EX-2.1 2 ea020288201ex2-1_scisparc.htm DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Exhibit 2.1

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

 

The following description of SciSparc Ltd.’s (the “Company”) share capital and provisions of the amended and restated articles of association (the “Articles”) are summaries and do not purport to be complete.

 

Registration number and purposes of the Company

 

Our registration number with the Israeli Registrar of Companies is 51-358165-2. Our purpose as set forth in our Articles is to engage in any lawful activity.

 

Type and class of securities

 

Our authorized share capital consists of 75,000,000 ordinary shares, of no par value (the “Ordinary Shares”). All of our outstanding Ordinary Shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Preemptive rights

 

Our Ordinary Shares are not redeemable and are not subject to any preemptive right.

 

Transfer of shares

 

Our fully paid Ordinary Shares are issued in registered form and may be freely transferred under our Articles, unless the transfer is restricted or prohibited by another instrument, applicable law or the rules of a stock exchange on which the shares are listed for trade. The ownership or voting of our Ordinary Shares by non-residents of Israel is not restricted in any way by our Articles or the laws of the State of Israel, except for ownership by nationals of certain countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.

 

Liability to further capital calls

 

Our board of directors may make, from time to time, such calls as it may deem fit upon shareholders with respect to any sum unpaid with respect to shares held by such shareholders which is not payable at a fixed time. Such shareholder has to pay the amount of every call so made upon him or her.

 

Election of directors

 

Under our Articles, our board of directors must consist of at least three (3) and not more than eight (8) directors, including, if applicable, two external directors appointed as required under the Companies Law 5759-1999 (the “Companies Law”). Other than our external directors (if any), our directors are divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Each class of directors consists, as nearly as possible, of one third of the total number of directors constituting the entire board of directors. At each annual general meeting of our shareholders, the election or re-election of directors following the expiration of the term of office of the directors of that class of directors is for a term of office that expires on the third annual general meeting following such election or re-election, such that from 2020 and after, at each annual general meeting the term of office only one class of directors will expire. Each director, holds office until the annual general meeting of our shareholders for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor is duly appointed, unless the tenure of such director expires earlier pursuant to the Companies Law upon the occurrence of certain events or unless removed from office by a vote of the holders of at least 65% of the total voting power of our shareholders at a general meeting of our shareholders in accordance with our amended and restated Articles.

 

Further, our shareholders approved an approval mechanism similar to a mechanism that exists in the Delaware Generate Corporate Law, which requires an affirmative vote of the board of directors (by 75% of the members) in addition to the approval of our shareholders in order to amend such provisions.

 

 

 

 

In addition, if a director’s office becomes vacant, the remaining serving directors may continue to act in any manner, provided that the number of the serving directors shall not be less than three (3). If the number of serving Directors is lower than their minimal one, the board of directors shall not be permitted to act, other than for the purpose of convening a general meeting of the Company’s shareholders for the purpose of appointing additional Directors. For further information on the election and removal of directors see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices” of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F.

 

Contested election

 

Under our Articles, in the event of a contested election, our board of directors in its discretion, will set the method of calculation of the votes and the manner in which the resolutions will be presented to our shareholders at the general meeting. In the event that our board of directors does not or is unable to make a determination on such matter, then the directors will be elected by a plurality of the voting power represented at the general meeting in person or by proxy and voting on the election of directors.

 

Dividend and liquidation rights

 

We may declare a dividend to be paid to the holders of our Ordinary Shares in proportion to their respective shareholdings. Under the Companies Law, dividend distributions are determined by the board of directors and do not require the approval of the shareholders of a company unless the company’s Articles provide otherwise. Our Articles do not require shareholder approval of a dividend distribution and provide that dividend distributions may be determined by our board of directors.

 

Pursuant to the Companies Law, the distribution amount is limited to the greater of retained earnings or earnings generated over the previous two years, according to our then last reviewed or audited consolidated financial statements, provided that the date of the financial statements is not more than six months prior to the date of the distribution, or we may distribute dividends that do not meet such criteria only with court approval; as a company listed on an exchange outside of Israel, however, court approval is not required if the proposed distribution is in the form of an equity repurchase, provided that we notify our creditors of the proposed equity repurchase and allow such creditors an opportunity to initiate a court proceeding to review the repurchase. If within 30 days such creditors do not file an objection, then we may proceed with the repurchase without obtaining court approval. In each case, we are only permitted to distribute a dividend if our board of directors and the court, if applicable, determines that there is no reasonable concern that payment of the dividend will prevent us from satisfying our existing and foreseeable obligations as they become due.

