retroactively adjusted to reflect the Merger) to certain of its employees and directors. Each stock option was exercisable into an ordinary share, NIS 0.001 par value, of Microbot Israel, at an exercise price equal to the ordinary share’s par value. The stock options were fully vested at the date of grant. As a result, the Company recognized compensation expenses in the amount of $675 included in general and administrative expenses. As the exercise price of the stock options is nominal, Microbot Israel estimated the fair value of the options as equal to the Company’s share price of $20.25 ($1.35 before the Reverse Split) ($7.05 as retroactively adjusted to reflect the Merger) at the date of grant.

 

On September 12, 2017, the Company adopted the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which Plan authorizes, among other things, the grant of options to purchase shares of common stock to directors, officers and employees of the Company and to other individuals.

 

On September 14, 2017, the board of directors approved a grant of stock options to purchase an aggregate of up to 120,848 shares (1,812,712 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock to Mr. Harel Gadot, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, at an exercise price per share of $15.75 ($1.05 before the Reverse Split). The stock options vest over a period of 3-5 years as outlined in the option agreements. As a result, the Company recognized compensation expenses in the amount of $581 and $156 included in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

 

On September 14, 2017, the board of directors approved a grant of stock options to purchase an aggregate of up to 72,508 shares (1,087,627 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock to Mr. Hezi Himelfarb, the Company’s General Manager, COO and a member of the Board, at an exercise price per share of $19.35 ($1.29 before the Reverse Split). The grant was subject to the Israeli Tax Authority’s approval of the plan which occurred on October 14, 2017. In accordance with the option agreement, the options vest for period of 3 years starting from the grand date As a result, the Company recognized compensation expenses in the amount of $431 and $92 included in research and developing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

 

On December 6, 2017, the board of directors approved a grant of 12,698 stock options (190,475 stock options before the Reverse Split) to purchase an aggregate of up to 12,698 shares of common stock to certain of its directors, at an exercise price per share of $15.75 ($1.05 before the Reverse Split). The stock options vest over a period of 3 years as outlined in the option agreements. As a result, the Company recognized compensation expenses in the amount of $67 and $5 included in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

 

On December 28, 2017, the board of directors approved a grant of 66,036 stock options (990,543 stock options before the Reverse Split) to purchase an aggregate of up to 66,036 shares of common stock to certain of its employees, at an exercise price per share of $15.3 ($1.02 before the Reverse Split). The stock options vest over a period of 3 years as outlined in the option agreements. As a result, the Company recognized compensation expenses in the amount of $307 and $0 included in general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

 

 F-17 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

On November 2017, certain employees and consultant exercised 31,453 options (471,794 options before the Reverse Split) to 31,453 ordinary shares at exercise price of 0.001 NIS.

 

In February 2018, an employee exercised options to purchase 2,487 shares (37,300 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share.

 

On August 13, 2018, the board of directors approved a grant of stock options to purchase an aggregate of up to 10,000 shares (150,000 shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock to Mr. Simon Sharon, the company’s CTO, at an exercise price per share of $9 ($0.6 before the Reverse Split). The grant was subject to the Israeli Tax Authority’s approval of the plan which occurred on October 14, 2017. In accordance with the option agreement, the options vest for period of 3 years starting from the grand date as a result, the Company recognized compensation expenses in the amount of $11 and $0 included in research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 respectively.

 

A summary of the Company’s option activity related to options to employees and directors, and related information is as follows:

 

   For the year ended December 31, 2018 
   Number of Stock Options  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

   Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
Outstanding at beginning of period   414,965   $11.70   $1,859 
Granted   10,000    9    - 
Exercised   (2,487)   -    - 
Cancelled   (24,170)   -    - 
Outstanding at end of period   398,308   $11.50   $108 
Vested at end of period   245,010   $8.45   $108 

 

   For the year ended December 31, 2017(*) 
   Number of Stock Options   Weighted Average Exercise Price   Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
Outstanding at beginning of period   174,328   $1.95   $3,739 
Granted   272,090    16.50    - 
Exercised   (31,453)   -    - 
Cancelled   -    -    - 
Outstanding at end of period   414,965   $11.70   $1,859 
Vested at end of period   142,875   $1.95   $1,375 

 

 

 (*) December 31, 2018 and 2017 option data represents the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 Reverse Split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value (the difference between the fair market value of the common stock and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money stock options on those dates that would have been received by the stock option holders had all stock option holders exercised their stock options on those dates.) as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 respectively.

 

 F-18 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

The stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, separated by exercise prices, are as follows:

 

Exercise

price

$

  

Stock

options outstanding as of December 31, 2018

   Stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2017(**)   Weighted average remaining contractual life – years as of December 31, 2018   Weighted average remaining contractual life – years as of December 31, 2017(**)   Stock options exercisable as of December 31, 2018   Stock options exercisable as of December 31, 2017(**) 
                          
 4.20    77,846    77,846    7.00    8.00    77,846    77,846 
 15.75    133,546    133,546    8.75    9.75    53,752    - 
 9.00    10,000    -    9.75    -    -    - 
 19.35    72,508    72,508    8.75    9.75    29,003    - 
 15.30    41,866    66,036    9.00    10.00    21,867    - 
 (*)    62,542    65,029    7.75    8.75    62,542    65,029 
      398,308    414,965    7.29    9.30    245,010    142,875 

 

 

(*) Less than $0.01.