 

In the event of our liquidation, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, our assets will be distributed to the holders of our Ordinary Shares in proportion to their shareholdings. This right, as well as the right to receive dividends, may be affected by the grant of preferential dividend or distribution rights to the holders of a class of shares with preferential rights that may be authorized in the future.

 

Exchange controls

 

There are currently no Israeli currency control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our Ordinary Shares, proceeds from the sale of the shares or interest or other payments to non-residents of Israel, except for shareholders who are subjects of certain countries that are, or have been, in a state of war with Israel.

 

Shareholder meetings

 

Under the Companies Law, we are required to hold an annual general meeting of our shareholders once every calendar year that must be held no later than 15 months after the date of the previous annual general meeting. All general meetings other than the annual meeting of shareholders are referred to in our Articles as special general meetings. Our board of directors may call special general meetings whenever it sees fit, at such time and place, within or outside of Israel, as it may determine. In addition, the Companies Law provides that our board of directors is required to convene a special meeting upon the written request of (i) any two of our directors or one-quarter of the members of our board of directors or (ii) as a company listed on an exchange in the U.S., one or more shareholders holding, in the aggregate, either (a) 10% or more of our outstanding issued shares and 1% or more of our outstanding voting power or (b) 10% or more of our outstanding voting power.

 

2

 

 

Under the Companies Law, one or more shareholders holding at least 1% of the voting rights at the general meeting may request that the board of directors include a matter in the agenda of a general meeting to be convened in the future, provided that it is appropriate to discuss such a matter at the general meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a company listed on an exchange outside of Israel, a matter relating to the appointment or removal of a director may only be requested by one or more shareholders holding at least 5% of the voting rights at the general meeting of the shareholders.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and the regulations promulgated thereunder, shareholders entitled to participate and vote at general meetings are the shareholders of record on a date to be decided by the board of directors, which may be between four and 60 days prior to the date of the meeting. Furthermore, the Companies Law requires that resolutions regarding the following matters must be passed at a general meeting of our shareholders:

 

amendments to our Articles;
  
appointment or termination of our auditors;

 

appointment of external directors;

 

approval of certain related party transactions;

 

increases or reductions of our authorized share capital;

 

mergers; and

 

the exercise of our board of directors’ powers by a general meeting, if our board of directors is unable to exercise its powers and the exercise of any of its powers is required for our proper management.

 

Under our Articles, we are not required to give notice to our registered shareholders pursuant to the Companies Law, unless otherwise required by law. The Companies Law requires that a notice of any annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting be provided to shareholders at least 21 days prior to the meeting and if the agenda of the meeting includes the appointment or removal of directors, the approval of transactions with office holders or interested or related parties, or an approval of a merger, or as otherwise required under applicable law, notice must be provided at least 35 days prior to the meeting.

 

Voting rights

 

Voting rights

 

All our Ordinary Shares have identical voting and other rights in all respects.

 

Quorum requirements

 

Pursuant to our Articles, holders of our Ordinary Shares have one vote for each ordinary share held on all matters submitted to a vote before the shareholders at a general meeting. The quorum required for our general meetings of shareholders consists of at least two shareholders, present in person or by proxy, holding at least fifteen percent (15%) of the voting rights of the Company. A meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum will be adjourned for one day at the same time and place, or to such other day, time or place if such is stated in the notice of the meeting. At the reconvened meeting, if a quorum is not present within a half an hour, any number of shareholders present in person or by proxy will constitute a lawful quorum.

 

3

 

 

Vote requirements

 

Our Articles provide that all resolutions of our shareholders require a simple majority vote, unless otherwise required by the Companies Law or by our Articles. Under the Companies Law, each of (i) the approval of an extraordinary transaction with a controlling shareholder and (ii) the terms of employment or other engagement of the controlling shareholder of the company or such controlling shareholder’s relative (even if not extraordinary) requires the approval described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices—Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law—Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder” of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F. Certain transactions with respect to remuneration of our office holders and directors require further approvals described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices— Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli Law— Disclosure of Personal Interests of an Office Holder” of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F. Another exception to the simple majority vote requirement is a resolution for the voluntary winding up, or an approval of a scheme of arrangement or reorganization, of the company pursuant to Section 350 of the Companies Law, which requires the approval of the majority of the shareholders voting their shares, other than abstainees, holding at least 75% of the voting rights represented at the meeting, in person, by proxy or by voting deed and voting on the resolution. 

 

Articles amendment

 

In order to amend the Articles, in addition and prior to the approval of a general meeting of shareholders, the approval of the board of directors with the affirmative vote of at least three-quarters (3/4) of the directors then in office and entitled to vote thereon is required in order to approve any amendment to the Articles.

 

Access to corporate records

 

Under the Companies Law, shareholders are provided access to minutes of our general meetings, our shareholders register and principal shareholders register, our Articles, our financial statements and any document that we are required by law to file publicly with the Israeli Companies Registrar or the Israel Securities Authority. In addition, shareholders may request to be provided with any document related to an action or transaction requiring shareholder approval under the related party transaction provisions of the Companies Law. We may deny this request if we believe it has not been made in good faith or if such denial is necessary to protect our interest or protect a trade secret or patent.

 

Modification of class rights

 

Under the Companies Law and our Articles, the rights attached to any class of shares, such as voting, liquidation and dividend rights, may be amended by adoption of a resolution by the holders of a majority of the shares of that class present at a separate class meeting, or otherwise in accordance with the rights attached to such class of shares, as set forth in our Articles.

 

Acquisitions under Israeli law

 

Full tender offer

 

A person wishing to acquire shares of an Israeli public company and who would as a result hold over 90% of the target company’s issued and outstanding share capital is required by the Companies Law to make a tender offer to all of the company’s shareholders for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the company. A person wishing to acquire shares of a public Israeli company and who would as a result hold over 90% of the issued and outstanding share capital of a certain class of shares is required to make a tender offer to all of the shareholders who hold shares of the relevant class for the purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of that class. If the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold less than 5% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class, and more than half of the shareholders who do not have a personal interest in the offer accept the offer, all of the shares that the acquirer offered to purchase will be transferred to the acquirer by operation of law. However, a tender offer will also be accepted if the shareholders who do not accept the offer hold less than 2% of the issued and outstanding share capital of the company or of the applicable class of shares.

 

4

 

 

Upon a successful completion of such a full tender offer, any shareholder that was an offeree in such tender offer, whether such shareholder accepted the tender offer or not, may, within six months from the date of acceptance of the tender offer, petition an Israeli court to determine whether the tender offer was for less than fair value and that the fair value should be paid as determined by the court. However, under certain conditions, the offeror may include in the terms of the tender offer that an offeree who accepted the offer will not be entitled to petition the Israeli court as described above.

 

If a tender offer is not accepted in accordance with the requirements set forth above, the acquirer may not acquire shares of the company that will increase its holdings to more than 90% of the company’s issued and outstanding share capital or of the applicable class from shareholders who accepted the tender offer.

 

Special tender offer

 

The Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares of an Israeli public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company. This requirement does not apply if there is already another holder of at least 25% of the voting rights in the company. Alternatively, such an acquisition may be approved pursuant to a private placement approved by the company’s shareholders with the purpose of approving the acquisition of 25% or more, or 45% or more of the company’s voting rights. Similarly, the Companies Law provides that an acquisition of shares in a public company must be made by means of a special tender offer if as a result of the acquisition the purchaser would become a holder of more than 45% of the voting rights in the company, if there is no other shareholder of the company who holds more than 45% of the voting rights in the company, subject to certain exceptions.

 

In the event that a special tender offer is made, a company’s board of directors is required to express its opinion on the advisability of the offer, or shall abstain from expressing any opinion if it is unable to do so, provided that it gives the reasons for its abstention. In addition, the board of directors must disclose any personal interest each member of the board of directors has in the offer or stems therefrom.

 

A special tender offer must be extended to all shareholders of a company but the offeror is not required to purchase shares representing more than 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares, regardless of how many shares are tendered by shareholders. A special tender offer may be consummated only if (i) at least 5% of the voting power attached to the company’s outstanding shares will be acquired by the offeror and (ii) the number of shares tendered in the offer exceeds the number of shares whose holders objected to the offer (excluding the purchaser and its controlling shareholder, holders of 25% or more of the voting rights in the company or any person having a personal interest in the acceptance of the tender offer or any other person acting on their behalf, including relatives and entities under such person’s control). If a special tender offer is accepted, then the purchaser or any person or entity controlling it or under common control with the purchaser or such controlling person or entity may not make a subsequent tender offer for the purchase of shares of the target company and may not enter into a merger with the target company for a period of one year from the date of the offer, unless the purchaser or such person or entity undertook to effect such an offer or merger in the initial special tender offer.