(**) December 31, 2018 and 2017 options data represents the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 Reverse Split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.

 

Compensation expense recorded by the Company in respect of its stock-based employee compensation awards in accordance with ASC 718-10 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $ 1,399 and $254, respectively.

 

The fair value of the stock options is estimated at the date of grant using Black-Scholes options pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

   Year ended December 31, 2018  

Year ended

December 31, 2017

 
         
Expected volatility   99.4%   122.5%
Risk-free interest   2.39%   1.64%
Dividend yield   0%   0%
Expected life of up to (years)   5.24    6.25 

 

Shares Issued to Service Provider

 

In connection with the Merger, the Company issued an aggregate of 525,706 restricted shares (7,802,639 restricted shares before the Reverse Split) of its common stock to certain advisors. The fair value of the award of approximately $10,000 was estimated based on the share price of the common stock of $19.2 ($1.28 before the Reverse Split) as of the date of grant.

 

During 2017, the Company issued an aggregate of 8,085 nonrefundable shares (120,000 nonrefundable shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock to a consultant as part of investor relations services. The Company recorded expenses of approximately $225 with respect to the issuance of these shares included in general and administrative expenses.

 

On May 24, 2018 the Company issued an aggregate of 6,738 nonrefundable shares (100,000 nonrefundable shares before the Reverse Split) of common stock to CardioSert as part of certain patent acquisition. The Company recorded expenses of approximately $74 with respect to the issuance of these shares included in research and development expenses.

 

Repurchase of Shares

 

The Company had intended to enter into a definitive agreement with up to three Israeli shareholders, some of whom are directors of the Company, that were former shareholders of Microbot Israel, pursuant to which the Company would repurchase, at a discount on the fair value of the share at the date of repurchase, up to $500 of common stock held by them, in the aggregate, if and to the extent such shareholders are unable to sell enough of their shares to cover certain of their Israeli tax liabilities resulting from the Merger. Such repurchase(s), if any, would occur only after the two-year anniversary of the Merger. The transaction would have been subject to negotiating final terms and entering into definitive agreements with such shareholders.

 

 F-19 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

The Company evaluated whether an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation exists within such shares that may be subject to repurchase. The Company concluded the fair value of such derivative instrument would be nominal and, in any case, would represent an asset to the Company as (a) the settlement requires acquiring the shares at a discount on the fair market value of the share at the time of re purchase and in no circumstances the acquisition price will be higher than approximately one dollar per share (representing 25% discount on the fair market value of the share at the merger closing date) and (b) it is assumed that the selling shareholders would use such right as last resort as such repurchase at a discount on the fair market value of such shares results in a loss to be incurred by the selling shareholders.

 

In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99-3A (formerly EITF D-98), the Company classified the maximum amount it may be required to pay in the event the repurchase right is exercised ($500) as temporary equity.

 

As of December 31, 2018, the Company determined that no obligation remained to enter into any such definitive agreement as the two-year anniversary of the Merger was in November 2018 and therefore there was no liability for the Company to repurchase any shares from the three Israeli shareholders.

 

NOTE 10 BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS PER SHARE

 

The basic and diluted net loss per share and weighted average number of shares of common stock used in the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share are as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

  

Years

ended December 31,

 
    2018(*)    2017(*) 
Net loss attributable to shareholders of the Company  $7,240   $7,589 
           
Net loss attributable to shareholders of preferred shares   254    1,582 
           
Net loss used in the calculation of basic net loss per share  $6,986   $6,007 
           
Net loss per share  $(2.41)  $(2.76)
           
Weighted average number of common shares   2,904,253    2,178,827 

 

 

(*) December 31, 2018 and 2017 shares data represents the number of shares adjusted to retroactively reflect the 1:15 Reverse Split effected on September 4, 2018. Refer to Note 1 for further information.

 

As the inclusion of common stock equivalents in the calculation would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented, diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share.