 

Merger

 

The Companies Law permits merger transactions if approved by each party’s board of directors and, unless certain requirements described under the Companies Law are met, by a majority vote of each party’s shares, and, in the case of the target company, a majority vote of each class of its shares voted on the proposed merger at a shareholders meeting. The board of directors of a merging company is required pursuant to the Companies Law to discuss and determine whether in its opinion there exists a reasonable concern that as a result of a proposed merger, the surviving company will not be able to satisfy its obligations towards its creditors, such determination taking into account the financial status of the merging companies. If the board of directors has determined that such a concern exists, it may not approve a proposed merger.

 

5

 

 

For purposes of the shareholder vote, unless a court rules otherwise, the merger will not be deemed approved if a majority of the votes of the shares represented at the shareholders meeting that are held by parties other than the other party to the merger, or by any person (or group of persons acting in concert) who holds (or hold, as the case may be) 25% or more of the voting rights or the right to appoint 25% or more of the directors of the other party, vote against the merger. If, however, the merger involves a merger with a company’s own controlling shareholder or if the controlling shareholder has a personal interest in the merger, then the merger is instead subject to the same special majority approval that governs all extraordinary transactions with controlling shareholders (as described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices—Approval of Related Party Transactions under Israeli law—Disclosure of Personal Interests of a Controlling Shareholder” of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F). 

 

If the transaction would have been approved by the shareholders of a merging company but for the separate approval of each class or the exclusion of the votes of certain shareholders as provided above, a court may still approve the merger upon the request of holders of at least 25% of the voting rights of a company, if the court holds that the merger is fair and reasonable, taking into account the value to the parties to the merger and the consideration offered to the shareholders of the company.

 

Upon the request of a creditor of either party to the proposed merger, the court may delay or prevent the merger if it concludes that there exists a reasonable concern that, as a result of the merger, the surviving company will be unable to satisfy the obligations of the merging entities, and may further give instructions to secure the rights of creditors.

 

In addition, a merger may not be consummated unless at least 50 days have passed from the date on which a proposal for approval of the merger was filed by each party with the Israeli Registrar of Companies and at least 30 days have passed from the date on which the merger was approved by the shareholders of each party.

 

Special Majority Board Approvals

 

Under our Articles, at least three-quarters (3/4) of our serving directors are required to vote in favor of certain transactions which may have a significant effect on the Company’s structure, assets or business, including mergers acquisitions, consolidations and issuance of equity securities or debt securities convertible into equity in each case that would reasonably be expected to result in change of beneficial ownership of above than fifteen percent (15%) in the Company, material changes to the principal business of the Company and any resolution to transfer the headquarters of the Company outside of Israel.

 

Approval of business combinations

 

Our Articles restrict certain business transactions with any shareholder and/or its affiliates and/or investors for a period of three years following (i) with respect to any shareholder of the Company holding fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting power of the ordinary shares as of September 15, 2022, the effective date of the Articles, and (ii) with respect to all shareholders of the Company, each time as such shareholder and/or any of its affiliates and/or investors become(s) (other than due to a buyback, redemption or cancellation of shares by the Company) the holder(s) (beneficially or of record) of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the issued and outstanding voting power of the ordinary shares. The restricted business transactions include mergers, consolidations and dispositions of assets with an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of the Company’s assets or outstanding shares.

 

Borrowing powers

 

Pursuant to the Companies Law and our Articles, our board of directors may exercise all powers and take all actions that are not required under law or under our Articles to be exercised or taken by a certain organ of the Company, including the power to borrow money for company purposes.

 

Changes in capital

 

Our Articles enable us to increase or reduce our share capital. Any such changes are subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and must be approved by a resolution duly adopted by our shareholders at a general meeting. In addition, transactions that have the effect of reducing capital, such as the declaration and payment of dividends in the absence of sufficient retained earnings or profits, require the approval of both our board of directors and an Israeli court.

 

6

 

 

Forum for adjudication of disputes

 

According to our Articles, the federal district courts of the United States of America, shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. The competent courts in Tel Aviv, Israel shall be the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s shareholders, or (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Companies Law or the Securities Law 5728-1968. The Company retains the ability to consent to an alternative forum in circumstances where the Company determines that its interests and those of its shareholders are best served by permitting a particular dispute to proceed in a forum other than the federal district courts or State of Israel, as applicable.

 

Transfer agent and registrar

 

Our transfer agent and registrar is Vstock Transfer LLC (“Vstock”). Vstock’s address is 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598 and its telephone number is (212) 828-8436.

 

Rights to purchase Ordinary Shares

 

On November 27, 2023, our board of directors declared the issuance of one special purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding Ordinary Share and in connection therewith has entered into that certain Rights Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2023 (the “Rights Agreement”), by and between the Company and VStock, in its capacity as the Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

 

The Rights

 

Our board of directors authorized the issuance of a Right with respect to each outstanding Ordinary Share on December 8, 2023 and with respect to each Ordinary Share that will become outstanding prior to the earlier of the expiration of the Rights or the redemption thereof. The Rights will initially trade with, and will be inseparable from, the corresponding Ordinary Share. The Rights are evidenced only by the balances indicated in the book-entry account system of the transfer agent for our Ordinary Shares or, in the case of certificated shares, the certificates that represent such Ordinary Shares. New Rights will accompany any new Ordinary Shares we issue after December 8, 2023 until the earliest of the Issuance Date described below, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date.

 

Exercise Price

 

Each Right will allow its holder to purchase from our Company one (1) Ordinary Share, at a purchase price of $0.001 per one Ordinary Share, once the Rights become exercisable. Prior to exercise, the Right does not give its holder any dividend, voting, or liquidation rights. The number of Ordinary Shares into issued upon the exercise of a Right and the purchase price may be adjusted from time to time, as further detailed in the Rights Agreement.

 

Exercisability 

 

The Rights will not be exercisable until the tenth day after the first date of public announcement or public disclosure by the Company or an Acquiring Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that an Acquiring Person has become such, including as a result of such person becoming a “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) of 10% or more of the Ordinary Shares then outstanding (we refer to such date as the “Issuance Date”). The definition of the term beneficial owner in the Rights Agreement captures also circumstances that are beyond the definition of beneficial ownership under the Exchange Act.    

 

7

 

 

If a person’s beneficial ownership of the then-outstanding Ordinary Shares as of the time of the public announcement of the rights plan is at or above 10%, that person or group’s then-existing ownership percentage would be grandfathered, but the Rights would become exercisable if at any time after such announcement, such person increases its ownership percentage by 0.5% or more, or following the date hereof such person’s beneficial ownership of Ordinary Shares of the Company as a percentage of the then-outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company is reduced to an amount that is less than 10% and thereafter such person becomes an Acquiring Person.

 

Until the Issuance Date, the balances in the book-entry accounting system of the transfer agent for our Ordinary Shares or, in the case of certificated shares, Ordinary Shares certificates will also evidence the Rights, and any transfer of Ordinary Shares or, in the case of certificated shares, certificates for Ordinary Shares will constitute a transfer of Rights. After that date, the Rights will separate from the Ordinary Shares and be evidenced solely by Rights certificates that we will mail to all eligible holders of Ordinary Shares; provided, however, that the Company may choose to use book-entry in lieu of physical certificates. Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) thereof are void and may not be exercised.

 

Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person

 

Flip In 

 

If a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, all holders of Rights except the Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof may, for a purchase price of $0.001 per one Ordinary Share, purchase one (1) Ordinary Share.

 

Flip Over

 

If our Company is later acquired in a merger or similar transaction after the Issuance Date, all holders of Rights except the Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof may, for a purchase price of $0.001 per share, purchase one (1) times the number of shares of the acquiring corporation, that each shareholder of the Company is entitled for each Ordinary Shares.

 

Expiration

 

The Rights will expire on November 27, 2024.

 

Redemption 

 

Our board of directors may redeem the Rights for no consideration at any time prior to such time that any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person. If our board of directors redeems any Rights, it must redeem all of the Rights.

 

Exchange

 

After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of our outstanding Ordinary Shares, our board of directors may extinguish the Rights by exchanging one (1) Ordinary Share or an equivalent security for each Right, other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person.

 

Anti-Dilution Provisions

 

Our board of directors may adjust the purchase price of the Ordinary Shares, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a share dividend, a share split, a reclassification of the Ordinary Shares.

 

Amendments

 

The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by our board of directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights. After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, our board of directors may not amend the Rights Agreement in a way that adversely affects holders of the Rights.

 

 

 

8