 

NOTE 11 - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES, NET

 

   Years ended December 31, 
    2018    2017 
           
Payroll and related expenses  $1,112   $634 
Share-based compensation   237    1 
Materials   309    266 
Patents   526    66 
Office and maintenance expenses   53    27 
Rent   132    34 
Professional services   426    174 
Depreciation   25    12 
Other   39    65 
Less: Grants received from IIA & EC   (344)   (179)
           
   $2,515   $1,100 

 

 F-20 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 12 - GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

 

   Years ended December 31, 
    2018    2017 
           
Payroll and related expenses  $1,136   $1,213 
Share-based compensation   1,160    253 
Professional services   1,133    1,217 
Travel   231    284 
Marketing expenses   23    26 
Office and maintenance expenses   176    121 
Depreciation   29    9 
Public and investor relations   339    515 
Insurance   225    226 
Government fees   191    251 
Other   86    52 
   $4,729   $4,167 

 

NOTE 13 - FINANCE EXPENSES, NET

   Years ended December 31, 
   2018   2017 
   (in thousands) 
         
Bank fees and interest  $2   $1 
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liability   (20)   (285)
Financing loss on debt extinguishment   -    2,364 
Exchange rate differences   14    5 
Revaluation and interest on convertible loans   -    237 
   $(4)  $2,322 

 

NOTE 14 TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES WITH RELATED PARTIES

 

A. Transactions:

 

  

Year ended

December 31,

 
    2018    2017 
           
Payroll and related expenses  $931   $851 
Directors fees and insurance   400    463 
Subcontracted work and consulting   0    67 
   $1,331  $1,381

 

 F-21 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

B. Balances:

 

   As of
December 31,
 
    2018    2017 
           
Other accounts payable  $222   $46 
   $222  $46

 

NOTE 15 TAXES ON INCOME

 

The Company is subject to income taxes under the Israeli and U.S. tax laws:

 

Corporate tax rates

 

The Company’s Israeli subsidiary is subject to Israeli corporate tax rate of 25% in the year 2016, 24% in 2017 and 23% from 2018.

 

The Company was subject to a blended U.S. tax rate (Federal as well as state corporate tax) of 35% for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law in the United States. The Tax Act, among other provisions, introduces changes in the U.S. corporate tax rate, business related exclusions and deductions and credits, and has internationally tax consequences for companies that operate international. Most of the changes introduced in the Tax Act are effective beginning on January 1, 2018. The Tax Act introduces a reduced federal tax rate of 21% from January 1, 2018 and onward. The provisions of the Tax Act did not have a material impact on the Company.

 

A.    For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company generated net operating losses in Israel of approximately $3,966 which may be carried forward and offset against taxable income in the future for an indefinite period.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company generated net operating losses in the U.S. of approximately $3,274. Net operating losses in the United States are available through 2035. Utilization of U.S. net operating losses may be subject to substantial annual limitation due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state provisions. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses before utilization.

 

B.    The Company is still in its development stage and has not yet generated revenues, therefore, it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will not be available for the tax losses to be utilized in the future. Therefore, a valuation allowance was recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets to its recoverable amounts.

 

   As of December 31,
   2018  2017
       
Net operating loss carry-forward  $495,844   $488,603 
           
Total deferred tax assets   114,044    112,380 
Valuation allowance   (114,044)   (112,380)
Net deferred tax assets  $-   $- 

 

The Company has not determined whether any or all of the above net loss carryforwards will be allowed for future tax deductions, even if the Company generates revenues.

 

 F-22 
 

 

MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

U.S. dollars in thousands

(Except share and per share data)

 

Reconciliation of Income Taxes:

 

The following is a reconciliation of the taxes on income assuming that all income is taxed at the ordinary statutory corporate tax rate in Israel and the effective income tax rate:

 

   As of December 31,
   2018  2017
Net loss as reported in the statements of operations  $7,240   $7,589 
Statutory tax rate   23%   24%
Income Tax under statutory tax rate   1,655    1,821 
Change in valuation allowance   (1,655)   (1,821)
Actual income tax  $-   $- 

 

NOTE 16 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On January 14, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with an accredited institutional investor providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the purchaser of an aggregate of (i) 330,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price per share of $6.50 and (ii) 125,323 pre-funded warrants each to purchase one share of common stock, at a purchase price per Pre-Funded Warrant of $6.49. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $3.0 million. The closing of the offering took place on January 15, 2019. The pre-funded warrants were exercised in full in January 2019.

 

On January 15, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain accredited institutional investors providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the purchasers of an aggregate of 590,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price per share of $10.00. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $5.9 million. The closing of the offering took place on January 17, 2019.

 

On January 21, 2019, the Company granted options to purchase 2,326 shares of the Company’s common stock to each of the non-employee directors of the Company.

 

On January 23, 2019 the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with accredited institutional investors providing for the issuance and sale by the Company to the purchasers of an aggregate of 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price per share of $9.875. The gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $2.47 million. The closing of the offering took place on January 25, 2019.

 

Effective as of February 1, 2019, Yehezkel (Hezi) Himelfarb, a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, resigned from all positions with the Company. Effective as of February 1, 2019, Mr. Himelfarb also resigned from his position as General Manager of Microbot Medical Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. As a result of Mr. Himelfarb providing certain post-resignation transition services to the Company and the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Himelfarb will continue to be paid his full salary and certain benefits for six months after resignation.

 

On March 1, 2019, the Company announced the decision of the New York State Supreme Court to rescind the SPA the Company entered into with two affiliated investors, in connection with its June 2017 Registered Direct Offering. See Note 8 – “Commitments and Contingencies-Litigation”.

 

 F-23